BERETTA A400 XPLOR ACTION LEFT HANDED: A semi-auto designed and built for those who use the left hand.
Text by Saverio Patrizi
Since the world began, left-handed people have always existed, among them also many prominent personalities for ingenuity and culture that have characterized the evolution of man in recent centuries, just to name a few, we can mention Alexander the Great, Julius Caesar, Michelangelo Buonarroti, Ludwig van Beethoven, Winston Churchill, Bill Gates and many others. Left-handed people represent about 10% of the population, an increase among the younger groups, this figure is determined by the fact that once left-handed children were forced to use the right, while now it is preferred to let them express in a natural way. The left-handed is therefore still quite disadvantaged today because he lives in an "environment" designed for right-handers and this consideration is also true for what concerns the world of weapons and hunting.
As long as we talk about side-by-side or over-and-under shots, the "problem" is overcome by making the left-handed stock, another matter in the case of semiautomatics, even if they are sold with plates and shims to change the advantage of the stock from right to left and modify the fold, remains the problem of the extraction of the cartridge case, which inevitably, during the ejection phase, will have to pass in front of the shooter's face.
With this in mind Beretta developed the left-handed model of its flagship automatic, theA400 Xplor Action Left Handed, a completely left-hand shotgun with the bolt and consequently also the ejection on the left side, to realize this project the shotgun has been completely redesigned so as to offer a specific and functional product. Naturally it contains all the prerogatives of its brother for "right-handed", the design is beautiful and functional, the coupling between the wood of the forend and the bronze color of the carcass is magnificent. The barrels, of different sizes, made with Steelium technology in triple-alloyed steel with deep drilling and cold hammering, Optima Bore HP profile and Optima Choke HP chokes are designed to offer the best performance even with steel shot, always guaranteeing perfect shot patterns and uniform in any hunting situation.
The "engine" of the A400, called Blink, in this case with completely left action, is the result of the integration between the new gas system, the rotating head closure and the new fuel system. The gas outlet is equipped with an innovative piston with a scraping and self-cleaning elastic band which also acts as a seal. In this way, Blink is more powerful, much cleaner and decidedly faster.
Also conceived for intensive use, it can be equipped with the Kick-Off, the recoil reduction system that uses two hydraulic shock absorbers very similar to those used for car suspensions, and is able to reduce kickback by 60%. Combined with the Micro-Core recoil pad in open cell expanded technopolymer, softer, lighter and smoother than rubber, with gradual and instantaneous release so as to increase the support surface of the shoulder providing the shotgun with a safe and precise support.
Anyone wishing to deepen their knowledge ofA400 XplorAction, you can connect to the Beretta website at the page by clicking here, or view the video produced by the company from Gardone Val Trompia. With this weapon Beretta opens to 10% of total left-handed people, with a weapon completely made for them, without compromise and with maximum performance, suitable in different configurations for all hunts, from ducks to woodcock.
DATASHEET
Model A400 Xplor Action
Caliber 12/76 Magnum
Ergal casing, matt, bronze anodized
B-Link action, semi-automatic with gas outlet
Closure Rotating head shutter
Tank capacity 4 cartridges + 1 barrel
Reversible safety on the hand guard
Steelium barrel, OptimaBore HP
Barrel lengths 66, 71, 76 cm
Flat ventilated 6 × 6 rib
Chokes supplied C, M, F
Red fiber optic viewfinder
Stock and forend Wood class 2 with oil finish
Anti-recoil system Kick-Off version available
MicroCore recoil pad 20 mm
Stock length 370 mm (365 with Kick-Off), extendable with spacers
Variable fold with plates supplied
Weight Kg 3,25
List price Euro 1.837,00 (Euro 1.939,00 with Kick-Off)