Medic1281 Posted March 2, 2011 Report Share Posted March 2, 2011 Hi, I'm looking at adding a semi auto shotgun to my collection of rifles and o/u shotgun. I've been looking at the beretta A400 xplor unico with the kick off system. Has anyone on here got any experience of the gun, what are your thoughts of it? All reviews I've found have been positive but all are written by journalists and not everyday users! Thanks for your time, Phil Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mickmep Posted March 2, 2011 Report Share Posted March 2, 2011 like mine, its the one i grab if i'm going rough shooting. had an extrema2 before, prefer the 400. not had any problems with mine, 'bedded in' on 28 gram clay loads and not had any misfeeds with it. theyre a bit tight with the chokes, only come with cylinder, half and full, and the chokes are quite expensive for them. i would advise to handle one, they feel quite light and the stock/forend is slimmer than the older berettas. some say theyre better balanced without the kickoff, mines kickoff and feels ok to me. strange to shoot to start with with the noise of the kickoff working but you soon donrt notice it, either that or its broke Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Berelli Posted March 2, 2011 Report Share Posted March 2, 2011 Really nice gun and very well built, lots of metal parts inside - unlike most of the slightly cheaper makes. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dave1419 Posted March 2, 2011 Report Share Posted March 2, 2011 Ive had mine for nearly a year now and its the first gun out the cabinet,mine's the kick-off and the chokes are expensive,but the gun makes up for it with the handling and it will fire any cartridge you put through it.A doddle to clean also.certainly recommend one---Dave-- Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Catweazle Posted March 2, 2011 Report Share Posted March 2, 2011 I've only recently bought one, so no long term experience, but so far I love it. It's very light, and takes a sling, you hardly know it's over your back. The recoil absorbers really work, it's a bit surreal as you get all the noise of a proper cartridge but the recoil of a light clay load. Somehow this makes the noise seem louder. The standard choke selection is a bit strange, luckily mine came with a couple of Beretta extended chokes too. Extra chokes would be quite expensive, you need Optima HP type which I've seen listed at £50+ . The barrel is a work of art, it's so light you wouldn't think it would handle 3.5" magnums, and the blueing is beautiful too. Overall I'm very impressed with it, it's a keeper for me. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Medic1281 Posted March 2, 2011 Author Report Share Posted March 2, 2011 Thanks everyone! I've noticed that west mids shooting ground has one down the road from me so will be paying them a visit to have a good look and feel of one. All good reviews so far so sounds like it could be money well spent! ATB Phil Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RAMMER BURT Posted March 2, 2011 Report Share Posted March 2, 2011 got mine just after christmas and it's the best auto i have owned light and very well ballanced,it's the only gun i use now even when clay shooting Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
olly1962 Posted March 5, 2011 Report Share Posted March 5, 2011 I tried the Kick Off version and hated it!!! So much resonance noise from it, OK you may get used to it but i bought one without the kickoff and it is fine. I shoot Gamebore 35g No5 through it without Kickoff and its fine, my advice would be unless you suffer with recoil forget the Kick Off, DEFINITELY TRY ONE FIRST, I did and it put me off, I tried without a week later and bought one. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
shaun4860 Posted March 5, 2011 Report Share Posted March 5, 2011 Its a shame you want the kick off system, there is one for sale on here without it for a real bargain price of £800... :o shaun Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Medic1281 Posted March 5, 2011 Author Report Share Posted March 5, 2011 How have I missed that, have you got a link to it? ATB Phil Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
retromlc Posted March 5, 2011 Report Share Posted March 5, 2011 i've actually owned both a kick-off and a non kick off,the non kick off version is better balanced IMO.and the noise resonnace that they speak of is on both types,some light car engine oil on the tube spring dampens the noise,it's the only gun I use,so I sold the kick off one and my O/U silver pigeon.it's a very good gun,clay's or hide shooting.it doesn't like 21 grm clay carts but 24 grms up no problem.buy one. recoil on the non kick off is better than any other semi I used. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dai_ceyl Posted March 6, 2011 Report Share Posted March 6, 2011 Just used mine for the first tim yesterday at West Mid Shooting ground, on 50 clays - my brother, father and girlfriend also had a go with it so all in all it got 80 clays put through it, all 21gram loads and it sucked them all up with only one stoppage, which considering the lowest it should go is 24gm i'm happy. Not only that but its light, well balanced, clearly very well made and the other two who are novices along for having a go and my father who hadnt shot for 25 years all hit well over 50% of the targets - and dad, who is fairly 'traditional' about guns, said he even preferred shooting it to our Beretta Ultralight, which I think is the biggest point in its favour! So, light, reliable, good looking in solid way, capable of cycling anything and with the capacity to even win over the traditional it shoots so well... Do I have to say more? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
