Beretta A400 Xcel Sporting 12 Gauge 28in Gray — Superb Sporting Clays Gun

Description

The Beretta A400 Xcel Sporting is the dedicated clays gun in the A400 family, and this build, part number J42CJ18, wears the Aquatech Shield gray coating over both the Steelium barrel and the receiver. The coating is laser engraved rather than stamped, and its real purpose is corrosion protection on a gun that will spend a lot of hours outdoors in whatever weather the schedule hands you.
Barrel length is 28 inches, the chamber is 3 inches, and the stock is fixed sporting-style walnut with a palm swell and Beretta’s Kick-Off Plus recoil system.

Built around fast follow-up shots

The Blink gas system is the mechanical heart of the A400 line, and Beretta rates it at 36 percent faster follow-up shots than the action it replaced. On a true pair in sporting clays, or a report pair with a fast second bird, that difference is the margin between a smooth second shot and a rushed one.

Supporting it are enlarged controls: a bigger loading port, an extended bolt handle, and an extended bolt release. All three exist because competition shooters reload under time pressure and gloves, cold, and adrenaline all work against fine motor control.

Kick-Off Plus, the stock, and the rib

Kick-Off Plus is the version of Beretta’s hydraulic recoil system that also adds shim-adjustable drop and cast, so the stock can be set to fit rather than accepted as delivered. Beretta claims roughly fifty percent less felt recoil with the system, and while the exact number will vary with load and shooter, the effect over a long day is not subtle. Length of pull with Kick-Off fitted is 14.35 inches.

The rib is a flat ventilated taper, 10mm at the breech narrowing to 8mm at the muzzle, which is the profile most sporting shooters prefer for a clean sight picture without a high, trap-style point of impact. The trigger is chrome plated, the safety sits over the trigger guard, and the palm swell in the grip helps hold the gun consistently through a long swing.

Specifications

• Model: Beretta A400 Xcel Sporting, part number J42CJ18
• Gauge: 12
• Chamber: 3 inches
• Capacity: 2+1 rounds
• Barrel length: 28 inches, Steelium with a ventilated rib
• Rib: flat ventilated tapered, 10x8mm
• Chokes: OptimaChoke HP
• Action: semi-automatic, Blink gas system
• Finish: Aquatech Shield gray coating with laser engraving
• Stock: sporting-style walnut with palm swell, Kick-Off Plus
• Length of pull: 14.35 inches with Kick-Off fitted
• Overall length: 51.26 inches with Kick-Off fitted
• Weight: 121.7 ounces
• Trigger: chrome plated
• Safety: over the trigger guard

Why it is worth considering

• Blink cycling speed, which shows up on every true pair you shoot.
• Kick-Off Plus hydraulic recoil reduction with shim-adjustable drop and cast.
• An all-weather coating on barrel and receiver, not just a blued tube and a painted box.
• A 10×8 tapered rib that gives a clean sight picture without a trap-height point of impact.
• Enlarged loading port, bolt handle, and release, so reloads stay clean under the clock.

Who it suits

This is a sporting clays gun, and it is honest about it. The 28 inch barrel handles quickly enough for close, fast presentations while still carrying enough weight to keep a swing moving, which makes it a good choice for courses with a lot of variety. The Aquatech finish means you can shoot a wet Saturday without worrying about the gun. Trap shooters who want a high point of impact and a longer barrel should look at the Multitarget instead, and hunters are better served by the lighter A400 Upland.

Shells, setup, and transfer notes

Target shotshells are standardized by SAAMI, and the 3 inch chamber will take anything a clays shooter needs and a great deal more besides. For volume practice we stock 1 1/8 ounce heavy target loads. Set drop and cast with the supplied shims before you start blaming your lead; a gun that shoots six inches left is not a technique problem.

Shooters who also compete in trap and want a higher, adjustable point of impact should compare the A400 Xcel Multitarget, which adds an adjustable comb and rib. Hunters who want the Blink action in a lighter walnut field gun should look at the A400 Upland. Every long gun we sell ships to a licensed FFL for transfer and background check, and Pennsylvania buyers should plan on the state point of contact check at pickup.