I own two 391s and have put about 1,500 rounds through various A400 Xcel targets. These guns included one I came very close to buying, a couple of guns at a private club used for instruction and, most recently, a few familiarization rounds through the new Multi-Target.
My 391s usually go at least 2,500-3,000 rounds between cleaning without a hitch. I'd predict the A400 to be just as good if not better based on the instructional guns which were shot a lot and received, ahem, very little maintenance.
I disassembled and cleaned the A400s at the private club and found them slightly easier to take down and put back together. I found the breach block easier to get back in without the rear spring in the stock. There are little tricks with the 391 that make it easier but the nod here goes to the A400.
The Beretta A400 choke tubes are Optima HP which I found better than the Optima in the 391 which have a tendency to back out and require frequent tightening. The HP remain more solidly seated.
The forend cap on the A400 Xcel is a significant improvement over the 391 which will seize unless kept clean, lubricated and loosened when stored. The first thing I look for with a used 391 is channel lock marks on the forend cap and find them fairly often.
Handling and feel are subjective and while the two guns are very similar I found the 391 a little livelier although in fairness most of my A400 shooting was with a 32" gun. My 391s have 30" barrels.
The sour spot with the A400 was trigger pull. My 391s are around 4lbs. and a tiny bit mushy while A400 pulls were a heavier with more noticeable creep. The other thing I didn't like about the A400 was the pistol grip configuration which for me wasn't as comfortable as the 391.
My 391s are not my main target guns and are mostly used as back-up guns and loaners but were I in the market for a new semi for targets the A400 Excel would be the only one on my list. That Multi-Target is very nice.
