DHart

Hasty jump to conclusion, Tony. But yours to win or lose by.

The Tau Dev partial and full shrouds still allow unloading. With the partial shroud, you just press in the center of the shroud to release rounds. With the full shroud you can lift the un-shrouded end of the release lever to release rounds. Or you can reach into the receiver and press the shell stop button to release rounds. No big deal, really. That's how "the hell" you can do it! ;-) The Tau Dev shrouds are awesome and inexpensive. They fit and look just like they were designed as part of the shotgun from Beretta. The partial shroud is what I'm using now and it works perfectly to protect the shell release button from inadvertent operation. Tom (the developer) basically finished the last little bit of design work for Beretta,completing the 1301 and making making it suitable as a perfect tactical shotgun.

Thank you Frank. Apparently, there is no legal problem putting the +2 extension on the 1301 Tactical. Beretta is putting them on some of their models which are for sale here in the USA: Arms Unlimited is selling these Beretta 1301 Tactical versions with +2 extension:Any idea what extension is being used here? Arms Unlimited told me that they think Beretta is putting them on the 1301 after importing it into the USA. Apparently this is a perfectly legal version of the 1301 Tactical, otherwise, would Beretta and Arms Unlimited be selling them this way?https://www.armsunlimited.com/Berett...-p/j131p18.htm

Legal for use as a home defense weapon.

Is it legal to add a +2 mag extension on the Beretta 1301 Tactical 18" shotgun?

Yeah... I wouldn't imagine needing more than 13 rounds in a civilian altercation, but I'd prefer to have 13 on hand before a reload than 8 or 9. Counting on being able to do a reload in the middle of a defensive situation is "iffy" at best. At 1/3 the price of the STI Tactical, the Walther is a really great option. And no thumb safety to have to remember to flick off. I'd love to have them both - may be some day after I sell off some safe-queen 1911s.

Thanks, mont1120. Glad to hear that. I think it's coming down to a Tactical DS 2011 4.0 in .45auto, or a Walther PPQ .45. STI Tactical 2011 and Walther each give 12+1=13 rounds of .45auto, which is very good capacity. The Tactical 2011 may give one more round (13+1=14) with Grams follower and a +4mm base pad?

Sure looking like taking the risk on a new STI 2011 .45auto is reasonable. Chances are it will run right and in the event that it doesn't, STI should make it right, or a third party 2011 expert can do it. How many other options for a 2011 .45auto defense/carry pistol are out there? Aside from a 2011, for hi-cap .45 defense pistols we have Glock G21 (13+1 cap), PPQ (12+1 rounds), XD(m) (13+1 rounds), P320 (10+1), M&P45 (10+1), HK45 (10+1), G30 (10+1). The FN45 is just too big for me to enjoy carrying. I have a G21SF, which is good for capacity, but I don't like the grip size/feel all that much and would prefer a little shorter barrel for EDC. Then it comes down to an XD(m) (13+1) and the PPQ (12+1). Of the two, I think I much prefer the PPQ. Aside from that, capacity of the offerings drops down to 10+1, which isn't much to get all that excited about capacity-wise, though there are some great pistols in this group. I'm thinking I probably should be taking a good hard look at a PPQ, at 1/3 the price of a 2011 and probably far more likely to run flawlessly. Grip feel and reach to trigger is great. Trigger is nice. 13-round capacity pretty good. Reliability and price are great.

Sure looking like taking the risk on a new STI 2011 .45auto is reasonable. Chances are it will run right and in the event that it doesn't, STI should make it right, or a third party 2011 expert can do it. How many other options for a 2011 .45auto defense/carry pistol are out there? Aside from a 2011, for hi-cap .45 defense pistols we have Glock G21 (13+1 cap), PPQ (12+1 rounds), XD(m) (13+1 rounds), P320 (10+1), M&P45 (10+1), HK45 (10+1), G30 (10+1). The FN45 is just too big for me to enjoy carrying. I have a G21SF, which is good for capacity, but I don't like the grip size/feel all that much and would prefer a little shorter barrel for EDC. Then it comes down to an XD(m) (13+1) and the PPQ (12+1). Of the two, I think I much prefer the PPQ. Aside from that, capacity of the offerings drops down to 10+1, which isn't much to get all that excited about capacity-wise, though there are some great pistols in this group. I'm thinking I probably should be taking a good hard look at a PPQ, at 1/3 the price of a 2011 and probably far more likely to run flawlessly. Grip feel and reach to trigger is great. Trigger is nice. 13-round capacity pretty good. Reliability and price are great.

Chutist... if your Tac 5.0 .40 is anything like my Edge .40 (and they are essentially the same pistol), it's going to serve you exceptionally well. Heavy to carry, but so-very-soft to shoot. I've carried my Edge on occasion (magwell removed) with 126mm mags. I can comfortably fit 16 rounds in the 126mm mag with Grams guts and Bolen 4mm base, for a total of 16+1=17 rounds on tap.

eff10mm... I take it you adjusted the feed lips to be within the acceptable range? Between that and the Grams guts, sounds like good to go. MBX mags must be pretty incredible, given the asking price. But if I can make the STI mags work reliably, that would be my preference. I'm ok with adjusting feed lips as necessary and switching to grams guts. I've got a number of 126mm and 140mm mags for my Edge .40S&W and they all work reliably, even with a slight variance in feed lip measurements.

