The shotgun is one of the most popular home-defense weapons. The two genres of defensive shotguns are pump-action and semi-auto. As with most defensive firearms, both have supporters. Pump-action fans cite reliability as the key to their affinity, while semi-auto operators love the easy use and quick shooting. Regardless of which side you’re on, everyone can agree that Langdon Tactical makes everything better, like the Beretta 1301 Tactical.
The Langdon Tactical Beretta 1301 Tactical
I know professional folks moving to semi-autos for tactical use and protecting hearth and home. One of the nicest tactical self-loaders I’ve seen is the Beretta USA 1301 Tactical, born with 3-Gun shooting in its DNA. (Competition—hard, demanding competition—is an excellent venue for firearms and techniques ruthlessly.)
Tactically Beretta
Replacing the 1201, Beretta’s gas-operated 1301 Competition popped on the scene in 2013. Beretta’s 1301 Competition morphed into the 1301 Comp Pro. The 1301 Comp Pro became a hot 3-Gun circuit gun.
This was likely bolstered by the BLINK gas system’s self-cleaning mechanism and the advertised 30-plus percent increase in cycling speed. A Tactical 1301 for LEOs and defensive work in mind seemed a logical fit for the 1301 lineup.
Beretta tweaked the Comp Pro into the Tactical by adding an enlarged and reversible safety button, a large textured bolt release, a five-shell magazine, and an expanded charging handle with grooves, along with chopping the barrel to 18.5 inches.
A ghost-ring rear sight and wing-protected replaceable front blade provide an excellent sight system, along with a Picatinny rail for optics. The furniture bears checkering on the forend, stock, and pistol grip, allowing users to obtain and maintain a secure grip.
All of Beretta’s enhancements were added with a serious combat/defensive tactical weapon in mind. Tactical weapons have to work every time, despite inclement weather, harsh environments, or protective gear such as gloves.
Beretta says the 1301 Tactical “…is easily adaptable to most users’ needs, body type, and shooting posture. The stock is adjustable for length of pull with provided spacers. And, for extra flexibility in customization and accessorization (sic), the receiver offers an aircraft-grade aluminum Picatinny rail, making it a snap to add optics without modification to the shotgun.”
Beretta’s 1301 Tactical rendition seems to fit the bill.
Langdon Tactical Technology
Earnest Langdon’s modifications come from strain and stress mixed with rivers of sweat, courtesy of his experience. Langdon served in Panama, Cuba, the Philippines, and the Persian Gulf during his 12 years in the U.S. Marines.
This helped to provide him with more “…than 30 years of experience in the firearms industry, training military, law enforcement, and civilians” and gunsmithing. Not to mention 25-plus years of competitive shooting.
He also has firearms instructor certifications from the FBI, NRA, U.S. Army, U.S. Marine Corps, and California POST Certified Firearms Instructor. That doesn’t come easily.
Neither does the respect needed for Earnest to consult and design in partnership with Beretta and Springfield Armory. Ernest is best known for customizing Beretta and Springfield Armory pistols.
In addition to training, Earnest takes courses from others, including anti-terrorism classes for good measure. Competing in IDPA and USPSA matches rounds things out. I did say, “Competition—hard, demanding competition, at least—is an excellent venue for testing firearms and techniques severely.”
I’ve watched many firearms—including custom—and hotshot competitors puke as match pressure rose.
The LTT Touch
Beretta’s 1301 Tactical is an imported Title 18 USC 922r-compliant firearm. 922r brings restrictions to which modifications are allowed until certain requirements are met. Such as increasing the five-round magazine capacity.
In the process of meeting the federal guidelines, Langdon Tactical Technology employed several products from Magpul and Aridus Industries.
Nordic’s Beretta 1301 MXT +2 Tactical Extension Tube Kit includes a specially designed extension with cap and MXT nut to interface between the extension and factory magazine, and barrel clamp for locking the extension tubes solidly to the barrel. Finally, one of Nordic’s superb Enhanced Magazine Tube Followers is dropped in.
The lightweight Enhanced Follower is machined from aluminum to exacting dimensions and anodized. It slides slickly enough to virtually guarantee no problems.
The barrel clamp seems superfluous on a short extension until you consider it provides a QD point and piece of Picatinny Rail. As a tactical shotgun, the LTT 1301 can expect rough treatment. And the clamp keeps the extension in alignment no matter what.
