Crio -treated chokes in C, IC, M, IM, and F are also included. Benelli says that they subjectively estimate the felt-recoil reduction at around 30 percent. This tendency to shoot low and left went a long way toward explaining why our teams target busting experience with the Benelli was much less than satisfactory. However, 76 percent of the total hits in the 30-inch circle were in the lower left quadrant and there were four, 3-inch holes in the pattern, mainly in the outer 10-inch ring. About 5 months in, it started doubling. Nice guns. By accepting all cookies, you agree to our use of cookies to deliver and maintain our services and site, improve the quality of Reddit, personalize Reddit content and advertising, and measure the effectiveness of advertising. Bought one in 26"its 1" shorter than my SP1 was in 28", due to the longer action on the 828. The internal recoil system did nothing for me, although I have had 4 shoulder surgeries. That's the extent of my dealings with one. Its weak, problematic ejection, vulgar aesthetics, high recoil and annoyingly violent gun movement is topped-off with a nosebleed price. But I can't get him to bring it out. You should make sure the barrel lug is seating firmly on the pivot pin before closing. The 828U does not disappoint in that regard, balancing well directly at the hinge point. If anyone that owns a benelli says they dont like the 828U they have deeper issues than we should get into on rockslide. I have been in the market for a midtier over under and am a huge Benelli fan as well. The Fire-Lite mechanical triggers in the Model 725 are both smooth and crisp, going the extra step to help a shooter stay on target when touching off a shot. BE SURE TO SHOOT IT FIRST! The Fora platform includes forum software by XenForo. B Britlover Member Feb 19, 2020 #5 I bought one about 3 years ago. Save my name, email, and website in this browser for the next time I comment. Women On Target Instructional Shooting Clinics, Volunteer At The Great American Outdoor Show, Marion P. Hammer Women Of Distinction Award, Women's Wildlife Management / Conservation Scholarship, National Youth Shooting Sports Cooperative Program, Weatherby Brings Back the Orion Over/Under Shotgun, Winchesters New King Buck Classic Youth Sporting Clays Event Will Have $10,000 In Prizes | An NRA Shooting Sports Journal, Rifleman Q&A: St. Louis Arms Co. Removing two more screws frees it for access to a nut on a stock bolt that fixes one of two metal drop plates. In fact, it has been my favorite pen for so long. Of course, if a barrel does not fire, the plate remains in its extractor-only position, and separate rods gently press back the extractors, allowing manual removal of that unfired shell. with pheasant hunting every year has one and likes it. It fit me very well (needed to switch to a lower drop shim). Add in the sub-par patterning performance, plus some ineffective target busting time on the range, and our shooters said the new 828U stack-barrel does not live up to the standards of the high-quality semiautomatic firearm innovator. I am also hoping that the colors they are using are a more accurate match to my pen. First I'm a Benelli guy, having 4 in my safe, but the first iterations that i saw of the 828U weren't too great. The floating breech block us intriguing, as are the re-designed ejectors. I'm trying to be the person my Little Brown Dog acts like I am. Posts must be somewhat related to firearms and must comply with the Global Reddit Rules. I bought one about 3 years ago. So we had to pay particular attention to the right angle and the right ergonomics of this lever through its geometry, Vignaroli said. So maybe nearer 10,000 shells down the tubes and an intermittent problem has appeared when the gun is warm - the bottom barrel fails to fire, all I hear is that faintest of clicks - rather than the typical sound of a triggered firing pin, the primer of the shell is untouched (have eliminated low primers, changed brand of shell to no avail), when cool it's back to . When I first got the firearm it became stuck in the "cracked open" position not able to come apart or even be closed. The 828U is not cocked by any system of rods or levers, but rather by the top lever itself. This system has a set of interlocking polymer leaf springs in the stock to reduce recoil. Required fields are marked *. I shot 50 rounds and was impressively sore. Two versions are available: one with a black anodized receiver and one with a silver-tone receiver said to be the result of a nickel-based treatment. Secondly, the polyurethane comb cushions any residual impact to your face. - Benelli. As noted earlier, this is the latest version of a long line of Browning over-and-unders that have found favor with the shooting public. I tried the 828U a couple months ago. Everyone that I know that has bought one of these got over them fairly quickly. I don't particularly care