For SHOT Show 2025, Aridus Industries has announced the release of a single-piece aluminum handguard, the new Aridus Imperium Handguard for Beretta 1301 Tactical Shotguns.
Aridus Industries' hardware-adapter kits became popular among dedicated Beretta 1301 shooters because the kits allowed for the installation of a Magpul Zhukov, an aftermarket polymer handguard meant for Kalashnikov-pattern rifles that also happens to fit over the bottom front half of the Beretta 1301. While this solution allows for more modularity over the factory fore-end, it wasn’t without some limitations, which led Aridus to prototype and develop the new Imperium Handguard.
This lightweight rail is extremely rigid and offers two banks of M-Lok slots on either the left or right sides. Installing the Imperium does not require any tools and can be done in seconds. In addition to offering additional rigidity—which allows shooters to have better control of their shotguns—the Aridus Imperium handguard is designed with plenty of clearance around the Beretta 1301’s barrel to serve as a heatshield, since these guns have a tendency to heat up during intensive training or practice sessions. Aridus Industries machined a patented texture that provides an extra level of grippiness without needing to install additional panels. To accomplish this, the company developed a patented machining technique, the first of its kind on a tactical M-Lok shotgun handguard.
Aridus Industries will begin offering the new Imperium Handguard for the Beretta 1301 Tactical in the spring of 2025, and it will be sold at a standard retail price of $299.99. Aridus is also in the process of prototyping an Imperium handguard to be compatible with the Beretta A300 Ultima Patrol Tactical Shotgun for a future release. Learn more these new handguard and other products from Aridus at aridusindustries.com.
