My Springfield 511 

There is something so cool about side-by-side shotguns. Years ago, I was a broke Marine, and somehow I stumbled across a spray-painted double barrel shotgun at a flea market in North Carolina. I asked how much, and when I was told 30 dollars, I jumped all over it. I’ve never bought a gun for tens of dollars. 

The gun was spray painted brown and grey, and it looked terrible, but it was only 30 dollars—so why the hell not? After I got it home, I decided to try my hand at restoring it—or at the very least, removing the spray paint.

I spent hours every day with sandpaper and patience scraping off spray paint. Under the grey and brown layer sat a second layer that appeared to be some kind of camo. 

I scrubbed, scraped, and worked until my hands cramped some days, but I got the paint off. Stripped the gun down to steel and wood. The Springfield 511 worked, and I even took it to the trap range with friends a few times. Eventually, I did a cold blue to the gun and carefully applied a dark brown wood finish to the wood. 

It’s far from perfect, but still a project I’m proud of. 

What’s The Deal With the Springfield 511? 

So it’s not either of the Springfields, you know. The original Springfield Armory was the Department of Defense’s own weapon development and production facility that was eventually closed. The other Springfield Armory is the modern incarnation that produces a wide variety of guns. The Springfield name was just a generic title given to a specific subset of Stevens-Savage shotguns.

To really explain this, we have to go back in time. Stevens came to be in 1864 and most famously created the .22 Long Rifle round. They also produced several double-barrel boxlock shotguns. 

In 1920 Savage purchased Stevens and took an interest in their boxlock shotguns. This is where the name of the guns becomes a little interesting, to say the least.

Stevens produced the model 311, a basic, two-trigger shotgun fit with extractors and not ejectors.  Savage took the Model 311 and named it the Fox B— a very finely made double barrel shotgun with all the fancy features you’d ever expect. This includes ejectors, beautiful wood, and generally a nice layout. 

So how does the Springfield 511 fit into this whole thing? Well, Savage-Stevens produced these rather generic shotguns for tons of companies. For example, Sears had a model, and so did Montgomery Ward. These guns could wear the Sears or Montgomery Ward logo and model number but still be Stevens 311 shotguns. 

For companies who only made small orders or if the store didn’t have a trade name, the gun was called the Springfield 511. These were the lowest cost, budget-friendly versions of the gun. 

The Basic Rundown

This was a working man’s shotgun, and it shows. No removable chokes, no ejectors, and the wood is as plain as it gets. There is zero checkering or any kind of scroll work. The Springfield 511 utilizes a simple bead front sight with a non-reflective sight plane.

With a boxlock shotgun, when you open the gun’s barrels, you are also cocking the firing pins. The gun has a small manual tang safety behind the barrel opening lever. The safety is automatically placed into the On position when you break the gun open. Two triggers allow you to control which barrel fires, and yes, you can fire both barrels at the same time if you so choose. A set of extractors push out the rims of your rounds and makes them easy to remove when it comes time to reload.

From tip to stock, it’s a classic working man’s shotgun capable of killing everything from squirrels to bears. 

At the Range 

I don’t shoot this old gun much, but I always smile when I do. Something about an SxS shotgun with long barrels is all kinds of cool and fun. When I do a little casual clay shooting, I almost always bring this gun and do okay with it. The recoil isn’t bad, but the gun doesn’t offer you a lot of surfaces for using the old push/pull technique to control the gun. 

The triggers are stiff, but the pull is very short and breaks very cleanly. A little pressure is all it takes to send a load of shot downrange. The length of the pull is surprisingly short. When measured from the rear of the trigger guard to the end of the stock, it’s only 12.75 inches. That’s short by modern standards. 

When you shove your cheek into the gun, you get a perfect view of that dot. The stock is well designed and crafted for a quick sight picture. The big long barrels make it swing well, and it’s easy to chase those bright orange clays as they criss-cross across the sky. 

All the Double Barrels 

A good side-by-side shotgun could be the only gun you ever need. They aren’t great for defensive use but are still plenty capable. You can hunt for nearly anything with one, and subcaliber devices make it easy to convert the gun to various calibers. On top of that, you can use tons of different-length shells in the gun. The Springfield 511 has a 3-inch chamber, so it can use 3-inch and 2.75-inch shells, but also 2.5, 2, and 1.75-inch shells. 

