At SHOT Show 2023, Beretta treated us to one of the more exciting reveals during their special range event.
The Italian firearms company rolled out the Ultima Patrol…a new 12-gauge semi-automatic shotgun with a particular set of skills.
This black sheep of the A300 family is not into hunting or clays; it’s a tactical shotgun with modern features.
And while we had a brief encounter with it in Las Vegas, we weren’t going to leave a judgment call like this up to a first blush.
We got the A300 Ultima Patrol and practically ran to the range to test it out. So follow along as we walk through the specs, features, and performance.
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Beretta A300 Ultima Patrol Review at a Glance
Pros
- Lightweight
- Upgraded features
- Reliable
Cons
- Rear QD hold
The Bottom Line
Beretta has done a bang-up job of packing a lot of features into this tactical semi-automatic shotgun while keeping the price reasonable.
Prices accurate at time of writing
Prices accurate at time of writing
-
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Specs & Features
Specs
- Caliber: 12 gauge (3” chamber)
- Choke: Mobilchoke
- Length: 38”
- Barrel Length: 19.1”
- Action: Semi-auto (gas operated)
- Weight: 7.1 lbs.
- Capacity: 7+1
- Comes with: cardboard box, owner’s manual, extra spacers
Features
- Oversized controls
- Accessory mounts
- Enhanced loading port
Source: Beretta
Background
The Ultima Patrol is a new addition to the A300 family of shotguns which, up until now, has only offered hunting and sporting models.
Building on the same receiver, Beretta shortened the stock and included other features more befitting a tactical gun while keeping it in that middle-ground price range.
Many will draw the obvious comparisons to the 1301 and will want to know the main differences. The 1301 is made in Italy, while the Ultima Patrol is made in Tennessee.
In addition, the Ultima Patrol’s barrel is not cold hammer forged, but it does utilize a shorter forcing cone in conjunction with a falling lock bolt.
By contrast, the 1301 uses a longer forcing cone and rotating bolt head.
Who Is It For?
The owner’s manual states this shotgun is not recommended for hunting applications.
While birds of many a feather might rejoice at this news, who did the oldest gun manufacturer in the world have in mind for this shotgun?
While strictly a guess on my part, I suspect Beretta is trying to take advantage of that recent lull in production of the Remington 870 — a trusted accessory to many law enforcement agencies.
Should a worthy yet affordable alternative rise up, many departments would have to consider it.
The shortened overall length and features make this gun a fighter that’s easier to handle in confined spaces. It will be right at home in its namesake role in law enforcement agencies across the U.S.
However, those same features also make the Ultima Patrol a great option for a home defender.
The gun is pretty complete as is and could easily serve either role with minimal accessories.
Fit & Feel
The first thing I noticed about this shotgun was how light it is.
Beretta lists it at 7.1 pounds, but my scale showed it at 6 pounds, 15 ounces, with an optic added. Next was the texture on the grip and forend.
It’s aggressive, to say the least, and made of black plastic, but does a great job staying in your hands as a result. The only minor problem was the QD mount in the stock. It wouldn’t hold a QD.
After contacting Beretta, I trimmed back a little of the plastic around the recess. This worked like a charm.
The receiver of the model we tested was a very nice shade of grey with a flat finish, though there’s a black and camo model available too.
The sights are a ghost ring rear and a red fiber optic front. These were great, but I opted to use the included Picatinny rail on the top of the receiver to mount a red dot.
I don’t often expect much from a shotgun trigger, but the Patrol’s is nice.
It broke cleanly at an average of 2 pounds 13 ounces with zero pre-travel. Reset was crisp, audible, and tactile and occurred after a couple millimeters of return travel.
The magazine tube easily accommodated seven rounds of 2 3/4” shells, but I found I was also able to ghost-load another shell on top of the lifter.
With one in the chamber, this created a total capacity of 9 shells ready to go!
How Does It Shoot?
With the relatively light weight of the Ultima Patrol, I was curious to see how it would handle recoil. The butt pad isn’t enormous but consists of a gel-like rubber that does much to mitigate the jarring blow of 12-gauge shells.
