Our department is finally re-issuing shotguns.   After we got rifles, shotguns went bye bye.   After hassling my chief for years, he has finally let me get new shotguns.

I’d like to get up to date, and I’m leaning towards the new beretta a300 patrol.   I fully understand the capabilities and limitations of both punks and semis.

Has anyone switched to semi-auto?   What’s your experience?

We have had Benelli M1 Super 90s for over 25 years with no issues.

Beretta 1301s are very nice
They also shoot very fast
I have big hands, so the pistol  
grip was not my favorite add on

Being a dinosaur
I personally would rather have my old
Remington 870 police magnum or
Even the Winchester 1300 riot gun
(American made version, not current Turkish ones)

We issue pumps but can carry whatever

There’s not really a down side to semi autos. Actually easier to train people to operate in my experience at an agency level


Beretta A300 is a great choice. I’ve been hauling one around, it’s loaded with breaching slugs, it cycles and shoots them great. It will breach doors and meat

“Get up to date” and shotguns doesn’t vibe.

Why do you say that?   I see no negatives to having a rifle and shotgun, dual mounted in a cruiser.   Shotguns have a lot of specific capabilities rifles don’t have.

20ish years ago our dept got the idea that we would issue Benelli M1Super 90's and pull the 870's and make them less lethal guns.  They only bought maybe 50-60 M1S90s before scrapping the less lethal idea.  They kept the M1S90s in service along with the 870's, as well as a patrol rifle program.

Now within the last few years the range staff has become more progressive, and there's talk of getting rid of all the 870s and replacing them with Beretta 1301 or A300's.  If it goes through I imagine they will pull the M1S90s as well, Id imagine there are probably only 30 ish out on the street still.  They haven't ran a benelli class in over a decade, if someone with on retires/turns it in they don't get issued out again.

I think itd be a good move, the 870 I was issued at first was from 1978.  Had to turn it in when i got a rifle, but if i could carry both I would.

We have Remington 870s here at my current agency but when I was a deputy we could carry just about anything. Myself and others used the Mossberg 930 SPX and that was awesome in shotgun school.

i would have zero issues with my beretta 1301 absolutely wonderful shotgun, patterns very tight with flight control rounds and runs low brass birdshot without issue

I would say if you want shotguns to be relevant, make sure to train everyone in shotgun breaching, and have good breaching ammo available.  Useful in active shooter situations and such.  

Shotguns will remain a good tool for that reason alone if nothing else.