Beretta 1301 Tactical Mod 2 Evaluation

There was an extended line of succesful tactical shotguns stretching again properly over 100 years — and we are able to now add the Beretta 1301 Tactical Mod 2 to this brotherhood. A partial record contains the Winchester Mannequin 97 Trench gun, Remington 870, Winchester 1200/1300 Defenders, Mossberg 590, and the Benelli M4 — all of which have confirmed their price whether or not carried within the arms of troopers and marines, using in patrol vehicles, or stashed in peoples’ properties. Primarily based on our testing, the Beretta 1301 Tactical Mod 2 shall be a cheerful slot in any of those environments. 

The household of 1301 Tactical weapons contains a number of completely different fashions, various in inventory kinds and colours. The model I examined has a pistol grip and folding inventory from Chisel Machining. It’s the most costly, however unarguably the best of the 1301s.

See It

• Gauge: 12
• Motion: Semi-auto, fuel
• Capability: 7+1
• Chamber: 3 inches
• Weight: 6.80 kilos (measured)
• Set off Weight: 2.88 kilos (measured)
• Barrel Size: 18 inches
• General Size: 38 inches (relying on LOP), 29 inches folded
• LOP: 12.5 to 14.25 inches
• Sight: Ghost ring, rail included
• Barrel End: FDE
• Inventory: Folding, removable
• Worth: $2,279
• Consists of: CL, OCHP flush choke

Key Options

• B-Hyperlink fuel working system
• Folding butt inventory that adjusts for LOP and comb peak
• Ambidextrous cross-bolt security and cheek piece
• Versatile crimson dot mounting choices
• M-Lok slots on fore-end and barrel clamp

Evaluation Highlights

• Cycles extraordinarily quick
• Simple to regulate
• Wonderful ergonomics
• Dependable

Patterning and Accuracy

The Beretta 1301 Tactical is among the most correct tactical shotguns we’ve examined. Ten shot teams with slugs at 25 yards averaged 1.939 inches, utilizing three completely different masses. With Hornady American Gunner slugs, it printed a 1.504-inch group.

It additionally patterned buckshot very properly. With Hornady’s Vital Protection 00 buckshot, all pellets landed throughout the A Zone of an IPSC goal at each 7 yards and 15 yards. At 25 yards, all however two pellets hit throughout the A Zone and C Zone (these two pellets ended up within the D Zone).

This information was gathered throughout our annual shotgun check and was additionally included into my roundup of the finest tactical shotguns. The one shotgun that was extra correct than the 1301 was the Mossberg 940 Professional Tactical Thunder Ranch, which averaged 1.902-inch 10-shot teams with slugs at 25, barely besting the Beretta. The typical group dimension for the remainder of the sector was 3.704 inches. 

The Motion

The center of the 1301 is Beretta’s B-Hyperlink (pronounced “blink”) fuel working motion, which is understood for its velocity and reliability. It makes use of a gas-actuated piston positioned about midway up the barrel that drives the bolt group backwards to cycle the gun. It features a chromed rotating bolt head that’s slick and resists fouling, enabling the gun to digest a whole lot of rounds with no need to be cleaned. The bolt’s slick development can be a part of the explanation the gun cycles as shortly because it does.

The design of the valve within the piston additionally contributes to the shotgun’s reliability. It creates an environment friendly seal that cuts down on the quantity of fouling that will get again into the motion.

The B-Hyperlink system’s status for reliability was borne out throughout our testing. The pattern I’ve been taking pictures (and abusing) for a number of months has held up admirably properly.

My colleagues and I’ve put properly over a thousand rounds by way of the gun, and haven’t had any failures to feed or cycle — with a pair exceptions. One is that when loading the shotgun with seven shells, the final shell doesn’t insert all the best way into the journal and generally that causes the shell to not cycle. I addressed that by simply loading the journal with six shells.

There was additionally one time whereas taking pictures slugs (you’ll be able to see the clip within the video evaluation we’ve embedded right here) the place the gun dropped the shell on the bottom slightly than choose it up on the shell lifter. That was an remoted incident I haven’t been capable of recreate.

From an operational standpoint, each conditions had been remedied by miserable the slide lock tab in entrance of the set off guard, which launched the following shell within the journal, and racking the motion.

Beretta 1301 Tactical Mod 2 Ergonomics

Reliability is a good profit in any firearm, however significantly so with tactical shotgun. That stated, it’s solely a part of the equation. Due to the extraordinary nature of a tactical shotgun, if you happen to can’t management the gun and function it easily, you’re at an enormous drawback.

That is one other space the place the Beretta 1301 Tactical Mod 2 shined. The pistol grip and fore-end, which has deep aggressive texturing molded alongside its size, lets you grasp and management the shotgun with assurance. The grip is rubberized round its decrease two-thirds, and is clean, laborious polymer up prime.

