Looking at a Beretta A400. Wanted my daughter to try out a Franchi AL48 but could not find any in our locale. Guess we'll end up with the A400 xplor.
I've owned and have several thousand rounds through a Franchi AL 48 28ga. I've shot everything from doves to Canada geese with it, I dearly love it. That said, I'd not start a new shooter w/the Franchi over a Beretta 400. Between the recoil of the actual ammo and then the bbl coming back and working the action, the recoil w/the Franchi is significant. It's far more than a 7/8oz 20Ga target load from a gas-gun. AA's from the Franchi recoil like 1 Oz field loads from a gas-20. FWIW I have several 20Ga 302/303 Berettas and a half-dozen 391's and I've shot them all back-to-back w/the Franchi often shooting either Skeet or Sporting Clays.
The Franchi also needs a FIRM plant on the shooter's shoulder to cycle reliably. Again, I LOVE the little thing, but, I'd not start a new shooter with it.