for the looks but I'm old school. The benelli 828u pen is a small, high quality, battery operated pen. A point of potential mechanical wear, the hinge pins, while relatively small in diameter, are made of steel and serve only to pivot the monobloc on the receiver. For our firing tests, we set up at the patterning range where we quickly discovered that the Crio Flush Fit chokes (Cylinder, Improved Cylinder, Modified, Improved Modified and Full) included with the package were not a match for the Browning. In a classic example of premature innovation, we found the new Benelli 828U simply did not function, feel, or perform as well as a veteran Browning Citori 725 when fired head to head. Silver Reserve. AgainI shot a very limited number of times. The construction of the barrel assembly is fairly unconventional. I am wondering if anyone can give me insight as to what I am doing wrong? For a better experience, please enable JavaScript in your browser before proceeding. 31,328 views Sep 10, 2020 460 Dislike Share Save Go Shooting 15.5K subscribers Subscribe Russell and Lauryn Mark review the new Benelli 828u Sport, a firearm that breaks many of the traditional. The list of unusual features covers all aspects of the shotgun's operation, as discussed here. The 828U Steel comes chambered for 2 3/4- and 3-inch shotshells in both 12- and 20-gauge. If you're only going to drag it out for upland a dozen hunts a year or less I think one could justify it. YMMV. The Benelli didn't fill me with the same inspiration. You must log in or register to reply here. The 828U and it's sporting counterpart are simply ill designed for heavy sporting use. Copyright 2023 National Rifle Association. It is a pen that is also very expensive. Benelli 828U Black Anodized & Blued 12 Gauge 3in Over Under Shotgun - 28in - A shotgun that feels and shoots like a Benelli from the moment you pick it up to the moment you break it open. Back at the office, during the course of several weeks shooting in different settings and throughout several hundred shells worth of varied ammunitionwhether plastic- or paper-hulled, having high or low brass heads and in various payload weights and velocitiesan informal test group encountered no failures with our nickel-finish, 28"-barreled test sample. The 828U Compact, which weighs 6.5 pounds, features an engraved nickel plated receiver and has an MSRP of $2,999. That makes two 828u's in almost the same number of weeks with the same issues. Combine those conditions with several inches of snow on the ground and a temperature that failed to rise above the single digits, and the hunt proved to be the ideal opportunity to test the mettle of a gun that, at that point, still posed far more questions than it answered. When you purchase through links on our site, we may earn an affiliate commission, which supports our community. I've seen/read a LOT more dissatisfied comments and very few positive ones. You must log in or register to reply here. And due to the stupid barrel overlap at the receiver, you can't use sub gauge tubes. I have shot a few of them on Demo days next too several other O/U. However, a guy at our club has a new 30" 828U Sport and it felt really nice (I didn't get to shoot it). 828U 04-2020.pdf (16.67 MB) For: 828 U Shotguns, 828 U Limited Edition. Benelli Armi SpA of Urbino, Italy, is a relative newcomer to the gun business, having emerged in 1967 from its parent motorcycle manufacturing concern with an idea for a new type of shotgun action. Realize, too, that this was legitimate wild-bird hunting among wide-open crop fields and across rolling terrain that was as natural as pheasant habitat gets. The "U.S. Rifle, Caliber .30, Model of 1903," better-known as the M1903 Springfield, has become one of the most popular U.S. military small arms to collect. This pen is currently only available for $39.95 at benelli.com, and it is available in 16 different colors. Thought enough about itnot to ever think about it again. The company promoted the design as Inertia Drivea form of delayed-blowback operationbut, in a twist of literary serendipity, the ID label came to be synonymous with its corporate identity. They are not cheap as they run about $2,300 for the black receiver and $2,600 for the silver receiver. I have used it for hours at a time, and it is very comfortable to write with. Condor. Maybe it's just me but I'm not a fan of field O/U's with aluminum receivers. I have to admit I pondered getting a Benelli 828U as a 'wet weather gun' rather than taking the 'P' gun out on foul days - it's not like it comes to any harm but it's a beautiful tool that deserves better (maybe an owner that could match it's capabilities would help too ).). Nice shot! came a shout of approval from a fellow hunter, at which point I realized that the 828U had just done exactly what it was made to do: serve as a seamless extension of a hunters body in order to bring game