These are very versatile firearms, and if you ever get a chance to buy one for 30 dollars, I highly suggest you do! 

The post The Springfield 511 — A Gun By Many Names appeared first on The Mag Life.

This shotgun, in particular, is pretty impressive. It has a 14-inch barrel and is in law enforcement configuration. Note that acquiring a shotgun with a barrel length of less than 18 inches requires approval from the BATFE by filling out special forms, paying a $200 tax, and possibly a long wait. However, the 14-inch barrel on the shotgun is very handy and undeniably cool!

Easy installation

Iraq Veteran says the Crimson Trace LS-250 is an easy way to drop a laser site onto your shotgun. It fits not only the Mossberg Model 590 but also their model 500 and drilled/tapped Model 870 Remingtons.

Green with envy!

The laser tested for the video was green in color, and it did show up during the day. The targets were in a shaded area. I suspect that, had they been in bright sunlight, it would have been difficult to see the laser on them. Obviously, the darker it gets, the easier the laser is to see.

On that note, green lasers seem to be easier to see in bright conditions than their red counterparts.

Crimson Trace LS-250 — Laser Realities

It’s not a light.

One note here: Many people believe that the laser solves a lot of problems at night. It does not really, in my opinion. You also need a light to illuminate targets, as the laser by itself will not do that. If you’re in a low-light situation and you see a dark blob out in your yard and you’re not sure if it’s a bad guy with a gun, your black Labrador retriever gnawing on a stick, or a pile of wood, that laser is not going to help with target ID. You’ll just know that your weapon is aimed at…a dark lump.

Bottom line: your laser is going to need a white light to go along with it. Areas that are in shadow or not in total darkness will really allow a laser to be used to its full advantage.

What’s the advantage of a laser on a shotgun?

One nice thing is that you don’t have to have the shotgun shouldered when you’re using a laser. Pointing it from the hip (which can save your shoulder from the recoil) and painting the target with the laser will work. However, it’s still faster to shoulder the shotgun, as this will give you a more natural sight picture. It can take more time messing with the laser from your hip to walk it onto the target.

Is the Crimson Trace LS-250 compatible with sights?

Iraq Veteran notes that, after the LS-250 is mounted on the Mossberg receiver, the ghost ring sights can be placed back on top. In my mind, this is a good thing, because the ghost ring sights are highly effective.

How does it turn on?

There are several pressure switches that can be pushed to activate the laser. This allows the user to have their hands in a wide variety of positions and still be able to activate the laser. That’s a very thoughtful aspect of this laser system, as it does not force the user to alter their grip on the weapon.

As mentioned, the laser unit mounts over the top of much of the receiver and actually flows around the safety, which is mounted on the tang of the shotgun, being operated by the thumb.

Zeroing

The laser emits its beam from the right side and goes down next to the barrel of the shotgun. It is adjustable for windage and elevation. It’s easy to zero and can co-witness with the iron sights if the user desires.

Battery Operated

The LS-250 uses four batteries and is, according to Iraq Vet, “A gnarly arrangement.” The four batteries that are required are of the CR-2016 variety and they provide three hours of operation for the laser.

Long Range Engagement

Thirty-five yards is not really long range—except when you’re talking about a shotgun with OO buckshot. The Federal Tactical load with Flight Control hit a small steel popper target at 35 yards and kept a surprisingly tight group. The stuff seems to work well. I’ve actually had experience with these rounds from way back, and I can verify that it delivers slightly less recoil while keeping groups tighter than most other rounds. If you get a chance to buy some, grab it up. You’ll be hard-pressed to find a better round.

Price

At the time of writing, this green laser retails for $249.99. The red counterpart retails for 194.99.

Is this unit really practical for self-defense use?

It all depends on your prospective uses. It won’t illuminate a target. Notice in the video that the targets were already lit up with lights. That may or may not be the case in your defensive shooting when you need to use it.

Many urban areas have lots of lit-up areas, so that would be a practical environment to use this light. Or perhaps you have spotlights all around your home or building, which would augment this laser setup. If such is the case, then this laser will be far more effective.

