I have watched Benelli videos, and have owned several over under shotguns, and have never had any issue like this before. That makes two 828u's in almost the same number of weeks with the same issues. They do support the Franchi line, which isn't exactly an endorsement. I bought the field version 2 months ago and I love it-Lights out in field and sporting clays-LOVE IT!!! I even tried to tell her I wanted to buy her a new shotgun didnt fly when she saw the price tag. IMO, I think in O/U shotguns, especially those used for targets, a receiver made of steel not alloy is a must. About 5 months in, it started doubling. I'd like to hear from thoughts from some owners. And that brings up another major point in describing how the 828U is different from traditional over-unders. Re: street price. The Benelli 828u is a pen that I received as a gift. It is held just forward of the receivers face by two small springs when the action is open, and, as the gun closes, a lug in the monobloc under the lower barrel engages a recess at the blocks bottom, and a groove on the monoblocs upper end engages a lip at the blocks top, locking the two together and pressing the block reward against the receivers face. But that's just one gun, one guy. I have shot one and it's definitely no slouch but after years of growing up on Bronwing SO's and now Beretta 68x guns I just can't get with it, it's just too "different" for me to get comfortable with. Please include what you were doing when this page came up and the Cloudflare Ray ID found at the bottom of this page. But it pointed well, swung nicely without being too whippy or too sluggish. Error Code pii_email_a42277285fa7a777ff7e Solved, Personally identifiable information PII doesnt belong in your email University Information Technology The University of Utah, How to Get Rid of the pii_email_e7ab94772079efbbcb25 Error. JavaScript is disabled. Reinforcing the theme of mechanical modularity is a self-contained trigger module that can be removed from the receiver with an included tool. Our conclusion was that the Model 828U system doesnt like light loads not a good thing in a light firearm. I am not/have not advertised it; but, I'd likely sell it, it is just sitting there unused and unappreciated. My friend that I go to S.D. Assistant Editor Christopher Olsen, a dedicated hunter and clays shooter, described it as fast-handling and its balance as perfect. His sentiments were reinforced by his sister, Samantha, another NRA employee and a collegiate-level trap shooter. 67.205.62.133 It was one of the early models, so hopefully Benelli has that . 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 is also very comfortable to write with. 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. 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. A transverse passage in each chamber contains a floating pin that is bumped a few thousandths of an inch to actuate sears on the ejector body on either side of the monobloc, causing the extractors to forcefully throw empty hulls free of the gun. Secondly, the polyurethane comb cushions any residual impact to your face. After that round I omitted the Benelli 828 from my list of "want to try". Over Under shotguns are considered to be out of style nowadays. 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. They usually have a couple under glass for sale. The Fora platform includes forum software by XenForo. Getting back to the shooting of the gunon crossing targets this light gun will force you to focus on swing maintenance. That is always the answer before buying a new gun. It was the only one I could ever have made that I could put my finger on. Benelli 828U Sport The action was not at all stiff. Crio -treated chokes in C, IC, M, IM, and F are also included. My Browning Citori White Lighting 16 ga. feels just as good in my hands and about the same weight. A forum community dedicated to Shotgun owners and enthusiasts including the Remington, Beretta, and Mossberg shotguns brands. 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. I bought one about 3 years ago. For a better experience, please enable JavaScript in your browser before proceeding. You could do most of this research yourself. It fit me very well (needed to switch to a lower drop shim). He eventually gave up on it and moved on to a more reliable gun. I'm seriously into shooting, I'm not a troll, and I have a lot of respect for the knowledge and experience of the people who post here frequently. You can email the site owner to let them know you were blocked. In fact, it has been my favorite pen for so long. Though I wouldnt recommend it, I would love to see how it works with the other benelli pens. The 828 is a design that had serious potential, but is extremely lacking in configuration and execution. Our trip to the patterning board before field testing on the clay target range with the Browning was an eye-opener. Drawdc- perhaps I'm just not used to the language/etiquette of Internet forums. The Sport model in Benelli's 828U lineup contains features that benefit clay-target shooters by way of adjustabilitythe gun's balance, choke constriction, sighting rib, stock and trigger can. 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. 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. Most dont have pattern tests. 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. My Franchi over/under experience wasn't very good. The construction of the barrel assembly is fairly unconventional. Where it stands now. It is released by pressing a button at its front. I have only seen one in the wild as well, a guy had one last year at a local shoot, 30 inch tubes, and black reciever, totally different looking gun in person then in videos and internet pictures etc. Copyright 2023 National Rifle Association. The internal recoil system did nothing for me, although I have had 4 shoulder surgeries. To consistently break targets, particularly those with any distance on them, we had to hold high and right, not the accepted and typical practice of shooting where you look. A. . 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. Buddy of mine bought one because he duck hunted with s SBE. 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. I have shot a few of them on Demo days next too several other O/U. The 828U is not cocked by any system of rods or levers, but rather by the top lever itself. It is a pen that is also very expensive. AgainI shot a very limited number of times. This is a simple function of physics; a lighter gun will deliver more recoil momentum to the shooters shoulder than a heavier gun. 