Beretta A400 Xplor Action 20 Gauge Shotgun: The Quintessential All-Purpose Field and Clay Companion

Are you searching for a shotgun that seamlessly transitions from the crisp autumn air of an upland bird hunt to the demanding rhythm of a sporting clays course, or even the challenging environment of a waterfowl blind? Do you need a firearm that combines lightning-fast performance with exceptional recoil reduction, all within a lightweight and elegantly designed package? Look no further than the Beretta A400 Xplor Action 20 Gauge semi-automatic shotgun. This highly versatile firearm is engineered to meet the diverse needs of passionate shooters, offering a premium experience whether you're a seasoned hunter, a competitive clay shooter, or someone looking for a reliable, comfortable, and efficient shotgun for a multitude of applications.

The Beretta A400 Xplor Action, specifically the model featuring a 28" barrel, 20-gauge chambering, and a stunning bronze receiver with a walnut stock, is designed to be your steadfast partner in the field and at the range. It embodies Beretta's long-standing commitment to innovation, reliability, and classic craftsmanship. This is not just a shotgun; it's an investment in superior shooting performance and enduring elegance.

Why Choose the Beretta A400 Xplor Action 20 Gauge for Your Shooting Needs?

The decision to invest in a premium shotgun like the Beretta A400 Xplor Action 20 Gauge often comes down to key factors: performance, comfort, durability, and versatility. This model excels in all these areas, making it an ideal choice for a wide array of shooting disciplines. Here's what makes it stand out:

• Unrivaled Versatility: Capable of handling everything from light target loads to heavy 3" magnum shells, making it suitable for hunting ducks, geese, pheasants, doves, and even deer with slugs, as well as all forms of clay target shooting.
• Superior Shooting Comfort: Revolutionary recoil reduction systems significantly minimize felt recoil, allowing for longer shooting sessions with less fatigue and improved accuracy on follow-up shots.
• Blazing Fast Cycling: Beretta's proprietary gas-operated system ensures incredibly rapid firing capabilities without compromising reliability.
• Lightweight and Balanced Design: Easy to carry during long hunts and quick to swing on fast-moving targets, providing an intuitive shooting experience.
• Durability and Timeless Aesthetics: Constructed with high-quality materials, including a robust aluminum receiver with a distinctive bronze finish and a classic walnut stock, ensuring longevity and a refined appearance.

Unpacking Key Technologies for Superior Performance

The Beretta A400 Xplor Action is more than just an assembly of parts; it's a finely tuned machine incorporating cutting-edge technologies that enhance every aspect of your shooting experience.

The Revolutionary Blink Gas System: Speed and Reliability Redefined

At the heart of the A400 Xplor Action's incredible performance lies the innovative Beretta Blink gas-operating system. This system is a marvel of engineering, designed to deliver exceptional speed and unwavering reliability across a wide spectrum of ammunition loads.

• How Blink Works: The Blink system features a new gas piston that significantly increases the speed of the self-cleaning action. It channels a precise amount of gas from the barrel to cycle the action, expelling the spent shell and loading a new one with astonishing quickness. This optimized gas flow ensures efficient operation with both light field loads and heavy magnum rounds.
• Benefits for Shooters:
  • Unmatched Cycling Speed: The Beretta A400 Xplor Action can cycle four shells in less than one second, a critical advantage for rapid follow-up shots on flushing birds or quickly moving targets on the clay range.
  • Extreme Reliability: The self-cleaning design of the piston reduces carbon buildup, ensuring consistent operation even after high volumes of shooting. This minimizes malfunctions and maximizes your time shooting, not cleaning.
  • Versatility with Ammo: The intelligent gas system automatically adjusts to different loads, eliminating the need for manual adjustments and ensuring flawless cycling whether you're using light 20-gauge target loads or heavy 3-inch hunting loads.

Kick-Off and Micro-Core Buttpad: Unparalleled Recoil Reduction

One of the most praised features of the A400 series is its superior recoil absorption. The combination of the Beretta Kick-Off system and the advanced Micro-Core buttpad transforms the shooting experience, making even prolonged sessions comfortable and enjoyable.

• The Kick-Off System: Integrated into the stock, the Kick-Off system utilizes hydraulic dampeners (similar to those found in automobile shock absorbers) to absorb recoil energy before it reaches your shoulder. This mechanical system actively dissipates recoil, significantly reducing felt impact.
• Micro-Core Buttpad: Beretta's Micro-Core is an innovative, open-cell technopolymer material that is softer, lighter, and more adaptable than traditional rubber pads. It expands gradually and instantly, increasing the contact surface area with the shoulder and distributing the recoil over a wider area.
• Combined Benefits: The synergy between Kick-Off and Micro-Core results in:
  • Dramatic Reduction in Felt Recoil: Shooters experience significantly less shoulder fatigue, allowing them to shoot for longer periods without discomfort.
  • Improved Accuracy on Second Shots: With less muzzle jump and shoulder impact, shooters can maintain their sight picture more effectively, leading to quicker and more accurate follow-up shots.
  • Enhanced Shooting Confidence: Reduced recoil makes shooting more enjoyable, particularly for new shooters or those sensitive to recoil, fostering better technique and confidence.