Does the Crimson Trace LS-250 laser offer options?

Absolutely. It’ll allow you to shoot from the hip if you somehow feel that might be a want.

Will it make you a more deadly, lethal weapon?

I think practice will do that, mostly. This is one of those pieces of kit that will give you some options that merely having a white light will not. I have to say, though, that you should absolutely also mount a white light on your shotgun if you decide to use a laser, for the reasons already mentioned.

Just be certain you’re not substituting a gadget for actual skill, which comes from practice.

The post Shotguns And Laser Beams: Crimson Trace LS 250 Lasersaddle appeared first on The Mag Life.

Beretta provides details of the shotgun:

The A400 Upland in 28 gauge features the reliability of the popular A400 series with an ergonomic forend, a nickel-plated receiver, and the ability to shoot 3” magnum shells for those hunters who want to transition from different game birds without sacrificing reliable cycling.

With a slim new design, the newly designed pistol grip and forend improve comfort and enhance the overall look.

An exquisitely engraved styling pattern completes the nickel-plated receiver.

Whether you are looking to hunt with the lightest of dove or the heaviest of waterfowl loads, the new A400 Upland in 28 gauge allows the hunter to shoot with 3” magnum shotshells while still maintaining the reliable cycling that the A400 series is known for.

Keeping this shotgun as good as new after a long day on the field or at the range is quick and easy: you can field-strip the A400 Upland without any tools, and it comes apart in only five components that are a snap to reassemble.

This is a solid choice for bird hunters after upland game birds such as pheasants, quail, and grouse. The 28 gauge chambering is soft-shooting and small enough to minimize damage to usable meat. It’s an ideal gauge for upland birds but also an excellent option for the range and teaching new shooters who need less felt recoil.

Swing swivels are included with the A400 Upland, so it’s easy to add a sling to this shotgun, making it simpler to carry in the field. Beretta also designed the bolt handle and release in an extended style to facilitate manipulating even while wearing gloves. It’s made to be naturally pointable and to mount to the user’s shoulder smoothly. Overall, it appears to be an ideal hunting shotgun.

Features of the A400 Upland include:

• Ergonomic Forend
• Nickel-Plated Receiver
• Now Offered in 28 Gauge
• Swing Swivels Included
• Extended Bolt Handle & Release
• New Receiver Shape

Specifications

• Manufacturer: Beretta
• Model: A400 Upland
• Gauge: 28 gauge
• Barrel length: 28 inches
• Choke: 3 OPHC Flush Mounted Chokes
• Chamber: 3 inches

MSRP for the Beretta A400 Upland in 28 gauge is set at $1829.00.

The post Beretta A400 Upland: 28 Gauge Goodness appeared first on The Mag Life.

For a long time, those of us searching for a Winchester 1897 in an affordable configuration that’s completely shootable were satisfied by Norinco. However, even those imports have dried up, and companies like I.A.C. and Century Arms have moved away from the classic cowboy guns. While not as rare as an OG Winchester, the Norinco 97 shotguns can be fairly hard to get.

I bought one out of desperation, not knowing if they were worth a damn. The internet was still fairly divided over the guns, with some working fine and others falling apart. It seemed tough to determine if these lower-priced alternatives were even worth their modest sums. With one at hand and an internet connection, I decided to get to the root of the Norinco 97.

The Deep Lore of the Norinco 1897 Trench Gun

Norinco 97s have been imported into the states on and off for decades now. It seems like a batch comes from across the ocean every few years, and that’s it. In my research into the Norinco 97, I found that Canada seems to get regular shipments, which makes sense since Canada still gets general Norinco imports.

The United States and Chinese arms manufacturers, however, don’t have a great relationship. George Bush the First made a temporary ban on imported semi-auto rifles with certain features permanent in the late 1980s. These so-called assault weapons featured the typical gun grabber wish list of cosmetic and functional features. The typical folding stocks, threaded barrels, standard cap magazines, and more were banned.

