04-Sep-2026
Ask a UK gun shop which semi-automatic shotgun they sell most of and the Beretta A400 will come up almost immediately. It has been the default gas-operated semi-auto for a decade, soft-shooting, quick-cycling and reliable in weather that stops lesser guns. The difficulty for buyers isn’t whether to consider one. It’s working out which A400 you actually want, because Beretta has built the platform into a family that covers clay grounds, flooded marshes, partridge drives and rough shooting, and the names don’t always make the differences obvious.
This guide breaks the main A400 variants down by what they’re built for, so you can match one to your shooting rather than to a badge.
What all A400s share
Before the differences, the common ground. Every A400 uses Beretta’s Blink gas system, which is the reason the platform earned its reputation: cycling is fast, and the gas action soaks up a good deal of felt recoil compared with an inertia gun or a fixed-breech over-and-under.
They also share Beretta’s corrosion-resistant finishes on the receiver and internals, the Optima-Bore or Steelium barrel technology depending on the model and year, and the Optima-Choke system for interchangeable chokes. Handling is characteristically Beretta: lively, slightly muzzle-light compared with a heavy trap gun, and easy to get moving.
If you’re new to the platform, our Beretta A400 overview covers the basics, and current guns are listed on the Beretta A400 pages.
A400 Xcel: The clay ground specialist
The Xcel is the sporting and competition A400, and it’s the variant most UK buyers are actually searching for. It’s built around a longer, heavier barrel profile and a receiver finished in the distinctive blue anodising that makes an Xcel recognisable across a clay ground at fifty paces.
Everything about it is aimed at repeatable, controlled shooting at clays: extra weight forward to keep the swing smooth through a crosser, a wider rib for a clean sight picture, and stock dimensions that suit a mounted, deliberate gun rather than a snap-shooting one. Many are supplied with an adjustable comb, and the Sporting versions add balance adjustment via weights in the stock and fore-end.
Buy an Xcel if: you shoot registered sporting, skeet or practice rounds regularly, you want the softest-shooting semi-auto on the clay ground, and the extra weight is a benefit rather than a burden. If you’re weighing it against an over-and-under, our comparison of the Beretta 682 family and the best shotguns under £1,000 in the UK will help frame the decision.
Think twice if: you mostly walk up hedgerows. An Xcel carried all day feels like exactly what it is, a competition gun.
A400 Xplor: The game and wildfowling gun
The Xplor is the field-orientated A400, and the range splits further within it. The Xplor Action is the game version, with a bronze-anodised receiver, nickel-alloy construction to keep weight down, and a slimmer, faster-handling profile designed for driven and walked-up shooting. It’s the one to look at if you’re carrying a gun over Scottish hill ground or standing on a peg.
The Xplor Unico is the heavy-duty end of the family, the multi-purpose version built to handle a very wide range of loads, including heavy magnum steel for wildfowling, from the same gun. It’s the A400 for people who want one shotgun to cover pigeon, geese and everything between.
Buy an Xplor if: your shooting is in the field rather than on a ground. Choose the Action for game and general shooting where carrying weight matters, and look at the Unico if you shoot heavy loads and want serious versatility.
A400 Upland: The lightweight walking gun
The Upland is the lightest and most traditional-feeling of the family. Shorter barrels, a slimmer profile, and a strong emphasis on carryability make it the A400 for rough shooting, walked-up days, and anyone who spends more of the day walking than shooting. Some versions carry a straight-hand stock, which gives it a notably more classic feel than the rest of the range.
Buy an Upland if: you shoot rough or walked-up ground, you want a semi-auto that doesn’t feel like a competition tool, and you value handling over sheer weight-soaked recoil absorption.
A400 Lite and the 20-bore question
The A400 Lite is exactly what the name promises, a stripped-back, lighter A400 built for carrying, often with a synthetic or Kick-Off equipped stock. It’s popular with younger and smaller-framed shooters and anyone recoil-sensitive.
Worth knowing separately: several A400 variants are offered in 20-bore as well as 12, and the 20-gauge A400s are genuinely popular in the UK for game and for shooters who want a lighter gun without giving up the gas system’s recoil reduction. A 20-bore semi-auto is a very manageable combination.
Chambers, cartridges and steel shot
One question comes up constantly with A400s: which cartridges will a given gun take? The answer depends entirely on the individual gun’s chambering, which is stamped on the barrel; some A400s are 3in (76mm) chambered, and some are 3½in (89mm). A 3½in gun will happily shoot shorter cartridges; a 3in gun will not take 3½in shells. Always check the barrel markings on the specific gun in front of you rather than assuming from the model name.
Steel shot compatibility likewise depends on the individual barrel’s proof marks and choke. If you’re planning to shoot steel, increasingly relevant for UK game and wildfowling, check the gun’s proof and the choke manufacturer’s guidance before you buy. Our guide to shotgun cartridges for clay shooting in the UK covers the cartridge side more broadly.
Buying an A400 second-hand: What to check
A400s are common on the used market, and most are honest guns. The things worth your attention:
Gas system condition. Pull the fore-end and look at the piston and gas ports. A gun that’s been shot heavily without cleaning will show carbon build-up; heavy fouling isn’t fatal but tells you about the previous owner’s habits.
Cycling. A gas semi-auto that has been neglected can become fussy with light loads. Ask whether it has been reliable with the cartridges you intend to use.
Stock shims and spacers. Beretta supplies a shim kit for adjusting drop and cast. Check they’re present; they’re small and frequently lost.
Chokes. Confirm which chokes are included and that the threads are clean. A full set is worth real money.
Barrel and chamber markings. As above, confirm chamber length and proof for the loads you’ll shoot.
Fit. A semi-auto still needs to fit you. Our guide to shotgun fit is worth reading before you commit.
Browse what’s currently available across the Beretta A400 semi-auto listings, or look more widely across shotguns on Rightgun.uk.
Frequently asked questions
Can a Beretta A400 shoot both 3in and 3½in cartridges? Only if that particular gun is 3½in (89mm) chambered, and a 3½in gun will also shoot 3in and 2¾in shells. A 3in-chambered A400 cannot take 3½in cartridges. The chamber length is marked on the barrel, so check the individual gun.
Which A400 is best for clay shooting? The Xcel. It’s purpose-built for sporting and competition, with the extra weight and barrel length that make a swing repeatable.
Which A400 is best for game shooting? The Xplor Action for driven and walked-up game, or the Upland if you prioritise light weight for rough shooting. The Xplor Unico is the choice if you also shoot heavy wildfowling loads.
Is the A400 reliable with light loads? Generally yes, provided the gas system is kept clean. Neglected guns are the ones that become fussy, which is why gas system condition matters when buying used.
Is a 20-bore A400 worth considering? For UK game shooting, very much so. It combines lighter carrying weight with the gas system’s recoil reduction, which makes it an easy gun to shoot well all day.
Find your A400
Whichever variant fits your shooting, the practical next step is seeing what’s actually on the market. Browse new and used Beretta A400 shotguns on Rightgun.uk to compare specifications, or list your own to reach UK shooters searching for exactly that gun.
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