[Review] Beretta A300 Ultima Patrol 20-Gauge: Better Than 12-Gauge?

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At SHOT Show 2023, Beretta launched the A300 Ultima Patrol to much fanfare. The shotgun was wildly popular because it brought modern, tactical features to a gas-operated shotgun without costing an arm and a leg.

Whether it was through comments on social media or direct outreach, our viewers and readers told us how much they would love to see a 20-gauge version. Of course, we passed that information on to Beretta, who created the 20-gauge version just a few years later.

We recently got one in hand with the very serious intention of testing it out. Would the 20-gauge hold up to the fine standard set by its predecessor?

I can tell you we had a bit of a rocky start, but things eventually smoothed out. Keep reading, and we’ll share all our findings with you below!

Beretta A300 Ultima Patrol 20 Gauge Specs & Features

Specs

• Caliber: 20-gauge
• Capacity: 7+1 (8+1 ghost loaded)
• Overall Length: 38”
• Barrel Length: 19.1”
• Height: 6.5”
• Width: 2.5”
• Weight: 6 lbs
• Country of Origin: USA
• Comes with: Cardboard box, length of pull insert, QR code for owner’s manual, gun lock

Features

• Oversized controls
• Optics mount
• Extended magazine
• Enhanced loading port

Beretta A300 Ultima Patrol 20 Gauge Backstory

In 2023, Beretta took the shotgun market by storm with their A300 Ultima Patrol. This new shotgun provided all the advantages of a tactically savvy shotgun without the limitations or steep cost of the vaunted 1301.

The A300 Ultima Patrol tested well when we reviewed it, and we were struck by the number of comments we received, hoping Beretta would make the shotgun in 20-gauge. We forwarded these notes to Beretta, who apparently took them to heart and started working out the particulars.

Keep in mind, the A300 has been around primarily as a semi-auto hunting line since the 1960’s, including a 20-gauge model in the 1970’s. It’s an interesting approach, making a more affordable, tactical shotgun when compared to Beretta’s 1301.

Shooting the A300 Ultima Patrol 20 Gauge: Accuracy & Reliability Analysis

Knowing semi-auto shotguns generally respond better to a diet of heavier shells, I started with slugs. I was impressed with the amount of recoil. The lightweight gun did alright dampening, but there was no mistake, I was launching slugs.

Disappointingly, the shells would not cycle. They would fire and make it about halfway out of the ejection port before hanging up, causing me to have to remove them manually or cycle the action manually.

This didn’t concern me too much. When I ran the buckshot through, everything cycled perfectly. Even the birdshot I ran struggled to cycle at first, but buckshot ran just fine.

Around the 100-150 shell mark, everything cleared up and cycled reliably, no matter what. The previous problems I had with birdshot and slugs disappeared, and all shells fed, fired, and ejected as intended.

It is not uncommon to have a break-in period for firearms, and that’s what I chalked this up to. As noted, for the remainder of the test, everything cycled well with the only difference being the distance by which the empty shells were chucked—slugs were flung a long distance while birdshot just dribbled out close by.

During testing, I patterned the 20-gauge to see what kind of spread I might expect. The #3 buckshot I used had 20 quarter-inch pellets per shell.

At five yards, all 20 pellets were within a circular grouping roughly 6 inches in diameter, including the wadding. This spread out to approximately 11 inches at 10 yards and was slightly more horizontal in pattern.

At 15 yards, the pattern covered the lower half of the target with a spread of roughly 14 inches. Finally, at 20 yards, the pattern covered most of the target with a spread of approximately 20 inches.

Keep in mind, the A300 Ultima Patrol utilizes Beretta’s MobilChoke system. This allows users to vary the pattern of their shot based on preference.

Regardless, this is good, repeatable accuracy that is heavily ammunition-dependent. This is yet another reason why it is so important to test ammunition in your firearms — not only do you learn if it will cycle, but you have a better understanding of terminal performance.

I then grouped five 260-grain slugs standing at 20 yards to see what kind of accuracy I might expect from the A300 Ultima Patrol. All five shells were within 3.5 inches of each other using the Primary Arms SLx red dot.

Between the slugs, buckshot, and birdshot, I had a good representation of how the A300 Ultima Patrol handled with various ammunition. Recoil was as you’d expect, very stiff with the slugs, lighter with the buckshot, and minimal with the birdshot.

