If you hunt ducks in Louisiana, there’s a good chance your short list comes down to two guns: the Benelli Super Black Eagle 3 and the Beretta A400 Xtreme Plus. SBE3 vs A400 is one of the most common debates in waterfowling, and there’s no wrong answer. Both are 3.5-inch semi-autos built for wet, cold, muddy days.
Here’s the quick version. Buy the SBE3 if you want a lighter gun that keeps running with very little cleaning. Buy the A400 if you want the softest-shooting 3.5-inch gun you can get and you don’t mind cleaning a gas system.
A lot of people search for a “Benelli A400.” There isn’t one. The A400 is a Beretta, and the Super Black Eagle 3 is Benelli’s flagship. Both companies share a parent, but they build very different guns.
We keep SBE3s on the shelf in 12 and 20 gauge, including two left-handed models. See what’s in stock.
Table of Contents
SBE3 vs A400 Xtreme Plus Specs, Side by Side
| Benelli Super Black Eagle 3 | Beretta A400 Xtreme Plus | |
|---|---|---|
| Action | Inertia Driven (no gas system) | B-Link gas-operated |
| Gauges | 12 (3.5″), 20 (3″), 28 (3″) | 12 (3.5″), 20 (3″) |
| Weight, 12 ga 28″ | About 7.0 lb | About 7.4–7.8 lb |
| Capacity | 3+1 | 2+1 as listed |
| Recoil system | ComforTech 3 stock + Combtech cheek pad | Kick-Off Mega hydraulic stock + Micro-Core pad |
| Barrel | Crio cryo-treated; A.I. barrel on A.I. models | Steelium Plus with long forcing cones |
| Chokes | Crio (extended on A.I. models) | 5 extended Optima HP |
| Fit adjustment | Shims for drop and cast | Shims for drop and cast |
| Left-hand models | Yes | Yes |
| Our price, 12 ga | $2,099.99–$2,699.99 | $2,049–$2,149 |
Weights vary by finish and barrel length. Figures come from manufacturer and dealer spec sheets.
Inertia vs Gas: Why the SBE3 and A400 Feel Different
This is the big one. How each gun cycles decides how it feels on your shoulder and how much time you’ll spend cleaning it.
The SBE3 runs on Benelli’s Inertia Driven system. It uses the gun’s own recoil to cycle, with three main parts: a bolt body, an inertia spring and a rotating bolt head. No gas comes back into the action, so the carbon stays in the barrel. That’s a big reason Benelli built its name on duck guns that keep working after a day in the mud.
The A400 uses Beretta’s B-Link gas system, which bleeds a little gas off the barrel to run the action. Beretta rates it about 36% faster than other semi-autos. Gas guns also stretch the recoil out, so it feels more like a push than a punch. The catch is carbon. A gas system needs regular cleaning to stay reliable.
Worth knowing before you buy an inertia gun: it has to be held tight to your shoulder to cycle. Shoot it from a loose hold, or feed it very light target loads, and it can short-cycle. With duck loads from the shoulder, you won’t notice.
Recoil and Weight
The A400 kicks less. The SBE3 weighs less. For plenty of hunters, that’s the whole decision.
Beretta pairs the gas action with its Kick-Off Mega stock, which uses hydraulic dampers, and claims up to 70% less felt recoil. Put a box of 3.5-inch magnums through each gun and most shooters will call the A400 the softer of the two.
Benelli’s answer is the ComforTech 3 stock, with flexible chevrons built into the buttstock and a soft Combtech cheek pad. Benelli claims up to 48% less recoil and 15% less muzzle rise. With no gas system to carry, a 12-gauge SBE3 weighs about 7 pounds, roughly half a pound less than a comparable A400.
Half a pound doesn’t sound like much until you’re wading into flooded timber before daylight or walking a rice field levee. From a boat or a pit blind, it matters a lot less.
Barrels: SBE3 A.I. vs Steelium Plus
Both companies put serious work into their barrels, and both pattern steel and tungsten well.
Beretta’s Steelium Plus barrel uses a long forcing cone to ease the shot column into the bore, for even patterns and a little less felt recoil. Every Xtreme Plus comes with five extended Optima HP chokes.
The standard SBE3 uses a Crio barrel and chokes. Benelli freezes them cryogenically to relieve stress in the steel, which smooths the bore and tightens up patterns.
