Here it is folks – the first-ever SHOTGUN SHOWDOWN. I’ve gotten a lot of requests to cover these shotguns and today I’m going to be putting them head to head. The A400 Extreme Plus and Maxus 2 are both great guns but there can only be one winner of a Shotgun Showdown. At the end of this video, I will share which shotgun I would choose.
The Browning Maxus 2 has an MSRP of $1899 for the camo versions and $2069 for the Wicked Wing Edition I used in this video. Reeds has the Maxus 2 3.5″ camo listed for $1679.99 and the Wicked Wing edition for $1749.99 (shop for the Maxus 2 at Reeds Sports)
The Xtreme Plus has an MSRP $1,849. I got this Extreme Plus from Reeds Sports and they have camo options online for $1749.99 (shop for the A400 Extreme Plus at Reeds Sports).
The Video includes the full head to head Shotgun Showdown of the Beretta A400 Xtreme Plus vs the Browing Maxus 2 but if you prefer to read about it, below is a quick summary.
Quick Specs
Browning Maxus 2
- 12 gauge
- 3.5″ chamber (also available in 3″)
- 28″ Barrell (also available in 26″)
- 7.2lbs (3.5″) 7.0lbs (3″)
- Length of Pull 14 7/16″ Out of the Box. The composite stock has a straight heel section that makes it easy for a gunsmith to shorten the length of pull up to 3/4″ and refit the Inflex Technology recoil pad.
- Drop at Comb 1 3/4″ (Adjustable with provided shims)
- Drop at Heel 2″
Beretta A400 Extreme Plus
- 12 gauge
- 3.5″ chamber
- 26″, 28″, or this 30″ Steelium Barrell (Come with Optima Choke HP System and comes with 5 extended chokes)
- 8lbs
- Length of Pull 14 1/2″ Out of the Box, with removable 1/2 inch spacer, and additional 1″ spacer to get up to 15″ length of pull
- Drop at Comb 1 1/2″ (Adjustable with provided shims)
- Drop at Heel 2 1/2″
Ergonomics/Look & Feel
Browning Maxus 2
The Maxus 2 really shines when it comes to its egonomics.
- Feels great in the hands and is well balanced
- Rubber over-molding for a great grip
- Oversized charging handle and bolt release for easy operating
- Quick load feature – I probably wouldn’t use this much but it’s a neat feature if you use it.
- Large tricker guard – If you’re going to be shooting with gloves on, the trigger guard had plenty of room.
- Loading ramp on the front of the trigger guard
- Bored out loading port – This is something I love, there is nothing worse than beating up your fingers loading your gun. Loading the Maxus 2 is a breeze.
- Forearm cap – Option to add an extended magazine tube
Beretta A400 Extreme Plus
- Very nicely balanced in the hands
- Rubber inlays are great (Pistol grip is a bit wider than I prefer)
- Oversized charging handle and bolt release are smooth – the bolt release is very soft and easy to utilize
- Forearm cap is great – comes off with a single twist
- Reversible cross-bolt safety in front of the trigger – I prefer rear mounted safety’s
- Loading port is milled and very nice – magazine tube has a green cap to ensure that the gun is empty
Trigger
Browning Maxus 2
- 5 lbs 9 oz Average
- Crisp trigger with little travel. Feels great!
Beretta A400 Extreme Plus
- 5lbs 1.8oz (Average)
- Crisp trigger with some travel – Feels decent
- Trigger guard is a bit smaller than I prefer – still very solid
Quality of Build
Browning Maxus 2
- I always look at the quality of the build relative to the price. Everything on the Maxus 2 comes together nicely and is tight, what you would expect for a gun at this price point.
- Nickel Teflon coating on the bolt, bolt slide, shell carrier, bolt release and bolt handle protect, add lubricity, and make it easier to clean.
- Burnt Bronze Cerakote camo receiver finish, Burnt Bronze Cerakote barrel finish looks great and will be very durable
Beretta A400 Extreme Plus
- I always look at the quality of the build relative to the price. The Xtreme Plus overall lives up to the price point
- Steelium barrel is drilled, reamed, and cold hammer forged. The forcing cone is also longer (14″) and is more typical in competition guns.
- 7×7 Stepped rib
- Nice steel mid bead
- Drilled and tapped to receive picatinny rail
- Very nice tolerances – only comment would be on a little bit of squeeze in the forearm, but nothing to serious
Ease of Breakdown
Browning Maxus 2
- Relatively simple to break down for a full cleaning.
- No shortage of parts.
Beretta A400 Extreme Plus
- Very simple to break down for a gas gun.
- This forearm cap makes breakdown even faster.
- Love the one pin design to take of the trigger group
Recoil
Browning Maxus 2
- Very light recoil from target loads to 3.5″ loads.
Beretta A400 Extreme Plus
- This gun sports the Kick-Off recoil reduction system and claims 70% reduction
- The stock has a rubber inlay that actually flexes when you shoot, reducing recoil even further
- No problems whatsoever when shooting 3″ Target loads.
- 3 1/2″ rounds were (obviously) more noticeable, but I think it handled them well and cycled just fine. The only issue I had was that the felt recoil was much more noticible on my cheek.
Reliability
Browning Maxus 2
- After a few hundred rounds, I believe this shotgun is ultra-reliable and will run for a long time without issue (when you shoot with the gun against your shoulder 😉)
Beretta A400 Extreme Plus
- From the shoulder, this gun handled pretty much everything I threw at it. It even took 3 1/2″ rounds from the hip just fine
Speed Shooting
Browning Maxus 2
- I love to shoot fast and this gun does that well. I was able to quickly shoot 3 hand thrown clays in 1.17 seconds although I did have some cycling issues. I would like to get my hands on a 3″ model and see if I can run it any faster.
Beretta A400 Extreme Plus
- I was able to accomplish shooting 3 hand thrown clays at 1.17 seconds. This gun is fast and it cycled great.
In summary, I definitely enjoyed shooting both the A400 Extreme Plus and the Browning Maxus 2. Both would be great guns to have in the blind, but since this is a Shotgun Showdown I have to choose just one.
Shotgun Showdown Winner…the Browning Maxus 2
Whether our targets in the field or our targets in life, we will only hit what we are focused on so live the #targetfocusedlife
Stay Target Focused,
Steve
