We may earn revenue from the products available on this page and participate in affiliate programs. Learn More ›
A dedicated turkey gun must shoot an even, dense pattern, naturally point on target, and easily maneuver through the hardwoods.The Beretta A300 Ultima Turkey accomplishes all of these tasks and more, as I found out last spring. It shot over 200 pellets into a 10-inch circle at 40 yards with three different loads, and it wasn’t a burden while I carried it over 30 miles in search of a cooperative gobbler. Here’s a look at its performance.
Get the 20 gauge
Get the 12 gauge
- Comes with a Picatinny mount
- Fiber optic sight
- Turkey choke included
- Camo Patterns: Mossy Oak Bottomland
- Length of Pull: 14.25 inches
- Barrel Length: 24 inches
- Weight: 7.1 pounds
- Trigger Pull Weight: 4 pounds 15.8 ounces (five pull average)
- Chamberings: 12 and 20 gauge (both 3-inch)
- Made in the USA
- Price: $1,079
Oversized Controls
The A300 Ultima Turkey has an oversized bolt release, bolt handle, and safety. That makes loading, unloading, and getting ready for a shot easy, no matter the conditions.
Kick-Off Recoil Management System
Beretta’s Kick-Off uses three hydraulic shock absorbers inside the stock to reduce felt recoil. There are two shock absorbers close to the buttpad that reduce the initial kick from igniting the shotshell. There’s a third absorber that connects to the tie-rod for absorbing the recoil created by the bolt slamming back.
Optics Ready
The included fiber optic sight is perfectly capable of killing a turkey, but if you’re a turkey red dot convert, the A300 Ultima comes with a section of Picatinny rail that mounts on the gun’s receiver. There are plenty of Picatinny slots for large holographic sights, but not quite enough for most LPVO mounts.
Testing in the Field and on the Range
-
The Apex Greenleaf (left), Apex 9s (center), and Migra 9/7 (right). -
Apex Greenleaf -
Apex 9s
I pattern tested my 20-gauge A300 Ultima Turkeys with four TSS turkey loads: Apex Greenleaf, Apex GT-20, Migra TSS Turkey, and Federal Heavyweight TSS. I shot targets at 40 yards and then drew a 10-inch circle around the densest portion of the pattern. I shot each load twice and averaged the number of pellets inside the 10-inch circle to get my results.
The best performance was with the Apex Greenleaf 9/10 blend, which shot a 12-gauge-like pattern with 324 pellet strikes. There are 774 pellets inside the Greenleaf hull, so around 40 percent of the pellets landed inside the 10-inch circle. The rest were evenly distributed around the circle, forming a fairly dense pattern.
The Apex GT-20, my go-to turkey load, is a straight #9 TSS load. It averaged 246 pellets inside the 10-inch circle, and the remaining pellets were strung vertically on the target.
The Migra load has fewer pellets due to the larger shot size, but it still delivered an impressive 203 pellet strikes. If you’re looking for a little more penetration, there’s a case to be made for shooting this 7/9 blend.
The Federal Heavyweight load put 144 pellets inside the circle, but even that is plenty to drop a turkey stone dead at 40 yards.
Pattern Results
I carried the Beretta A300 Ultima for most of the 2025 Virginia turkey season. It was slung over my shoulder as I walked and biked well over 30 miles. It was a nice gun to carry as I pushed deep into public land. In thick cover and longleaf pine savannas, the gun maneuvered well thanks to its balance and light weight.
While running various ammo through the A300 Ultima, it never hiccupped and ejected every shell with serious authority. For gas-operated gun, it is easy to strip down for cleaning at the end of the season. There aren’t any o-rings to lose or succumb to dry rot, just a handful of parts to wipe down and reassemble. Here’s a helpful video for the first time you take yours apart.
What It Does Best
The A300 Ultima is a solid semi-auto turkey gun that doesn’t cost thousands of dollars. For the street price of around $999, it’s a fine value.
It shot a wide range of TSS loads with great results, and those patterns could be improved by experimenting with aftermarket chokes.
Where it Can Improve
Red dots have taken over turkey hunting, and a dedicated turkey gun should be optimized for that trend. The A300 Ultima’s Picatinny mounting system is acceptable, but not perfect. It puts the optic too high on the gun, resulting in poor cheekweld. The gun could use a lower optic mount or a way to easily raise the comb height. I’ve opted for a little foam and Duct tape on mine.
Final Thoughts
The Beretta A300 Ultima is reliable, shoots a great pattern, and is easy to carry. Those characteristics — and its sub $1,000 price — make it a recommended turkey gun.
Read the full article here
