Beretta A300 Ultima Patrol and 1301 Tactical Mod 2

[Bailey Guns]

Not much love in the shotgun forum lately.

I carried an old-school 870 Police Magnum (my own) in my patrol car for many years. Mostly because that was the only long gun option. But I was never really a shotgun fan. When I had the option to carry an AR instead I gladly replaced the old 870 and never looked back. For decades I've said I wasn't a shotgun fan, even though I owned a few. They were mostly just part of a collection I'd acquired over the years. I did have a Beretta 1201FP that I was pretty fond of in the mid-2000s.

A little over a year ago, for some reason, I decided I wanted a really nice, 'tactical' style shotgun. Everyone said the Benelli M4 was the go-to gun. But I'd shot one quite a bit and never really thought it was what I wanted. Then I started hearing about the Beretta 1301 Tactical Mod 2 and decided that's what I wanted. So I bought one. From the moment I opened it up I knew it was a good choice. It's about 2 lbs lighter than the Benelli and came with all the stuff you have to spend extra money on to get with the Benelli. And then I shot it and it was amazing and I loved it. Then my wife shot it and she thought it was amazing and she loved it and she immediately claimed it as her own.

I practically had to sell my soul to afford the first one, now I needed a second one to call my own. I'd been hearing about the A300 Ultima Patrol at about 1/2 the price so I got one. And I like it just as much...maybe better. I installed the 'Pro Lifter' in it and that, along with the cut-away loading area, makes it easier to load than the 1301.

Since then I picked up a used Maverick 88 for next to nothing. Then I got a Shockwave in .410. Then I got a Coach Gun in .410...because I really like .410 shotguns. I still have my first ever gun...a Sears .410 single shot my mom bought for me back in the late 60s. Then, when I saw the new Mossberg 990 Aftershock I traded for one of those. Now, for a guy who doesn't really like shotguns, I've got a safe full of them.

[theGinsue]

I was checking out the Beretta A300 Ult Patrol today at Scheels. Beautiful firearm but WAY out of my affordable price point.

Now, I know I'll catch a LOT of flack for this, but I saw an AR-style semi-auto shotgun I couldn't refuse ($279.99). My wife and son were with me and when I mentioned I wanted one and probably wouldn't be able to buy one after August 1, my wife told me to buy it - and buy one for my son (yes, he did his own 4473 BGC). We get to pick up our new Citadel Boss 25's Wednesday evening (won't be able to go get them until Thursday evening). This isn't anywhere near a top-tier firearm, but it fell within a price range that my wife wouldn't get pissed about (especially since SHE is the one who said to buy it).

[Bailey Guns]

Nothing wrong with that. I almost always have to sell something to buy something...especially like a Beretta shotgun. Let us know how you like 'em after you get a chance to shoot 'em.