China-made neutered rifles, like the MAK-90, saw their way into the United States with all the offending features removed. Kind of. You see, the Chinese didn’t always remove the offending parts. This led Clinton to the ’94 Norinco ban which banned most rifles and pistols but allowed some ‘sporting’ weapons through, especially in the shotgun department.

When it comes to batches of Norinco 97 shotguns, the different batches are attached to different importers, and the importer can determine the quality. The most highly sought are the imports from I.A.C. In researching this article, I kept running across a story that I.A.C. sent a Winchester expert to Norinco to perfect the design.

The So-Called Expert

I can’t confirm or even find the name of the supposed expert, but in every conversation regarding the various Chinese Norinco 97s, the I.A.C. models are routinely brought forth as the best. I got fairly lucky with my Norinco 1897 trench gun in the fact that it’s an I.A.C. model.

I.A.C. imported various Norinco 97 configurations, including the trench gun variant with heat shield, a bayonet, a sporting variant with a 26-inch barrel, and even chrome variants for SASS style shooters.

The one we see here is the ‘Riot” configuration. The Riot variant seems to be the most commonly imported, and that’s likely due to the fact that the most demand comes from SASS shooters in the Wild Bunch category.

Now that I have a Norinco 97 from I.A.C. I planned to figure out if these claims were true.

A Rundown of the Norinco 1897 Trench Gun

If you’ve never seen a Winchester 1897, the M1897, or the classic stereotypical WW1 trench gun, this portion of the article is for you. We are going to break down the basics of the Norinco 1897 trench gun and largely describe the Winchester M1897 as well.

What makes the Winchester 1897 and, therefore, the Norinco 97 so unique was the rather novel design the firearm used. First, it’s one of the very few pump-action shotguns to feature an exposed hammer, not the only one but it is the most famous.

It feeds from a five-round tubular magazine and was only made for 2.75-inch shells. Those big 3-inch magnums weren’t around at the time. The shotgun ejects out the right side of the gun and feeds from a port on the bottom of the gun and in front of the trigger.

This riot variant uses a 20-inch barrel that’s fairly light and thin. A simple gold bead sits at the tip of the barrel for sighting purposes.

The Winchester 1897 wasn’t the first pump-action but was the first successful design. Browning designed it before there was a standard for pump-action guns. This gives it a unique design that plants it half in the world of the wild west and half in the modern world.

Rock, Roll, and Load

I loaded the Norinco 97 with great anticipation. I’ve wanted an 1897-style shotgun to use and abuse for years and finally had one. So I started with a few rounds of Wally World cheap birdshot and let loose. The action is surprisingly smooth, and it’s on par with Mossberg 500 shotguns with a little slop and a little grit as it glides rearward.

The bead sight at the end of the gun is good enough but far from fancy. Nevertheless, it works fine at standard shotgun ranges, and out to 25 yards, you’ll have no problems putting buckshot where you want it. Speaking of buckshot, after a hundred problem-free rounds of birdshot, I grabbed a couple of boxes of buckshot and took it for a spin.

With the bead mounted directly to the barrel, I expected the gun to appear to shoot high. That’s a common issue with these sight setups, but I was wrong. Point of aim and point of impact wasn’t an issue.

Admittedly the old-school design makes it fairly tough to use modern recoil mitigation techniques to tame the gun. The hard plastic butt plate doesn’t do much to help reduce recoil. The pump is of the corncob variety so that you can hold onto it, but getting a good push-pull is tough, and your hands tend to slip and slide all over the gun.

You take a good thump from the Norinco 1897 trench gun, but it’s not exceptionally bad. Moving from buckshot to slugs proved to be a little tricky. The tiny bead sight-mounted low made longer-range accuracy tough. I can ring a 10-inch gong at fifty yards, but man, I’m hitting all over that ten inches.

One thing to watch out for as you rack that action is the bolt carrier coming out the rear and cocking your hammer. If your hand is too close, you’ll pop yourself with it and lose some skin when you start shooting fast.

Does it slamfire?

I’m no expert in machining or Winchester 1897s, but I don’t think you can design an 1897 clone with a working hammer that can’t slam fire. Yes, the Norinco 97 slam fires, but that doesn’t make it somehow more efficient. If you want to somewhat quickly empty your gun and miss most shots, then slam fire is for you.

