Estimated studying time: 12 minutes
The latest renaissance of the tactical shotgun has blessed shotgun nerds like me. It’s by no means been a greater time to be a shotgun fanatic. Within the final couple of years, we’ve seen three massive firearms firms launch three totally trendy semi-auto shotguns. In case you’ve learn this text’s title, it’s unsurprising that the three firms are Mossberg, Savage, and Beretta. Mossberg launched the 940 Professional Tactical, the Savage Renegauge Safety, and the Beretta A300 Ultima Patrol.
You could possibly name this the American shotgun shootout. Beretta is perhaps an Italian agency, however the A300 sequence is made-in-America shotguns. Mossberg and Savage are old-school American firms. All three weapons are gas-operated, semi-auto shotguns that feed from conventional tube magazines. These three weapons have been launched inside the previous few years and symbolize a brand new technology of the tactical shotgun.
With that in thoughts, it appeared solely acceptable to get the three weapons collectively and evaluate and distinction them side-by-side. Whereas the weapons are very comparable, there are a couple of distinct variations between them.
Tactical Shotguns – Breaking Them Down
The Mossberg 940 Professional Tactical Barrel Size – 18.5 inchesOverall Size – 37.5 inches Weight – 7.5 poundsLOP – 12.5 to 14.25 inches Capability – 7
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The 940 Professional Tactical is an evolution of the 930 semi-auto tactical shotgun sequence. Mossberg teamed up with Jerry Miculek to create the 940 sequence. Their objective was to enhance upon the 930’s reliability and design. It’s extra dependable in each manner and is designed to fireplace 1,500 rounds between cleanings.
Beretta A300 Ultima Patrol Barrel Size – 19.1 inchesOverall Size – 38 inchesWeight – 7.1 poundsLOP – 13 Capability – 7
The Beretta A300 Ultima Patrol is Beretta’s try and create a worthy tactical shotgun for lower than $1,000. The A300 Ultima Patrol sequence shares the quick biking, recoil-reducing B-Hyperlink gasoline system with the 1301 however lacks the rotating bolt and twin op rods. This creates a dependable, fast-cycling, and inexpensive semi-auto shotgun.
Savage Renegauge Safety Barrel Size – 18.5 inches Total Size – 40 inches Weight – 7 kilos LOP – 14.25 to fifteen.07 inches Capability – 6
The Renegauge began as a subject shotgun and has developed into the Safety mannequin. It makes use of the D.R.I.V. gasoline system. This self-regulating gasoline system vents extra gasoline by way of a entrance port, which helps scale back recoil and create a extra controllable gun. The Renegauge system employs a rotating bolt alongside the gasoline system.
Ergonomics
Top-of-the-line issues about this new style of firearms is the improved ergonomics. These trendy shotguns have drastically improved ergonomics, together with the inventory system. The present crop of shares can also be because of Magpul. The Magpul SGA inventory has influenced all three of those weapons.
Every tactical shotgun comes with quite a lot of inserts that can help you modify the size of pull to suit the shooter. The inventory changes work by way of a system of spacers. All three of our trendy semi-auto shotguns include a spacer system. Whereas all three have changes, the Renegauge Safety made an fascinating determination.
Whereas Mossberg and Beretta begin on the shorter aspect, with changes going out to a bit of greater than 14 inches. The Renegauge begins at 14.25 inches and extends to fifteen.07 inches. The 14.25 start line could be very lengthy. I’m an enormous man at six ft 5 inches, and I discover 14.25 inches to be too lengthy for contemporary tactical taking pictures.
Exterior of the shares, these weapons all function huge controls. Gone are tiny little buttons and charging handles. These weapons have massive and easy-to-use charging handles, bolt releases, and safeties. Additionally, the whole lot is outsized and straightforward to have interaction. Of the three, Mossberg has the most important controls.
Moreover, the weapons all function larger-than-average loading ports and ejection ports. All three are simple to make use of and straightforward to maintain the weapons loaded and working.
Tactical Shotgun Ergonomics In The Area
How do these ergonomics translate to subject use? The Mossberg’s bigger controls are simpler to have interaction, so conducting port reloads, malfunction cures, and extra are a bit simpler with the Mossberg. The distinction between all three weapons when it comes to management is minor, however Mossberg pulls forward barely.
Beretta embraced the concept of a tough texture with the A300. The forend and the pistol grips function aggressive texturing. Each are useful for assuming a push/pull recoil mitigation method. It retains the gun locked within the hand, particularly in case you have sweaty fingers.
Each the Mossberg and Beretta can help you assume a squared-up taking pictures stance together with your tactical shotgun. This stance makes it simple to keep up your management over the gun. The considerably longer LOP on the Renegauge makes it robust to sq. as much as the goal and keep a push/pull to mitigate recoil.
Sighting Programs
One other massive advantage of the fashionable period of tactical semi-auto shotguns is the sighting techniques. Mossberg lags with regards to iron sights. The 940 wears a easy bead-style entrance sight made up of a high-visibility fiber optic rod.
The Renegauge and Ultima Patrol function a set of ghost ring iron sights. Ghost ring sights aren’t as fast as a easy bead, however are extra exact. You possibly can put the tight patterning rounds proper the place you need when paired with trendy tactical buckshot like my beloved Federal Flitecontrol.
