The Beretta 1301 Tactical brings devastating power and speed to the semi-auto 12-gauge platform. In the upcoming July 2014 issue of GUNS & WEAPONS FOR LAW ENFORCEMENT, author Robert Jordan test-fires one and delivers his results.
Jordan writes, “The heart of the 1301 Tactical is the Blink rotating-bolt gas operating system. There are two main types of semi-auto shotguns: gas operated and inertia driven. Gas-operated shotguns typically have less felt recoil than inertia-driven models, and definitely less than pump actions. The trick has been to set up a gas system that can take the devastating 1-ounce lead slugs and 00 buckshot that typically comprise law enforcement’s arsenal and still function with light loads like the reduced-recoil 00 buckshot and slugs that are used by many law enforcement agencies. Beretta advertises that the Blink gas system is more than one-third faster than any other shotgun. I have no way to measure that, but I can tell you it cycles faster than I can pull the trigger and keep rounds on target.
“The most obvious feature of the Blink system is its rotating bolt head. Like an AR rifle, the bolt turns and unlocks as it comes out of battery. It then ejects the spent hull, grabs a new shell from the carrier and rotates again as it locks into battery. Also, the gas system is self-cleaning. An elastic sealing gasket scrapes the piston each time it cycles to prevent carbon buildup. This means it will shoot reliably for a long period of time between cleanings.
A second feature that sets the 1301 Tactical apart is the metal used in the barrel. Steelium is a proprietary blend of nickel, chromium and molybdenum. Hammer forged and vacuum distended to relieve stress points, the barrel will almost certainly outlast you and I on this earth. The barrel is 18.5 inches long with a fixed choke. I feel not having removable chokes is important on tactical shotguns.”
To learn more, check out the July 2014 issue of GUNS & WEAPONS FOR LAW ENFORCEMENT, available on newsstands and digitally April 8, 2014. To subscribe, go to /guns-weapons-for-law-enforcement
