Beretta A400 lite?

[NATEWA]

I have an old duck hunting friend. He tried the Beretta a300 and said it's too long and has too much recoil.

Any suggestions for a light and soft shooting 12 gauge with a 26" barrel?

I suggested he shoot a 20 gauge but he wants a 12.

I saw the a400 lite - any one have one?

[squeeze]

I have a 28" one with the "Kick-eez". Nice field gun. I shot trap, clays and skeet with it. OK for clays and skeet but a little light for trap. It is designed to shoot 2 3/4" shells only. 26"-not sure it comes in that lenght. Go with the 12 ga.

[Horrendo Revolver]

Browning Maxus and Silver
Winchester SX-3
FABARM L4S
Remington VersaMax and V3
Mossberg 930

It may just be fit but I've owned two Beretta's and subjectively the recoil was harsher than any of the above.

[ysr_racer]

Too much recoil? What does your friend's husband do for a living?

[NATEWA]

Too much recoil? What does your friend's husband do for a living?

Ha, ha...he's old and just had back surgery. He's not the biggest guy either.

He's single - you want me to hook you up?

[NATEWA]

Thanks for the suggestions - keep them coming please. In all seriousness, he's an old guy and I'm not sure how many more years of duck hunting he has.

[BOBGBA]

Has he tried a Versamax?

[NATEWA]

Has he tried a Versamax?

No - good guns? My experiencs is with Beretta's and Benellis.

[BOBGBA]

The versamax is a very soft shooter. I think they copied the gas system from Benelli and added additional gas ports.

http://www.benelliusa.com/argo

https://www.remington.com/shotguns/autoloading/versa-max

The guy I used to hunt ducks with thinks it's the softest shooter he's ever used, prior to this he used an 11-87 (chambered for 3 1/2") and some others.
I think it shots very soft, but then again, I used to shoot a couple of pump guns: Benelli Nova and an 870 (both chambered for 3 1/2")

[Novak77]

Browning Maxus and Silver
Winchester SX-3
FABARM L4S
Remington VersaMax and V3
Mossberg 930

It may just be fit but I've owned two Beretta's and subjectively the recoil was harsher than any of the above.

^^^ this ^^^

[Horrendo Revolver]

For shooting heavy duck loads I'd bet the VersaMax has less recoil than any other shotgun in current production assuming good fit.

[MeatyMac]

My experiencs is with Beretta's and Benellis.

Then it's the A400 Xtreme Unico Synthetic for your buddy. I switched from the VersaMax to the A400 Xtreme Unico in Optifade, this year will be my 4th season fielding the A400, IMO, it's the best waterfowl shotgun I've ever owned. Beretta's Kick-Off stock gives it the edge, it really helps to tame heavy duck loads.

Here's my old VarsaMax on the top w/a 28" barrel, my son's SX3 w/a 26" barrel and my A400 w/a 28" barrel



I've shot that SX3 a good amount, if I was choosing between the VersaMax and the SX3 I'd buy the Winchester...

Mac

[MeatyMac]

So I looked at Beretta's web site, looks like the A400 Lite is only available in 20 gauge, here's their site, http://www.beretta.com/en-us/a400-lite-max-5/

[Barbarossa]

I shoot the A400 Xtreme Unico.

It shoots a lot softer than my 870 did with 3.5" loads.

I'm not sure I would get a "lite" gun as a heavier gun will have less perceived recoil.

I have an old duck hunting friend. He tried the Beretta a300 and said it's too long and has too much recoil.

Any suggestions for a light and soft shooting 12 gauge with a 26" barrel?

I suggested he shoot a 20 gauge but he wants a 12.

I saw the a400 lite - any one have one?