A400 Extreme Plus

The Beretta A400 Xtreme Plus is built as a dedicated waterfowl hammer that doubles nicely as an all-around semi-auto for clays and upland. With its 3½" chamber, gas-operated system, and reputation for reliability, it’s designed to run everything from light target loads to heavy magnum shells. Despite being on the heavier side at around 8 lbs (especially in a 30" configuration), it balances well, shoulders naturally, and the extra weight helps tame recoil when shooting stout waterfowl loads.

Ergonomically, the A400 Xtreme Plus feels well thought out. The pistol grip is slightly fuller than some might prefer, but the rubber overmold inlays on the grip and forearm provide excellent control in wet or cold conditions. Controls are user-friendly: an oversized bolt handle, large bolt release, beveled loading port, and a smart magazine cap design that makes disassembly easy. The Kick-Off recoil reduction system in the stock, combined with a soft comb and quality recoil pad, noticeably softens the blow—making the gun very comfortable to shoot.

Build quality is a major strong suit. Beretta’s Steelium barrel with an extra-long forcing cone (around 14") is engineered to reduce recoil and muzzle flip while tightening and evening out patterns—technology you often see in competition guns, brought into a hard-use waterfowl platform. If we could only have one waterfowl shotgun, this would be a contender.