to bag in challenging situations. They include (l.): a shim kit that offers 40 different combinations of cast and drop adjustment; the Progressive Comfort recoil-mitigation module that resides within the buttstock; and interchangeable cheekpieces that can be swapped out to provide proper stock-to-face fit. Benelli 828U Sport The action was not at all stiff. I bought the field version 2 months ago and I love it-Lights out in field and sporting clays-LOVE IT!!! My Franchi over/under experience wasn't very good. Head to the range this week with American Rifleman staff as they discuss a trim little repeater from Savage Arms that comes chambered for the .22 WMR cartridge. Says they are LH in 12 gauge, but should give you a feel for the gun and you can order what you want then. The new model features a rounded forearm designed with a slight palm rest, high-relief engraving on the receiver, and ivory front and mid-bead sights. In the field, my first shot on a live bird brought a similar, satisfying experience. Internally, the Browning has a mechanical trigger system, back-bored barrels with lengthened forcing cones, and the Invector-DS internal choke tube system, with Improved Cylinder, Modified, and Full tubes included with the Field model, the same features introduced when the original Model 725 hit the market. We value freedom of speech as much as we do the right to keep and bear arms. Connecting with birds under such conditions can be a challenge, and it requires a gun that points naturally, swings fast and predictably and is capable of shooting tight patterns. Buddy of mine bought one because he duck hunted with s SBE. Shot one once at a game fair a couple years ago. We should note that the version of the Benelli made available to us was a 26-inch-barrel anodized-aluminum receiver model, while the Browning provided featured 28-inch barrels and a silver nitrite receiver. Written and photographed by Ralph Winingham, using evaluations from Gun Tests team testers. As the project progressed, he said, it moved even more toward a hunting gun, but he added that, the way it was conceived in terms of separate assembliesthe stock, the barrels, the triggermade it a platform that, in time, might be easily expanded to other sectors., Vignaroli said the 828U, which was in development for three years and was granted three patents and a revision on a fourth, was the result of every one of the Urbino factorys 270 workers. http://gundogcentral.com/view_pedigree.php?pedigreeID=84414&sireID=0&damID=0&generations=5, http://gundogcentral.com/view_pedigree.php?pedigreeID=84853&sireID=0&damID=0&generations=5. This, despite its low build cost, means that the 828U is a product condemned to please no one. Customer experience was, and still is, the primary focus, a key to the firms longevity and success. The latter has laser-cut panels of fish scale checkering at its lower rear corners along with floral scroll engraving designs in panels on the top, sides and bottom. Print Thread: Benelli 828U Sport or Beretta 694 Sporting #8514994 01/27/22 02:45 PM: Joined: Dec 2010. Utilizing an inertia trigger system that requires the firing of the first barrel to engage the second, the Model 828U triggers touched off at 4.5 pounds for the bottom barrel and 4 pounds for the top. While some will pan the 828U because it doesnt fit their notion of what an over-under should be, othersparticularly fans of Benellis unique style of engineeringalong with those apt to being open-minded about unexpected new offerings, may find the 828U difficult to resist. I had really good luck with it. Further isolating the fore-end and barrels from the receiver are what Benelli refers to as impulse activated ejectors. You are using an out of date browser. But Is It Really That Good?Prior to going afield with the 828U in South Dakota, our party of writers had the opportunity to try it on machine-thrown clays launched off a bluff at the ranch, which overlooks the scenic Missouri River Valley. My buddy bought one for a retirement present for himself. Her biggest complaint involved the force required to operate the opening lever: Because she had to press on its tip to gain an advantage in leverage, she found that the barrel selector on the safety button could be inadvertently moved to select the bottom barrel. It is also very comfortable to write with. Have only shouldered one, never had a chance to shoot one. The 828U makes some guys turn into hostile teenage girls. And that brings up another major point in describing how the 828U is different from traditional over-unders. I think the Sporting version does have an all steel receiver. The recent release of the Browning Citori Model 725 Field seemed to be perfect timing for the head-to-head competition. But have heard nothing but problems about the. My understanding is that there is a major difference in handling and recoil between the 828U and the 828U sport. In late 2017 I was shooting a round of skeet with my .410 winchester 101 and one of the gentlemen in my squad asked if he could try my .410 as he had never shot one. so sure no problem. 