Steelium Barrel Technology: Precision and Durability

The 28-inch blued steel barrel of the A400 Xplor Action 20 Gauge is crafted using Beretta's exclusive Steelium technology. This manufacturing process ensures barrels of exceptional strength, lightness, and precision.

• Manufacturing Process: Steelium barrels are made from a proprietary tri-alloy steel that undergoes deep drilling, cold hammer forging, and vacuum distension. This process refines the metal's grain structure, enhancing its mechanical properties.
• Advantages for the Shooter:
  • Outstanding Pattern Performance: Steelium barrels are engineered to deliver consistent and dense shot patterns, crucial for effective hunting and clay breaking.
  • Exceptional Durability: The hardened steel and meticulous manufacturing process result in a barrel that can withstand countless rounds while maintaining its structural integrity and accuracy.
  • Corrosion Resistance: The blued finish provides a layer of protection against the elements, crucial for field use.

Optima-Choke HP System: Mastering Shot Patterns

The Beretta A400 Xplor Action 20 Gauge comes equipped with the Optima-Choke HP (High Performance) system, offering shooters the flexibility to tailor their shot patterns for various situations.

• Role of Chokes: Choke tubes are crucial for controlling the spread of shot as it exits the barrel, allowing for tighter or wider patterns depending on the target distance and type.
• Optima-Choke HP Advantages:
  • Extended Length: These chokes are longer than traditional chokes, promoting a more gradual constriction of the shot column, which results in more uniform and effective patterns.
  • Durability with Steel Shot: Optima-Choke HP tubes are designed to withstand the pressures and abrasiveness of modern steel shot, essential for waterfowl hunting.
  • Versatility: The shotgun includes a set of chokes (Cylinder, Full, Modified), allowing shooters to quickly adapt to different shooting scenarios, from close-range skeet to longer-range waterfowl or turkey hunting.

Designed for Diverse Applications

The inherent design and technological prowess of the Beretta A400 Xplor Action 20 Gauge make it a truly multi-purpose firearm, excelling across a broad spectrum of shooting disciplines.

The Ultimate Upland and Waterfowl Companion

For hunters who traverse diverse terrains, from sprawling plains for pheasants to marshy wetlands for ducks, the A400 Xplor Action 20 Gauge is an invaluable asset.

• Upland Bird Hunting: Its lightweight design (approximately 6.70 lbs) makes it comfortable to carry for miles, while the quick-cycling action ensures you're ready for fast-flushing birds. The 20-gauge offers ample power for birds like grouse, quail, and pheasant without the heavy recoil of larger gauges.
• Waterfowl Hunting: The 3-inch chamber allows for magnum waterfowl loads, and the Optima-Choke HP system handles steel shot effectively, ensuring strong patterns on ducks and geese. The robust aluminum receiver and blued barrel offer good resistance to the often harsh conditions of waterfowl environments.

Deer Hunting with Confidence

While often considered a bird gun, the 20-gauge A400 Xplor Action can be a highly effective tool for deer hunting in shotgun-only zones, especially when paired with appropriate slug ammunition. The 3-inch chamber accommodates heavier slug loads, and the shotgun's manageable recoil allows for quick recovery and accurate follow-up shots if needed. Its agility makes it suitable for tracking game through dense brush.

Dominating the Clay Range: Trap, Skeet, and Sporting Clays

For competitive and recreational clay shooters, the Beretta A400 Xplor Action 20 Gauge offers significant advantages.

• Trap Shooting: The smooth-cycling action and reduced recoil allow shooters to concentrate on breaking targets without distraction, maintaining focus through high-volume rounds.
• Skeet Shooting: The gun's excellent balance and quick handling characteristics are perfect for rapidly acquiring and engaging targets at varying angles and distances typical of skeet.
• Sporting Clays: The versatility of the A400, combined with its ability to switch chokes quickly, makes it an ideal choice for the dynamic and unpredictable nature of sporting clays, where targets simulate diverse hunting scenarios. The low recoil ensures comfort even after hundreds of rounds.

Ergonomics and Aesthetics: A Harmony of Form and Function

Beyond its technological advancements, the Beretta A400 Xplor Action 20 Gauge is a masterpiece of design, blending ergonomic excellence with classic visual appeal.

Exquisite Walnut Stock and Bronze Receiver

The firearm features a meticulously crafted walnut stock, a testament to traditional gun-making artistry. The rich, warm tones of the wood provide a comfortable and secure grip, enhancing both aesthetics and handling. Complementing the classic wood is the distinctive bronze-colored receiver, which adds a touch of modern elegance and sets this model apart visually. The bronze finish is durable and resistant to wear, ensuring the shotgun retains its striking appearance over time. Designed for right-hand shooters, the stock dimensions and controls are optimized for natural pointing and comfortable operation.

