Beretta 1301 Tactical vs Benelli M4: The Semi-Auto Shotgun Fight

A rivalry with a short history

For about fifteen years, if you wanted the best fighting semi-auto shotgun money could buy, the conversation was short. Benelli's M4 had won a US Army competition in 1998, gone into production in 1999, and shipped its first units to the US Marine Corps as the M1014 that same year. It was the gun other guns were measured against.

Then, in 2014, Beretta began producing the 1301 Tactical in Italy. It was lighter, cycled with startling speed, and cost noticeably less. Within a few years, the question at gun counters had changed from "M4 or something cheaper?" to "M4 or 1301?"

Both are serious tools. Neither is a bad choice. But they reflect different ideas about what a defensive shotgun should feel like, and those differences matter more in a hallway than on a spec sheet.

The spec sheet, honestly sourced

These figures come from the published sources listed at the end of this article. Specs vary by variant and year. Confirm with Beretta or Benelli before buying.

Two gas systems, two personalities

Both guns bleed propellant gas off the barrel to cycle the action. How they do it shapes how they feel.

Benelli's ARGO uses two small stainless-steel pistons just ahead of the chamber that push directly on the bolt. The design is self-regulating: Wikipedia describes it as handling 2¾-inch and 3-inch shells of varying power without any adjustment. The short gas path keeps the action relatively clean. Wikipedia notes one honest limit: very low-powered rounds, such as some less-lethal loads, need to be cycled by hand.

Beretta's 1301 uses a gas system Beretta markets as B-LINK on the Mod.2. Its reputation is speed. The action cycles very quickly, which makes fast follow-up shots feel effortless. Combined with the low weight, the 1301 points and moves like a much smaller gun.

The practical result: the 1301 tends to feel light and lively, and the M4 tends to feel planted and solid. Neither is "softer" in every hand. The M4's extra weight absorbs recoil; the 1301's gas system and quick cycle spread it out. Try both if you can.

Weight: the number that matters most indoors

Home defense is often more holding than shooting. You may stand at the top of the stairs, gun shouldered or at low ready, for a long time while you wait for police. Every ounce is felt in that wait.

Using the figures above, the gap between a Mod.2 1301 and a civilian M4 is roughly a pound, before lights and ammunition. For a large adult that barely registers. For a smaller partner, or anyone with a shoulder or wrist injury, it can decide whether the gun stays up and steady.

That 13-inch length of pull on the 1301 Mod.2 also fits more people than many standard shotgun stocks. If several adults in the house might use the gun, fit matters as much as weight.

Reliability and ammunition

Both have strong reputations with full-power 00 buckshot. As with any semi-auto, reduced-recoil loads are the place to be careful. Our buckshot buyer's guide covers how loads differ. Whatever you stage, run the exact load through your gun enough times to trust it. Pick from a range of 12-gauge 00 buckshot loads and pattern the best candidates at real indoor distances.

Keep the action clean and lubricated per the manual. Gas guns are tolerant, but not immortal.

Handling, controls and setup

Both guns accept lights, slings and optics, but they get there differently.

• The M4 has a Picatinny rail on the receiver for an optic, a ghost-ring rear sight, and a large aftermarket of stocks, extensions and forends built over two decades of service.
• The 1301 Mod.2 gets a redesigned forend with M-Lok slots and QD sling points, a flatter trigger and Beretta's "Pro-Lifter" for faster loading, according to Shooting Illustrated.

Either way, a light is not optional. See our weapon-mounted light post. On an M-Lok forend, a rail section plus a compact long-gun light works well.

What the price gap actually buys

The M4 costs substantially more than the 1301 in most configurations. Check current prices, since both move around. So what does the extra money get you?

Mostly, it buys history and heft. The M4 has more than two decades of military and police use behind it, which means a long record of how it holds up, how it fails and how to fix it. Gunsmiths know it. Parts, stocks and accessories are easy to find. The extra weight helps soak up recoil and steadies the gun on target.

The 1301's argument is that you don't need to pay for that history to get a fast, reliable semi-auto for a house. It has been in production since 2014 and has built a strong reputation in that time, especially for speed and light weight. For a homeowner who will fire a few hundred rounds a year, the 1301 delivers most of what the M4 does for less money, with weight savings that may matter more indoors than the M4's record does.

The money you keep is not trivial either. It can pay for a good light, a quick-access long-gun safe, several cases of training ammunition and a defensive shotgun class. In a home-defense setup, that package usually matters more than the badge on the receiver.

Living with either gun

Loading and unloading. Semi-auto shotguns have more steps to load and unload safely than pumps: a bolt release, a carrier latch or lifter, and a charging handle. Practice the exact procedure in the manual with snap caps until it's automatic, for every adult who might use the gun. The 1301 Mod.2's lifter changes were aimed at faster loading, according to Shooting Illustrated.

Cleaning. Both guns are tolerant, but a gas gun collects carbon. Follow the manual's cleaning and lubrication schedule. A dry, dirty semi-auto is the one most likely to fail with light loads.

Left-handed users. Check where the controls sit and how each gun ejects before you buy if a left-handed partner may use it. Some controls are ambidextrous; others are not.

Shared use. If two adults with different builds will share the gun, the 1301's shorter stock is easier to fit to both. On the M4, look at the stock options before buying.

Who should buy which

Buy the Beretta 1301 Tactical if:

• Lighter weight and quick handling matter most, especially for smaller or recoil-sensitive users.
• The shorter length of pull fits the people in your home.
• You want premium-class performance without the M4's premium on top.

Buy the Benelli M4 if:

• You want a gun with a long, documented military service record.
• You prefer a heavier, more planted feel and the extra recoil absorption that comes with it.
• You value the deep aftermarket and the ghost-ring sight setup.

Buy neither if a pump fits your household and budget better. A well-practiced pump-action shotgun is still an excellent home-defense tool, and the savings can buy a light, a quick-access long-gun safe and a lot of training ammunition.

Storage: one rule for expensive guns

A premium shotgun is a theft target and a danger to curious kids like any other gun. Store it locked in a quick-access long-gun safe or rack that only authorized adults can open. If you stage the magazine tube loaded, treat the gun as loaded every time you touch it. Talk to your kids about gun safety, and recheck who knows the code when the household changes.

The verdict

Editorial note: This is an independent editorial overview built from manufacturer specifications, retailer listings and published sources. We have not performed hands-on testing of the products discussed, and nothing here is a performance guarantee. Verify specifications, compatibility and the law where you live.

Affiliate disclosure: Some links on this page are affiliate links to Ammunition Depot. We may earn a commission if you buy through them, at no extra cost to you. Our editorial choices are not influenced by commissions. Check current price, stock and specifications directly with the retailer.