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. We have patterned several Browning shotguns featuring the Invector DS (Double Seal) chokes and found the tubes seem to pattern very well. 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. It fit me very well (needed to switch to a lower drop shim). The sporting model is almost $4000. On another thread someone mentioned that street price for a new 828U Sport was already in the $3300 range. Has anyone tried the Performance Shop version? 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. The pen is very comfortable to write with, and is the perfect size for comfortable writing. I bought a Guerini instead with a kinetic balancer and love it. This system has a set of interlocking polymer leaf springs in the stock to reduce recoil. But have heard nothing but problems about the. JavaScript is disabled. Once my eye adjusted to the height of its rib and the glow of its fiber-optic bead, I began to routinely connect with clays that were 30 or more yards out and receding rapidly from sightthats with a gun straight off the rack that had not yet been fit to my particular physique. We were particularly impressed with the pattern spread, finding a very solid and uniform distribution of hits. The Benelli does beat the weight issue, at some cost IMHO. I'll get my hands on it sooner or later and give my opinion on it. Here are the features to watch out for. 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. Technical innovation must drive it, and function and durability must trump styling, but, ultimately, the styling must be distinctive. You must log in or register to reply here. I.e Beretta, Browning, Ceasar. Benelli 828U O/U Shotgun - CHUCKHAWKS.COM It's the OU that folks love to hate, I guess it bucks traditional builds and some folks just aren't receptive to that. It's your money - your decision, asking strangers won't really help you decide- good luck. Here are our findings: This is another in a long line of solid, fine-handling over and unders. And just for the record my go to gun is a SBE. Also, for the $$, there's a lot of quality gun options competing with it. The internal recoil system did nothing for me, although I have had 4 shoulder surgeries. An 828U sport with 30 inch barrels. To minimize this, the 828U cheekpiece has a replaceable Air Foam pad that cushions your face. It is a nice color, and is the perfect size to comfortably hold in one hand. 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. It may not display this or other websites correctly. I shot it and it didn't fit me , pretty sure that I swallowed a couple of fillings that day. My daughter can't move the safety lever and it takes me some good pushing. I can keep both pens in one pocket and write with the one that is bigger and easier to reach. 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. I have been in the market for a midtier over under and am a huge Benelli fan as well. The problem is, it is a very large pen that you have to get up really high to hold the nib in place while typing. He eventually gave up on it and moved on to a more reliable gun. Its weak, problematic ejection, vulgar aesthetics, high recoil and annoyingly violent gun movement is topped-off with a nosebleed price. Seems to me most of the guys shooting this gun are hard-core SBE shooters with a well developed sense of loyalty. Hosts Mark and Robin Braatens comfortable lodge provided an ideal setting in which I was able to discuss the guns design with the Urbino-based engineer who spearheaded it: Marco Vignaroli. 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. He offered me his new 828 field ? This Benelli test target is "within parameters" according to Benelli. I believe his 828 has 30's and that might have been by choice as he is a smaller guy. 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. 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. Looks goofy as can be, like a camo space gun, but I use it for upland, waterfowl, and turkeys and without an issue. Texas. Shotgun Review: Benelli 828U - Pheasants Forever 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. We had plenty of semi-automatics, so we wanted to go in a complementary sector by adding a product that would match the needs of other Benelli customers, said Vignaroli. That the 828U breaks with the tradition of previous over-under shotguns and with all other guns that have come from its family before it is without question. Kicked like a mule. Copyright 2023 National Rifle Association. Benelli 828u is an interesting pen because its cheap and has a lot of features. Best affordable Sporter shotguns - Clay Shooting magazine 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. Your email address will not be published. I doubt anyone would have bet that the most innovative gun of the year would be an over-and-under, but that's what Benelli pulled off with the 828U, earning an Innovator's Award for 2015. The gun's main appeal is the weight, and it is light. Print Thread: Benelli 828U Sport or Beretta 694 Sporting #8514994 01/27/22 02:45 PM: Joined: Dec 2010. I bought one about 3 years ago. This website is using a security service to protect itself from online attacks. The breech block interfaces with recesses and lugs within the receiver and monoblock on closing of the action. The benelli folks love to hate | Rokslide Forum In addition, the Model 828U has a unique lever that re-cocks the hammers when pushed to the right, rather than relying on opening the action to reset the hammers as in standard over-and-unders. Both chokes however would screw into the bottom barrel with absolutely no issue. The Benelli 828U differs from its' break-open brethren in several ways. Cloudflare Ray ID: 7a28dd07b9c52d16 I agree that Gunbroker is showing prices close to MSRP. You are using an out of date browser. Firing the Winchester Extra-Lite No. 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. If it doesn't fit you, look for a Browning 725 Sporting, Caesar Guerini Summit Sporting, even a Blaser F16 (used) is in the realm of possibilities. My buddy bought one for a retirement present for himself. Also, we fired 2.75-inch Nobel Low Recoil Target loads with 78 ounce of No. I personally have doubts about it holding up to heavy shells and shooting at volume. The plate features four contact points with the barrel and moves forward and backward on springs as the shotgun is opened and closed. 