4 nickel-plated lead shot at 1485 f.p.s.not a particularly mild load for a 12 gauge weighing only 6 lbs., 9 ozs. Ive been using benelli 828u for a few weeks now, and it is surprisingly fast and easy to use. Elsewhere, we thought the stock, forearm, and barrel finish on the Benelli seemed to closely resemble the features of a semiautomatic, rather than exhibiting the typical look and style of an over-and-under in its price range. A replaceable, solid carbon-fiber vented sighting rib measuring 0.280" wide is topped with an 0.078" red fiber-optic pipe set about 1" back from the muzzle. The action you just performed triggered the security solution. Vignaroli used the term global comfort to describe the 828Us combination of weight, balance and ergonomics. Along the way, it earned the respect of a new generation of hardcore duck and goose hunters beset by the same kind of weather and environmental conditions that had caused their fathers to rely on pump guns. With that being said, every gun I have bought I have shot beforehand, so it would be uncharacteristic for me to buy one without trying it, though it is clear there aren't many of these around. It seems like the 828U Sport is a better gun than the original/field model 828U, certainly so for clay shooting. Im hoping that my new pen is just like that. Most noticeable is the shotguns patented locking mechanism that incorporates a free-floating locking plate in the front of the aluminum receiver. Archived 828U Sport thread. A few media representatives were let in on the then-secret project during a mid-year 2013 trip to Italy, where they were asked to contribute ideas about what a new and different Benelli should be. I feel like when I looked at them the longest I could find was a 28, 26" and 28" I believe in the 828uthe field gun. I thought it felt very much like my super vinci in regards to the balance and mounting. For a gun with some familiar features, such as a walnut buttstock and fore-end, the 828U also has quite a few unexpected innovations. When innovation and inspiration collided the 828U was born the first over/under worthy of the Benelli Not sure how far you are from Ogden UT or Salt Lake City, looks like Impact Guns has a few in stock. Here are the features to watch out for. Benelli used everything they know about making shotguns simple, easy to carry all day, and reliable, to create their first over-under. In the field, my first shot on a live bird brought a similar, satisfying experience. I personally have doubts about it holding up to heavy shells and shooting at volume. The God who gave us life, gave us liberty at the same time. Be ready for some hate. Connecting with birds under such conditions can be a challenge, and it requires a gun that points naturally, swings fast and predictably and is capable of shooting tight patterns. We made allowances in our testing for the slightly better handling characteristics that are generally attributed to longer barrels and a heavier gun, ensuring these factors did not influence our evaluation. Seems like a solid gun if you need a field O/U. Turning the lever to open the gun cams the bolt out of engagement with the monobloc, while at the same time uses a lever tipped with a roller bearing to press rearward on the chrome-plated wedge mentioned above, cocking the strikers. So especially the beginning was really tough for usunderstanding the over-under and its habits and the way the gun moved.. the past 2 yrs. Following the sale of Remington Outdoor Company's assets in September 2020, Vista Outdoor purchased Remington Ammunition. (12-gauge); 26, 28 in. As for the dimensions of the new introduction into the over-and-under market, the drop of the adjustable comb was set at 1.5 inches and drop at the heel was set at 2.25 inches when we assembled the shotgun for testing. JavaScript is disabled. The 828Us price, too, is not out of line considering the quality of the guns construction and the adaptability that it allows shooters of differing physiques. Outdoor Hub, LLC (d/b/a Carbon Media Group), 30800 Telegraph Rd, Suite 1921, Bingham Farms, MI 48025 USA. Again, unlike shotguns of old, which required fitting by an expert and labor-intensive, permanent changes to the stock, the Benelli system is relatively simple to customize by the end user simply by referring to a fitting table in the owners manual. Technical innovation must drive it, and function and durability must trump styling, but, ultimately, the styling must be distinctive. As far as technology is concerned, the Benelli 828U Shotgun stands out from the crowd with the help of next generation of recoil reduction and progressive comfort; custom fit with the QuadraFit Buttstock and Custom Fit Stock that is adjustable drop and