People talk a lot about why slam fire is great and why it made the Winchester 1897 such a mighty trench broom. In reality, slam fire isn’t faster if you actually plan to hit your target. It is fun, though.

So Are Norinco 1897 Trench Guns Good to Go?

After 200 rounds of birdshot, 100 rounds of buckshot, and 25 slugs, I can say the gun runs. I had one failure to eject. The rim was stuck into the extractor and required a little maneuvering to loosen up. The finish remains solid, everything clicks and pops easily enough, and nothing has come loose or deformed.

I can’t say that all Norinco 97s are good guns, but the reputation of the I.A.C. guns remains strong. The gun works, and I’m very thankful to finally have one of these replicas of a classic. If anyone ever imports more on the cheap, I plan to make a No Country for Old Men clone. But until then, I’ll stick to what I have.

The post The Norinco 97 | A Ramen Noodle Take on Winchester appeared first on The Mag Life.

Browning Humpback Auto 5

FN made the Auto 5 from 1902 until 1998-9. They were made in Belgium until 1975 when production moved to Japan. Yet the Auto 5 design wasn’t just made by FN. The classic Remington Model 11 is a licensed copy and was the first semi-auto shotgun to be made in the United States. Remington made around 850,000 of them between 1905 and 1948. Savage also made the models 720 and 745 from 1930 until 1949. All told, the Auto 5 design is the second most manufactured auto-loading shotgun of all time. Only the Remington 1100 edges it out.

There are a couple of good stories about John Moses Browning and the work it took for him to get the Auto 5 made.

As with most of his long-gun designs of that era, Browning first took it to Winchester. They had a long working relationship at the time, one that had resulted in multiple lever and pump action rifles and the model 93 and 97 pump action shotguns. The story goes that Winchester thought the new autoloading shotgun design was ugly.

I agree that the Browning Humpback is nowhere near the sleek and sexy Browning-designed Winchester 94, but still. What were they thinking when they passed on buying his patents on this one?

Browning next went to Remington to see if it would be interested in making the ugly gun. The story told here is that while John Moses was waiting for a meeting with Marcellus Hartley, the president of Remington, Hartley had a heart attack and died. I guess that’s what happens when you leave the greatest firearms designer of at least the past 200 years waiting. No doubt frustrated, Browning next went to his new friends in Belgium. FN Herstal ran with it and ended up making the Auto 5 for almost 100 years.

Ashton VSG

The Ashton VSG Enchantment is the cigar I have picked for our Browning-Auto-5 paring.

The VSG is made by the Fuentes in the Dominican Republic for Ashton. This cigar has a Sungrown Sumatra wrapper with binder and filler from the Dominican Republic. This is a bold, yet very refined cigar. The Enchantment vitola is a true figurado shape. The figurado shape was very popular in the US back in the middle of the last century, when the Auto-5 was king.

Shooting Notes

The Browning Auto 5 is a true classic. The humpback lines up perfect with the shooter’s eye for quick shooting. There is a distinctive feel too as the long recoil action returns to battery after a shot.

Tasting Notes

The Ashton VSG is balanced, smooth, sweet, and spicy. This is an exceptional cigar to be savored after a day in the field upland bird hunting.

 
A Little More Browning Old Humpback History

The post Auto-5/VSG: Browning Humpback plus Ashton Enchantment appeared first on The Mag Life.

Plus, it just looked like a helluva lot of fun. Especially that one thermonuclear round she threw downrange…I gotta get me some of those.

The guns in question are the Mossberg M500A, the Benelli M4, and the Beretta 1301 Comp Pro Gen 3. All in 12 gauge. The reviews are broken down into comparative sections: Design and Profile; Controls and Loading; and Sights and Trigger. In the course of the breakdowns, we get an overall picture of handling and shootability.

This is not a video to determine which of the three is best, but more like a reflection of what to expect from quality products as one moves up the price scale. In the interest of following the video in case you want to jump to a particular section, I’ll follow the same format that Paul does. Disclaimer: The following lists will not match exactly, since two of the guns have some aftermarket stuff on them and some info was not provided.

Design and Profile

First up is the Mossberg M500A, which is presented as being simple, cheap, and reliable.

