New Release Beretta A300 Tactical

[Phaedrus/69]

My 1301 replaced a Mossberg 500 that wasn't particularly reliable. Once I replaced some parts it worked pretty well but the Mossy was always finicky about ammo it would run. Oddly I could not get DDuplex Monolit to work at all. They're a smidge longer than most American 2.75" shells but it's a 3" chamber and they work fine in every other 12ga I've tried em in. So far the Beretta has been better but for a variety of reasons I keep my PWS Mk114 at the ready for HD.

 

[D.B. Cooper]

John Corriea, over at Active Self Protection YT channel, finally did a video of it. I think, if nothing else, him holding the gun gives a better size reference for it. Sounds like the recoil system is in the stock (so, really, not unlike the old Winchester Model 50), but that may mean no aftermarket stock, at least for a little while. (Not an issue for me,)

 

[Milkmaster]

John Corriea, over at Active Self Protection YT channel, finally did a video of it. I think, if nothing else, him holding the gun gives a better size reference for it. Sounds like the recoil system is in the stock (so, really, not unlike the old Winchester Model 50), but that may mean no aftermarket stock, at least for a little while. (Not an issue for me,

The A300 has the same recoil/gas system as the Beretta 391 series. The recoil spring is in the stock like most shotguns were for years. It is nothing new. The recoil spring being in front of the bolt under the forearm piece came in the A400 series for Beretta, and it seems the way of most shotgun manufacturers now. Aftermarket parts in general for the A300 should still work as before. Looks to me like they just added a few do dads to the basic A300 to make it a more affordable option compared to the 1301 model.

 

[rust collector]

IF it were made in Italy (which it will not be) and IF it were on a PROVEN operating platform (it is not) I might be willing to take a chance on it.

The A300 is made in the US and, as others have noted, is based upon the 391 system which is thoroughly proven and reliable. Use what you like, but there is no reason to disparage a gun you have never held in your hands.

 

[JCooperfan1911]

The A300 is made in the US and, as others have noted, is based upon the 391 system which is thoroughly proven and reliable. Use what you like, but there is no reason to disparage a gun you have never held in your hands.

Time will tell.

We are at least a year or more off until these will be under MSRP or even physically on shelves at LGSs.

 

[Steve in NC]

I handled one of these shotguns yesterday at my LGS. Price was $999. It is setup ready to go as-is. Add your light and light mount to the M-lok rails and your sling. Everything else is already installed. It is lightweight because a lot of the furniture on the front is polymer with steel inserts to combat wear. The butt stock is shorter than a standard LOP for quickness.
I personally use an 870 20ga Youth model for my HD setup. This 12ga A300 has the same balance and feel as my youth 870. I personally prefer a std bead sighting system over rifle type sights for SD/HD defensive work. I still shoot this just like any other shotgun which means I don’t like “sights”. When shooting slugs at distance, I just take an extra second to aim and can center chest hit out to 100 yds.
For $1k price tag I was impressed with this shotgun. But, I didn’t shoot it to see how it runs. And to me, that is the proof that is in the pudding. Only time will tell. Based on Beretta’s reputation it should be fine.
Me personally I’m not trading in my tried and true 870. But if I was in the market for an HD shotgun…. There is a lot of bang for $1000 sitting right there on the shelf.

Steve

 

[czmaniac]

I handled one of these shotguns yesterday at my LGS. Price was $999. It is setup ready to go as-is. Add your light and light mount to the M-lok rails and your sling. Everything else is already installed. It is lightweight because a lot of the furniture on the front is polymer with steel inserts to combat wear. The butt stock is shorter than a standard LOP for quickness.
I personally use an 870 20ga Youth model for my HD setup. This 12ga A300 has the same balance and feel as my youth 870. I personally prefer a std bead sighting system over rifle type sights for SD/HD defensive work. I still shoot this just like any other shotgun which means I don’t like “sights”. When shooting slugs at distance, I just take an extra second to aim and can center chest hit out to 100 yds.
For $1k price tag I was impressed with this shotgun. But, I didn’t shoot it to see how it runs. And to me, that is the proof that is in the pudding. Only time will tell. Based on Beretta’s reputation it should be fine.
Me personally I’m not trading in my tried and true 870. But if I was in the market for an HD shotgun…. There is a lot of bang for $1000 sitting right there on the shelf.