This hybrid configuration works properly, making a stable connection between the palm of the hand and the place the fingers of the taking pictures hand wrap round, whereas the slick portion above permits for simple maneuvering of the set off finger and retains the net of the hand from getting beat up.

The gun’s different controls are properly sized and positioned to be inside straightforward attain and work in a clean constructive method when manipulated by the shooter.

The crossbolt security, as an example, sits on the entrance of the set off guard and rests proper underneath the set off finger when it’s listed alongside the gun previous to taking pictures. It has a properly textured floor and clicks forwards and backwards between secure and hearth with no mush or grit. It can be reversed for left-handed shooters.

The bolt launch tab is barely outsized and is straightforward to find and function as properly. It doesn’t require extra effort to depress to drop the bolt, but it surely additionally isn’t so mild that you simply’re frightened concerning the bolt falling if you don’t need it to.

Beretta 1301 Tactical Mod 2 Set off

The set off on the 1301 Tactical has a semi-flat face, as Beretta describes it. It’s almost vertical (therefore flat) however has a slight curve machined into it. I just like the design lots. With a pistol grip inventory, a vertical set off is normally the best way to go. The slight curve on the set off face does a great job supporting the pad of the set off finger from prime to backside. It’s extra like one thing you’d discover on a precision rifle slightly than a tactical shotgun.

The set off has a clear, crisp break and brief reset. Coupled with the velocity and reliability of the motion, and the gun’s ergonomics, this high-quality set off permits for terribly quick and correct taking pictures.

Of the seven tactical shotguns we examined within the roundup, none might strategy the velocity with which we had been capable of precisely shoot the Beretta 1301.

Working the Beretta 1301 Tactical Mod 2

Lately, many tactical shotguns have taken a web page from the world of 3-gun and multi-gun taking pictures the place the flexibility to reload a shotgun in a flash is of paramount significance.

So we’ve seen receivers with bigger loading ports, usually with beveled edges, no-pinch shell lifters, and different ergonomic touches to facilitate straightforward loading.

The Beretta 1301 Tactical Mod 2 incorporates all these components, and I used to be capable of fill the journal shortly with no hang-ups or glitches all through my analysis.

My pattern got here with the elective MatchSaverZ shell holder, which is a clamp positioned simply in entrance of the ejection port that holds an additional shell. So when the gun runs dry and the bolt is locked open, all it’s important to do is strip the shell towards the rear and information it into the receiver. With a bit of follow you are able to do this quickly. It’s an effective way to swap to a distinct kind of munition or simply get one other shot downrange in a rush.

Given how straightforward the 1301 is to shoot and reload it’s no shock we had been capable of burn by way of huge portions of shells whereas taking over completely different goal arrays.

Sight Choices

With the ability to get a amount of pictures down vary doesn’t do a lot good if you happen to can’t management the place they hit and, on this space, the Beretta 1301 Tactical Mod 2 excels as properly.

The shotgun ships with sturdy and succesful ghost ring sights. The entrance and rear are each protected by sturdy wings that may survive something wanting a nuclear strike. The rear sight additionally has clearly marked elevation and windage changes to tune the purpose of purpose.

However as with most shotguns and handguns nowadays, the Beretta 1301 Tactical is supplied to take a crimson dot or different optic. There’s a 3-inch section of Pictainny rail in entrance of the rear sight for this function, however the gun comes with one other optic mounting choice too.

Simply behind the rear sight in the back of the receiver is a platform on the inventory with a RMR footprint. I screwed a Trijicon RMR Kind 2 to the mount and used that all through the analysis. The mounting plate positions the crimson dot decrease to the bore axis than the Picatinny rail does and co-witnesses with the ghost ring sights ought to one thing occur to the crimson dot.

Chisel Machining Inventory

The folding inventory from Chisel Machining is a sublime little bit of equipment. It has plenty of qualities that improve the operation of the Beretta and, if for some motive you have got a 1301 with out this inventory and really feel like splurging, I extremely suggest the improve.

The inventory may be adjusted to accommodate no matter sighting system the shooter chooses. The cheekpiece may be flipped from one facet to the following for lefties, it strikes up and right down to set the comb peak, and the size of pull adjusts in 1/4-inch intervals from 12.5 inches to 14.25 inches.

For my physique and elegance of taking pictures I positioned the LOP at 13.5 inches and lowered the comb all the best way down, which labored completely for me.

The general size with the 1301’s 18-inch barrel is roughly 38 inches, relying on the place you set the LOP. When folded, the shotgun measures 29 inches.

(As an apart, the barrel takes Beretta Optima Choke HP (OCHP) chokes. It comes with one flush-mounted Cylinder choke.)