Considering the track record of the M500, I’d say that’s pretty accurate and unsurprising. I did have a bit of an issue with Paul’s statement that “regular cleaning and maintenance are…optional” with the Mossberg. Yeah, I get it, no one but the most anal among us cleans their guns after every use but seeing the rust on his gun just hurt me. But…it ran like a champ, rust and all. Paul notes that he has had this gun for a while, and a quick look at the Mossberg website will show you that the 500 Series has been upgraded. This article deals with the guns in the video, but I thought I’d point that out.

• Barrel Length: 20 inches.
• Mag: 7 plus 1 Flush.
• Overall Length: 41 inches.
• Weight: Just under 7 pounds, lightest of the three.
• Philosophy of Use: Defense or maybe hunting.

Paul notes that the Mossberg is a great truck gun. No argument here, and his gun sure looked like he had tossed it (literally) in the back of his pickup and left it for a good while.

Next, moving up the MSRP ladder, is the Benelli M4.

Paul notes that the M4 is “fielded with departments worldwide if you’re looking for more of a duty-grade weapon.” As we all know, Benelli makes a damn fine shotgun and the M4 is a proven platform that has been called the“King of the combat shotguns.”

• Barrel Length: 18.5 inches.
• Mag: 7 plus 1 Flush (aftermarket) (factory is 5 plus 1).
• Overall Length: 35 to 40 inches, depending on the stock.
• Weight: 8.42 pounds (factory).
• Philosophy of Use: Tactical Duty Weapon.

This particular gun, as opposed to the Mossberg, has upgraded furniture, including a pistol gripnthat Paul uses to offset the front-heavy feel from the thicker barrel.

Finally, the Beretta 1301 Comp Pro Gen 3.

This one is described as the “latest shotgun tech out there”and as being “built for speed.”

• Barrel Length: 24 inches (21 inch also available).
• Mag: 12 plus 1 Extended (aftermarket) (factory is 10 plus 1 flush).
• Overall Length: 47 inches (factory).
• Weight: 7.18 pounds (factory).
• Philosophy of Use: Primarily competition, but it looks very versatile in the factory configuration.

The gun has a slick-looking metallic blue anodized receiver and the new Beretta recoil-reducing stock. According to Beretta, the felt recoil is forty percent less than previous gens, which seems to be borne out by Jessica’s shooting of both, of which a brief video clip is provided. Paul says he can “definitely tell the difference from prior gens.”

Controls and Loading

Paul opens this section by asking “How hard do you want to work to make the gun go bang?” A fair and pertinent question, which is answered by comparing the guns themselves with that in mind.

Mossberg M500A

The Mossberg, being the only pump action of the group, will obviously require a little more effort to fire smoothly. Nothing wrong with a pump gun, but you have to practice that particular motor skill. The Mossberg had the most convenient safety mechanism with a simple up and down thumb switch where the hammer would be, were there an exposed hammer on the gun. Very intuitive and easy to view.

From an easy safety, we go to a more difficult loading gate. Paul describes it as “a bunch of right angles,” meaning that you better practice reloading because, if you want to be smooth, there is very little margin of error. Plus, the gate’s close proximity to the trigger guard precludes quad loading. You’re gonna have to load it one shell at a time, just like Grandpa used to do it.

Again, nothing especially wrong with that, but there are better ways nowadays and it just depends on what you want. He recommends a side-saddle attachment to speed up the process. Probably a good idea.

Benelli M4

The autoloading Benelli is easier to handle with a faster rate of fire. Duh, though all bets are off if Jerry Miculek shows up with a pump gun. The controls are nice with a big charging handle with aftermarket options and a convenient, if small, small bolt release. The only issue with the controls that I would have is the location of the safety on the rear of the trigger guard. You just might be able to hit it with your trigger finger, but unless you have gigantically long thumbs, you won’t get it from the other side without breaking your grip.

The loading gate is “rounder and smoother” than the Mossberg, but unlike the M500, the spring-loaded lifter and an interior “hump” require more pressure and effort to load. The Mossberg mag was frictionless once the first shell got things started. Not so the Benelli. The lifter is also forked and tends to catch thumbs. Paul notes that “If you’re not careful, you’re gonna come away bloody.” The M4, can, however, be quad loaded. You decide which of the two you prefer.

