Home Forums Birds & Dogs Shotguns Beretta confuses me. How about some help?

Been looking at buying a new gun geared mostly toward waterfowl. Don't need it, just want it, type of deal. Benelli or Beretta this time.

Benelli is pretty straight forward.

Beretta has me scratching my head. Can you guys explain the real world difference between the 391 and the new A400?

I understand the Urika shoots 3" and Extrema 3.5".

So far it's either the Urika or the M2.

Thoughts?

A400 has many changes over the 391.

Rotating bolt head. Spring that drives the bolt is on the magazine tube instead of in the stock. Available with a hydraulic recoil pad to spread out recoil. Easier to clean.

The 391 will eventually be discontinued.

Had the EXtrema Version 1 , 391 and own a 390. I also own a Super 90 M1 and a very recent M2. I really love the M1 , I am a semi-auto Junky and I shoot better with that thing then any other gun I have handled. My M2 is sitting in the safe have not had a chance to shoot it yet .Love Benellis

I sure wish Benelli did the combo thing. M2 defense with a field barrel option would be ideal. Guess I just have to buy two...

The A400 is ugly. The 391 is not. The 390 certainly is not. I've had a 390 since '92, it's a great shotgun. I've also used the Benelli Montefeltro and SBE since they came out. I'm a big Benelli fan. You can't go wrong with your stated choices. Gas operated or recoil operated.

Love the gas operated, hate the recoil(inertia) operated due to recoil.

I think gas is softer on the shoulder too. Still though, my Benelli's don't bother me at all...unless I'm shooting at geese using 3.5" mags. while I'm laying on my back!

Copy that! I've made the mistake of doing that with my 870 a time or two. Wow!

Thanks for the responses. I'm sure seeing a lot of deals on the Beretta's. Especially the Extrema and Extrema 2's. Probably Beretta guys upgrading to the A400.

If you are looking for a scatter gun geared towards waterfowl then the Benelli M1 Super 90 would be the best choice. As far as 3.5" shells if you can't kill it with a 3" you shouldn't be attemping to with 3.5". Anyone with an average ability with a shotgun would be able to drop geese with 2-3/4" shells.

It is hard to beat a 391 for all around use, light weight and fairly soft recoil. The Extrema 1 is an awesome waterfowl gun. Mine cycles even light 7/8 oz loads (it's had everything thru, mainly 3" steel loads).

I have the a400, it's a sweet gun, soft shooting, cycles whatever you shoot.

But my go to waterfowl gun is the Extrema 1. It's in camo, heavier, felt recoil is low, even with the heavy waterfowl loads.

Mike its not hard at all to beat the 391 as a waterfowling gun, the Benelli M1 Super 90 does it handedly. I have nothing against Beretta's 303, 390, 391, and A400's.They are fine guns but when stacked against a M1 Super 90 in waterfowling applications they fall short. Just as the M1 Super 90 falls short against the Beretta's on the clays courses.

Agree.
You see more Benelli shotguns in the blind/mud/wet and Beretta's in the clay games. I had a Beretta Pintail a long time ago that was a basically a Benelli recoil operated design, it was a good choice for ducks.

Love the gas operated, hate the recoil(inertia) operated due to recoil.

You don't have to shoot heavy loads.

My #1 S-I-L used to be a Beretta gas gun kind of guy. They (therefore he also) changed models about every two or three years. I went with Benelli for a light 20 several years ago. When Benelli came out with the little 28, he finally saw the light. jack