The shotgun remains an important tool in today’s law enforcement arsenal. It complements the officer’s pistol, and provides some advantages over the rifle/carbine, most notably the versatility of ammunition (less-than-lethal, breaching, buck shot, slug) that presents the officer with different capabilities to address various tactical situations. In urban environments it can also reduce the range and penetration of typical 5.56x45 mm/.223 Remington loads, limiting the risk of accidental shooting of bystanders.
Within the modern shotgun offerings, agencies today can benefit from extremely reliable semi-automatic shotguns that offer advantages over the legacy pump-action guns found in many armories around the country. First and foremost, the semi-automatic is easier to shoot and requires less training to master when compared to the pump action. This is a result of the softer felt recoil transmitted to the shooter, achieved by redirecting some of the energy to the cycling of the action. Less recoil means increased hit probability, due to the reduction in flinching and muzzle rise - especially critical during any required follow-up shots. The semi-automatic shotgun is also faster to shoot than the pump-action, allowing the officer to put more rounds down range in a shorter period of time. Compared to the pump shotgun, the semi-automatic action is also easier to fire from within a vehicle or other confined space and, in an emergency, can be fired one handed. This is very important for canine officers that have to manage a leash, or in case one of the officer’s arms is incapacitated or otherwise unavailable.
Beretta offers a complete range of firearms, and the 1301 Tactical shotgun is one that meets the needs of the modern law enforcement officer. Beretta’s field-proven gas operated semi-automatic shotgun features an oversized charging handle, large textured bolt release, and an oversized reversible safety button. The integrated BLINK gas operating system, featuring a cross tube gas piston, allows the 1301 Tactical to cycle 36% faster than any other shotgun on the market. Available in an 18.5” barrel configuration and with a compact overall length of only 38”, this lightweight shotgun is fast handling yet controllable. Magazine capacity is either 4+1 or 6+1, depending on configuration. The barrel is set deep into the slim fore-end to minimize the bore-to-hand distance and promote instinctive pointing. It features a robust, protected sighting system that uses a ghost ring for the rear sight and an interchangeable front blade sight. The receiver offers a MIL-STD-1913 aluminum Picatinny rail. The standard models feature an aggressive checkering pattern for optimal grip on the synthetic stock and fore-end. Drop and cast can be adjusted via a modular shim system. The Pistol Grip model features a Mesa Tactical Urbino stock with adjustable cheek piece and LimbSaver recoil pad, as well as an extended +2 magazine tube, multiple swivel attachment points and a forward Picatinny rail. Now also available in Flat Dark Earth, Olive Drab and Marine configurations (corrosion resistant finish and Aqua-Tech coating), with removable choke tubes.