Thank you, Dr., for weighing in. There certainly is a sensible balance between capacity and performance that makes good sense. Generally, for me, that balance has been found in .40S&W 180 gr HST. After years of shooting and carrying .45auto, .40S&W, and 9mm pistols, I've landed on .40S&W for the most part, given the great blend of power AND capacity that it offers. That said, if I can carry a soft-shooting, stone-reliable, hand-friendly .45auto with 12+1=13 or 13+1=14 capacity (STI Tactical 4.0 2011 DS), I'll be ok with such a low-cap option! My G21SF is just a slight bit larger than I would prefer. I think a Tactical 4.0 would be a reasonable choice. In the meantime, my choice of SIG P320 40 Full Size or Carry Size (14+1=15 rounds) or, an M&P40 Full Size (15+1=16 rounds) are absolutely wonderful choices to have. 180 gr HST all the way! For some reason, I haven't been able to resist the allure of the Tactical 4.0 in .45auto for two years running now. We shall see.

Bruce... thanks. I'm gravitating ever closer to ordering one up and making it work. Either I (or STI) will do what is needed to ensure reliable functioning. I'm fine with tweaking mag lips, upgrading follower and mag spring, etc. as needed. If it's beyond my ability, I will let STI take over. I love my 1911s, but I prefer the fit in the hand, flat/soft shooting, AND the capacity of the double stack 2011's even more. And I'm sure that one way or another, the 2011 .45autos can be made to run with defense reliability. As for the holster, I've got that dialed already. High Noon Bare Asset holster that works for my SIG P320 and Glock 21SF will work just fine.

davsco.... thanks, I have a couple of High Noon Bare Asset holsters which will do the job perfectly. Thank you.

That surprises me about your .40, as my Edge in .40 just runs like a hose, no matter what I feed it. What was it about your .45 mags that weren't getting it? What about the MBX magazines was different? Might Grams followers and springs have turned the corner with the STI mags?

Here I am again, two years later, and still thinking about getting a Tactical 4.0 DS in .45auto for carry/defense. The pistol would not be used for competition, so maximum capacity requirements don't apply. I have plenty of great .40S&W pistols (M&P40, M&P40C, P320 40 Full, P320 40 Carry, P320 40 Compact, STI Edge 40), so that's why I'm so interested in having an STI double stack in .45auto, my other favorite defense pistol caliber. I don't prefer using my 1911s for defense/carry, as I consider higher-capacity to be potentially very important and I also prefer the feel in the hand of the larger 2011 grip frame - thus my interest in a 2011 chambered in .45auto. I have no qualms at all about tuning mags, regularly replacing springs, followers, etc. to achieve reliability. And would consider using 185 gr defense loads, if need be, to lighten the "weight lifting load" of the mag springs. Any more current thoughts on the likelihood of achieving a defense-reliable running Tactical DS in .45?

With my Edge .40S&W, I'm running the Cominolli (sp?) Frame Saver guide rod with two polymer buffs (one on each side of the base). Flawless performance and makes the cycling feel very soft and easy on the pistol. I love it.

I'm looking for updated feedback on this. My thought is to pick up an STI Tactical 4.0 DS .45auto for carry purposes, with the 126mm magazine, not for competition. Is it likely that when using 126mm mags, not altered for maximizing capacity, that reliability in .45auto should be good?

I hold the M&P full size and Compact models with very high regard. My M&P40 and M&P45C are among my two favorite pistols, and I have some real goodies. My M&P45C did need an Apex sear and striker block, but that's all that was needed to allow me to shoot it as well as I shoot my 1911s! Compact with the 10-round magazine for 11 round capacity With the 8-round, flush magazine, there is room for all of your fingers! Go forth and experience the M&P45 - you may want to install an Apex sear, but that would be a very small effort to reap big rewards.

OK, thanks... I changed the name to Bolens. It's been so long since I bought them that I forgot what they were. I'm hoping someone can offer a tip for how to remove these more easily. On the other hand, perhaps I should just eat the investment in them, stop using them, and pony up for better base pads that remove easily.

I have some older Bolens/Taran Tactical 4mm +1 baseplates for my STI 2011 magazines and really need some tips on how to remove these baseplates from the mags. The bottom of the mag spring lodges into the hollowed base and makes it extremely difficult to remove the base plate. I've had some success, after much effort, by inserting a thin pry hook and pulling down on the mag spring, but can't help but think that someone else may have a better solution. (Stop using these base plates?)

I have been considering a Tactical 2011 (DS) 4.0 in .40S&W as a carry gun for quite some time. I try other less expensive options, but keep coming back to wanting the Tactical 4.0. I've been so impressed with my Edge in .40 that I want to carry a 2011 .40 and it looks like the Tactical 4" would be great for that. I have carried my Edge on a few occasions and while it is do-able, I would appreciate something similar but with slightly less size and weight. I read some comments somewhere to the effect that with 2011 bodies, forty was possibly the best choice between 9,40, and 45 in terms of running reliably. Not sure of the veracity of that statement, though. .40 does possess an ideal combination of qualities including better capacity than .45, less recoil, but still retaining plenty of horsepower. The Edge shoots forty so softly that I can't imagine anyone not loving .40 caliber with a 2011 platform.

I don't shoot competition, so my perspective is that. I have three M&Ps. First was a .40 Compact. Followed by a full size M&P forty. Then a .45 Compact. I have Glocks in nine, forty, and .45. Don't like the Glocks in .40... not enjoyable to shoot. The M&P forties, however, are fabulous. Never fired an M&P9, but I'm sure they're nice. But the M&P forties are so comfortable shooting, with good capacity, and a potent caliber, that I have no motivation to acquire an M&P in nine. Among my highest rated carry guns are my M&Ps in forty! (The Edge in .40 is an amazing gun, just slightly cumbersome for EDC.)

Great. Thanks for the info, guys.

Are the same length springs used in both the 126mm and the 140mm mags?