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. It is a great pen, and I really like it. I know steel inserts in the breech face are part of the 828U design, but the lack of weight mid point I suspect hurts it as a target gun. But 30" in the 828u Sport (target gun). I was in Walker MN this week and Reeds Sports had a few. Oof. 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. One can speculate that the only 20 shotguns Benelli ever made that shoot to point of aim at 40 yards were sent to me, but the chances of that are slim to none, and Slim just left town. The trade-off in the field is that most shooters will take a lighter gun that carries better, because just one extra pound adds up over several miles of kicking pheasants up. Getting back to the shooting of the gunon crossing targets this light gun will force you to focus on swing maintenance. Poor patterns, weak target hits, and uninspiring features all contributed to our low grade for this shooting tool. 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 bought an 828U Sport May 2019 - 30" tubes, travelled some distance to buy one with a decent bit of wood - some of them look like they have stocks made from reclaimed pallets. AgainI shot a very limited number of times. Most noticeable is the shotguns patented locking mechanism that incorporates a free-floating locking plate in the front of the aluminum receiver. We smacked most targets with authority. I would have it. Estimated New and Used Values for a Benelli 828U Values are based on a basic model with no options or colors. Your IP: The Beretta you have will run circles around it if it fits you. Further isolating the fore-end and barrels from the receiver are what Benelli refers to as impulse activated ejectors. 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. I had really good luck with it. Have only shouldered one, never had a chance to shoot one. He said company engineers were reserved, not letting on that the gun they were working on was an over-under. Benelli used everything they know about making shotguns simple, easy to carry all day, and reliable, to create their first over-under. Every time I see him, I ask when I can shoot the space gun. Probably a good idea to get your hands on one first in my opinion. I have held one at a gun store. It's an overly complicated gun. You are using an out of date browser. JavaScript is disabled. In addition, such guns were usually made with steel receivers that bore the stresses of firing, meaning that their bolting and hinge mechanisms had to be made to account for wear that occurs after repeated use. By the time the shot connected, he was likely 50 or more yards out, but was hit solidly by the center of the swarm, which sent him unceremoniously into the stubble. 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. I apologize if I mistook your replies for rudeness. Firearm Discussion and Resources from AR-15, AK-47, Handguns and more! I bought a Guerini instead with a kinetic balancer and love it. Benelli 828U Sport RRP 3,545. They are generally not well regarded, in spite of several glowing articles by gun writers. After all, its corporate parent since 2000, Beretta, had been in the gun business 441 years longer and, during that time, had managed to turn out more than a few fine side-by-sides and over-unders. 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. The 828U makes some guys turn into hostile teenage girls. When a firearm manufacturer with a reputation of producing high-quality, durable semiautomatics ventures into the under/over market, a lot of shooters will take notice. Gun Value Conditions explained: New in box - 100% condition in unopened box. But it pointed well, swung nicely without being too whippy or too sluggish. Make one with a steel receiver, adjustable rib 30" and 32" barrels, improve the trigger a little bit, and get rid the funky comb and people would be breaking down their door to buy one. Drawdc- perhaps I'm just not used to the language/etiquette of Internet forums. The 828U makes some guys turn into hostile teenage girls. Thought enough about itnot to ever think about it again. I don't particularly care for the looks but I'm old school. I shot 50 rounds and was impressively sore. Shot one once at a game fair a couple years ago. 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. Because of reasons like their better handling ability, two-choke option, and the fact that most clay target shooting is limited to taking only two shots at a time, stackbarrels reign over clays. Be ready for some hate. Been loving this game since 01. Plus, there are some markets not open to semi-automatics, such as Australia, that we wanted to enterto expand and add an additional horse to the team. He said the gun was initially conceived as being less for competitive clays shooters and more for general sporting and hunting customers. The companys first attempt at offering shooters a stack-barrel, rather than a semiautomatic, prompted our readers to call for our shotgun test team to put together a match-up of the Benelli 828U with a comparable model made by another firearm manufacturer. Benelli's 828U shotguns deliver mandatory . Although Benelli has a reputation for producing high-quality semiautomatic shotguns, we found the companys new over/under was lacking in both appearance and performance. At the same time, and with a lot less fanfare, over/under manufacturer Browning Arms introduced a field version of its popular Citori Model 725, which is the latest in the Citori Model 25 line that dates back to the 1970s. The pen is a nice size, and has a nice weight. At this point, its worth noting that the 828U was designed for easy access to its breech. 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. The Benelli didn't fill me with the same inspiration. 