In the five centuries that Beretta has been in existence, the Italian gunmaker has dabbled in just about every type of shooting platform there is. But the shotgun is where Beretta has carved out its largest niche, and the semi-automatic Beretta 1301 Tactical — now in its third generation since being introduced in 2014 — has proven to be a reliable option for competition, law enforcement, and home defense.
It’s a diminutive, lightweight firearm that was built to engage and subdue a threat at close range. Right out of the box, you can tell that fast target acquisition, combined with ease of use, was at the forefront of the 1301’s design.
The Beretta 1301 Tactical’s Blink Operating System
The 1301 runs on Beretta’s trusted gas-driven Blink operating system, which the manufacturer touts as being 36% faster than other gas guns. It’s the same design used in the A400 series of sporting and competition shotguns.
It’s fast, but putting a precise percentage on its ability to cycle shotshells faster than every other shotgun out there is a challenge — and possibly just some marketing magic. Let’s just say you won’t be disappointed with the shotgun’s ability to efficiently eject spent hulls and load a fresh shotshell.
Most Beretta shotguns are gas-driven. But the 1201, which the 1301 evolved from, was one of the few Berettas that actually ran on the same inertia-driven system Benelli uses in many of its firearms. Oddly enough, Benelli deviated from its tried-and-true inertia system with its tactical M4, the 1301’s direct competitor, which operates on a short-stroke, gas-driven action called A.R.G.O., with a cross tube gas piston.
With proper maintenance and cleaning, both gas systems are incredibly reliable, a reason Beretta and Benelli opted for gas over inertia. An inertia-driven shotgun can function just as well as a gas gun, with the caveat that it must have something to recoil against (your shoulder) in order to cycle.
So, if you are in a stressful environment, such as a home invasion, or if you’re a police officer performing a sweep of a building, gas systems are less likely to malfunction because they don’t need a solid shoulder mount to operate properly.
The gas created by the propellant in the shotshell drives a piston that sits near the end of the magazine tube and pushes the bolt backward. The action returns forward via a return spring, collecting the next shotshell from the carrier and chambering it.
If you need to shoot a gas gun off-shoulder or from the hip (this sounds like movie stuff, but it really happens in breaching and close-quarters combat), it is much more likely to cycle than an inertia auto-loader, as long as the piston is calibrated correctly.
The Beretta 1301’s action rods, which drive the bolt backward after the shotshell primer ignites and sends the payload down the barrel, are made of steel. They are affixed to a plastic cylinder that slides over the magazine tube. A recoil spring also slides over the magazine tube.
Beretta built the 1301 with its familiar two-piece carrier. To keep the bolt open when the gun is empty, you must depress a small button at the rear of the carrier. Once it’s depressed, you can slide the bolt rearward by pulling the oversize charging handle, and the bolt will remain open.
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Exterior Features of the Beretta 1301
There are four variants of the Beretta 1301 Tactical semi-automatic shotgun, plus two Competition models. There are three Tactical versions — Marine, OD Green, and FDE — that were designed with a traditional shotgun “pistol grip” — in other words, not a straight grip stock.
The black 1301 Tactical pistol grip is an actual pistol grip, which offers better control of the firearm and makes it easier to shoot it one-handed should you be in a situation that requires it.
There is also an adjustable cheekpiece on the black 1301 Tactical that provides a more custom fit. Outside of those two modifications, the four guns are virtually the same except for their exterior finish and magazine capacity.
You will see a lot of builds that include Magpul’s shotgun stock and the Aridus Industries M-LOK forend/handguard — and they do look great together and provide some greater versatility for accessories. But be warned, if you want to go this route, you’ll need an adapter like the one Tactical Ordnance Inc. makes for the Mossberg version of the Magpul stock.
At the muzzle of the 1301 is a raised blade front sight, which offers improved target acquisition over a standard white bead. Most tactical-style shotguns have this feature built-in because it’s much easier to put that tall sight on a threat and pull the trigger.
The 18.5-inch barrel is made from Beretta’s proprietary Steelium, an alloy common in most Beretta shotgun barrels, with the exception of higher-end break-actions, which use Steelium plus. If you choose the black 1301 Tactical, it comes with an M-LOK barrel bracket that allows you to mount a small Picatinny rail so that an aftermarket light or laser can be added. The Marine, OD Green, and FDE do not have this feature.
Every model has a top Picatinny rail for mounting an optic and a rear ghost ring sight. The highly textured bolt release and bolt handle are oversize and textured for more grip. This is a common but critical design feature in many tactical and competition shotguns.
Larger controls are great for faster reloads, and they’re especially convenient in the dark when you’re operating the gun by feel, though statistically, a home invasion is more likely to occur between 10 a.m. and 3 p.m. than at night.
One drawback of a large bolt release button is they are easy to trip unintentionally and close the bolt when you’re not expecting it. I have caught fingers and clothing in the unloaded action of many modern Berettas. It’s more of an annoyance than anything, but if you buy this firearm, just know your action will sometimes close on you when you least expect it.
The trigger group of the 1301 is removable, and the shotgun features an oversize reversible safety button so lefties can set it up easily. The forend and palm swell of the buttstock (13-inch length of pull) are textured, so the gun won’t slide out of your hands in a high-stress environment.
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How To Ghost Load
The black 1301 Tactical has an extended magazine that runs underneath the barrel, allowing it to hold a total of eight rounds (7+1). The other three 1301s have a 4+1 round capacity. You can “ghost load” the 1301, meaning after chambering a round and loading the magazine it’s possible to add an extra round that sits on the carrier.
Make sure the safety is engaged, then pull the bolt rearward. The shell in the chamber will be extracted.
After that, slide the shotshell back into the chamber while holding the bolt open. Then push a shell down onto the carrier and slowly slide the bolt forward until the bolt moves past the brass rim of the shotshell. Now your gun is capable of shooting nine shells if you have the black 1301 Tactical or six if you own one of the other three models with the short mag tube.
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How Good of a Shotgun Is It?
Though it is not as vaunted as Benelli’s M4, the Beretta 1301 is a highly functional shotgun. Its Blink gas-operating system makes the 1301 a reliable choice for home defense as well as police and military applications. Its light weight (just 6.5 pounds) and compact size (under 40 inches) make it an ideal option for civilians, cops, and infantrymen.
Beretta 1301 Tactical Specs
Gauge: 12
Action: Semi-automatic
Capacity: 7+1 (2 3/4-inch shells)
Chamber: 3-inch
Barrel Type: Steelium
Barrel Length: 18 1/2 inches
Overall Length: 37.8 inches
Chokes: Improved Cylinder
Sights: Ghost ring rear sight; interchangeable front blade sight
LOP: 13 inches
Weight: 6 1/2 pounds
MSRP: $1,700
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