The recoil is still substantial, but the gas system and butt pad make it manageable. We shot well over 150 rounds during testing and didn’t need ice or Advil at the end of the day.
I was impressed with the speed of the gun and how quickly I was able to empty the magazine, though Beretta says the 1301 is a little faster.
It took three runs of this drill to sufficiently heat up the barrel enough where caution was required on the reload.
Using the front sight, I experienced intuitive aiming, a comfortable cheek weld, and good eye alignment without having to adjust my head.
Later, the added height of the red dot broke my cheek weld slightly, but this was easily compensated for.
At SHOT Show, Beretta reps revealed to us that the Ultima Patrol was optimized for use with Federal’s Flitecontrol buckshot. They kindly sent along some for us to use during testing.
There is often a misconception about how much spread you get with shotgun pellets.
I patterned the Ultima Patrol at 10, 15, and 20 yards with Federal’s ammo and was impressed with the tightness of the groups.
Starting at 10 yards, the group of nine pellets was around 3 inches. Even at 20 yards, the pellets were spread over a group of only 7 inches.
With time and practice, a shooter could get comfortable making some shots requiring accuracy using this shotgun and ammo combo.
Another key point was loading. I’m no quad loader (yet), but I still enjoyed the work Beretta clearly put into the loading port, widening it and chamfering the edges.
With the right angle used, I didn’t catch my thumb on the lifter when stuffing shells, and I really appreciated that.
The included adhesive hook-and-loop strip was a welcome addition, and I stuck on some shell carriers to affect my reloads.
What Sets it Apart?
This is a tactical shotgun option that is feature-packed and has Beretta legacy but is made here in America for a price that’s mid-ranged. It’s not the 1301, but pretty darn close for several hundred dollars less.
| A300 Ultima Patrol | 1301 Tactical | |
| Overall Length | 38″ | 37.8″ |
| Barrel Length | 19.1″ | 18.7″ |
| Weight | 7.1 lbs | 6.4 lbs |
| Gauge | 12 | 12 |
| MSRP | $1,099 | $1,509 |
By the Numbers
Reliability: 5/5
We ran around 150 shells through the Patrol, a variety of sizes and brands. Everything fed, fired, and ejected with perfect reliability.
Ergonomics: 4/5
The ergonomics on the Patrol are extremely sound. There currently isn’t an option for a pistol grip stock.
Accuracy: 4/5
We experienced good accuracy when testing the Patrol, particularly with the Flitecontrol ammunition.
Customization: 3/5
The M-LOK slits, pic rail, and QD ports are welcome additions you can use to add the accessories you like. In addition, the Patrol comes in black, gray, and tiger stripe camo.
Value: 4/5
With all the features in the Ultima Patrol and the mid-range price, it’s a compelling value and worth considering in lieu of the vaunted 1301.
Overall: 4/5
Prices accurate at time of writing
Prices accurate at time of writing
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Upgrades for A300 Ultima Patrol
For testing purposes, we utilized the Bushnell RXS-250, and it handled the 12-gauge recoil from beginning to end without faltering.
Prices accurate at time of writing
Prices accurate at time of writing
-
25% off all OAKLEY products - OAKLEY25
Copied! Visit Merchant
This budget option was easily bright enough to see in direct sunlight, so bright in fact that it distorts a tiny bit on the highest setting.
Despite this minor issue, the dot was still very usable, with its 4 MOA dot offering 10 total brightness settings in an aluminum frame featuring multi-coated glass.
Final Verdict
Beretta is serving up a solid value in the A300 Ultima Patrol, offering a package not found on comparable guns at this price point.
Law enforcement administrators looking to outfit all their units will love the mileage they get with their budgets, and officers will enjoy the reliability and feature set.
The rest of us stand to benefit, too — by having access to a highly functioning, pedigreed, home defender made right here in America.
What’s your gut reaction to the A300 Ultima Patrol? Let us know in the comments below. Be sure to check out our top picks in 10 Best Home-Defense Tactical Shotguns [Hands-On]!
