Beretta 1301 Tactical Mod 2 12 GA 18.5" 7rd Magpul SGA Shotgun

The 1301 Tactical is the shotgun that most serious shotgun instructors ended up recommending, and the Mod 2 is the current refinement of it. Beretta's Blink gas system cycles fast enough that the gun is reloading while the shooter is still recovering from the shot, which is the whole argument for a semi auto fighting shotgun over a pump. This one carries an 18.5 inch barrel with a 7 round magazine tube.

The Mod 2 comes with a Magpul SGA stock, and that matters more than it sounds. The SGA adjusts for length of pull with spacers and takes interchangeable cheek risers, so the gun can be fit to a shooter in body armor or a shooter with short arms without a trip to a gunsmith. Beretta enlarged the controls on the Mod 2, so the bolt release and safety are findable under stress or with gloves on. An oversized loading port makes the tube easier to feed on the clock. It runs buckshot and slugs without complaint, weighs less than most people expect, and points quickly. For home defense or a patrol rack, it is about as sorted as a 12 GA gets.