The Beretta Xtrema 2 is a 12-gauge semi-automatic shotgun that would make our Founding Fathers proud. It’s chambered for 3.5” Magnum loads, yet offers a surprising amount of recoil-reducing features that make heavy ammo very comfortable to shoot. Although it is a bit pricey, it’s extremely durable, reliable, and accurate as can be.

The Xtrema 2 runs with a very reliable gas metering system that easily cycles any ammo, from target loads to magnums. The bolt features a rotating head that locks up when firing for additional safety, and there are action and bolt bars on each side of the magazine tube for even more strength. It’s designed to be reliable and durable, and throughout thousands of rounds, I’ve never had a malfunction of any kind.

All the metal parts of the Xtrema 2 have been coated in Aqua Tek, which provides superior corrosion resistance to keep everything looking new. Both the synthetic stock and fore-end include rubber inserts for the best grip possible, even in bad weather conditions. It even includes stock-adjusting shims to lengthen the stock, if that’s something that interests you. It’s built very well, and one area where the Xtrema 2 really stands out is with the trigger. It’s very crisp and light enough for competition shooting, and even includes an oversized trigger guard for easy, comfortable use with gloves.

Similar to Akdal’s MKA 1919, another area where the Xtrema 2 excels is in recoil reduction. It includes the Kick-Off recoil pad, which features two hydraulic pampers and springs to help reset it between shots. It also includes a GelTek pad on the buttstock, along with a recoil absorber inside that softens the bolt’s travel. All of these features make shooting heavier loads more comfortable and aid a great deal in accuracy.

Both the recoil absorption features and the extended interlocking barrel tang go a long way in maximizing your shot accuracy. Even using 3.5” Magnum loads, you’re able to get very densely accurate patterns. I’ve gotten consistent 2” groupings from 100 yards, with some higher-quality ammo even giving me 1.5” groups. While the standard model only has a 2+1 capacity (much less than most semi-automatic rifles), these are still excellent 3-shot groupings and I’m sure red dot could take your accuracy even further.

Barrel lengths for the Xtrema 2 include 30,” 28,” 26,” and 24.” Despite its massive length, the gun weighs just under 8 lbs with the 28” barrel. Although it’s not the lightest shotgun around, it still is surprisingly light for its size.

All of these features do come at a premium, so it’s not shocking that the MSRP for these guns runs between $1,400 and $1,600. When you purchase the Beretta Xtrema 2, you’ll also get five extra-long choke tubes, the stock-adjusting shims, and a nice carrying case. For what you get, in my opinion, it’s worth the investment.

Most people like to use the Xtrema 2 for bird or small game hunting, but I don’t see any reason why it wouldn’t work for deer hunting as well. Whatever purpose you’ll be using it for, you can’t go wrong with this semi-auto.

Richard Douglas writes on firearms, defense, and security issues. He is the founder and editor of Scopes Field, and a columnist at The National Interest, 1945, Daily Caller, and other publications.

Image: Creative Commons.