Steve

I didn’t think any were shipping until the end of the month? I doubt that it lasted long. I would have snapped it up on the spot, as I’m in the market for one….

 

[Capybara]

The Beretta 1301 Tactical is now selling for around $1,500 new, I bought mine for $1,299 last year and the street on the A300 Tactical is $999 for black, significantly more for OD Green, FDE, or the Tiger Stripes, I think I've seen $1,299?
Beretta has two hits on their hands, the 1301 Tactical has been a great seller and the A300 Tactical will sell even more. I don't regret buying my 1301 Tactical at all, it's a great shotgun so far.

I wouldn't touch a modern 870. I know the old ones when Remington was a real company are great but my more modern Freedom Group 870 is a piece of junk in comparison. So sad that the bean counters and equity fund managers reduced a once great firearms brand into a smoldering wreck.

 

[Phaedrus/69]

About six years ago I was looking at an 870 Express with a wood stock and frankly was stunned at how bad the fit & finish was. The stock where it met the receiver was at least 1/4" proud of the metal! Bad enough that shocking lack of QC allowed it to get boxed and leave the factory, but some clown actually held it in the his hands when putting it on the rack and went, yeah, I guess that's fine. If they do that bad a job on the parts you can see how bad are the ones you can't see?

 

[Nuke8401]

I have a 1301 Comp that I bought specifically for 3-gun right after they came out. It has a 24" barrel which allows a total capacity of 10+1 with a Nordic mag extension that results in the same overall length as the barrel. I also have and use a Nordic extension that allows 12+1 capacity that is about 6" longer than the barrel which is common in the 3-gun world. My 1301 has fired hundreds if not thousands of rounds without a hiccup including using it in a SIG academy 3 day Shotgun Instructor course. Before the 1301 I had a Mossberg 930 comp and it constantly failed to fully chamber rounds (yes I cleaned it like Jerry M said). If you are buying it for 3-gun, magazine capacity is only second to reliability. The first time you shoot a match you will wish you bought a gun with at least the ability to upgrade to 10+1. I've never lost the FO front sight and I change the FO "rod" a few times a season.

 

[D.B. Cooper]

If you are buying it for 3-gun, magazine capacity is only second to reliability. The first time you shoot a match you will wish you bought a gun with at least the ability to upgrade to 10+1. I've never lost the FO front sight and I change the FO "rod" a few times a season.

Thanks for sharing your experiences. Yes, I learned the importance of capacity when I first started USPSA with a revolver. I haven't handled any version of the A300 before; can you not install a magazine extension on them? In retrospect, perhaps not. The original design was a hunting gun which meant a 3-round legal restriction anyway, so why make them compatible with a magazine extension.

 

[D.B. Cooper]

The Beretta 1301 Tactical is now selling for around $1,500 new, I bought mine for $1,299 last year and the street on the A300 Tactical is $999 for black, significantly more for OD Green, FDE, or the Tiger Stripes, I think I've seen $1,299?
Beretta has two hits on their hands, the 1301 Tactical has been a great seller and the A300 Tactical will sell even more. I don't regret buying my 1301 Tactical at all, it's a great shotgun so far.

I wouldn't touch a modern 870. I know the old ones when Remington was a real company are great but my more modern Freedom Group 870 is a piece of junk in comparison. So sad that the bean counters and equity fund managers reduced a once great firearms brand into a smoldering wreck.

If the black gun is $1000 and the tiger stripe (limited edition) model is $1300, then how do you define "significantly more for the OD Green?" There's only a $300 (30%) difference (which I would say is significant) from bottom end to top end. The OD green has to be somewhere in between.

I agree with your assessment of the 870. I never understand their popularity, but there is no accounting for taste, I guess.

 

[Capybara]

If the black gun is $1000 and the tiger stripe (limited edition) model is $1300, then how do you define "significantly more for the OD Green?" There's only a $300 (30%) difference (which I would say is significant) from bottom end to top end. The OD green has to be somewhere in between.

