Tim Walz: MN Governor, Vice President Nominee, Beretta Owner

Everyone, hold your breath. The Minnesota TFB writer is about to head into deep water and go political. Nah, I’m just kidding. We aren’t going to discuss why I like or tremendously dislike my governor and newly minted vice president nominee, Tim Walz. We are going to discuss his tried-and-true shotgun: the Beretta A400 Xcel Sporting.

Beretta @ TFB:

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• The Rimfire Report: The Strange Beretta U22 NEOS Pistol
• TFB Review: Beretta/LLT PX4 Storm Compact Carry II
• TFB Review: 1,000 Rounds On The Beretta 80x – Part I

Our very own TFBTV Managing Producer, James Reeves, utterly raves about Beretta with their expansive lineup of home defense shotguns — and for good reason — yet their tactical shotguns aren’t the only good scatter guns they make. Beretta also produces fabulous hunting shotguns as well.

Bird Hunting? You Betcha!

For those who have been smart enough to never venture to the “Land of 10,000 Lakes” — where we are proud of the size of our pikes (that’s a fish joke) and how we have never managed to discover seasoning — the Beretta A400 Xcel Sporting is a solid choice for the amount of bird hunting our state has to offer.

In Minnesota, we have a bevy of upland game and waterfowl seasons to entertain the greatest of sportsmen all fall and winter long:

• Crow
• Dove
• Grouse / Partridge / Pheasant / Prairie Chicken
• Rail / Snipe / Woodcock
• Sandhill Crane
• Migratory Ducks / Migratory Geese

Beretta A400 Xcel Sporting

The shotgun that Tim Walz is most iconically photographed with is a now discontinued variant of a Beretta A400 Xcel Sporting 12 Gauge. Beretta used to produce a polished, blue-colored receiver version that was high on curb appeal and would match any Minnesotan's frozen lips after a chilly snowmobile ride.

Offered in multiple barrel lengths of 28”, 30”, and 32”, the Beretta A400 Xcel Sporting could serve a lot of purposes. Whether it is for ground swatting pheasants when you're too full of lutefisk and hot dish to pull up on birds in-flight, or you want to dust a cormorant on the water at first light that you totally swore was a Mallard. Whatever your cheese-curd fueled adventures require, the Beretta A400 Xcel Sporting can accomplish it.

Specifications - Beretta A400 Xcel Sporting

• KICK-OFF RECOIL REDUCTION SYSTEM* - Beretta’s proprietary Kick-Off Plus wood stock ensures 50% less felt recoil, an adjustable drop and cast with shims, and enhanced cheek comfort while shooting. *Not available on all models.
• ENLARGED CONTROLS - Enlarged loading port and extended bolt handle and release for easy manipulation in all conditions.
• REDESIGNED RECEIVER - New style receiver with an enhanced top and bottom profile and a proprietary laser-engraved Aquatech Shield grey coating.
• ERGONOMIC FOREND - Redesigned shooting cap allows for the addition of aftermarket weights for enhanced gun balance and ergonomic checkering for a more secure handling and instinctive pointing.
• BERETTA STEELIUM TECHNOLOGY - The A400 Xcel is made with Beretta’s Steelium barrel technology, a proprietary formula engineered for consistency, toughness, and durability.

Alright, let’s stop fudding around. In all seriousness, the Beretta A400 Xcel Sporting is a very trustworthy and venerable shotgun. Whether that shotgun was repetitively handed to Tim Walz from his secretary for photo-ops, or if it was actually Tim’s, we can give him an atta boy for having decent taste in shotguns. 

While you cannot get the uniquely polished blue receiver offering of the Beretta A400 Xcel Sporting anymore, you can still get the A400 Xcel Sporting in general.