Semi-auto...Beretta or Benelli?

[Bushman]

I just got my new Ducks Unlimited Magazine and see both shotguns advertised as the softest kicking shotgun out there. I know that the Beretta (like the Xtrema2) is gas operated and the Benelli (like the Vinci) is recoil operated. Pretty hard to go wrong with either one I know, but what are the pros and cons of either. I'm more of a trap and pheasant guy who uses an O/U than a duck and goose guy that uses a semi-auto, but I like to stay current. I did grow up with a gas operated Remington 1100 and I know for a fact that it was lighter recoiling than my buddy's Browning A-5 recoil operated shotgun. Out of the Beretta or the Benelli which would you choose and how come?

[MOGC]

I would choose the one that shouldered and handled best - period. Between the two of them you just could not go wrong. I have two Benelli M1S90 semi-auto guns and two Beretta O/U's so that is how I roll. ;)

[Unclebuck257]

I'm not sure if when you say Benelli, you are talking about their newest semi auto model, The Cordoba, or which model semi. I bought the Benelli Cordoba when it first came out about three years ago. I bought it because the Cordoba combined the Super Black Eagle hunting model and trap/skeet model versions in one model. I also bought it because I've developed light arthritis in my right shoulder (shooting shoulder) and wanted a lighter recoil. The Benelli Cordoba has not disappointed in performance or lighter recoil. Their recoil dampening system in this semi auto is second to none in my opinion. It also performs well when I go trap and skeet shooting too. As a result of course, I would suggest the Benelli Cordoba. Hope this helps.

[swamp]

Benelli... by a mile

[Altjaeger]

Benelli... by a mile

A statute, nautical or country mile? :)

More seriously what is the reasoning behind your answer?

[swamp]

actually a light year... handle both and decide for yourself... has to do with weight, balance, reliability, benelli's inertia recoil system.. best auto loading shotgun by far..

[Bayrat]

Swamp.
There are quite a few Beretta 390 owners who would argue that point.

Fit and eye appeal are subjective, but reliability is not. Make the rounds of trap and sporting clays fields looking for gas-guns and see how many Benelli's you see? That's where you'll see the serious shooters who are going to be spending ALOT of time emtying shells, not just a few boxes every hunting season. If Benelli's are that good you should see alot of them on the clay fields.

Some may think that putting thousands of rounds of "target loads" through a gas gun is no challange to reliability, but being pounded by three dram loads (and much heavier in Chicken shoot type competions), in the 10's of thousands of rounds a year, year after year. Most gas guns can't take that kind of pounding, but I know of several 390's that have, and still do.

I wouldn't be quick to discount any Beretta shotgun when it comes to reliability.

Bayrat

[swamp]

Swamp.
There are quite a few Beretta 390 owners who would argue that point.

Fit and eye appeal are subjective, but reliability is not. Make the rounds of trap and sporting clays fields looking for gas-guns and see how many Benelli's you see? That's where you'll see the serious shooters who are going to be spending ALOT of time emtying shells, not just a few boxes every hunting season. If Benelli's are that good you should see alot of them on the clay fields.

Some may think that putting thousands of rounds of "target loads" through a gas gun is no challange to reliability, but being pounded by three dram loads (and much heavier in Chicken shoot type competions), in the 10's of thousands of rounds a year, year after year. Most gas guns can't take that kind of pounding, but I know of several 390's that have, and still do.

I wouldn't be quick to discount any Beretta shotgun when it comes to reliability.

Bayrat

I think most serious trap and sheet shooter use O/U not auto loaders, perhaps i am wrong... am I missing something here...

Auto loaders for duck and geese and perhaps for turkey loads... every thing else o/u or sxs... just my opinion

[Bushman]

Tom Knapp, the exhibition shooter, seems like he can work those Benelli's pretty well. Does the barrel recoil back into the receiver like the old Browning A-5 and do you need to change out the rings for the recoil operated Benelli when you change loads, or is an entirely different operating system than the Browning A-5? The way the vent rib starts well out ahead of the receiver makes me think that the barrel moves back. Ascetically speaking I don't like humps on the back of receivers. I suppose that a guy serious about trap shooting with a semi-auto would have a shell catcher to prevent tossing hot empties into the guy to his right. While I have not had too much trouble hitting stuff with an o/u or my 870, a little recoil reduction, even on the trap range, would be welcome.