The recoil pad is minimal, but it does a good job. I wouldn’t want to spend a day burning down slugs. I was a little sore by the end of the shoot, firing 200 shots of mixed.

Reloading the 20-gauge was a snap, though interestingly, Beretta did not include the hook and loop for the side of the receiver that came with the 12-gauge. I loaded from a dump pouch on my gun belt.

All in, the 20-gauge Patrol ran extremely well once I passed the break-in period. Other than heat from the exposed barrel, I had zero issues.

Ergonomics: Fit & Feel

One of the first things you notice with the 20-gauge A300 Ultima Patrol is its lightweight nature. Tipping the scales at 6 pounds, the shotgun is very wieldy, a likely benefit from its hunting heritage.

I was also struck by the aggressive nature of the grip texture where your hands interact with the Beretta. Panels along the bottom of the forend and grip are covered with the texture. It locks up well with your hands.

I found the comb height to be perfect, and appreciated that the length of pull was adjustable. Beretta indicates the total length is adjustable with a spacer between 12 inches and 13 inches.

The recoil pad was small, perhaps a third of an inch long, but it did a good job of mitigating everything but slugs. In addition, the pad hooked onto my shoulder well and did not require adjustment.

Controls are identical to the 12-gauge variety in that they are oversized, well-placed, and easy to manipulate. The charging handle is rounded, ribbed, and has a larger, flat surface toward the end that prevents your fingers from slipping off.

The bolt release is a flat, horizontal bar that stands out above the receiver. It is easy to reach and press from either above or below, making reloads a breeze.

Moving on to the safety, it is a cross-bolt variety. This makes it more challenging to reactivate after firing for right-handed shooters, requiring either left-hand activation or a reach under the guard with the trigger finger.

Beretta’s shotgun trigger is great for a number of reasons. It’s light, breaks clean at an average of 3 lbs. 6.4 oz. on a Lyman Digital gauge, after roughly a millimeter of travel, and has a definitive reset you can feel.

The loading port is extremely well done. Everything is opened up nicely, making stuffing shells in it a piece of cake. I had recently painfully split my thumbnail, and appreciated that the lifter had a half-moon cut in the end, making sure I didn’t catch my thumb with each shell I loaded.

Utility was clearly on the engineers’ minds when they designed the Patrol. The barrel clamp up front features a QD and M-LOK slot on each side.

A short distance back on the forend, Beretta included a half M-LOK slot, followed by a full M-LOK slot on both sides. This is repeated below in the 6 o’clock position as well and allows multiple weapon light mounting options.

In my review of the 12-gauge variety, I noted the QD slot in the bottom of the buttstock needed a little work to accept an actual QD attachment. Beretta improved this and added two more QD swivels on either side of the stock, capped with plastic plugs.

This is an appreciated improvement. Many of us are used to running slings AR-15 style, where you attach the sling to the side of the stock, so this is familiar territory and helps the shotgun lay flat along your chest, ready to go.

Finally, Beretta includes a red fiber-optic sight up front with protective wings and a ring peep sight in the rear.

Improvements We’d Like To See

I’m always going to lean toward the functional side of things when it comes to firearms, less toward the aesthetic. The handguard on the A300 Ultima Patrol does not cover the top of the barrel, and while this looks nice, it doesn’t protect the hands when things heat up.

I’d rather see a handguard that offers some protection, like the Mossberg 940 Pro Tactical SPX. It isn’t a big deal when you’re shooting, but when you manipulate the firearm for loading or malfunctions, your hand can come into contact with a very hot barrel.

The break-in period was a little longer than I would have liked, though I’m not sure how Beretta could address this. There are so many variables involved: the shooter, the environment, and especially the ammo.

Who Is It For?

This is a tactical shotgun, intended for defensive use, so nearly anyone could deploy it for those purposes. The A300 Ultima Patrol would make an excellent home defender since you can dial the ammo in to your specific home scenario.

Part of the attraction of this firearm is that it has less recoil than a 12-gauge.

This opens the door to a wider variety of people who might be interested in a serious method of defense, without fearing the wrath of 12-gauge recoil.

