The Beretta A300 Ultima Patrol 12GA Semi-Auto Shotgun

The Beretta A300 Ultima Patrol: Optimized For Self Defense

Ask any firearms expert what they recommend for home defense and chances are they'll recommend at least one 12GA shotgun. Shotguns have a relatively low skill threshold and are fairly intuitive, with plenty of options for defensive loads available in today's market. This is ideal for new shooters and those who want a simple, easy-to-use option that is sure to demoralize and discourage any would-be attackers.

Beretta's A300 Ultima Patrol is one of the most popular semi-auto options available because it is purpose-built for defensive shooting. It features a 7-round magazine tube and a smooth action for reliable feeding, allowing for rapid follow-up shots. Moreover, the receiver features an integrated Picatinny rail for mounting a red dot of the shooter's choice.

Specs

  • Caliber: 12GA
  • Barrel Length: 19.1"
  • Capacity: 7+1
  • Chamber: 3"
  • Length Of Pull: 13"
  • Sights: Ghost Ring Sights
  • Accessories: 3 M-LOK Slots, 3 QD Sling Attachments, Picatinny Rail Mount

To aid manipulation of the shotgun, the A300 Ultima Patrol features aggressive texturing on the stock and forend, as well as an enlarged charging handle and loading gate. The shotgun can be configured for right or left-handed shooters, as the safety is reversible. Best of all, the A300 Ultima Patrol can be upgraded with Beretta 1301 accessories to suit each shooter's unique preferences.

Shooters looking for an out-of-the-box defensive shotgun will appreciate the A300 Ultima Patrol's blend of features and affordability. With the potential to be customized for practically any use case, this shotgun is ideal for home defense, personal protection, and even competition shooting.

Performance

The A300 Ultima Patrol is remarkably controllable for a semi-auto 12GA shotgun. Of course, some "kick" is still noticeable but the semi-auto action absorbs much of the recoil so that it is not nearly as harsh as one might expect. We were able to dump all eight rounds (seven in the tube, one in the chamber) in under 1.5 seconds with minimal muzzle rise.

Additionally, we ran several different shotshell loads through the A300 Ultima Patrol without any malfunctions. It was a pleasure to shoot and functioned as well as we'd expect from a Beretta shotgun. The A300 series truly punches above its weight class in terms of reliability and performance.

We shot the A300 Ultima Patrol side by side with the more expensive 1301 Tactical and while there were a few noticeable differences between the platforms, those differences were relatively minor. For those seeking a quality "do it all" shotgun, the A300 Ultima Patrol is an excellent choice.

How Does The Beretta A300 Ultima Patrol Stack Up Against The Beretta 1301 Tactical?

Still deciding between the A300 Ultima Patrol and the 1301 Tactical? Then we definitely recommend checking out our video with Kaya and Jason testing both shotguns at the range. Watch below: