Beretta A300 Ultima Patrol Review: My Go-To Home Defense Shotgun
After 300+ rounds of testing, here’s my hands-on Beretta A300 Ultima Patrol review. See how it performed with Hornady, Winchester, Monarch, and Rio ammunition.
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Introduction: Beretta A300 Ultima Patrol
Can you think of a gun you knew you would love the first time you held it? For me, that gun was the Beretta A300 Ultima Patrol. It is hard to overemphasize how taken I was with this shotgun the first time I got my hands on it, and I am not the only one. The A300 Ultima Patrol (UP) has been one of the most talked-about and popular defensive shotguns since its introduction.
To make the Ultima Patrol, Beretta took the proven A300 operating system, added features that shooters actually want on a defensive shotgun, and the result is this incredible shotgun.
First Impressions
The first thing that stood out to me when I got my hands on the A300 Ultima Patrol was how good it felt to hold and point. The balance is incredible, and it points really well. Without firing a shot through it, I was already impressed.
The texturing on the forend and stock is aggressive, but not so much so that it is uncomfortable to hold and shoot. It is the right amount to feel like you can control the gun even with sweaty or dirty hands from working on the farm or just mowing the lawn. The ergonomics on this gun demonstrate the quality Beretta poured into the A300 Ultima Patrol.
Features and Controls
Beretta built the A300 Ultima Patrol around its gas-operated action. This gas system does an excellent job of managing the shotgun’s recoil, making it very comfortable to shoot. This can become very noticeable when shooting hotter loads and when comparing it with pump-action shotguns.
The ghost rings sights deserve a mention here as well. My A300 Ultima Patrol lives without an optic the vast majority of the time. It is without an optic as I am writing this. This is not a knock on red dots. This is a testament to the quality of the ghost rings that adorn the shotgun. I will run a Vortex UH-1 on the shotgun, but the majority of my shooting was with the factory sights. They are easy to acquire and are more than adequate for the distances and purpose of a defensive shotgun.
The enlarged controls on the A300 make it easy to manipulate when wearing gloves or in stressful situations. This is sometimes overlooked when people are picking out a shotgun. I never thought my MAC 1014’s bolt release felt small until I started using the A300 Ultima Patrol’s.
Key Features
- Optics-ready receiver
- Ghost ring sights
- Enlarged controls
- Accessory mount capability
- Seven-round magazine capacity
- Aggressive stock and forend texturing.
It is easy to mount accessories to the A300 Ultima Patrol. There is a Picatinny rail along the top of the receiver, making it very easy to mount red dots and other accessories. Plus, there are M-LOK slots on the forend that make mounting accessories there easy.
I keep a Streamlight HL-X ProTac on the A300 at all times. I think it is important to have lights on home defense firearms. The light plus and an Esstac shotgun card are my go-to everyday accessories.
Reliability
The single most important characteristic of a defensive firearm is reliability. This is where the A300 Ultima Patrol needed to perform the best, and where it has impressed me the most.
After more than 300 rounds, I have experienced zero malfunctions. The shotgun just runs.
My testing includes multiple ammunition manufacturers and load types. I have shot ammo from Winchester, Monarch, and Rio. For 00 Buck, I have run a ton of Hornady Critical Defense. Birdshot, buckshot, high brass, everything just runs.
Many shooters, with good reason, default to pump-action shotguns because of their perceived reliability advantages over semi-auto shotguns. The Beretta A300 Ultima Patrol is just as reliable as any pump-action I have owned.
Recoil & Shootability
If there is one area where the A300 separates itself from most other shotguns is its shootability. The A300 is just a sweet package that handles recoil very well.
The gas-operated system does an excellent job absorbing recoil. I am not recoil-sensitive and can struggle, at times, to understand when people say a certain shotgun has too much recoil. I have no issue with my 13-year-olds shooting the A300. The recoil is completely manageable for smaller-framed people.