Then there’s the SBE3 A.I. (Advanced Impact). Benelli reshaped the bore and forcing cone to keep pellets rounder and faster, and says it adds up to 50% more penetration on target. Shotgun Sports Magazine tested it independently and measured real velocity gains. If you hunt late-season birds that won’t finish, the A.I. is the best reason to pick the SBE3. We have A.I. models in stock in 12 and 20 gauge.
Controls, Capacity and Cold Weather
Both guns are easy to run with gloves on.
The SBE3 has an oversized bolt handle and release, a funneled loading port and a trigger guard with about 30% more room for a gloved finger. The 2026 A.I. models go further with a bigger cylinder-style bolt handle. It holds 3+1.
The A400 Xtreme Plus has an enlarged loading port, an extended charging handle and bolt release, and Beretta’s Aqua Technology coating against rust and salt spray. Retailers list it at 2+1.
Both include shims to adjust drop and cast, and both come in left-handed versions.
SBE3 vs A400: Which Should You Buy?
Choose the Super Black Eagle 3 if you:
- Hunt mud, rain, salt or ice and don’t want to baby your gun
- Walk to your spots and want to carry less weight
- Want the A.I. barrel’s extra reach on late-season birds
- Want a 3+1 gun or a 28-gauge option
Choose the A400 Xtreme Plus if you:
- Are sensitive to recoil and shoot a lot of 3.5-inch shells
- Also shoot clays with light target loads
- Don’t mind cleaning the gas system after the hunt
Still torn? Pick them both up. Fit matters more than anything on a spec sheet. Come by our store in Benton, shoulder an SBE3, and see how it points for you.
In-Store SBE3 Lineup
These Super Black Eagle 3s are on our shelves now, ready to handle in person or pick up.
| Model | Gauge / chamber | Barrel | Finish | Price |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| SBE3 A.I. – 12371 | 12 ga / 3.5″ | 28″ A.I. | Mossy Oak Bottomland / Patriot Brown Cerakote | $2,699.99 |
| SBE3 – 11230 | 12 ga / 3.5″ | 28″ | GORE OPTIFADE Timber / Tungsten Cerakote | $2,299.99 |
| SBE3 – 10351 | 12 ga / 3.5″ | 28″ | Mossy Oak Bottomland | $2,199.99 |
| SBE3 – 10350 | 12 ga / 3.5″ | 26″ | Mossy Oak Bottomland | $2,199.99 |
| SBE3 – 10316 | 12 ga / 3.5″ | 28″ | Black Synthetic | $2,099.99 |
| SBE3 Left Hand – 10371 | 12 ga / 3.5″ | 28″ | Black Synthetic | $2,099.99 |
| SBE3 A.I. – 12381 | 20 ga / 3″ | 28″ A.I. | Mossy Oak Bottomland / Patriot Brown Cerakote | $2,499.99 |
| SBE3 – 10343 | 20 ga / 3″ | 28″ | GORE OPTIFADE Timber | $1,999.99 |
| SBE3 – 10342 | 20 ga / 3″ | 26″ | GORE OPTIFADE Timber | $1,999.99 |
| SBE3 Left Hand – 10373 | 20 ga / 3″ | 28″ | Black Synthetic | $1,899.99 |
Shoot lefty? Plenty of shops don’t stock a left-handed SBE3. We have two.
Set on the Beretta? Browse our Beretta semi-auto shotguns, including the A400 Xtreme Plus in most configurations.
FAQ
Is there a Benelli A400?
No. The A400 is a Beretta. Benelli’s comparable waterfowl gun is the Super Black Eagle 3.
Is the SBE3 or A400 better for duck hunting?
Both are excellent duck guns. The SBE3 is lighter and needs less cleaning. The A400 shoots softer with 3.5-inch loads. Pick the one that fits you best.
Which kicks less, the SBE3 or the A400?
The A400 Xtreme Plus, for most shooters. Its gas system and Kick-Off Mega stock soften 3.5-inch loads more than the SBE3’s inertia action.
Which is lighter?
The SBE3. A 12-gauge with a 28-inch barrel weighs about 7 pounds, versus about 7.4–7.8 pounds for the A400 Xtreme Plus.
What does A.I. mean on the SBE3?
Advanced Impact, Benelli’s redesigned barrel and choke system. Benelli says it delivers up to 50% more penetration on target.
