A300 Ultima Patrol

The Beretta A300 Ultima Patrol shares its gas piston with the more expensive 1301 Tactical but skips the BLINK rotating bolt to hit a significantly lower price point. The result is a semi-auto that runs defensive loads reliably, cycles fast enough for home defense, and leaves $300-400 in the budget for optics and lights. The enlarged loading port is actually wider than the 1301's, the oversized charging handle and bolt release work well under stress, and the 7+1 capacity beats every other semi-auto in this ranking. At 7.1 lbs with a 19.1-inch chrome-lined barrel, it handles well in tight spaces.