A300 and A400, both are similar to each other in design and look but in terms of advancement, features, and price they have a huge difference.
Most people buy A300 because it is more budget-friendly and affordable, but it may not appeal to those who love advancement and a more accurate shooting experience.
Now you might be wondering why most people buy A300. As for the sole purpose of hunting, A300 is more than enough. On the other hand, if you want a shotgun both for hunting and for other purposes, consider buying A400.
This post is going to tell you everything you need to know before buying a shotgun whether it is A300 or A400.
Let’s dive in!
Design and Aesthetics
A300
The A300 shotgun contains a kick-off recoil reduction system that not just makes your gun stable, but more comfortable with the advanced enhancement in its control system. This technology results in you easily targeting faster and effortlessly winning your shot.
Hunting in early mornings or evenings requires more struggle, specifically the ‘sight struggle’ because you have to aim in the dark. For that, A300 possesses standard Beretta thread pitch Fiber Optic housing with large 4mm fiber optic, which will help you aim more accurately.
Coming to the reload design, the new Ultima family in the A300 series features a gas-operated action cycle that will always be faster and more seamless than an inertia one.
A300 uses a Mobil choke which works well enough, but it isn’t quite comparable to what the A400 offers.
A400
The A400 is also gas-operated and reloads like a charm, way faster than the A300. With the 12 gauge, it has a capacity of 4+1 (for the Xplor Action variant).
A400 possesses a rotating bolt in its design that not only reduces the perceived recoil but also actually decreases the muzzle’s vertical climb.
It also has a very nice choke tube (optima hp choke) specific for the 20 gauge. This is newer technology compared to the A300’s. The choke is longer and works better.
Beretta A400 comes with two plugs, it is up to you to install both of them at the same time or use the gun with the already installed plug. The already installed plug reduces the capacity to two shells in the magazine tube.
The other plug is responsible for reducing the capacity to one shell. This is especially helpful if you require two shells simultaneously; one in the chamber and one in the magazine or side by side or over/under. In that case, you’re going to need two shells installed in each tube.
Feel in Hand
Beretta shotguns are very easy to handle and all of their models are comfortable to use. However, the comfort actually depends on the shooter’s hand size and height.
A longer shotgun will always be better for a taller person, how? For instance, A400 is 51 inches long resulting in providing better comfort to taller individuals.
The A300 possesses a length of 41 inches mainly suitable for medium to short heighted individuals.
The grip of both of these rifles is very comfortable and you will notice the decrease in fatigue after longer sessions, if you are not used to Beretta rifles.
Shooting Experience
All of the Beretta models are designed in a way to improve the shooter’s experience and shooting accuracy. The A300 and A400 are two of the best handling shotguns out there.
A300
The shooting experience with the A300 is as pleasurable as can be. The smooth reload, the beautifully controlled recoil and the accuracy of the shots contribute to the experience.
Most users prefer narrower ribs or ribs that have been checkered on the top surface. The 7x7mm stepped rib on the A300 is a successful attempt by Beretta to solve just that.
A400
As I mentioned earlier in the intro, A400 is for those who love advanced technology. It has a handful of really good tricks up its sleeve on top of everything the A300 has to offer.
Beretta A400 holds the record for the fastest follow-up shot on any shotgun in the market. Beretta calls it the ‘Blink technology’ which allows it to fire up to 4 rounds in a single second.
This is on top of the fact that all Beretta guns have a reputation of being the most reliable gas guns on the planet. It also offers one of the fastest turnover of any semi-auto rifle.
Testament to the high-tech design of Beretta A400 is the Steelium Optimabore HP barrel. It makes your shooting experience way more satisfying by reducing recoil and providing a natural feel while maintaining the durability of a traditional alloy barrel.
Reload and Magazine Capacity
A300
The A300 can hold up to three 2.75” shells in its magazine, with the plug removed. Alternatively, you can put two 3” shells into its magazine.
Additionally, A300 boasts two features that make the reload process a piece of cake:
- Oversized Loading Port
- Low Profile Receiver
All in all, the A300 is a very easy to load shotgun and provides a pleasurable reload experience.
One key thing to note, however, is that A300 can not take magazine extensions, as far as I know.
A400
The A400 features everything the A300 has to offer. Having the B-link gas operating system, the A400 doesn’t just stop there.
It also possesses a precise rotating bolt, which not just helps you in reloading the gun faster but also doesn’t let you struggle while cleaning the gun or pay for unnecessary maintenance as many other guns do.
All in all, the A400 is one of the easiest rifles to disassemble and work on. If you plan on duck hunting, your rifle will get wet and that means disassembling and cleaning.
Price and Value for Money
A300
The price of A300 depends on the type of variant you choose. By the way, for your estimate let me assure you, you’ll not have to pay more than $1000 for any of the A300’s variants.
If you intend to buy an A300, go for the Beretta A300 Ultima, which at $850, provides the best bang for your buck, in my opinion. Click here to check the updated price and buy from my recommended online retailer Guns.com.
A400
The A400 is considerably pricier, but worth every penny, if you ask me. Most variants range from $1800 to $2200.
My personal favorite, the Beretta A400 Xcel Sporting falls near the middle of this range. You can click here to check the updated price.
If the price is a bit too high for you, you can still go for the plain Beretta A400, but I still recommend spending a bit extra and choosing the A400 platform.
Conclusion- Which One Should You Buy?
I would take the A400, any day of the week. Sure, the A300 is half the price but I think that the A400 is worth the premium. Let me explain.
As a shooter, we value quality handling rifles above all and A400 proves to be the winner here. Although the A300 is no slouch, the A400 is the fastest firing semi-auto rifle on the planet!
Couple that with the softer recoil and a superior choke system, you are in for a treat. Secondly, I consider $2000 a reasonable price for the A400, considering the brand’s repute and the boatload of modern features it offers.
Fortunately, Guns.com has a huge inventory of both new and used Beretta A400s which you can click here and view. Going for a used version will save you quite a lot, which you can then spend on upgrading your rifle.
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