cast; and Crio system for more uniform pattern. Oof. We were particularly impressed with the pattern spread, finding a very solid and uniform distribution of hits. Rather, the guns strikers are cocked by operating the top-mounted opening lever. It's an overly complicated gun. Re: street price. We did find that the balance point of the shotgun was slightly behind the lightweight, aluminum receiver, rather than the preferred point right between the hands as with the Browning. But 30" in the 828u Sport (target gun). The gun was impressive, apart from a few nags:2 1) Auto safety ! The 828 is a design that had serious potential, but is extremely lacking in configuration and execution. Fit and comfort in the hands and to the body of the user are of critical importance to ensuring success on small, fast-moving targets. People are not being rude, but they are probably of the opinion that casting rose petals on a pile of dooty will not improve the stench. Excellent - 95%+ condition with or without box. Pressing it fully through its arc first withdraws two barrel locking pins from their recesses in the monobloc then rotates a lever fitted with a roller within the receiver that presses back a cocking plate in the trigger module to load the striker springs. It's the OU that folks love to hate, I guess it bucks traditional builds and some folks just aren't receptive to that. Just to clarify, I am interested in the sport model (black steel receiver with SPORT written on the side). ETHOS Shotgun Product Manual (11 MB) For: ETHOS Sport Shotguns, ETHOS . This new field model patterned well, broke targets well, and looked good while doing its job. I have watched Benelli videos, and have owned several over under shotguns, and have never had any issue like this before. Most dont have pattern tests. The block also contains spring-retracted firing pins that are impacted by strikers during firing. She appreciated the buttpad for not hanging up on clothing, liked the matte finish of the carbon-fiber rib and pointed out that the removable breech block would make cleaning easier. Have only shouldered one, never had a chance to shoot one. These dimensions are right on the average mark for an out-of-the-box shotgun, and our various team members had no problems adjusting to the fit. One was NRA Publications Editorial Director John Zent, an experienced upland hunter and clays shot. We pitted the Benelli 828U, retailing for $2,500, against the Browning 725, retailing for $2,470, both at the clay-target range and on the patterning board to see if the new smokepole performed as advertised against a proven product sitting in the rack beside it. Key to the 828Us operation is a steel breech block that engages corresponding surfaces on the monobloc as the action is closed, containing the firing forces. I did handle it, I couldn't get over how long the reciever was. He said company engineers were reserved, not letting on that the gun they were working on was an over-under. To minimize this, the 828U cheekpiece has a replaceable Air Foam pad that cushions your face. And if Benellis track record is any indication, there are likely to be extensions to the new over-under linea scaled 20 gauge would be a neat trick indeedin the years ahead. I don't think he wants to scratch it! The internal recoil system did nothing for me, although I have had 4 shoulder surgeries. Each barrel is soldered to protrusions machined over the one-piece, heat-treated monobloc. It then recocks the strikers and resets the automatic safety unless a spring steel clip (below, l.) is removed. However, we noticed there was a little creep or spongy feel to the pull with both triggers, unlike the crisp, sharp pull of the Browning. Should not take a lot of force to snap closed. It utilizes Benelli's innovative Progressive Comfort Stock. The Benelli 828U is a major disappointment and an outright embarrassment. The shotgun just does not have the feel and look of a standard over-and-under. The new Benelli also features its Progressive Comfort recoil reduction system, a removable trigger group, Crio free-floating barrels, a carbon-fiber rib and red fiber-optic sight. I think it is a decent gun for the money I paid for it. Also, for the $$, there's a lot of quality gun options competing with it. Performance & security by Cloudflare. Thanks Sera- I appreciate the opinion. I shoot quite a bit, so I know that this should tell me something! Combine those conditions with several inches of snow on the ground and a temperature that failed to rise above the single digits, and the hunt proved to be the ideal opportunity to test the mettle of a gun that, at that point, still posed far more questions than it answered. The sporting model is almost $4000. As if I could actually write with my pen. I agree that Gunbroker is showing prices close to MSRP. I am not asking for opinions on this gun, though of course I respect any opinions that