Beretta A400 questions

[Urbansherpa]

I'm looking to sell my Beretta Silver Pigeon and buy a left-handed A400 Xtreme. I love my O/U, but I'll get more use from the A400. Anyway, I find the black 'Synthetic' version more visually appealing than the Camo versions. If anyone has a black version, do you find it any less weather resistant? ie, rust?
Also, does it scratch any easier? I've read all the Beretta 'Steelium' marketing, but don't know if that's an exaggeration.

I want a semi that I don't have to worry about, with pitting and rust, but I do like the black version.

Anyone? Thanks

 

[Claybuster]

I'm looking to sell my Beretta Silver Pigeon and buy a left-handed A400 Xtreme. I love my O/U, but I'll get more use from the A400. Anyway, I find the black 'Synthetic' version more visually appealing than the Camo versions. If anyone has a black version, do you find it any less weather resistant? ie, rust?
Also, does it scratch any easier? I've read all the Beretta 'Steelium' marketing, but don't know if that's an exaggeration.

I want a semi that I don't have to worry about, with pitting and rust, but I do like the black version.

Anyone? Thanks

I can't comment on the durability of the finish of the A400 but I do own a Beretta with "Steelium" barrels. There is nothing about the Steelium barrels that hasn't been done before. Extended forcing cones and overbored barrels are nothing new but I'm impressed with Beretta's version. Mine pattern consistently and a little tighter than comparable guns.

 

[novacam]

I sold my 686 and bought an a400 as well. I can't speak to the model you're looking at as I went with the Action but I'm glad I did what I did. I prefer semi too and I feel I shoot better with them. As always I blame the gun and not me!

 

[Urbansherpa]

I can't comment on the durability of the finish of the A400 but I do own a Beretta with "Steelium" barrels. There is nothing about the Steelium barrels that hasn't been done before. Extended forcing cones and overbored barrels are nothing new but I'm impressed with Beretta's version. Mine pattern consistently and a little tighter than comparable guns.

I actually used to own an A400 Xplor that I used for clays. I sold it to buy my current 686. Neither of those guns ever saw rain or bad weather. I don't remember if either had Steelium barrels....didn't matter.

I'm mostly interested to know if anyone has had any issues of those barrels rusting...especially the 'black' version (no Camo coating on the barrel). I'm VERY particular with my firearms, so they would never be abused. Just curious.

My Outlander seems to be holding up perfectly. Never an FTF or FTE. I figure that if I sell both my A300 and 686, I can get by with just an A400 Xtreme. That is the gun I've settled on, as I have $everal OHP extended chokes for it already.

Cheers!

 

[Ahsan Ahmed]

Synthetic black will be fine if maintained diligently. However, scratches inflicted do tend to show up more prominently on black stocks. On the other hand, the paint on camo dipped guns is also sensitive to cleaning solvents. Having said all that, wear and tear pertinent to surface finish could easily be prevented to a major extent if one is simply paying some attention during handling/use. IMO, a firearm's condition is affected adversely due to abuse/neglect more than anything else.

FWIW, I've owned several Benelli shotguns in black (M2, SBEII, Nova) and hunted in all kinds of wet/cold weather with zero impacts to external finish. Admittedly, I did not own those for more than a few years only. However, I've also observed examples where the external colors (both camo and black guns) fade somewhat on the same guns that have been used over many seasons (never saw any rust though) - I would like to think such type of wear as quite normal.

I do not expect the Berettas to be any different in that aspect.

 

[Urbansherpa]

Thanks, Ahsan. My problem with shotguns is similar in that I usually don't own them for more than a few years! I've owned about 15+ of varying brands and finishes. At least I could get a black barrel Cerakoted, if it starts to show scratches (inviting rust)