Description
Ask a group of serious duck hunters what they'd grab if money weren't a concern, and the A400 Xtreme Plus comes up over and over. There's a reason for that. This is a 12 gauge that cycles 2.75, 3, and 3.5 inch shells interchangeably without any adjustment, keeps running when it's caked in mud and freezing rain, and does it all with less punch to your shoulder than just about anything else in the blind. The KO in the name stands for Kick-Off, Beretta's hydraulic dampener built into the stock, and paired with the soft Micro-Core recoil pad it takes the sting out of heavy waterfowl loads in a way you have to feel to believe.
Why the A400 Xtreme Plus Earns Its Keep in the Marsh
The 28 inch Steelium Plus barrel is the same barrel technology Beretta developed for its competition guns, with lengthened forcing cones that produce noticeably even patterns across a wide range of loads. Up top you get a stepped vent rib with a steel mid-bead and a fiber optic front sight that stays visible in gray, low-light mornings. The BLINK gas system cycles fast, so your second and third shots are there when a flock drops in all at once. Beretta also borrowed some smart touches from the competition world: an enlarged loading port, extended charging handle, and oversized bolt release, all of which matter a lot more when you're wearing gloves and your hands are half numb.
Built for Wet Days, Dressed in Optifade Marsh
The synthetic stock and metalwork wear Gore Optifade Waterfowl Marsh, a concealment pattern designed around how ducks and geese see, and the whole gun is treated to shrug off water, powder residue, and grime. The receiver is drilled and tapped if you ever want to add an optic. At roughly 7.4 pounds it carries fine on a walk-in hunt but has enough heft to swing smooth on passing birds. It ships with five Optima-Choke HP tubes, so you're covered from decoying mallards to late-season geese right out of the box. This is the kind of shotgun you buy once and hunt with for decades.
Key Specifications
- Manufacturer: Beretta
- Model: A400 Xtreme Plus KO
- Manufacturer Part Number: J42XM18
- UPC: 082442893754
- Gauge: 12 Gauge
- Chamber: 3.5 in (accepts 2.75, 3, and 3.5 in shells)
- Action: Semi-Auto, BLINK gas-operated
- Barrel Length: 28 in Steelium Plus, vent rib
- Capacity: 2 + 1
- Sights: Fiber optic front with steel mid-bead
- Stock: Synthetic with Kick-Off recoil reduction
- Finish: Gore Optifade Waterfowl Marsh camo
- Choke System: Optima-Choke HP
- Receiver: Drilled and tapped for optics
- Weight: Approx. 7.4 lbs
- Hand: Right
What’s Included
- Beretta A400 Xtreme Plus KO shotgun
- 5 Optima-Choke HP choke tubes (C, IC, M, IM, F)
- Hard case
- Stock shim kit
- Owner's manual
Frequently Asked Questions
How much does the Kick-Off system on the A400 Xtreme Plus reduce recoil?
Beretta's combination of the Kick-Off hydraulic dampener, gas operation, and soft Micro-Core recoil pad cuts felt recoil dramatically, with Beretta claiming reductions of up to 70 percent compared to conventional setups. In practical terms, 3.5 inch magnum loads feel closer to standard 3 inch shells in most other autoloaders. It's a big part of why this gun has the reputation it does among waterfowl hunters.
Will the A400 Xtreme Plus cycle light target loads as well as heavy 3.5 inch shells?
Yes, that versatility is one of its strong suits. The gas-operated BLINK action handles 2.75, 3, and 3.5 inch shells interchangeably with no adjustments needed. Most owners find it cycles common 1 oz and 1-1/8 oz target loads reliably once the gun is broken in, so it can pull double duty at the clays range in the offseason.
Can I mount a red dot or optic on this shotgun?
You can. The receiver on the A400 Xtreme Plus comes drilled and tapped from the factory, so adding a rail or optic mount for turkey season or low-light hunts is straightforward. For most wingshooting, though, the fiber optic front bead and steel mid-bead give you a fast, clear sight picture as is.
What choke tubes come with the Beretta A400 Xtreme Plus KO, and what do they fit?
It ships with five Optima-Choke HP tubes: Cylinder, Improved Cylinder, Modified, Improved Modified, and Full. That covers everything from close decoying birds to longer pass shooting right out of the box. The Optima HP system is rated for steel shot in the appropriate constrictions, and aftermarket tubes in this pattern are widely available.




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