The three weapons additionally embrace purple dots. On the fashionable semi-auto tactical shotgun, purple dots are as quick as a bead, as exact as a ghost ring sight, and work in all environments. Whereas Mossberg is perhaps on the low finish for iron sights, they’re high tier for purple dots. The Mossberg receiver is milled to just accept an RMSc footprint optic. It sits tremendous low, low sufficient to co-witness with the bead sight.
On shotguns, decrease is healthier as a result of decrease ensures you will get a stable cheek weld, and the gun doesn’t beat your face up each time it recoils. The Mossberg additionally comes drilled and tapped for an optics rail if you need an optic that differs from an RMSc footprint. The Ultima Patrol comes with a slight part of Picatinny rail for purple dots. Some aftermarket mounts from Reptilia can help you place the optic a lot decrease.
The Renegauge Safety comes drilled and tapped for optics however doesn’t embrace the rail. You’ll should buy that individually. That’s a little bit of a trouble in the event you ask me.
Recoil and Management
All three tactical shotguns are very simple to manage. Fashionable semi-auto shotguns aren’t as over-gassed as shotguns of yesteryear. They have an inclination to self-regulate, and this aids in driving down that thump you usually really feel in your shoulder. Much less recoil means extra management and sooner follow-up photographs.
The Renegauge has the least quantity of recoil. The D.R.I.V. system works fairly effectively, and the gasoline that’s vented ahead isn’t thrown rearward into your shoulder. Beretta is available in second place when it comes to recoil, however solely barely. The distinction between the Mossberg and the Beretta is minimal however noticeable.
The 940 Professional Tactical incorporates a heavier-walled barrel than the opposite two weapons. This makes it heavier and a bit off-balanced. It’s front-heavy, which isn’t essentially a foul factor. The load upfront makes the upward recoil much less noticeable. Much less muzzle flip makes it simpler to make follow-up photographs.
On the vary, I shot a number of pairs of double faucets. After a bit of warm-up, I might put two rounds on a single goal in lower than a second with all three weapons. One of the best rating got here from the Beretta A300 with a .85. The Mossberg’s greatest time was .88, and the Rengauge was a .90. The distinction is minimal, however the A300 was all the time a bit of sooner than the opposite two.
I feel the Renegauge could possibly be sooner if the factor wasn’t so dang lengthy. It’s tough to get it into the shoulder from the low-ready place. The Mossberg’s barely elevated recoil doesn’t assist, however the lowered muzzle rise actually does.
Tactical Shotgun Reliability
Pump shotguns have dominated so lengthy as a result of semi-auto shotguns weren’t all that dependable. This modified across the time Benelli entered the market, however the gun world is sluggish to just accept change. Fashionable semi-auto tactical shotguns are fairly dependable, and all three of those weapons are rockstars within the reliability division.
In all my taking pictures, I’ve solely had one odd subject with the Mossberg 940 Professional Tactical. With Monarch buckshot, I can’t get the cartridge out of the chamber with out taking pictures it or utilizing a cleansing rod. For security causes, I simply most well-liked to level it downrange and hearth. No different cartridge causes this, and after I shoot, the case ejects with out subject.
I’ve had two failures to fireplace with the A300 Ultima Patrol. Each occurred after I performed port reloads. A port reload, or an emergency reload, is whenever you push a cartridge by the ejection port and permit the bolt to go ahead. Not each port reload triggered this subject both. It looks as if the bolt didn’t absolutely go into the battery as a result of whereas I heard the press, there wasn’t an indent on the primer.
The Savage Renegauge has had zero issues. It is going to cycle some really light-weight stuff, together with some reduced-recoil lure hundreds designed for double weapons. The Renegauge’s rotating bolt can also be a really good contact that gives each rearward and rotational power on a shell for very optimistic ejection.
READ MORE HERE: Vortex Viper Shotgun Enclosed Micro Purple Dot Evaluate
Shotgun Shootout – Which Is Greatest?
Oh boy, that’s robust to reply. All of them have their strengths. One issue price mentioning is value. Each the Ultima Patrol and Mossberg 940 Professional Tactical are 1,000-dollar weapons, give or take a couple of dollars, relying on the end and elective equipment. The Renegauge sits at round 1,200 {dollars}. That’s a good distinction in value.
I’m personally a fan of the Mossberg 940 Professional Tactical shotgun. I just like the optics reduce, and I like the controls and ergonomics. Beretta is on observe with the A300 sequence, and I feel the Renegauge has wonderful potential. I wouldn’t really feel under-armed with any of those weapons, and I like that now we have a various group of contemporary semi-auto shotguns to select from.
Whereas I could lean in direction of the Mossberg, let’s open the feedback part. Which gun would you like? Tell us under.
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Travis Pike is a devoted firearms author, a Second Modification Advocate, and an issue fanatic for all issues firearms. He’s an beginner competitor with desires of sooner or later not coming in 4th place at an area defensive match. If he’s not placing textual content to phrase processor, he’s doubtless spending time with household, having fun with Florida’s Nature Coast, or consuming hipster beer. Because the resident Florida man he has a choice for obscure weapons and calibers.
Expertise
Hunter – Very long time deer and hog hunter within the swamps of Florida Teacher – Volunteers to show primary firearm security lessons to youngsters, adults, and cats Wannabe Competitor – Has just lately dipped his toes into aggressive taking pictures and has fortunately found an costly passion. Marine – Served 5 years with the infantry earlier than transferring to the First Civ Div.