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. Benelli 828U Black Anodized & Blued 12 Gauge 3in Over Under Shotgun Advertisement Barrel & Receiver The 828U comes with 26, 28, or 30-inch barrels that have three-inch chambers. It consists of a cast steel fire control housing pinned to an aluminum trigger guard. The Benelli 828U is a major disappointment and an outright embarrassment. While pump-action and semiautomatic shotguns are the overwhelming favorite field guns throughout the shooting community, over/unders are the kings of clay-target shooters. Nsca # 540300. You know, the funny thing is that I've probably spent hundreds of hours reading these forums over the last few years. Unfortunately, this is a gross misconception that needs to be rectified. 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. They simply aren't very good and they are more than twice the price they should be. What should the discerning collector look for in a potential buy? This, despite its low build cost, means that the 828U is a product condemned to please no one. It tipped the scales at 7.75 pounds and measured 44.75 inches in length, with our team finding no fault in its heft or handling ability. When I tried an 828U for real the felt-recoil was more than I'd want on a 100 target round - even on 24grm shells . Poor gun fit increases felt recoil, and insufficient drop is the main culprit, but the 828's three-tiered shim system lets you go from 42.5mm to 65mm of drop in 2.5mm increments until you get the perfect fit. Im a browning junkie for sure but Ive handled but never shot the 828u but I think they are quality one guy said space gun kind of true just like when browning introduced the cynergy citori lovers just couldnt except that look well Im an avid citori owner having around six of them and I own two cynergy models feather 12 and field 20 I really like the cynergy low receivers handles very well but making that change is the milestone. Through a thick Italian accent, the Benelli technical director and 20-year company veteran enthusiastically explained the ins and outs of the 828Us development, but it wasnt long into that conversation that I realized the 828U would require little translation to resonate with certain American shooters. Save my name, email, and website in this browser for the next time I comment. Benelli 828U Sport The action was not at all stiff. 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. Shooters of all ages seem to be fascinated with new toys from names they know particularly if the latest and greatest will help break a few more clays or help fill up the game bag a little quicker. 67.205.62.133 This pen is currently only available for $39.95 at benelli.com, and it is available in 16 different colors. Condor. I'm trying to be the person my Little Brown Dog acts like I am. Beretta A400 Xcel "Black" Cole Special - Beretta A400 Xcel 20 Gauge - Beretta A400 28 Gauge -. I have the model with the silver receiver. 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. 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. Buddy went with the Fabarm. I did get an exceptional deal on it. Citori. Citing the guns operation as part of the global comfort theme, Vignaroli said the 828Us unique breeching system eliminates the need for a close-tolerance fit at the locking catch, making the gun easy to open. Benelli Model 828U No. 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. Our shooters documented no handling problems in any of our testing. This field shotgun provided a solid, well-balanced platform for handling clays and birds, as expected. The company made its humble start in 1963in Gussago, Italywhen Giuseppe Pietta made a commitment to produce guns as authentic and true-to-original as possible. Your Worst Nightmare About benelli 828u problems Come to Life After that round I omitted the Benelli 828 from my list of "want to try". 828U Sporting Opinions | Shotgun Forum A. . It is a pen that is also very expensive. My Benelli 828U review | Trapshooters Forum When I first got the firearm it became stuck in the "cracked open" position not able to come apart or even be closed. Your Worst Nightmare About benelli 828u problems Come to Life - Skeet Action Shooting Your Worst Nightmare About benelli 828u problems Come to Life 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. Barrel lengths offered are 26-, 28-, and 30-inch. Unfortunately, I think it would be great for other people as well. I forced it open and sent it in to Benelli who fixed it and sent it back to me. Be ready for some hate. 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. The new 828U is ultra-lightweight at just 6 1/2 pounds. Benelli Adds Left-Handed and Compact 828U Shotgun Models 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. Review: Benelli 828U Shotgun - The Firearm Blog Benelli 828u problem - Benelli - Benelli USA Forums This is a simple function of physics; a lighter gun will deliver more recoil momentum to the shooters shoulder than a heavier gun. of No. Note the texture in the solid carbon-fiber rib and the recesses for the barrel locking pins that keep the action closed. Good to see an honest and thorough review too many around that arent. Same ejection problems and GMK unable to fix (not their fault - they didn't manufacture the thing). It was in the shop more than on the range. You should make sure the barrel lug is seating firmly on the pivot pin before closing. Its weak, problematic ejection, vulgar aesthetics, high recoil and annoyingly violent gun movement is topped-off with a nosebleed price. Results with the Improved Cylinder choke were substantially worse. 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. But their final question was telling: What is the proper balance between tradition and innovation? The groups consensus advice, he said, was that Benelli must stay true to character. Ridiculously overpriced. There were 202 hits in the 20-inch circle with the Modified choke and 164 hits with the Improved Cylinder choke. Benelli 828U For Sale $2284.19, Review, Price - In Stock - Gun Critic I have good things to say about all of them. Best Over Under Shotguns: Over The Top & Under Control - Gunivore with pheasant hunting every year has one and likes it. A colleague of mine had one of the sporting versions. 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'd like to hear from thoughts from some owners. I bought the field version 2 months ago and I love it-Lights out in field and sporting clays-LOVE IT!!!