are posted here. They definitely arent like a browning or beretta which I really want to like but never feel right to me. They are generally not well regarded, in spite of several glowing articles by gun writers. Recoil with the Browning using the two light loads was well within the comfortable range, and spent shells were ejected with authority each and every time there were no malfunctions of any kind. I bought a Guerini instead with a kinetic balancer and love it. But if you look at the under side of the safety lever with the trigger group out and work it back and forth you can see studs on both sides that ride under spring arms. This caused the Benelli to be a little harder to move into targets similar to the movement required to push a semiautomatic through targets rather than the glide-through handling of a well-balanced over and under. I have held one at a gun store. Reddit and its partners use cookies and similar technologies to provide you with a better experience. Click to reveal It was about as loon as my A400 xcel reciever, balance from what I remember felt so so, it didn't fit me at all, and it felt like it swung light, as a field gun should or would. Hello I purchased a 828U several months ago in 12 gauge, and have had nothing but problems. It may not display this or other websites correctly. I have the model with the silver receiver. Most of the problems were associated with the extractor/ejector arrangement. Very nice gun and I liked the slim profile, but didn't impress me enough that I would buy one. Good to see an honest and thorough review too many around that arent. True to Vignarolis characterizations, the 828U proved to be a very dependable gun and ejection of spent hulls was in fact very energetic. Everyone who shot the gun had positive things to say about its neutral balance, ease of pointing and light weight. The 828U is what you would expect from Benelli - a hardworking, lightweight and low-recoil shotgun. A guy at a field trial I was at a year ago had one and I really liked it. Both the Modified and Improved Cylinder tubes delivered just under 40 percent of the strikes within a 20-inch circle around the center of the targets. BTW my buddy ended up keeping it but hardly ever shoots it. 10701 12 Gauge, $2,500 GUN TESTS GRADE: C Although Benelli has a reputation for producing high-quality semiautomatic shotguns, we found the company's new over/under was lacking in both appearance and performance. Over on Shotgun World in I love my Benelli, there have been some problems reported about the 828 U trigger assembly dropping out, ejector problems and problems with the breech lock popping open. I even tried to tell her I wanted to buy her a new shotgun didnt fly when she saw the price tag. Wasn't that. I really like the silver with the engraving. Our Team Said: We were disappointed in the looks, feel, and handling ability of Benellis first venture into the over-and-under market. She praised the guns appearance, calling it nice and light and adding that it balanced and came to the face well. The shotguns length of pull was 14.25 inches, with a drop at the comb of 1 58 inches and a drop at the heel of 2.5 inches. We smacked most targets with authority. Time will tell. Feb 5th, 2020. The Price for a Benelli 828U has decreased in cost by $483.54 in 2023 compared to 2022. I did get an exceptional deal on it. It is designed to provide a stronger, tighter seal, but to our eyes, it looks like something that could be found in a semiautomatic shotgun. And the birds we encountered were not only tough and of good size, but wary, running and flushing sometimes hundreds of yards ahead of the dogs. Was a surprise to see him with it as he typically shoots a Perazzi. Firearm has never even been fired, and I have only assembled/disassembled it twice, once when purchased and the second time when I received it back. Problem w/ most Field O/U is the aluminum actions don't hold up to heavy shells and shooting a lot and its hard to build a field gun w/ a steel receiver under 7.5lbs. If you take a look at some of the videos that I have been sharing on YouTube, you will see that people are not always sure what they are doing. I do not recall the barrel length of this 828, it is at her place. My friend that I go to S.D. Our shooters documented no handling problems in any of our testing. Matine1 - I have the same issue on an 828U. By rejecting non-essential cookies, Reddit may still use certain cookies to ensure the proper functionality of our platform. The detachable trigger module has a cocking plate that is pressed rearward by a projection when the top lever is moved to open the action. Overall, the gun is well-balanced thanks to the weighted magazine cap. I know the guy that bought it but in the year of Covid I haven't had an opportunity to ask him about it. I shot it and it didn't fit me , pretty sure that I swallowed a couple of fillings that day.