Beretta A350 Xtrema Semi-Auto Shotgun Review

Beretta A350 Xtrema Review: Summary

Reliability The Beretta A350 is extremely reliable, thanks to the self regulating and self cleaning gas system.	Accuracy The Steelium barrel system is shaped through cold hammer forging, deep drilling, and vacuum shaping. The unique alloy allows for a superior barrel that is optimized for use with steel shot. Combine with a stock that is designed to be user adjustable, plus a fiber optic front sight and you’ve got a gun that is going to be as accurate as you’ll ever need it to be.	Ergonomics Accurate guns are comfortable guns. With factory provided spacers and shims to adjust the stock to the user, you are ensured of a very comfortable gun.
Looks Ok, this is a working gun, not a pretty gun. It looks nice, but it doesn’t look like something you’d hang on the wall or display in a gun case. But boy does it shoot. That should make up for the lack of pretty fripperies.	Customization There are plenty of chances to customize this gun with different barrels and other small things like the sling. While you can’t totally rebuild it like you can with some guns, there is also no need to	Bang for your Buck Often retailing for just at a thousand dollars, this is a high quality Italian made sporting shotgun made for blue collar working stiffs. Sure, it’s a grand, but after you buy it, you won’t really need another. Go ahead and get one. (5)

We like this shotgun. A lot. It is nothing fancy to look at, but it performs where it counts, and is within the financial reach of many shooters. Built to exacting standards that just a few years ago would have been unimaginable at any price, this is a real winner for sporting shotguns.

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Are you in the market for an Italian made semi auto shotgun that can take 2 3/4” to 3 1/2” magnum shells, has a self cleaning and self regulating gas system, features a premium steel alloy barrel, and is tough enough for hunting in the worst conditions, while still being affordable? Then keep reading, because our Beretta A350 Xtrema review uncovers this incredible scattergun!

Who is it for?

Our review of the Beretta A350 Xtrema shows it is a hardcore hunting and sporting shotgun for shooters who care about rugged performance over all other things. Beretta put a lot of effort into making this gun suitable for all forms of hunting, or sport shooting, while also taking into account human comfort, and the need to adjust a gun to individual body size and preference.

From bird hunters to trap shooters, this gun is a truly one size fits all sporting shotgun.

Beretta A350 Xtrema Features

Oh where to start, this such a feature rich gun, it can be hard to decide where to start, so we might as well start with the barrel. Made of a proprietary alloy called Steelium, it is described as a tri-alloy metal that is specially drilled, cold forged and treated with vacuum, all of which come together to create what may one of the finest shotgun barrels available at any price. Particularly optimized for use with steel shot, it is hard to find a better barrel on any shotgun.

Around this unique master crafted barrel, is an equally incredible set of parts. When preparing our Beretta A350 Xtrema review, we were especially impressed with the self cleaning gas piston system, and the rugged self regulating gas system, which allows you to shoot light bird loads as readily as the stoutest magnum slug loads.

But Beretta doesn’t stop there. They fitted a durable synthetic stock, fiber optic front sight, comfort enhancing recoil pad, reversible safety, and more to the A350. Add a 3.5” magnum chamber and adjustable shim system to change the drop and cast of your stock, and you’ve got top notch shotgun for any sporting or hunting use.

Beretta A350 Review: Breakdown

The Beretta A350 Xtrema takes down into a handful of major components without the use of tools. Simply unload and clear your shotgun, lock back the bolt, unscrew the forend cap, and slide the barrel off. From there, you can quickly remove the gas system, and bolt and carrier. There is really no reason to break down further in most cases, and the owner’s manual will guide you through more extensive take down procedures if needed.

You’ll find the A350 is an extremely simple shotgun to take apart, and just as quick to reassemble.

Beretta A350 Xtrema Maintenance

Maintaining the A350 is about as easy as taking it apart. Keep all moving parts clean and lubricated after every shooting session. The self cleaning gas system greatly reduces carbon buildup, allowing you to shoot hundreds of rounds in a single day without having to worry about taking apart and cleaning your gun.

While some styles of semi automatic shotguns will develop heavy carbon fouling from a long day of shooting, which eventually jams the gas system or the trigger assembly, the A350 is free of such problems, which allows you the luxury of shooting as long as you like, before cleaning the gun once you get home.

Beretta A350 Xtrema Safety and Reliability

The Beretta A350 Xtrema is an extremely safe shotgun. The reversible for left handed shooters safety prevents accidental discharge.

It is also a very reliable shotgun due to the self cleaning and regulating gas system. Some semi automatic shotguns have an adjustable gas system that has to be tuned for individual loads, which can be problematic and cause the gun to not properly cycle. It is also easy to forget to adjust the gas system when changing loads, but guns like the A350 with a self regulating gas system automatically adjust to the load being used, which allows it to shoot very light 2 3/4” loads and very heavy 3.5” magnum rounds.

Beretta A350 Xtrema Comfort and Recoil

Gas operated semi automatic shotguns always offer reduced recoil, but Beretta has taken it to a new level with the A350. Starting with a custom Micro Core recoil pad that is designed to not only absorb recoil, but spread it across a larger surface area of your shoulder, and a stock that can be adjusted for drop and cast of the stock, and you have a crazy comfortable shotgun that will make shooting even the most brutal magnum loads a real breeze.

You’ll find then, that the Beretta A350 is both very comfortable and has minimal recoil- perhaps less recoil than any other semi automatic magnum shotgun in its class.

What’s in the Starter Kit?

Beretta ships the A350 in a polymer case, with a modified flush fitting choke tube, shims for adjusting the stock, a trigger lock and owner’s manuals. You might consider grabbing a cleaning kit and sling while you are at it.

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Accessories and Upgrades?

Beretta sells a number of accessories, as do major retailers of firearms parts. You can get different barrels, stocks and choke tubes for the A350, making it possible to configure the gun for several different tasks. There are plenty of other accessories as well, like various slings, or clamp on accessories for adding a light to your gun. There isn’t a lot you have to customize, but there are plenty of accessories, because everyone knows there is no such thing as a one size fits all shotgun.

Conclusion

We really like this shotgun. Beretta has delivered a real winner, and the Steelium barrel is quite frankly unlike anything on a production sporting shotgun. Add in the highly effective Micro Core recoil pad, self cleaning and regulating gas system, and adjustable stock, and you’ve got a shotgun for the ages.

Thanks for reading and I hope you found this Beretta A350 Xtrema review helpful. If you have any questions or comments please feel free to leave them in the comments section below.