Lightweight and Balanced for All-Day Carry

Weighing in at approximately 6.70 lbs, the Beretta A400 Xplor Action 20 Gauge strikes an excellent balance between being robust enough for serious use and light enough to carry comfortably for extended periods in the field. This optimal weight distribution contributes to a natural swing and pointability, essential for hitting moving targets.

Reliability and Maintenance: Built to Last

Beretta's reputation for reliability is well-earned, and the A400 Xplor Action is no exception. Its design focuses on long-term durability and ease of maintenance.

• Durable Construction: The combination of a blued steel barrel, a strong aluminum receiver, and a robust walnut stock ensures this shotgun can withstand the rigors of frequent use in various environments.
• Ease of Cleaning: The Blink gas system is designed to be largely self-cleaning, minimizing carbon buildup and simplifying routine maintenance. Disassembly for a more thorough cleaning is straightforward, allowing shooters to easily keep their firearm in top condition.
• Crossbolt Safety: The shotgun is equipped with a positive crossbolt safety, intuitively located for quick and secure operation, enhancing user confidence in the field.

Addressing Common Questions about 20 Gauge Shotguns

Many potential buyers have questions about the suitability and performance of a 20-gauge shotgun. Here are some common inquiries and how the Beretta A400 Xplor Action addresses them:

"Is a 20 gauge powerful enough for hunting?"

Absolutely. While the 12-gauge is often seen as the standard, a 20-gauge shotgun, especially one chambered for 3-inch shells like the Beretta A400 Xplor Action, is more than capable for most hunting applications. Modern ammunition technology provides excellent performance from 20-gauge shells, delivering sufficient energy and pattern density for upland birds, waterfowl, and even deer when using slugs. The lighter recoil of a 20-gauge also often translates to better shot placement and more enjoyable shooting.

"What are the advantages of a semi-automatic shotgun?"

Semi-automatic shotguns offer several distinct advantages over pump-action or over/under models, particularly in a system as refined as the Beretta A400. Key benefits include:

• Faster Follow-Up Shots: The automatic cycling of the action allows for quicker subsequent shots, crucial for connecting with multiple birds from a covey or breaking a second clay target.
• Reduced Recoil: The gas-operated system, like Beretta's Blink, redirects energy to cycle the action, effectively absorbing a significant portion of the recoil before it reaches the shooter's shoulder. This makes for a much more comfortable shooting experience.
• Consistent Point of Aim: Without the need to manually pump the action, the shooter can maintain a more consistent stance and sight picture, leading to greater accuracy.

"How often should I clean my Beretta A400?"

While the Blink system is largely self-cleaning, regular maintenance is still recommended to ensure optimal performance and longevity. For typical recreational use or a few hunting trips, a light cleaning after each outing is sufficient. If shooting high volumes of shells (e.g., hundreds in a day at the clay range), a more thorough cleaning of the gas piston and barrel is advisable after every 200-300 rounds to prevent carbon buildup and maintain reliability. The design of the A400 makes this process relatively quick and easy.

"Where can I find genuine Beretta accessories and support?"

For those looking to expand their A400 Xplor Action's capabilities or find replacement parts, reputable firearm retailers are the best source. This premium firearm, and many other Beretta shotguns, parts, and accessories, can be found at established providers like DEGuns. Ensuring you purchase genuine parts and accessories guarantees compatibility and maintains the high standards of performance and reliability that Beretta is known for.

The Beretta A400 Xplor Action 20 Gauge: A Legacy of Excellence

The Beretta A400 Xplor Action 20 Gauge is more than just a hunting or clay shooting tool; it's a testament to Beretta's centuries-old legacy of craftsmanship and innovation. Its balance of advanced technology, ergonomic design, and classic aesthetics positions it as a top-tier choice for shooters who demand versatility, comfort, and uncompromising performance. Whether you're navigating dense cover in pursuit of pheasants, patiently waiting in a duck blind, or competing for a perfect score at the sporting clays range, the A400 Xplor Action provides the confidence and capability to excel. It’s a reliable partner designed to enhance your passion for the outdoors and the shooting sports for years to come.

Detailed Product Specifications

Feature	Value
Brand	Beretta USA
Model	A400
Series	Xplor Action
SKU	J40AA28
UPC	082442582269
Gauge	20 Gauge
Action	Semi-Auto
Operating System	Gas
Capacity	4+1
Max Capacity	4
Chamber	3"
Barrel Length	28"
Barrel Finish	Black
Barrel Description	Vent Rib
Receiver Finish	Bronze
Receiver Material	Aluminum
Stock Finish	Walnut
Stock Finish Group	Brown
Stock Material	Wood
Hand	Right Hand
Sights	Fiber Optic Front
Safety	Crossbolt
Choke Configuration	Optima-Choke HP
Chokes Included	C, F, M
Trigger	Chrome-Plated
Weight	6.70 lbs
Size	Full Size
Application	Waterfowl, Hunting, Clay Shooting