34 Leave a Reply
RE: QD issue- insert a 6mm hex wrench into the QD socket, make counterclockwise turns until interference is gone- then you don't need a Dremel.
Is there an adjustable rear sight replacement?
I just purchased the A300 black. Can this shotgun shoot 00 buck shot and a slug interchangeable? The sales guy said yes, but I can’t find any verification through beretta.
According to Jay Grazio, Executive Editor, Shooting Illustrated (May 2023 page 66), The A300 Ultima Patrol has no problem with slugs.
It also seems like a contender for a turkey gun, esp w a red dot. Which you’d need a plug for the mag tube, a gas gun should be soft enough for hunting. Why does beretta not recommend the gun for turkeys?
I just got one in black….light weight and maneuverable. It’s a great gun.
I just bought a Patrol last week and sighted in the ghost rings and they were right on with slugs out to 50 yards, received my Holosun 507c today and just sighted in at same distance from 25 to 50 and wow, this Patrol is outstanding. Lightweight and recoil was much less than my 870 and 500 pumps very easy to hold it was dead center at 25 and right about 1 inch at 50 with slugs freestanding, buckshot was perfect on circle dot at 15 yards. That 507c is perfect for this HD Patrol, low profile and the circle dot is very nice, excellent combo for home defense and SHTF.
What velcro side saddles are you using?
They are some cheap ones off Amazon that I got because time was crucial and Prime practically runs to my house! I'll be shopping for some better quality ones.
Thanks for the reply. I'm trying to decide between Vang Comp and Esstac.
You bet Mike. I haven't used Vang Comp but I've heard good things. I have used some Esstac products and they've all been quality.
Great review, Sean. Could you show a photo of your QD modification? Thanks.
Thanks Mick, and yet I fell short. Should have included that photo post-op! I appreciate the reminder, the photo has been added to the article. I simply used a Dremel to knock down the plastic a tiny bit, then used some sand paper to smooth it out.
How does it compare to the Benelli M4?
I honestly haven't had the pleasure! That may be in the works though.
Great review, Sean. Thx.
Thank you! I'm blessed with this work.
So this Beretta A300 Tactical versus the Mossberg 930 SPX Tactical? That the real competition. You've reviewed both now, so which wins?
Right you are! Tough to say off the top of my head. I'd have to take them out and give them a fair run off. Might be a fun video!
It’s almost as good as my M4.
At under half the price, I'm betting some folks will take that deal.
I suppose you are right. There are also the Turkish clones, but the Beretta is undoubtedly better. I don't want to seem like a snob, but I usuallly try to buy once, cry once. Also a former Navy doctor assigned to the Marines. Nice article.
Doc, thanks for your service and your praise! I subscribe to the same philosophy but have to keep in mind that not everyone does.
Nice! Now please manufacture in 20 ga.
I've had several people mention that now, I'll let Beretta know!
So should I just save for the 1300 in fde?
All about options!
Dear Beretta:
Will you PLEASE make a 'tactical/home defense' shotgun in 20 gauge?
I'll pass that along Jim.
Beretta's A300 Ultima Patrol... I ordered one already.
You won't regret it! What color did you choose?
ordered black
Can't go wrong with the classic.
Got one on 3/11. Had ordered a 1301 in green six months ago and went with cash to pick it up. When I got there all they had was the black option. The owner of shop felt bad. But he said they also got 3 a300s in. Two were already gone but they had the grey receiver. Examined the a300 patrol and the 1301 did by side. I actually liked the feature set of the patrol better and it was 600 bucks cheaper and liked that it was made in USA. I have 3 other tactical shotguns which are all pumps but an injury to my left hand last year has me questioning my ability to run the slide to my satisfaction. This a300 patrol has filled the void in my home defense plan. Oh and no I’m not getting rid of my 870s and mossberg. You don’t leave old friends behind!
Good for you! I think you'll be quite pleased, particularly when comparing it to the 1301. We've got tentative plans for some comparative videos coming up, but the A300 Ultima Patrol is a solid choice for a tactical shotgun.