Beretta Xplor Light

When I think about semiauto shotguns, I tend to gravitate to the older Remington 1100 or Browning A5s, as I used these for years on my uncle’s farm in Kent for rabbits, pigeons, ducks, geese you name it. I like semis but these days, firms like Bennelii and Beretta are really the benchmark makers in this field. I forgot that Beretta has been producing semi-autos for decades and the older 390 or 391 models are still superb guns. I have two boys and horror of horrors, the eldest likes shotguns as much as rifles! I therefore chose the Beretta Xplor lightweight semi, and in this case, in the quirky 28-gauge round, which would keep me happy.

The Xplor is Beretta’s newwave of gas-operated autos in an ultra-lightweight frame and incorporating a strong rotary bolt locking system as part of the A400 series. The action has the ultra-fast cycling, a low-profiled action design and the low recoil that Beretta has near perfected on this model. It is a semi that transcends clays, game and rough shooting, all in one package.

Action

This action has Beretta’s style for contrasting action and barrel finishes; this A400 Xplor has a silver, hard-anodised finish to its aluminium chassis system. It uses Berettas Blink technology that is claimed to vastly increase the speed and reliability of the Xplor’s cycling.

The gas system has been designed to accommodate the pressures of loads from light to heavy, and from the tests it works fine. The bolt is the rotary type that locks securely within the barrel’s recessed abutments via twin locking lugs and the large single extractor claw really grips even the most shallow shotgun case’s rim. Ejection is via a small ejector spur sited at the rear left of the chamber shroud. Bolt release is via a small black button recessed into the right bottom of the action. The Xplor has to be cocked to load a round into the chamber first and then two more rounds can be fed into magazine.

The Blink system is tested to shoot four rounds (FAC) in under a second and was designed that way, so that the follow up shot in sporting or clay use would be as quick as possible, whilst you were still on line and swinging as the reduced recoil supports this. It is 36% faster than other type semis on the market. There is a trend these days for very sleek and low-profiled action designs and this not only looks good, it also improves the Xplor’s balance and improves the swing characteristics. The receiver top also has twin dovetails for scope mounts for a red dot sight if need be.

Trigger-wise, the Xplor uses a smooth, polished and curved trigger blade. The trigger pull is lovely, a small amount of even pressure and then a smooth, precise sear release and a fast lock time. The safety sits as a triangular shaped, knurled button above the front edge of the trigger guard. Pushed to the left and a ring of red is visible for live or fire and pushed to the right and the trigger is blocked and safe.

 

Barrels & stock

Traditionally, you would go the 12-gauge route, or even 20-gauge but I chose the 28-gauge for my kids and I like different calibres. In this calibre, you get a choice of 26-, 28- or 30-inch barrel lengths but all come with a ventilated slim line rib, with quite high-profile, due to the smaller barrel diameter. There is a single lozenge, red Day-Glo foresight and the rib is nicely engine turned to lead your eye to your chosen game.

The barrel has an Opti-bore HP back-bored profile and longer forcing cones, which helped with the excellent patterns obtained on the test.

It is chambered for 2¾- inch (70mm) shells and the barrel itself is made from what Berretta call Steelium; this is deep hole drilled and cold hammer forged from a tri-alloy. Basically, it’s strong and true.

The 28-gauge came with a flat choke key and five multi chokes, flush fitting and the barrel is proofed with the fleur de leys, so steel shot option is no problem.

The stock is where I get excited. There are two versions, or options, of this model, as you can go the Kick off route, where there is an engineered butt section that literately reduces and moves the recoil away from your face – it works! I preferred the traditional look and went the STD micro core recoil and that is soft and smooth but with grip, so it rises into the aim without snagging on the shoulder but stays there when swinging on aim. You still have the internal recoil reducing system to the stock, with its hydraulic system that really smoothes out that harsh first snap from recoil and giving a controlled, much reduced felt recoil to the shoulder. The walnut used is very nicely grained and with good colour and perfectly complements the Xplor’s anodised action and blued barrel. But don’t be fooled – this is Berettas Xtra grain system that ‘enhances’ the base walnut wood to look three grades higher. I have no problems with it, as the grain pattern was excellent with a semi open pored finishes that is weather resistant to boot. The styling too is superb. I am a rifleman through and through, but I like autos and pumps and I love this Xplor. The stock has a slim gait and rake to the butt section, with nice scalloped edge to the base to define a semi cheekpiece to both sides. The forend too is very slim, with again scalloped grooves for a finger rest and chequering in individual panels and the Beretta’s Trident logo embossed to the lower portion of the forend.

You can adjust the stock via inserts between the butt section and the rear of the action for individual preference.

 

Field use

Lovely and light is what you first feel. Lively in the hand for a very quick shouldering and point. In fact, the Xplor is so quick it can take you by surprise. People will think that at 2.85kg weight it will kick, but no. Firstly, it’s a semi auto, so a lot of the recoil is controlled with reciprocating action parts but the single hydraulic stock insert really helps keep the recoil and muzzle flip down.

The Blink system is quick and being an aluminiumframed action and higher pressure 28-gauge rounds, you do get a certain amount of resonance from the action, a hollow echo, but to be honest you will be concentrating on your swing and follow through to really worry about that. In fact, it’s very fast, no real delay in ejection or feed, very impressive.

I used the three types of rounds for this test, as a complete 28-gauge cartridge round-up will follow.

The Fiocchi F28 round is a 2¾-inch plastic case that uses a plastic wad. The payload is 24-grams of No 7.5 shot for this round and on the boards at 30-yards and the ½ Choke fitted I was achieving unbelievably good and even patterns, some of the best I have tested. The inner 15-inch circle contained 71 pellets and the outer 40-inch had 199 pellets, for a total of 270 hits- superb. Next up were the Hull High Pheasant loads in both No. 6 and 7 shot sizes. Again, these are 2¾-inch or 70mm case length and hold 23-grams of either pellet sizes. These have a fibre wadding system for eco conscious shooters. On the pattern boards at 30-yards, I had 70 pellets in the inner circle and well-spread and 127 pellets in the outer, for 197 total for the No. 7 shot. Again, very nice and even patterns. For the No 6 shot, the total I achieved was 211 pellets, more than the No. 7s, as they actually shot a tighter pattern from the same ½ choke, 66 pellets in the inner circle and 143 to the outer 40-inches.

 

Conclusion

I borrowed this second hand from F.A. Andersons, so I must have liked it, as I will conduct a comprehensive 28-gauge cartridge test in the future. For everyday rough use, or for smaller framed shooters, the lightweight, ultra-fast action of the Xplor is great. You can carry it all day and the small 28-gauge, for small game and around the farm and close range raising birds, was excellent.

Those Fiocchi shells shot the best, most even patterns I have seen and certainly would be my first choice.