The inventory doesn’t have any exterior knobs or levers, and as an alternative adjusts with Allen-head fasteners which might be unobtrusive and received’t get snagged on clothes and different gear.

The inventory additionally has attachment factors for slings and a five-shot shell provider that Chisel Machining additionally makes. (The barrel clamp on the entrance of the gun has QD cups on both facet for attaching the opposite finish of a sling.)

The folding mechanism is extremely stable, and when the inventory is locked open, it’s stiff and safe. Folding the inventory takes some effort as it’s important to overcome the stout spring that’s used to maintain the hinge locked. However when you grasp the squeezing movement it isn’t troublesome to function.

When the inventory is folded, it sits flush in opposition to the left facet of the receiver, so it doesn’t block the ejection port, charging deal with, and bolt launch. It’s designed so you’ll be able to run the gun on this collapsed place.

To unfold and deploy the inventory all you should do is give it a delicate tug and it’ll overcome the detents that hold it from flopping round.

The recoil pad on the inventory is broad, squishy and really efficient. It did a great job absorbing blows from the heavier rounds we put by way of the gun. Though the shotgun is mild, we had been capable of run it laborious with out beating our shoulders to hamburger.

Due to the shotgun’s glorious ergonomics and clean motion, it’s a pleasure to shoot and shoot quick. And we couldn’t hold it loaded for any size of time earlier than sending a twig of hulls throughout the vary.

M-Lok Slots

The 1301 additionally has attachment factors for a light-weight or laser on the fore-end. It has three M-Lok slots situated on the 3, 6, and 9 o’clock positions for this function. As well as, the barrel clamp has an M-Lok slot on both facet as properly.

Match and End

The shotguns are available in a pair completely different shade schemes, though I believe that the FDE is probably the most engaging of the bunch. The barrel and metallic work have been Cerakoted in FDE and the fore-end is molded from polymer of that shade. The folding inventory is anodized black, and from an aesthetic standpoint it goes properly with the remainder of the gun.

General, the 1301 is good-looking and purposeful wanting. Beretta did a pleasant job on this regard.

The innards of the shotgun are completed properly too. The bolt head and inside the receiver are polished chrome and appear to withstand fouling and corrosion properly.

Discipline Stripping the Beretta 1301 Tactical Mod 2

To interrupt the gun down begin by eradicating the barrel clamp in entrance of the fore-end. As soon as the 2 Allen head fasteners it employs are loosened it can slide off the barrel, permitting you to unscrew the cap on the journal tube and pull the fore-end free.

As soon as the fore-end is off, the barrel and its connected fuel piston can slide free as properly.

To take away the bolt and bolt meeting you take away the charging deal with. That’s finished by miserable the bolt head barely so {that a} lower within the bolt head traces up with the bolt deal with help you pull it free — form of like how the slide cease is faraway from a 1911.

After the deal with is eliminated, the bolt meeting, which incorporates the 2 motion bars that function the connection between the fuel piston and bolt physique, may be free of the gun.

To get to the innards of the bolt, take away the retaining pin on the rear of the bolt physique. Simply ensure you have a finger over the firing pin to forestall it and the firing pin spring from launching throughout the room as soon as the retaining pin is withdrawn.

After the firing pin is out you’ll be able to slide the breech bolt pin free, which can allow you to take away the bolt head from the bolt physique.

At this level you have got entry to all the main parts within the shotgun and can provide it an intensive cleansing.

Beretta 1301 Tactical Mod 2 Execs and Cons

That is such a well designed gun with good workmanship that there isn’t a lot to search out fault with.

Execs

• Quick taking pictures
• Good accuracy
• Simple to regulate
• Versatile sighting choices
• Compact ergonomic profile

Cons

Remaining Ideas on the Beretta 1301 Tactical Mod 2

The 1301 Tactical is a simple gun to gush about, as a result of it hits all of the excessive notes for a tactical shotgun. It accepts crimson dot optics with ease, has good mounted sights, a folding inventory that adjusts each method you may want, a pistol grip and fore-end which might be straightforward to hold on to, and a dependable motion that may run as quick as a belt-fed if you wish to get after it. It’s the form of gun that makes you a greater shooter.

So long as your finances can face up to the preliminary outlay to amass the gun, after which assist no matter behavior you’re more likely to develop when it comes to making empty hulls out of goal masses, you’ll not remorse the acquisition. However it’s no mere toy. It’s a severe software, able to doing all the pieces one might ask of a tactical shotgun.

Amongst at the moment’s finest defensive shotguns, the Beretta 1301 Tactical Mod 2 has a stable declare as probably the most refined and elegantly designed of the lot. Presently, you received’t discover a higher tactical shotgun on the market.