There’s a reason most waterfowl guides I know choose to use Beretta guns. They are reliable. These shotguns are veritable workhorses in the marshes, timbers, blinds and fields. So, when Beretta sent me an A400 Xtreme Plus in 12 gauge for this year’s annual waterfowl hunt, I thought, “There’s no way this one will let me down.” And, it didn’t.
Sponsored by Beretta
Trust me, I’ve been out hunting with some other, not-to-be-named, semi-autos that jammed at the worst times, and it’s not a pretty sight. It’s also a terrible waste of time and incurs lots of missed opportunities.
I received the A400 Xtreme a few weeks before I embarked on my annual trek to Arkansas, with The Sisterhood of the Outdoors, and its 11th Annual Waterfowl Hunt at Bust-A-Duck Guide Service near Gregory, Arkansas (about 45 minutes from Stuttgart, the duck hunting capital of the world). Buster Cooper, proprietor of this outfitting service, and his capable guides, always go 100-plus percent to give clients a rich, waterfowl experience.
After getting the gun, I reached out to Buster to verify which choke to use for this hunt. He recommend modified. After cleaning and oiling the gun, I attached the choke and set out to fire some shells – target and actual steel hunting shells – through it.
Note: I highly recommend always firing the gun you’re going to take hunting before you go out with it. Don’t clean it again before your hunt.
After verifying that yes, it fit me and it busted clays just fine, thank you, I packed it into a soft case to make the journey. A soft case is another good investment, especially for waterfowl hunting. You’ll want to protect the shotgun until it’s needed. Store your gun in the evenings with the working parts open in the (dry) case, away from the ammo.
While on the subject of ammo, Fiocchi came through a couple of years ago in a big way (think cases) and so fortunately, I had plenty to go around for me and for my new duck hunting buddy, Lori, who accompanied me on the trip this year. Fiocchi sent us the Fiocchi Golden Waterfowl with plated steel shot, which is made just down the road from me in Ozark, Missouri. If we missed a bird in flight, it wasn’t because of the gun or the shot!
We missed a few while out, but not many. And frankly, there weren’t many to miss. Duck numbers in that part of Arkansas are way down this year – in part because of the warmer weather to the north of us. The guides at Bust-A-Duck said this was the slowest year in its history. (Note, with an 80 % return rate of customers, Buster said although he told folks it was slow this year, they still opted to come and try their luck.)
My pal, Lori, a new duck hunter, said she really wished for a mallard drake, and lo and behold, what should fly in on the second volley but a beautiful big greenhead and she definitely shot at it, and down it went. Fortunately, one of Arkansas’ best taxidermists lives just down the road from the lodge, so we made a visit over to see Todd Peebles, and Lori delivered that beautiful (now frozen) bird for him to transform into a beautiful memory of her first-ever duck trip.
I have worked with other A400s, thanks to the Sisterhood and these hunts, and always regretted having to give it back at the end of the hunt. Let’s just say, I consider this gun to be more or less a legacy gun for our family and I know one of my sons has his eye on it already. I’ve already asked to purchase it.
Why does this shotgun work so well for women waterfowlers?
First of all, here are its basic features:
Here’s one of the main reasons women waterfowlers will like this gun: its Kick-Off Mega system.
I appreciated the shotgun’s mild felt recoil because of the gas-action, Kick-Off Mega system. After a few days of waterfowl hunting, the only reason my right arm felt sore was from the repetitive motion of lifting a shotgun – not because I got sucker-punched in the shoulder again and again. Note, we shot #3 magnum shot shells at ducks and BB magnum shot shells at geese.
So, what is the Kick-Off Mega system and why does it matter? Here’s what Beretta states, “The most powerful recoil reduction system available today, ideal for 89 mm chambered shotguns, especially when you enjoy shooting high loads and hundreds of shots in a single day. It effectively combines 3 different devices that work synergistically, reducing the perceived recoil by up to 70% ensuring greater stability, better control and faster target acquisition. Two hydraulic shock absorbers, positioned close to the rubber insert, together with the return springs, effectively act on the first recoil peak. A third hydraulic shock absorber, inserted in the tie rod, acts on the second recoil peak caused by the impact of the slide against the receiver, further reducing the muzzle rise effect and the vibrations caused by the movement of the slide.”
Two other helpful features in reducing the felt recoil include a rubber recoil pad on the buttstock and a second rubber pad on the stock for your cheek. The raised-step rib makes it easy to sight down the gun – another great feature. My duck guide, Brett, noticed the raised rib design right away. (I always offer an opportunity to the guides in camp to shoot the gun on the clays range, and frankly, they always want to shoot OPG – other people’s guns – with OPA – other people’s ammo.)
Let’s not forget the enlarged loading port and big fat bolt-release button. We experienced below freezing temperatures afield this year, and the gloves stayed on.
Note: This model comes with a drilled, tapped receiver so that if you decide to use it in the spring for turkeys, game on.
Pretty, Pretty, Pretty
Finally, and who doesn’t care about this feature? The pretty camo finish. This model comes in four finishes: First Lite Cache, First Light Typha, Mossy Oak Bottomland and Max 7. Beretta sent me the First Lite Cache, and frankly, it’s pretty in a subtle way. Some might prefer the traditional duck patterns of Bottomland and Max 7, whereas the First Lite is a tad more military.
The chokes are pretty, too. Beretta includes five Black Edition chokes: Full, Modified, Improved Modified, Improved Cylinder, and Cylinder. They are extended chokes in a burnished finish. I like the extended choke. It makes it easy to check to make sure it’s still tight, and also, to see that it’s still in there and frankly, that it’s the correct one.
For the Tekkies
Besides the aforementioned Kick-Off Mega system, shotgun tekkies will appreciate the B-Link gas operation system, which comes built with an elastic piston seal and rotating bolt head. It’ll handle ammo from 24 to 64 grams. Beretta claims, “You can spend all your magazine’s cartridges before the 1st round touches the ground. The Beretta gas-operated system is fast like an eye’s blink.” Beretta also claims it is 36% faster at unloading shots than other brands.
Another technological improvement comes in the form of the composition of the barrel. Beretta Steelium Plus barrels combine cold hammer forging and a 12.5-inch-long triple forcing cone technology. The forcing cone acts to control the pellets on each shot, which helps to reduce not only recoil, but also, muzzle jump – which means you can take that second and third shot fast.
Why I Want to Buy this Gun!
The MSRP for this A400 Xtremem Plus starts at $2,049, which might be considered top end. However, when you look at it as an investment for many generations to enjoy, it eases the pain. Also, it might give you that further impetus to get back out there and make use of your new shotgun more often.
See all the A400 Xtreme Plus shotguns from Beretta.
Publisher/Editor Barbara Baird is a freelance writer in hunting, shooting and outdoor markets. Her bylines are found at several top hunting and shooting publications. She also is a travel writer, and you can follow her at https://www.ozarkian.com. View all posts by Barbara Baird
