When Beretta introduced the A400, it showed what a semi-automatic shotgun could be. It was fast, reliable, and its recoil management system made shooting heavy loads more comfortable than ever. For years, the A400 Xtreme Plus was the benchmark for a high-performance duck gun.
So, how do you improve on what many already consider the best? Beretta’s answer is the AX800 Suprema. By blending technology from their Olympic-winning competition guns with features from their tactical line, Beretta has engineered a firearm purpose-built to address major challenges waterfowlers experience in the field and after the hunt.
Specs:
- Action Type: Gas-Operated, Semi-Automatic
- Gauge/Chamber Size: 12-gauge / 3.5-inch
- Barrel: 28-inch Steelium Pro, Vent Rib
- Weight: ~7.8 lbs (3.4 kg)
- Receiver: High-Tech Polymer
- Stock: Synthetic with Kick-Off Pro recoil reduction, adjustable for LOP, drop, and cast
- Controls: Oversized safety, bolt release, and charging handle
- Trigger: Flat-faced, ~3 lb pull weight
- Finish: Matte black and camo patterns available
- Optics: Receiver is drilled and tapped for direct-mount optics plates (sold separately)
Build and Design Concept
At a glance, the new Beretta shotgun might be mistaken for a tactical shotgun, but every design choice is rooted in waterfowl hunting. First off, the gun is built around a high-tech polymer receiver instead of the traditional aluminum. This shouldn’t be seen as a cost-cutting measure; it’s a deliberate engineering decision for durability – polymer is weatherproof, corrosion-resistant, and requires less maintenance, which is ideal for the mud, rain, and cold that define duck hunting. Plus, it doesn’t require the oil that can freeze in extreme cold.
The material also allows for modern, aggressive ergonomics that are difficult and expensive to achieve with aluminum.
The matte black finish and textured rubberized grips on the fore-end and pistol grip ensure a secure hold and eliminate glare that could spook birds. The gun doesn’t give a plasticky feel some might expect.
Beretta also focused heavily on ergonomics and user experience in adverse conditions. The controls – safety, bolt release, and charging handle – are oversized, making them easy to operate with gloves on. The gun also has a flat-faced trigger, a feature borrowed from tactical rifles (compared to traditional curved triggers, this design, when well engineered, offers a more crisp break and a quicker reset. The AX800’s trigger breaks at just over 3 lbs, which is exceptionally light for a semi-auto shotgun and aids in fast follow-up shots.
The stock is fully modular, with an easily adjustable length of pull and comb height, and features a soft, comfortable cheek pad and weather-resistant, thick recoil pad. The grip is also interchangeable, allowing shooters to customize the fit to their hand size and preference.
Also, the receiver is designed with an integrated mounting system for red dot optics, making it a versatile platform for turkey hunting as well.
Performance Features
The performance of the AX800 Suprema is defined by three core features: the gas system, the recoil reduction, and the barrel technology.
So, at the core of the AX800 Suprema is the redesigned B-Link Pro gas system. Beretta claims that the new system is 36% faster and 46% cleaner than its previous gas-operated shotguns. How did they achieve that?
First, the action has been redesigned to be shorter and more efficient. Second, Beretta has redesigned the gas ports to use less gas, which means less carbon and residue build-up in the system. Additionally, Beretta used a special multi-layer coating (with a top layer being PVD) inside the gas cylinder, which acts like a non-stick surface, preventing dirt and gunk from building up inside the system.
The recoil management system (Kick-Off Pro) is the second significant upgrade. It uses hydraulic dampers within the stock to absorb and dissipate recoil, with Beretta claiming a reduction of up to 70%. This, combined with a soft, comfortable cheek pad, makes recoil from heavy magnum loads feel more like a firm push than a sharp kick, making it comfortable to shoot repeatedly. Reduced felt recoil and muzzle rise also allow the shooter to stay on target for follow-up shots on a second bird.
Together, the recoil management system and the efficient gas system ensure that the gun can comfortably handle any type of ammo from lead to steel, from 24g target loads to heavy 3.5-inch magnum shells.
The gun also sports a Steelium Pro barrel, a cool feature previously reserved for Beretta’s elite DT11 competition shotguns. This barrel features a very long 17.7-inch forcing cone, which gradually constricts the shot column as it travels down the barrel. As a result, you get more consistent and denser patterns at longer distances, with fewer stray pellets. Patterning tests have shown excellent performance, delivering dense, well-distributed patterns at 40 yards.
BERETTA A400 Xtreme Plus KO Shotgun
$1,939.00
Price accurate at time of writing
- Caliber: 12ga
- Barrel length: 28"
- Capacity: 3rd
- Chamber: 3.5"
- Weight: 7.8 lbs
Final Thoughts
The Beretta AX800 Suprema is for the dedicated hunter who wants the latest and greatest technology and is willing to pay for it. It’s soft-shooting, hard-hitting shotgun built to perform in the worst conditions.
If you want cutting-edge performance, minimal recoil with magnum loads, and a gun you can trust to work no matter what, the AX800 Suprema is arguably the best semiauto duck gun available today.
Pros:
- Effective recoil reduction: The Kick-Off Pro system, combined with a soft cheek piece and new butt pad, significantly reduces felt recoil by up to 70%. This makes shooting heavy 3.5-inch magnum loads more comfortable and allows for faster, more accurate follow-up shots.
- Reliable in extreme conditions: Its high-tech polymer receiver is weatherproof, rust-proof, and doesn’t require oiling, which prevents freezing in cold conditions. It performed flawlessly in extensive NATO-standard tests involving water, mud, sand, and ice.
- Advanced gas system: The B-LINK Pro gas system cycles faster and runs cleaner than previous models. This enhanced efficiency ensures reliable cycling with a wide range of loads and reduces the frequency of cleaning needed.
- Great patterning: Thanks to a longer forcing cone, the shotgun produces more consistent and tighter shot patterns.
- Excellent ergonomics and customization: The shotgun is highly adjustable, with options to change the length of pull, drop, cast, and even the pistol grip. The oversized controls are easy to use with gloves, and the non-reflective, textured finish provides a secure grip in wet conditions.
- Optics-ready: The receiver is designed with an integrated mounting system for red dot sights, making it a versatile gun for various types of hunting, including turkey.
Limitations:
- Premium price: With a price of around $2,500, it is one of the most expensive waterfowl shotguns on the market.
- Weight: At approximately 7.8 lbs, it is heavier than some competing semi-automatic shotguns. However, this weight helps absorb recoil.
- Polarizing aesthetics: The modern, tactical design, largely due to the polymer receiver, is a departure from traditional shotgun aesthetics.
- Proprietary parts and service: While the redesigned gas system is more durable and easier to clean, some components, like the gas cylinder assembly, are designed to be serviced by a gunsmith.
Leave a Reply