Furniture Upgrades
The Magpul Zhukov Handguard for AKs requires Aridus’ 1301 modifications and brings several very positive things to the dance. M-Lok slots provide quick and easy addition of a plethora of accessories.
In addition, a stainless-steel carbon shield protects users’ hands from hot gases and carbon. Finally, the front adapter has a spring plunger, which interfaces with the extension tube nut to prevent rotation during recoil.
Lauded by many as one of the best shotgun stocks, Magpul’s SGA Shotgun Stock can be installed on LTT’s 1301 Tactical using the Aridus Stock Adapter. Adapters are CNC-machined from 6062-T6 aluminum and mil-spec anodized.
The SGA stock cinches down perfectly, bringing its ambidextrous nature, comfortable butt pad and ergonomically designed textured grip. The SGA also brings a sling attachment point on each side and is spacer adjustable from 12.5 to 14.5 inches length-of-pull.
Accessorizing the 1301 Tactical
Optional accessories are Aridus’ Co-witness Ready Optic Mount (CROM) with Rob Haught modification and/or their Universal Side Saddles. The CROM is precision machined from 6061-T6 aluminum and comes in several flavors, depending on the optic.
The mount attaches to the receiver and optics bolt directly to the mount, keeping optics lower for a consistent cheek weld or use of the included XS Ghost Ring Sight. Rob Haught versions have the ghost-ring sight with the upper half of the ring removed.
Aridus’ Universal Side Saddle brings out the lust in me. I want one badly; maybe one for every shotgun I own! There are several shotgun-specific Receiver Adapters, but the six-round Detachable Carrier always remains the same.
The Universal Q-DC Side Saddle has a Receiver Adapter machined from 6061-T6 with Type III hard coat anodizing and a steel latch. It attaches directly to shotgun receivers with “Very High Bond 3M double-sided tape.” Yep, tape.
Before the emails, visit their website and watch the tape video. Serial numbers and pins are accessible through windows.
The rather futuristic-looking carrier has a back plate of anodized 6061-T6. The injection-molded, glass-filled nylon shell holders use steel springs to securely hold shells.
My first thought was how easy this makes transitioning from a home-defense shotgun to one loaded for dispatching destructive critters in the Back 40. For more serious social activities or classes, extra carriers fit AR-15 pouches. I really like Aridus’ Side Saddle!
Range Time
By this point in my examinations, I’ve reached the “I need to shoot something!” stage. I made preparations for a range trip—ultimately delayed by the crowd of admirers I made the mistake of showing the 1301 to.
At this point, I should inform readers, as I did the range crowd, that the LTT 1301 Tactical used for this article is Ernest Langdon’s personal shotgun. One he obviously has used abundantly. Expect a few cosmetic blemishes from all that use.
The only difference between Ernest’s shotgun and a production LTT 1301 is Trijicon’s RMO and an M-Lok adapter carrying Streamlight’s TLR-1 HL.
My shotgun regimen includes multiple handfuls of shotshells, ranging from fresh from the box (premium and bargain) to those just lying around the shop. I fed the LTT 1301 until my fingers were tired with no stumbles.
Patterning buckshot at 15 yards and slug groups at 25 yards followed. Beretta’s flush-mount, replaceable Optima HP Improved Cylinder choke patterned Speer Lawman LE and Remington LE in the 5.1- and 6.8-inch range. Federal’s eight-pellet FliteControl produced a 1.2-inch ragged hole. Winchester’s 1-ounce slugs produced groups of around 1.3 inches.
Last Shot
I can’t swear the cycle speed was approximately 30% faster, as Beretta advertises. However, it felt great, and I have no doubt the cycle increase is there. Beretta’s enlarged and reversible safety button, large textured bolt release, and grooved, expanded charging handle were excellent at providing quick and secure utilization.
The LTT 1301 Tactical is light and quick for transitioning between targets. Aridus’ Universal Side Saddle performed great during reloads. As expected, Magpul’s SGA Tactical Shotgun Stock and Zhukov handled well.
I could not find a fault with Langdon Tactical Technology’s improved 1301 Tactical. Not surprisingly, Ernest Langdon knew the exact modifications needed to take Beretta‘s 1301 Tactical to the next level. It is truly ready to win at competition, self-defense, or other tactical application!
For more information, please visit LangdonTactical.com.
This article originally appeared in the June/July Gun Annual 2022 issue of Tactical Life magazine. Get your copy today at OutdoorGroupStore.com.
