The Impact of 922r on Beretta 1301 Tactical

Article, News

The Beretta 1301 Tactical shotgun is really popular with shooters. This extremely reliable semi-auto is also been popular with police agencies, as a standard-issue shotgun, and has been since it came out in 2014. In 2024, Beretta brought out the 1301 Mod. 2 version that contained some improvements over the previous model.

Beretta has been importing these shotguns for a decade under the ATF’s 922r regulations. In fact, the 1301 Tactical was the fifth most purchased semi-auto shotgun on GunBroker, coming in ninth overall in shotgun types in 2023. It actually rose to the third most purchased semi-auto during October of 2024. However, Beretta recently put out a statement about importing the 1301 Tactical shotgun. It reads, in part:

We are reaching out to inform you of a pause in the further production of the Beretta 1301 Tactical shotgun with 7+1 capacity, effective November 4, 2024. This decision comes in response to recent regulatory developments with the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF), impacting the importation of certain components essential to the assembly of the 1301 Tactical in the U.S.

Basically, this means that Beretta can no longer import and sell these shotguns on the civilian market; law enforcement agencies are exempt. Beretta will be bringing out a 1301 Tactical shotgun with a 5+1 capacity to be compliant with current regulatory interpretations. Of course, current models already imported can still be purchased through FFL dealers. This includes listings through GunBroker.

Beretta 1301 Tactical 7+1 Available on GunBroker

Now, Beretta has already announced that it will be bringing out a 1301 Tactical shotgun with a 5+1 capacity to be compliant with current regulatory interpretations. This could take a while, though. Luckily, 1301 Tactical shotguns already imported and on the market can still be purchased.

GunBroker currently lists more than 1,400 Beretta 1301 Tactical shotguns with the 7+1 capacity. These include both new and used models from dealers and private sellers across the country. Since there is no way to know how long current stock will last, those interested in owning the original 1301 need to act soon.

The 1301 currently comes with enlarged controls, a cold hammer-forged, back-bored barrel, and Beretta’s ultrafast BLINK gas operating system. It also comes with an oversized charging handle, a large textured bolt release, and an oversized reversible safety button. All this makes the shotgun easy to manipulate, even with gloves. It even comes with a protected ghost-ring system with an interchangeable front sight and an adjustable length-of-pull stock.

Shop Beretta 1301 Tactical Shotguns

922r Regulations

While difficult to truly understand, the 922r regulations basically require a certain amount of components of imported semi-auto shotguns and rifles to be American-made. The idea was to prevent the building of new, non-sporting firearms from imported parts. All imported long guns imported to the U.S. must follow 922r regulations. Most often this regulation affects AK-style rifle aficionados.

To be compliant, imported rifles and shotguns must not have more than 10 imported parts on the gun from an approved list of 20 parts.

Any rifle or shotgun assembled from foreign parts must have 10 or fewer of these parts: