So , I'm thinking of acquiring a new 20ga semi auto. I have A400 Unico in 12ga and like it a lot -- it has no issues. I'm looking at the A400 20ga upland style. I did have an early Unico 20ga which had ejection issues. Read in the net that there may still be issues. Asking if any of you had experience with 20ga A400's ?
Beretta A400 20ga issues?
- Thread starter Grouser
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The only bad issue I've had with my a400 xplor 20ga is in the cold with challenger #9 2.75" loads. It still cycles and never jams but it doesn't hold the bolt back when empty. It also just drops the cases out of the ejection port where as any other brand shell they're almost to the next skeet station. I firmly believe it's the ammo. Not strong enough to push the bolt all the way in the cold but yet just enough to eject and pick up another shell. After using the 20ga the 12ga xplor seems bulky and thus I use the 20ga more. I've been tempted to buy the upland in 20ga because I like the nickel engraving but I'm not a fan of the kickoff systems
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My wife has an A400 Xplore 20ga. She has 4 waterfowl seasons behind it now and it is very reliable. I have only seen one morning when it acted up. It was a clear sky with stars galore as we set out decoys. Dawn broke into a blue band of sky with bright orange on the horizon as daybreak got closer. At daybreak we experienced a temperature drop from +4C to 0C. It wasn't that cold and it wasn't damp, our guns were not left out as we set up. They were in their cases in the truck until it was time to park the truck after setting up. At legal time a very light frost started to form on the decoys and a tiny bit on the grass of the blind and barley stubble in the field. After a few flocks had worked and we shot my wifes gun quit cycling on the next flocks. It was down to single shot. My SX3 would cycle(same ammo, 3" Kent Fasteel) but it was as if my bolt was in molasses. I could fire and feel the bolt slide forward in slow motion and hear the click of it locking. I emptied both guns and checked them for dirt, debris etc yet they continued to run the same for about a half hour until the sun fully appeared. I tried cycling them empty and each time her bolt had to be pushed forward to lock it into battery? I came to the conclusion tolerances on the A400 are much tighter than on my SX3. The temp only climbed about 1 degree yet that was all it took to get both guns running perfectly again? It has never happened again and we have hunted in some very cold conditions and much heavier frosts yet something that day about whatever atmospheric conditions were happening shut her gun down.
One thing her gun did not like was Winchester Super Target ammunition for skeet. It will only cycle fully about 50% of the time for the second shot in skeet yet my SX3 will cycle that stuff every time. It definitely has something different about it as it ejects the empties hulls in both guns right at our feet yet Remington Gun Clubs, American Field & Clay, Kent Elites, Federal Top Guns etc both guns throw them 15ft and the loads all have identical payload and published velocities.
That was the first season with the new gun. She has not used it on skeet since so no idea if it's still doing the same or not. Since the factory reccomended break in with up to 250 heavy field loads was completed there has never been an issue in the field. I am anxious to see how it will perform on the skeet field this summer. She has expressed interest in wanting to hone her wingshooting skills on the skeet field this summer.
One thing her gun did not like was Winchester Super Target ammunition for skeet. It will only cycle fully about 50% of the time for the second shot in skeet yet my SX3 will cycle that stuff every time. It definitely has something different about it as it ejects the empties hulls in both guns right at our feet yet Remington Gun Clubs, American Field & Clay, Kent Elites, Federal Top Guns etc both guns throw them 15ft and the loads all have identical payload and published velocities.
That was the first season with the new gun. She has not used it on skeet since so no idea if it's still doing the same or not. Since the factory reccomended break in with up to 250 heavy field loads was completed there has never been an issue in the field. I am anxious to see how it will perform on the skeet field this summer. She has expressed interest in wanting to hone her wingshooting skills on the skeet field this summer.
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Winchester super target is the ammo that will stop most autos. It will also let you know which skeet shooter has arm strength cuz they stick in pumps often to.
I've heard that cerokoted guns need a longer break in period with heavier loads to wear down the coating or in essence polish it smooth. Don't know if it's true or not but my cerokoted guns were always smoother when the inside of the action wore in. My a400s have been great and go well beyond a few flats before I clean them well. The 20 and 28 stay much cleaner than the 12 with my 3 xplors.
I've heard that cerokoted guns need a longer break in period with heavier loads to wear down the coating or in essence polish it smooth. Don't know if it's true or not but my cerokoted guns were always smoother when the inside of the action wore in. My a400s have been great and go well beyond a few flats before I clean them well. The 20 and 28 stay much cleaner than the 12 with my 3 xplors.
I have hunted with and shot targets with a 20 ga a400 last 4 years. Winchester super targets are a no go in mine as well. When it gets below zero, it better be clean and lightly lubed or you will get failure to load second shell. When it gets real cold, I take out a pump gun!