Unclebuck 257, I have heard a lot about the Benelli Super Black Eagle, especially from the waterfowl shooters, but I had not heard about that Cordoba model. The newest one pictured in my DU magazine is the Vinci.

[MOGC]

Tom Knapp has a Benelli M1S90 with over 450,000+ rounds through it with ZERO malfunctions, major repairs, or parts replacement. And when you really want, need, and demand reliablity is when you are chasing the most dangerous game of all - evil men that would like nothing else than to kill you. The world's elite law enforcement and military units that can choose ANY shotgun they want choose Benelli - period. There are no Beretta, Remington, Browning, or other gas guns in service hunting dangerous men with AK's and RPG's. These trained professionals aren't playing games, their score is written in blood. It is always better if the blood is someone elses. The successful record of Benelli's in such service speaks volumes.

[MOGC]

Bushman,
The Benelli inertia driven system is completely different than the old long recoil Browning A5 system. No rings to change, no gas system, and the barrel does not move at all. The action is amazingly fast, simple, and easy to maintain. In fact, clean up with a Benelli is about as simple as it gets and no gas gun comes close. Humps on the reciever back? A5? Not on Benelli...

[Altjaeger]

The world's elite law enforcement and military units that can choose ANY shotgun they want choose Benelli - period. There are no Beretta, Remington, Browning, or other gas guns in service hunting dangerous men with AK's and RPG's. These trained professionals aren't playing games, their score is written in blood.

The various models of the M16 and other AR derived weapons are gas operated. I suspect the Rangers, Special Force, SEALS and the various UCWF areall pretty elite. :)

As for Tom Knapp he will shoot whatever the people paying his feed bill tell him to. I am sure if Berretta outbid Benelli for his services he would suddenly be equally effusive in his praise for them.

[Bayrat]

".........I think most serious trap and sheet shooter use O/U not auto loaders, perhaps i am wrong... am I missing something here... "

The majority of trap shot in this country is a single shot game. There are many shooters who prefer to use a single barrel gun. One of the most popular and successful is the Browning BT series starting with the BT99. Because an O/U is no advantage except in doubles trap, there are also many shooters who prefer to use autos and pumps (myself included).

The ones who choose autos usually do so because of the differance in 'felt' recoil. Shoot over a hundred three dram loads, and heavier, at least several days a week and you'll soon find out why it's said that the affects of recoil can be cumulative. Clay sports shooters are always looking for ways to reduce felt recoil. Some go with a heavy gun, or adding weight to the gun, some prefer autos.

Bayrat

[MOGC]

Alt, this is a conversation about SHOTGUNS. Your examples don't fit the description. Tom Knapp certainly would shoot whatever gun performed the best for him, no doubt. He was shooting Benelli long before they sponsored him. It wasn't until well after he made a name for himself that Benelli approached him because he was making that reputation with their shotgun. The well documented track record is there - period.

[Bushman]

Now we are getting somewhere. MOGC, I was hoping that you would weigh in on this thread because I've seen a bunch of pictures of deceased fox and coyotes in your posts resulting from a shot from a Benelli. Well, that Benelli receiver hump isn't as pronounced as the old Brownings, but it isn't as streamlined as the majority of the gas guns to my eye. Beauty is as beauty does I guess. I can understand the military significance of a dependable, easily field stripped action or an action that would digest 450,000 rounds of exhibition shooting. That said, most people will shoot a round of trap or skeet for a night out with the guys or a few shots at the pheasant farm or out in the duck marsh... me included. Nothing had better jam on the first round out of anything. If a second round fails in a semi-auto, then I would start looking for a solution. As a kid growing up with a Remington M1100, we shot a lot of barn pigeons and really cold weather slowed down that gas operated action until we learned something about cold weather lubrication. Nearly dry with a light coating of Tri-Flow seemed to solve most of our problems. At over four numbers for either model Benelli or Beretta, they both had better be at the zenith for what a guy buys a semi-auto shotgun for. It probably comes down to a Ford verses Chevy kind of comparison. I guess a guy had better go finger them both and see what fits.

Every year they hold a big DU Festival up here in Oshkosh and one other place in the SE part of the country. Guys like Tom Knapp do put on a show and a guy can try out about any kind of pistol or shotgun (or bow, or 4wd or ATV...) that he wants to. It is probably worth the entry fee to go see what works the best for him individually.