shaun4860 Posted March 6, 2011 Report Share Posted March 6, 2011 How have I missed that, have you got a link to it? ATB Phil ive looked back and it was sold on the first of march for £850 not £800 but still a great price...... shaun Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
retromlc Posted March 6, 2011 Report Share Posted March 6, 2011 ive looked back and it was sold on the first of march for £850 not £800 but still a great price...... shaun that was stupid cheap.but a real bargin. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dai_ceyl Posted March 6, 2011 Report Share Posted March 6, 2011 Oh yeah, and I picked mine up with 500 cartridges through it for £800 last week. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
wymberley Posted January 22, 2014 Report Share Posted January 22, 2014 Guys, Could anyone kindly update this one. I'm looking at the 20 bore Action version. Any views? Particularly kick off or not. Many thanks, Wymberley Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Catweazle Posted January 22, 2014 Report Share Posted January 22, 2014 I've still got mine, it's just as good as it was in 2011. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
wymberley Posted January 23, 2014 Report Share Posted January 23, 2014 I've still got mine, it's just as good as it was in 2011. Many thanks. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rimfireboy Posted January 23, 2014 Report Share Posted January 23, 2014 (edited) Guys, Could anyone kindly update this one. I'm looking at the 20 bore Action version. Any views? Particularly kick off or not. Many thanks, Wymberley I've got the A400 Xtreme with kick-off and I can say that IMO it's the best semi auto I've had, and I've had a fair few over the years. I've also got an AL391 in 20 bore, which is nice, but not as good as the A400. Forgot to say, kick-off, definitely the way to go. Edited January 23, 2014 by Rimfireboy Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
wymberley Posted January 23, 2014 Report Share Posted January 23, 2014 I've got the A400 Xtreme with kick-off and I can say that IMO it's the best semi auto I've had, and I've had a fair few over the years. I've also got an AL391 in 20 bore, which is nice, but not as good as the A400. Forgot to say, kick-off, definitely the way to go. Cheers. I was heading in that direction until I discovered about the inability to alter the cast (except for 'off' or 'on') apart from fiddling and regretfully, I'm passed that now. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
wymberley Posted January 25, 2014 Report Share Posted January 25, 2014 Posting for two reasons. Firstly, to publicly thank Catweasel for his kind offer regarding shims which as it now turns out I shan't need. Many thanks ne'r t' less. Secondly, just some info' should anyone else like me - not too au fait with self loaders - make use of it. I'm tallish - well, was, shrinking by the day now - and slim - and consequently, I need some cast on my guns; depends, but somewhere about 1/4"+. I recently bought a cheapish gun but because of a retro fit recoil 'reducing' device fitted and the amount of wood removed from the internal stock, no adjustment was possible. However, the idea of the type in a pigeon hide appealed to me so decided to see what was what and found it to be a mine-field. This, obviously only applies if you do require 'some' cast, 'off' or 'on'. Had a look at a Beretta A400, a very nice gun and comes with shims as advertised. One. It is reverseable and gives a 3 to 5mm cast in either direction. That's it, no other shims can be supplied and it is not possible, say GMK, to locally manufacture (shall we say) others and any other work would require to be done by a qualified 'smith. I think that could be taken with a pinch of salt, but that is what I was told. Next, the Maxus which comes with shims - oh yeah, here we go! It does; 6, one of which is installed and has a 'null' effect. Two adjust drop and the final 3 adjust a combination of drop and cast. You won't find this advertised but I tripped over it in the online manual. You'd have to be an ape not to make this one fit. I stopped at this point as the Maxus fitted like a glove and I'll be knocking on the RFD's door first thing on Monday morning. Consequently, if you're a tad 'gangly' like me, just check exactly what is meant by, 'stock adjustment shims supplied' before handing over your hard earned dosh. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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