By the Numbers

Reliability: 3/5

The A300 Ultima Patrol in 20-gauge struggled with slugs and birdshot at first, with nearly a dozen failures to feed or extract. I’ve averaged this score because, after approximately 150 shells in, I couldn’t make the shotgun malfunction.

Ergonomics: 4/5

The controls are excellent, as is the loading port, and texturing on important surfaces. If the barrel were covered, it would be perfect.

Accuracy: 4/5

The A300 Ultima Patrol patterned consistently and provided accurate groups when shooting slugs.

Customization:3/5

Between the M-LOK and Picatinny rail, you can customize quite a bit. In addition, companies like Chisel Machining and Aridus Industries are making awesome upgrades.

Value: 3.5/5

The current price of the 20-gauge A300 Ultima Patrol is around $1,100 compared to the 12-gauge, which now runs between $800-$900. Some folks are willing to pay more for less recoil.

Overall: 3.5/5

Upgrades & Accessories for the Beretta A300 Ultima Patrol 20 Gauge

I have been shooting for a few decades and definitely prefer using a red dot on most guns. The shotgun is no different. Primary Arms makes some affordable and durable options that mount right up.

A good sling significantly increases the utility of your long gun because you can safely sling it and use your hands for other important tasks. Plus, it’s nice to take the load off once in a while, even with a light gun.

Big booms come out of even a 20-gauge so make sure you’re using good eye and ear protection. During this test–and all tests–I rely on Shell Shock.

How We Tested Beretta A300 Ultima Patrol 20 Gauge

We tested the A300 Ultima Patrol in 20-gauge using a total of 200 shells. The bulk of which consisted of Winchester Super Target #8 birdshot, while the rest was a mixed variety of Federal’s #3 buckshot, and Remington Premier Accutip Sabot slugs (260 grain).

I patterned the Patrol at distances of five, ten, fifteen, and twenty yards using #3 buckshot. Accuracy was further tested by shooting a group of five slugs at twenty yards.

All testing utilized a Primary Arms Slx MD-20 red dot for sighting purposes. While I could see the standard sights, the mount of the red dot was too high to co-witness.

I used a number of shooting drills on steel targets at varied distances to test function, accuracy, and manipulation. Some positional drills were conducted from behind VTAC barricades using the same steel targets.

Meet the Experts

This review was written by Sean Curtis, Content Producer and Lead Review Analyst for Pew Pew Tactical. Sean spent 22 years in law enforcement in Colorado, where he served as a Patrol Commander, SWAT Team Leader, and firearms instructor for his agency.

During his career, Sean always had a shotgun when serving in uniformed patrol. He held certifications in related fields, including 44-Hour POST Certified Handgun Instructor, 40-Hour POST Train-the-Trainer, 40-Hour Handgun Instructor Course (FCPD), CLEFIA Advanced Firearms Instructor Training, 40-Hour NLEFIA Red Dot Instructor, 40-Hour Principles of SWAT, High-Risk Warrant Service Workshop, and Basic 40-Hour Tactical Response Course.

Outside of law enforcement, Sean has continued his training, completing multiple modified shotgun courses at Gunsite.

This review was edited by Editor-in-Chief Jacki Billings, who runs Pew Pew Tactical’s experienced team of reviewers. Jacki has worked as a media professional for close to 20 years, specializing in gun media for almost 10 years. She uses her extensive professional journalism and editing experience to set testing protocols and editorial standards. Though she’s primarily a pistol girl, Jacki owns and shoots a Remington 870 shotgun that was passed down from her father.

Final Verdict on the Beretta A300 Ultima Patrol 20 Gauge

I can honestly say I’m not surprised the 20-gauge Patrol did so well, given the performance I experienced with the 12-gauge I tested in 2023.

The break-in period was a little different, but things smoothed out nicely by the time everything was said and done.

This shotgun is extremely lightweight, reasonably accurate, and reliable post-break-in. Plus, Beretta made sure you’d be able to attach anything reasonable, like weapon lights, optics, and slings, to maximize utility.

The A300 Ultima Patrol is a perfectly capable, softer-recoiling home defender, with all the modern amenities you’d expect in a tactical shotgun—and it’s still significantly less expensive than Beretta’s flagship 1301.

Will you be purchasing the A300 Ultima Patrol in 20-gauge? Let us know in the comments below! For even more scattergun love, be sure to check out Best Shotguns: Tactical & Home Defense!