A400 Extrema

Gray Giesfeldt

Gray Giesfeldt

Member
I've been shooting a 391 Extrema 1 for the past 8 years and it's been a very reliable gun. I'm thinking about trading up to the A400 Extrema for the reduced recoil. I'd like to hear from anyone who has shot the Extremas with and without the KO system. Is the recoil reduction really noticeable?
 
Gray,

I've been fortunate enough to own and shoot the Xtrema I & II, and two of my hunting partners just bought the A400 Xtreme. I have shot the new A400 a few times out of the layout boat. If you are going from the Xtrema I to the A400 Xtreme BE CAREFUL!! Not because of quality, but because there is a difference in the length of pull!!

I still shoot an Xtrema I when I layout shoot, because I have orangutan arms and have a longer length of pull. Two years ago, I picked up an Xtrema II and the kick off is VERY NICE, but the LOP shortened up. I find that the A400 has a shorter LOP than the Xtrema II. If you need a longer length, you may be able to contact Beretta and see if they have a thicker recoil pad to give you the longer LOP. I have to say that the new Kick Off does seen to have less recoil, but again, I haven't shot it enough to know for sure. I do know that if I was shooting skeet in a T-shirt, I definitely would NOT shoot the A400 well because it is considerably shorter and changes my sight plane.

Best advice is to spend some time at the gun shop and shoulder the new A400. Also take your duck hunting jacket with you and shoulder the gun while wearing the coat. If it feels good, then go with it. You won't be disapointed with Beretta's quality!! The engineering with the new A400 is pretty damn cool!

Best,
Steve
 
I love the KO on my Extrema2. I notice a difference when shooting in a t-shirt at clay targets, but not so much during hunting season - even with 3 inch shells - compared to my Browning O/U which doesn't have a KO system. I would say that if you're happy with it, and shoot well enough with it, why change? As the olde addage goes - if its not broke, why "fix" it? Do you plan to go to heavier loads?

As an aside, I went to the Beretta store in NYC when the A400s first came out and asked the gunsmith that worked there point blank whether it was worth buying it if I already owned an Extrema2 - he said that if I used it for duck hunting, and was happy with it, the answer was no. The main idea for the A400 was to be able to cycle a variety of loads, especially the lighter ones. He took apart an Extrema2 and an A400 and showed me that it was essentially the same thing, but the gas-valve thingy was noticeably smaller. Not sure what the difference between the Extrema1 and the A400 is though...

Best of luck

Anthony
 
Gray

Steve's arms are so long he doesn't need a gun...I have asked him just to bring a tennis racket...

And you will love the A400...I just the opposite length of pull as Steve...Shooting it was great...Too bad the length of pull doesn't come in my size..

Regards,

Kristan
 
As far as loads go, I bought the Extrema to shoot 3.5 in loads. I've used those for 7 years up until this season. The rest of the guys in our club shoot 3 in. So this year I went back to 3in and tried #3 shot. I had a good year as far number of ducks bagged. Really about the same as shooting the 3 1/2's. Since I bought a case of them I'll be shooting them again next year. I really just thought it be time to buy another gun and the reduced recoil intrigued me. The other option under consideration is to go back to shooting my A5. I've just got the itch to make a change.
 
Gray,

I've been fortunate enough to own and shoot the Xtrema I & II, and two of my hunting partners just bought the A400 Xtreme. I have shot the new A400 a few times out of the layout boat. If you are going from the Xtrema I to the A400 Xtreme BE CAREFUL!! Not because of quality, but because there is a difference in the length of pull!!

I still shoot an Xtrema I when I layout shoot, because I have orangutan arms and have a longer length of pull. Two years ago, I picked up an Xtrema II and the kick off is VERY NICE, but the LOP shortened up. I find that the A400 has a shorter LOP than the Xtrema II. If you need a longer length, you may be able to contact Beretta and see if they have a thicker recoil pad to give you the longer LOP. I have to say that the new Kick Off does seen to have less recoil, but again, I haven't shot it enough to know for sure. I do know that if I was shooting skeet in a T-shirt, I definitely would NOT shoot the A400 well because it is considerably shorter and changes my sight plane.

Best advice is to spend some time at the gun shop and shoulder the new A400. Also take your duck hunting jacket with you and shoulder the gun while wearing the coat. If it feels good, then go with it. You won't be disapointed with Beretta's quality!! The engineering with the new A400 is pretty damn cool!

Best,
Steve
Click to expand...
Interesing, There is no information Beretta's web site on LOP so I called Cabelas and asked them to measure one. They said it measures 14.25 in. That's the same as my Extrema 1. I guess I'll just have to take a coat and try sighting it.
 
If you really want to shoot 3 1/2", then go with a 10 ga. You will get superior performance over the 12 ga 3 1/2" hands down. Kristan and I both have a Remington SP-10, and we took ours to Manitoba this year. They are lethal weapons. I picked up a Briley light modified choke and patterned it with 2s and BBs and it throws a wicked pattern.

I went with the Xtremas just because I liked the feel and function of the guns, but I don't shoot 3 1/2" shells out of them.

Not to raise the 12 ga 3 1/2" debate, because that is beat to death; but if you like shooting a little "tall", and like a heavier load, then go with the 10. It is an amazing gauge!!

Best,
Steve
 
Funny you bring that up as I had a browning gold 10 that I sold to buy the Extrema 1. The browning was a nice gun but was just too heavy for me. Oh well. I have 10 months to decide about this. I will, however, stay with the 3 in shells. Although I keep a few 3.5 inch BB in the blind bag in case a goose comes by. It's nice to be able kick it up a notch if needed.
 
I have the A400 that Steve and Kristan speak of that they have shot. I, fortunately, have arms that fall in the middle of their spectrum. Steve has "orangutan" arms and Kristan has "youth" arms. I love the gun. Very little kick with the 3 point system. I shot 3 1/2s the last hunt just to say I did and the recoil was negligible. Great gun. Shot an Xtrema 2 prior to it. Worth the money.
 
So why did you decide to trade up to the A400? Personally I think the recoil system looks a lot nicer on the A400 but the lay out of the rubber grip inserts on the Xtrema 1-2 would give you a better grip. What do you think?
 
The grips on the A400 almost feel like Rhino Liner. I did like the rubberized grips on the Xtrema 2, but I think the A400 grips are a lot sleeker and actually do have good traction.
 
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