Beretta A300 Ultima Patrol
Beretta claims that their new A300 Ultima Patrol is an ultra reliable shotgun with all of the features that a shooter could ask for. While I agree with Beretta’s claim’s, there is one flaw with this shotgun that should not be overlooked.
If the A300 Patrol appears familiar to you its because it looks very similar to Beretta’s top of the line tactical shotgun, the 1301. While some people will argue that the new A300 is an improvement over the 1301, it is absolutely less expensive. 1301’s are selling for approximately $1650.00, while the A300 price tag is closer to $950. That leaves the shooter with money left over to purchase ammunition and training. It does mean that
Out of the box, the A300 Patrol appears to have it all. Oversized controls, magazine tube extension, M-Lok, and a rail across the top just to name a few. Beretta also included a barrel clamp that contains both M-Lok and a QD mount for a sling. But this is where Beretta completely dropped the ball. There is nowhere to mount the sling on the back of the shotgun. They did provide a threaded port on the bottom of the stock however attaching a sling to that point is less than optimal. Why did they do this? Beretta really answered every single prayer from shotgun lovers and then kicked the baby with the second sling mount. Maybe this bothers me more than it should but it just seems like Beretta wants me to run a single point sling attached at the front of the gun.
Starting at the muzzle, I added a Streamlight Protac Rail Mount 2. Ive been using these Streamlights for a while and recently started having issues with this one in particular. Occasionally, the pressure pad will fail and will require me to spin the tailcap in order to regain connection. This has not been consistent and I am continuing to test it before reaching out to Streamlight. Because of this issue, I also switched out the Rail Mount on my work rifle to a Surefire.
I also added an old Holosun Red Dot that I had laying around. This Holosun has preformed great for me as I have run it in countless Tactical Games events without any issues. I am interested to see if the Holosun is up for the abuse of the A300’s recoil.
I also added an Esstac Shotgun Card to the side of the A300 as a way to carry additional ammunition and preform reloads from.
Shooting the A300 is a blast. The oversized controls really help and make working on shotgun skills fun as opposed to frustrating. The recoil is significantly less when compared to a pump shotgun making follow up shots much faster. Although I ran various types of ammunition through the A300, there were never any issues with cycling.
I found the best patterning buck shot to be the Federal Flite Control 2 3/4 00 Buckshot. The pattern was consistent and appeared to be optimal out to 25 yards. The pattern at 35 yards and 50 yards starts to spread outside of the Q target. Although the nature of buckshot limited me to 25 yards, I was able to make consistent C-Zone hits with slugs at 100 yards.
The photos below are the spread of the Federal Flite Control 2 3/4 00 Buckshot at 10, 15, 25, 35, and 50 yards.
The Beretta A300 Patrol is an outstanding shotgun that truly shines as a versatile firearm for both civilians and Law Enforcement personnel. With its reliable gas-operated system, this shotgun delivers exceptional reliability and quick follow-up shots. Its compact design, combined with a 3-inch chamber, make it highly maneuverable in close quarters and an ideal choice for tight urban environments. The A300 Patrol's durable construction and impeccable ergonomics contribute to its comfortable handling and ease of use. Whether for self-defense or patrol, this shotgun's excellent recoil management and consistent performance make it an excellent choice.
If you are in the New Jersey area and interested in purchasing an A300 Patrol, or have any gear questions, email us at Gear@ReadinessTrainingGroup.com and we can put you in touch with our preferred FFL.
- Brian