Beretta 1301 Comp Pro Gen 3

The Beretta 1301, not surprisingly, is the Cadillac in this category. It has a huge charging handle, though the one in the video is aftermarket, which is the same as the previous-gen models.

It has a large bolt release that has been reworked to fix problems on previous models which caused accidental activation. While not as convenient as the Mossberg, the Beretta has a large safety on the front of the trigger guard with “great tactile feedback.” Yeah, you’ll still have to break your grip to hit it from one side or the other, depending on whether you’re right or sinister, but it looks to be a lot better than the Benelli.

The loading gate on the 1301 is generous, to say the least. Paul notes that “if you want your shells to get basically sucked into the tube,” this is the gun for you. The Gen 3 features an expanded gate from previous gens, plus, they moved the serial number so aggressive cuts around the gate are now the standard. Quad loading is recommended and watching Jessica do it demonstrates the
ease of the process on this gun. Of course, she is well-practiced, so there’s that.

But you can see how the design really facilitates ease of loading. The gun features an extended lifter that won’t bite your thumb with a light spring pressure that allows smooth loading. As Paul says, it’s “the next best thing to a mag fed shotgun.”

Sights and Trigger

Paul notes, right out of the gate, that “Duty and Competition guns need good sighting systems, the right chokes, and a really good trigger.”

Mossberg M500A

The Mossberg has a simple front bead sight, which is only so-so at 25 yards and goes downhill fast from there. Good luck launching slugs at long range. Nothing we didn’t already know. If you want better sights on that kind of gun, you’re gonna have to modify it. The factory trigger is about 8 pounds and is pretty much what you’d expect from a good-quality pump gun. Not horrible, not great.

Benelli M4

The Benelli M4 offers a clear upgrade on the sights with a ghost ring in the rear and a protected orange fiber-optic post up front. Clearly more accurate and user-friendly than the Mossberg. The trigger pulled at a less-than-stellar 7 and a half pounds, this is a duty gun, but there are aftermarket triggers out there.

Beretta 1301

The Beretta 1301 features orange fiber optic bead sights in front and halfway back along the top of the vent rib. It showed the highest accuracy of the three, but I’d say the recoil-reducing stock and the 24-inch barrel had something to do with that too.

Personally, I think I’d prefer the M4 sights, but, as always, I’m just some guy on the interwebs. You decide. There are also some cool upgrades out there for the 1301, which is drilled for an optic.

The 1301 trigger is another area that shines. Paul describes it as “Very nice…similar to a rifle trigger. Smooth pull throughout, very little stacking, very crisp break.” It broke at 4 pounds with a quick reset. Paul says that it would be hard to jerk the trigger on the 1301 Comp Pro. He notes that, with the new recoil system, it shoots very flat. See my comment on accuracy.

Conclusion

As I noted, this wasn’t a contest to see which one of these shotguns was better. Paul and Jessica do a good job demonstrating the level of performance and ease of use you can expect (or should expect) as you move up the price scale.

It’s also worth pointing out that these three guns have different philosophies of use. The Mossberg M500A is a basic defensive or hunting gun, though I would want a longer barrel for the latter. The Benelli, as noted, is a dedicated combat and duty gun. The Beretta is a competition gun. You could do it all with any of the three, but each one has strengths and weaknesses. Cue Captain Obvious again. Mossberg, Benelli, and Beretta are three of the biggest names in shotguns. Depending on what you want it for, it’s hard to go wrong with any of them, assuming you do your homework and buy the best gun for you.

Check out the video. I think you’ll enjoy it as much as I did. If you do, consider subscribing to Paul’s channel. I like his approach. It also made me want to go out and run a shotgun. Finally, Paul notes that “You can be Jerry Miculek on a pistol, but even he can’t put nine .30 caliber bullets into a group this size (fist) in less than a second.” The point is well-taken, but don’t let Jerry hear you say that.

The post How Do You Shotgun? Mossberg M500A, Benelli M4, and Beretta 1301 appeared first on The Mag Life.