CANNON IN B-MAJOR

Beretta’s 1301 Tactical Refreshes the Defensive Shotgun

- Tom Marshall

Street Howitzer. Room Broom. Scattergun. Gauge. Twelve Iron. Brixton Typewriter. These are just some of the slang terms for one of the most misunderstood defensive weapons of the 21st century — the self-defense shotgun. For many younger or newer shooters, this class of firearm has been almost entirely written off in favor of short-barreled rifles, rifle-caliber “pistols,” and pistol-caliber carbines. This phenomenon isn’t without good reason. Low recoil, high capacity, faster reloads, and a myriad of aftermarket accessories make these alternatives highly attractive to both the novice and aficionado alike. When measured against pump-action guns, the rate of fire also becomes a factor.

But the shotgun isn’t without its own advantages. Firepower per trigger press is going to be hard to beat. There’s also the ability to run buckshot, birdshot, slugs, and almost anything in between depending on your needs and ballistic preferences. Finally, the ability to put multiple “rounds” on target at once is a highly attractive proposition. To put this last point in concrete terms, a standard law enforcement duty load of 00 buckshot is nine pellets. Each pellet is .36 caliber, or just over 9 millimeters at a muzzle velocity typically between 1,100 and 1,200 feet per second. That means each time you fire a shell, you’re sending nine rounds of 9mm — more than a full magazine out of some micro-sized carry pistols — to the target at the same time.