The 1301 Tactical features a fast-operating action, an 18.5-inch barrel, an enlarged reversible safety, and an oversized charging handle and bolt release lever for easier operation while wearing gloves or in the dark. The safety is positioned at the front of the triggerguard for more intuitive access, and the receiver has a Picatinny rail for mounting optics. The 1301 Tactical also comes with a protected front sight and a fully adjustable ghost-ring aperture at the rear. (http://www.beretta.com)
The Performance Shop M2 3-Gun Edition uses the inertia-driven action of the M2 series and adds significant enhancements to give competitive shooters an edge. The oversized charging handle and bolt release, the modified carrier and the enlarged loading port are all designed to make loading much quicker. There’s also a ventilated-rib barrel with a HiViz front sight for rapid sighting and Benelli’s recoil-absorbing ComforTech buttstock for enhanced control during rapid fire. (http://www.benelliusa.com)
Though a shotgun designed in the late 1800s doesn’t strike most people as cutting edge, Chiappa’s T-Series reproduction of the Winchester 1897 lever-action 12 gauge, with its 5+1 capacity, offers one additional round than some pump-action shotguns. The “T” in the name references the Terminator movie, where Arnold Schwarzenegger used a similar 1887. The 1887 T-Series is 27.5 inches long, has matte black finish and a rubber forend and grip. Consistent with defensive shotguns, the T-Series has a cylinder-bore choke for better buckshot and slug patterns. (http://www.chiappafirearms.com)
According to European American Armory (EAA) Corp., the new MKA 1919 Match can go the distance—a test sample has run over 13,000 rounds without any problems. Improvements include a new bolt, locking block, mag release, bolt release, feed ramp, action bar and gas system. The MKA 1919 Match accepts 2¾- and 3-inch shells and feeds from a detachable magazine with followers that lock the action open after the last round is fired. Two gas rings are included for shooting light and heavy loads, as well as three chokes and two 5-round magazines. The MK 1919 Match Pro version has an aluminum forearm with Picatinny-style rails. (http://www.eaacorp.com; 321-639-4842)
For 3-Gun enthusiasts, the SLP Competition has an extended eight-shot magazine and a 24-inch, back-bored barrel with an improved-cylinder Invector Plus choke tube that shoots better patterns than standard-length chokes and can be quickly changed for engaging targets at different distances that some matches provide. The barrel has a vent rib for a clean sighting plane and a fiber-optic front sight for quick targeting along with a flip-up open sight in the rear to use when shooting slugs. The loading port is enlarged to make loading easier when the shooter is on the move. (http://www.fnamerica.com; 703-288-3500)
FN’s semi-auto shotguns all share the same gas-operated action and have hard-chrome-lined barrels that handle 2¾- and 3-inch loads. The SLP Tactical has both a Picatinny top rail for mounting optics, a protected front sight post and a fully adjustable aperture rear sight. The SLP Tactical also offers a stock with several adjustments to fit different shooters or those wearing body armor. Invector chokes are included. (http://www.fnamerica.com; 703-288-3500)
This 12-gauge semi-auto uses a long-stroke gas piston operating system based on the AK-47, but with an infinitely adjustable gas system that allows shooters to tune the gun for heavy and light loads (2¾-inch shells only) in the field. It also has a quick-change barrel and feeds from detachable five-, eight- or 10-round stick mags as well as 20- and 30-round drums. The Origin 12 has a left-side-folding stock that reduces the gun to down a compact 28 inches. The safety, bolt catch and mag release are ambidextrous. (http://www.fostechoutdoors.com; 812-445-4028)
Kel-Tec now offers an “NFA ready” version of its KSG bullpup-style, pump-action shotgun. The original KSG is a compact 12-gauge shotgun that packs thirteen 3-inch shells that feed from two tubes—each holding six shots—mounted under the barrel. A selector lever lets the operator to choose which tube to feed from, allowing quick changeovers between buckshot and slugs, and a “neutral” position for clearing the chamber without reloading. The NFA-ready version is designed to be more easily made into a short-barreled shotgun (SBS) once the required ATF approvals are obtained. It has shorter magazine tubes that each hold five 2¾-inch rounds, a shorter forend and a vertical foregrip to operate the pump action. (http://www.keltecweapons.com; 321-631-0068)
The 12-gauge Scorpion starts with the Model 500 as a base with standard features like an ambidextrous top-mounted safety, twin action bars and dual extractors. Added features for the Scorpion package include a padded pistol grip and recoil pad for comfortably shooting heavy loads and a free-floated heat shield to dissipate mirage and protect the barrel. A receiver-mounted, aluminum sidesaddle holds five extra shells at the ready on either side and three add-a-shell units are included. Finally, the Picatinny top makes it easy to add optics, and the six-position stock can accommodate many different users. (http://www.mossberg.com; 203-230-5300)
Nighthawk Custom is best known for its custom-made 1911 pistols, but the company also offers upgraded Remington 870 tactical shotguns. Customers can send in their old gun for an overhaul/upgrade or buy a new gun directly from Nighthawk. Customers can select their own upgrades from a menu that includes Magpul tactical stocks, extended-capacity magazines, iron sights, breaching devices, receiver rails for mounting optics, and trigger and action jobs that make cycling smoother and quicker. Several finishes are also offered from the ordinary to the unusual. (http://www.nighthawkcustom.com; 870-423-4867)
The Versa Max Competition Tactical has a lightweight carbon-fiber, eight-shot magazine with a two-shot extension to hold 10 shells along with one in the chamber—the most capacity from the factory of any traditional tube-fed shotgun. It also has a ventilated rib for a cleaner sight picture as well as a fiber-optic front sight and a rear express-style open sight for more precision when using slugs. The safety, action release and charging handle are also oversized for faster manipulations without fumbling. Multiple chokes are included. (http://www.remington.com; 800-243-9700)
SRM Arms makes a semi-automatic, 12-gauge shotgun that feeds from a 16-shot, under-barrel-mounted, detachable rotary magazine. The design gives the shooter more ammo on board without the need for awkward drums or magazines that extend too far below the action and interfere with certain firing positions. The SRM uses roller-delayed blowback operation. The position of the magazine tubes can be manually changed by the support hand by unlocking a latch and rotating the magazine. (http://www.srmarms.com; 888-269-1885)
Standard Manufacturing, famous for its innovative DP-12, will soon release its new SKO-12 and SKO-BULL (the bullpup variant). These gas-operated semi-auto shotguns have 18.5-inch barrels and feed from detachable box magazines that come in five-, nine- and 15-round capacities. The SKO-12 has an ambidextrous safety and a reversible charging handle. Both models have flip-up sights. (http://www.stdgun.com; 860-225-6581)
UTAS, famous for its UTS-15 shotgun, has now unveiled the XTR, a 12-gauge, AR-15 pattern shotgun. This semi-automatic is gas-piston operated, feeds from a detachable five-, eight- or 10-round magazine and has controls like the AR-15, including an ambidextrous safety and charging handle. The bolt stays open after the last round is fired. The upper and lower receivers are made from aluminum forgings and are the size of some AR-10 rifles. External chokes and a muzzle brake are included. (http://www.utas-usa.com; 847-768-1011)
AR-15s may currently rule the firearms world, but it’d be hard to beat the versatility of the shotgun. Reliable pump-action and semi-auto designs can easily run buckshot, birdshot and slugs to take out threats or game at any reasonable distance. That’s why gun makers are still putting time and engineering into some truly creative scatterguns. Here are some of the best hitting the market in early 2016.