[MOGC]

Bushman,
The receivers on my Benelli's are round at the back just like a Beretta, Remington, or the new Winchester guns. No hump at all...

[Bushman]

I spent some time on the www.benelliusa.com site tonight and while your M1S90 is not shown, some of them like the M2 and Cordoba are decidedly non-humpy, it's true. The Super Black Eagle and that new futuristic Vinci are showing more hump than the others. You would wonder why they wouldn't have just one receiver design. Just the Super Black Eagle has a 3.5" chamber, but I've never needed any more than a 3" 12 gauge for anything that I do.

[Unclebuck257]

Bushman,

I haven't been in the market for a new Benelli since I bought that Cordoba. I wasn't aware of that newer model. Seriously now, thanks for telling me about that newer model, but I'll still stick with my Cordoba. It does all I want an auto loader to do and more, and like you, I see no need for 3 1/2 inch shells in my hunting schedule. Thanks again! It was appreciated.

[Bushman]

That Cordoba looks like a fine choice to me too. A three year old shotgun is far from obsolete and it uses that same short recoil system as the new one. Speaking of which, that Vinci looks like something only a mother could love. Ergonomically it might be the best thing out there, but to my eyes it is ugly as a mud hen.

Did you see the M4 for combat and law enforcement? Gas operated... Say what?

[BH206L3]

I would not sell the Vinci short, I was turned off when one was suggested to me. Well I was given one to shoot for the season, I started out with some clay targets in Sept, all I can say is that my thirty year lapse in bird hunting is at an end, I have limited out on pheasants and been hanging around CT river Marshes looking for ducks. Its deer season now and well you all know about that and me, I been gone for a while and now I am back. George Semel aka BH206L3 my new handle.

[Phil T]

Either "Google" Beretta holdings or look up Beretta in Wikapedia. Beretta won't be insulted if you choose a Benelli, or buy a Sako rifle, or a Burris scope.
Generally, gas operated shotguns kick less than the recoil operated Benelli, mostly because there are more parts put in motion, which slows down the recoil over a longer time. Benelli has a unique stock on their newest model, which supposedly tames the kick effectively.

As stated before, pick the one whose stock puts your eye in the right place. You may actually hit what you're shooting at with that one.

[Hi Ball]

The state of Missouri has just been given the honor by the NRA, as having the very best Trap Program for Juniors in the entire country. Some use O/U shotguns, some Benelli and Beretta's shotguns.

Now down in the land of ducks, in the state of Arkansas, those "good ole boys" who are indeed die-hard duck hunters, use Benelli shotguns by at least a 3 to 1 margin over anything else. These type hunters actually ABUSE their guns, seen this happen several times.......just through the gun in the boat etc. They beat the crap out of those Benelli's and use em everyday. They are like a Timex watch......take a licking and keep on ticking!;) The Benelli is one tuff shotgun folks. The one's I have shot, seem to kick more than my 1100 Remington. However, the Remington is NOT near as tuff a gun in ALL conditions and shooting reloads, can blow those gas seal rings in a heart beat.:eek::(

A few years ago, I purchased a Browning Gold (using 3.5 inch) but honestly never really took to that shotgun, it's a bit heavy and main reason for purchasing it was to hunt geese with that shotgun. It's just to heavy for the duck blind in my humble opinion!

Recoil wise, I don't think you can beat a Remington gas operated model 1100 as far as recoil on the shoulder goes. I have several models of 1100's in various gages. I don't really know a lot about Winchester's new shotgun, the one that is sooooo FAST and pricey for an autoloader. I was told over a $1000 dollars US money!:eek:

I have a couple of very nice O/U Beretta's in the vault but they are just to pretty to take out and hunt with in the field. Benelli has one heck of a track record for taking abuse and NO MALFUNCTIONS in the field.;) :cool: :cool:

[Bushman]

"Too pretty to hunt with!" Reminds me of a guy that I used to hunt ducks with. He kept his Browning in the case until he saw a duck! On the opposite side of the fence was my late brother-in-law and his brother, both with highly engraved fiddle back walnut stocked high end Parkers. Mud and rain... no matter. They were right out there with me in the marsh with my plain jane Remington. Silver spoon kids as the dad was pretty well heeled. I worked for him for a summer when I got out of school and he wanted me to shoot some barn pigeons on the farm, so I had to borrow a shotgun. What did he have for a loaner pigeon gun? A Winchester M21!!! Great memories.