I meant any of the colors besides black are significantly more than black. Personally, I'd never pay more for another color besides black but YMMV.
When I bought my 1301 Tactical last year, all of the colors were the same price, at least, they were at my LGS. I bought FDE simply because I'd never owned an FDE gun.

Beretta A300 Patrol OD Green/FDE combo $1,299.00 https://www.omahaoutdoors.com/beretta-a300-ultima-patrol-fde-od-green/
Beretta A300 Patrol Tiger Stripe $1,099.00 https://www.omahaoutdoors.com/beretta-a300-ultima-patrol-tiger-stripe/
Beretta A300 Patrol Marinecoat $1,149.00 https://www.omahaoutdoors.com/beretta-a300-ultima-patrol-marinecote/
Beretta A300 Patrol Black $999.00 https://www.omahaoutdoors.com/beretta-a300-ultima-patrol-12-gauge/

 

[Nuke8401]

Thanks for sharing your experiences. Yes, I learned the importance of capacity when I first started USPSA with a revolver. I haven't handled any version of the A300 before; can you not install a magazine extension on them? In retrospect, perhaps not. The original design was a hunting gun which meant a 3-round legal restriction anyway, so why make them compatible with a magazine extension.

I am not familiar with the A300 but it looks like it has a 19-20" barrel so an extension to give you 10+1 would extend 4" past the barrel = not a big deal in 3-gun with a clamp. I would imagine it would allow the use of a mag extension, they would be crazy not to. If your intention is 3-gun and they come with a longer barrel/higher capacity you would be better off. I think a 6-8 round mag shotgun vs a 10-12 round mag gun would be similar to shooting a USPSA revolver against an Open gun unless of course you reload like Jerry M. Nordic lists extensions for several Beretta models and so I would expect them to have one for this gun soon. If you are buying a gun for 3-gun it may cost you about the same as a 1301 by the time you are done and you would be more competitive. It just depends on the main reason you are buying the gun. https://nordiccomp.com/mxt-fit-guide/

 

[D.B. Cooper]

I am not familiar with the A300 but it looks like it has a 19-20" barrel so an extension to give you 10+1 would extend 4" past the barrel = not a big deal in 3-gun with a clamp. I would imagine it would allow the use of a mag extension, they would be crazy not to. If your intention is 3-gun and they come with a longer barrel/higher capacity you would be better off. I think a 6-8 round mag shotgun vs a 10-12 round mag gun would be similar to shooting a USPSA revolver against an Open gun unless of course you reload like Jerry M. Nordic lists extensions for several Beretta models and so I would expect them to have one for this gun soon. If you are buying a gun for 3-gun it may cost you about the same as a 1301 by the time you are done and you would be more competitive. It just depends on the main reason you are buying the gun. https://nordiccomp.com/mxt-fit-guide/

Yeah. I'd like to get into 3-gun, but most of my competition guns o double duty as HD/SD, O i wouldn't want a mag extension longer than the barrel or a long barrel. If it's going to come to that, I have a model 12 with a 7 shot tube and a 30" barrel. (Not sure if there is a mag extension for it, though. Sure wish someone still made a pump gun that would slam fire.

 

[D.B. Cooper]

I meant any of the colors besides black are significantly more than black. Personally, I'd never pay more for another color besides black but YMMV.
When I bought my 1301 Tactical last year, all of the colors were the same price, at least, they were at my LGS. I bought FDE simply because I'd never owned an FDE gun.

Beretta A300 Patrol OD Green/FDE combo $1,299.00 https://www.omahaoutdoors.com/beretta-a300-ultima-patrol-fde-od-green/
Beretta A300 Patrol Tiger Stripe $1,099.00 https://www.omahaoutdoors.com/beretta-a300-ultima-patrol-tiger-stripe/
Beretta A300 Patrol Marinecoat $1,149.00 https://www.omahaoutdoors.com/beretta-a300-ultima-patrol-marinecote/
Beretta A300 Patrol Black $999.00 https://www.omahaoutdoors.com/beretta-a300-ultima-patrol-12-gauge/

That's funny. They're all out of stock. I suspect it will be a year or more before supply catches up with demand.