Ergonomics & Handling
The ergonomics of the A300 Ultima Patrol really stand out for their excellence. The gun is simply a pleasure to hold and shoot. Whether you are running defensive drills, transitioning between targets, or doing anything else with the shotgun, it has a balanced, natural feel. Plus, the controls are exactly what you would want from a defensive shotgun.
Home Defense Performance
The Beretta A300 Ultima Patrol was designed with home defense in mind, and it shows.
Using Hornady Critical Defense 00 Buck, the shotgun produced consistent results on reactive targets. (Water-filled milk jugs). I have not conducted formal paper-pattern testing, but performance on steel and various reactive targets at distances of approximately 15-25 yards has been excellent.
Manageable recoil, reliable cycling, effective sights, and accessory compatibility make the A300 Ultima Patrol one of the best home defense shotgun options available today, especially at its affordable price point.
A300 Ultima Patrol vs Mossberg 590
So, should you choose a semi-automatic A300 Ultima Patrol over a proven pump-action shotgun like the Mossberg 590? That answer largely comes down to personal preference.
My Mossberg 590 is one of my favorite shotguns. There is a reason pump-action shotguns have remained popular for decades. My 590 is flat-out fun, besides being practical. That being said, if I were selecting one shotgun from my collection for home defense today, the Beretta A300 Ultima Patrol would probably get the nod.
The main reasons are that the A300 Ultima Patrol provides similar confidence while reducing recoil and eliminating the need to manually cycle the action between shots.
For some shooters, those advantages are substantial. My mother, in her 70s, has a semi-automatic shotgun for home defense and not a pump-action, for instance.
There are tradeoffs with both platforms, and neither one is necessarily “superior” to the other.
Pros & Cons
Pros
- Outstanding reliability through 300+ rounds
- Soft-shooting gas-operated action
- Excellent ergonomics and grip texture
- Effective ghost ring sights
- Optics-ready from the factory
- Easy to configure for defensive use
Cons
- More expensive than many pump-action alternatives
- Tube-fed reloads remain slower than magazine-fed firearms
- Defensive-focused design may not appeal to hunters or clay shooters
Last Words
The Beretta A300 Ultima Patrol has been one of the very best firearms I have ever owned. The combination of excellent ergonomics, recoil management, defensive-focused features, and above all, reliability makes it one of the most complete home defense firearms available.
There are less expensive options available. I love my MAC 1014, for instance. There are excellent pump alternatives, such as the Mossberg Maverick and the 590. But if your goal is to own a high-quality semi-auto shotgun, it is hard to beat the Beretta A300 Ultima Patrol.
300+ rounds of ammo through the gun and consistent use have not only convinced me the firearm is reliable, but I am willing to put my life, and the lives of those I love, on its ability to work as required. In short, the Beretta A300 Ultima Patrol has earned my trust.
FAQ
Is the Beretta A300 Ultima Patrol reliable?
Unequivocally, the answer is yes. My shotgun has exceeded 300 rounds using multiple ammunition brands without a single malfunction.
Is the Beretta A300 Ultima Patrol good for home defense?
Absolutely. The A300 Ultima Patrol was designed for defensive use and includes features such as ghost-ring sights, receiver-mounted Picatinny rail, and a reliable gas-operated action.
Does the Beretta A300 Ultima Patrol kick hard?
It is still a 12-gauge shotgun, so yes, some people will find that it has more recoil than they would like. But the gas-operated system noticeably reduces felt recoil compared to pump-action alternatives.
Is the Beretta A300 Ultima Patrol better than a Mossberg 590?
This is a matter of personal preference. The A300 offers reduced recoil and semi-automatic operation, while the 590 offers the simplicity of a pump-action design.
Can you mount a red dot on the Beretta A300 Ultima Patrol?
Yes. I use a Vortex UH-1 Gen II on mine at various times and feel comfortable with putting other red dots on it.