 

[Capybara]

That's funny. They're all out of stock. I suspect it will be a year or more before supply catches up with demand.

Yep, A300 Patrol will be a huge seller for Beretta, I predict a lot more so than the 1301 Tactical because of the cost. I know a couple of guys who were on it with the pre-orders
and they are already out enjoying their new shotguns. Glad I have the 1301 Tactical because if I didn't I'd be wanting the A300 and would be frustrated because I likely couldn't find one,
at least not without a lot of hunting for one.

 

[bubbatime]

The stock and butt pad looks very cheap.

This new gun looks to be the best set up home defense shotgun on the market. The MLOK slots at 3,6,9 , the fantastic sights, the rail for mounting red dots, the sling mounts, etc.

The new Mossberg 940 Pro looks amazing as well. Side by side with the new Beretta A300 patrol, they should be comparable.

I’d be in the market if I didn’t already have an excellent Benelli M2 tactical. My gun is 5+1. I added a 2 round extension to get 7+1 and it totally changed the balance and feel of the gun, so I took it off and went back to the factory 5+1.

 

[Capybara]

All of the usual GunTubers have received copies and have posted review videos. James Reeves from TFB TV really ran it hard, I think did a 500 round torture test and the gun ran extremely well. And that was getting barrel hot enough to almost boil the hand guard. A300 Patrol looks like a winner, he still likes his 1301 Tactical a bit better but for $999, the value is really good for the A300.

 

[D.B. Cooper]

All of the usual GunTubers have received copies and have posted review videos. James Reeves from TFB TV really ran it hard, I think did a 500 round torture test and the gun ran extremely well. And that was getting barrel hot enough to almost boil the hand guard. A300 Patrol looks like a winner, he still likes his 1301 Tactical a bit better but for $999, the value is really good for the A300.

Yeah, I saw that review, too. He also proffered the Mossberg 940 as a direct competitor and alternative to the A300 for about the same price. I think I'd go for the Beretta. He made some comments about the A300 not being made in Italy. I've heard this complaint about the M9 pistol, too. I I don't get it. I don't see a problem with a made in Tennessee Beretta.

 

[Capybara]

Yeah, I saw that review, too. He also proffered the Mossberg 940 as a direct competitor and alternative to the A300 for about the same price. I think I'd go for the Beretta. He made some comments about the A300 not being made in Italy. I've heard this complaint about the M9 pistol, too. I I don't get it. I don't see a problem with a made in Tennessee Beretta.

For me, made in America with American workers is a net positive.

 

[GE-Mini-Gun]

.....He made some comments about the A300 not being made in Italy. I've heard this complaint about the M9 pistol, too. I I don't get it. I don't see a problem with a made in Tennessee Beretta.

I think his reasoning...Beretta has been making guns for over 500 years, all of their high-end guns are made in Italy, does that make a difference, maybe yes, maybe no. I think it does, if I had to guess there are generations of families working there, so that skill has to have been passed down to the next, just setting at the dinner table.

 

[D.B. Cooper]

For me, made in America with American workers is a net positive.

Same here. I have an American-made M9 and it has been pretty much flawless.

 

[rhino465]

I've made a dire mistake. I was at the range practicing with a buddy and he brought his Beretta A300 Ultima Patrol to show me and let me shoot it. After shooting it and noting that it functions 100% with either wimpy birdshot target loads or stout 00 buck loads and how it feels when shooting it . . . it cycles rapidly and felt recoil is very manageable even when mag dumping 00 buck onto steel.

I liked the sights too. Normally I'd rather have just a bead or rifle sights, but the ghost ring and front post combination are exceptional.

I must have one. No, I don't need it and before today, I didn't really want it, but now . . . I must have it.

 

[Simple Shooter]

Picked up an A300 Patrol last month and have almost 200 rounds through it. Unfortunately, it came from the factory with a weak mag spring. I put a Wolff in it for >$10 and it now runs very well.