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. They are generally not well regarded, in spite of several glowing articles by gun writers. I shot it and it didn't fit me , pretty sure that I swallowed a couple of fillings that day. Most noticeable is the shotguns patented locking mechanism that incorporates a free-floating locking plate in the front of the aluminum receiver. Consider that we started from white paper. By rejecting non-essential cookies, Reddit may still use certain cookies to ensure the proper functionality of our platform. So, How Does It Handle?Perhaps more than any other type of firearm platform, a shotgun is designed to function as an extension of the shooters body. 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. I flew to another city and had to break down for checked bag as my case cannot fit it assembled. 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. 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. We have patterned several Browning shotguns featuring the Invector DS (Double Seal) chokes and found the tubes seem to pattern very well. 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. Also, we fired 2.75-inch Nobel Low Recoil Target loads with 78 ounce of No. Texas. Title. The Benelli 828U is a major disappointment and an outright embarrassment. I do, but no such luck, nothing on the website as in stock anyways, I'll call to double check. Its not like its a Chevy Have you got Scheel's where you live? This solid, uniform patterning performance with no holes that might allow a clay or bird to escape undamaged was verified on the clay-target range. More importantly, everything it makes has the performance to match. She praised the guns appearance, calling it nice and light and adding that it balanced and came to the face well. While the aforementioned is readily apparent by examining the guns exterior, it is inside that the Benelli departs from, or, more properly, defies convention. with pheasant hunting every year has one and likes it. The new 828U is ultra-lightweight at just 6 1/2 pounds. in front of their join at the monobloc to a point 2" from the muzzle. I tried the 828U a couple months ago. Doubles are supposed to find their appeal in durability and simplicity. Benelli 828u is an interesting pen because its cheap and has a lot of features. 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. It doesn't compare to 694, F16, or CG in that price range. Customer experience was, and still is, the primary focus, a key to the firms longevity and success. Two small springs (arrow) hold the block away from the receivers face when the action is open so that it is positioned to interlock with the monobloc as the action hinges shut. I hear it's dead easy to disable, but blimey the number of swear words during out 60 clay trying was rather large :-) 2) During our test, there was a case where the gun didn't close. 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 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 ammunition we selected for our testing on the target range and at the patterning board was Winchester AA Extra-Light Target 2.75-inch loads packing 1 ounce of No. 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. I've seen/read a LOT more dissatisfied comments and very few positive ones. It handled very well on the clay-target course, excelled on the patterning board, and helps a shooter look sharp to his compatriots while serving as a solid shooting tool. When innovation and inspiration collided the 828U was born - the first over/under worthy of the Benelli badge. An 828U sport with 30 inch barrels. 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. Only broken it down 2-3 times. When you purchase through links on our site, we may earn an affiliate commission, which supports our community. So especially the beginning was really tough for usunderstanding the over-under and its habits and the way the gun moved.. The action on the Benelli Sport II is strong, fast, and flawlessly cycles pretty much any target load you try to feed it. Ive been using benelli 828u for a few weeks now, and it is surprisingly fast and easy to use. There were only 38 pellet hits above the center of the target and several large areas with no strikes at all. 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. 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. Your email address will not be published. So, when the first rooster got up quite behind me, I simply turned and swung the gun in its direction, keeping my eye on its beak and firing as soon as I could. Results with the Improved Cylinder choke were substantially worse. 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. I shoot quite a bit, so I know that this should tell me something! With this in mind, this is an easy to use pen that you can write with on the inside of your computer. But againit's hard to build a field gun with a steel receiver under 7.0 lbs in 12 ga. 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. It was the worst over under I've ever shot. If a shooter favors the looks and feel of a semiautomatic, the Model 828U may be just the ticket. In the field, my first shot on a live bird brought a similar, satisfying experience. What should the discerning collector look for in a potential buy? We value freedom of speech as much as we do the right to keep and bear arms. Benelli has stated that the receiver has wear from improper assembly. The other issue already mentioned is long term durability due to the alloy receiver. 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 828U makes some guys turn into hostile teenage girls. Have only shouldered one, never had a chance to shoot one. 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. It consists of a cast steel fire control housing pinned to an aluminum trigger guard. Im not a shotgun expert by any means but before I bought the super vinci a few years ago I picked up as many shotguns as I could and that one felt right immediately to me. Citori. 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. 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. Each barrel is soldered to protrusions machined over the one-piece, heat-treated monobloc. A carbon-fibre rib sits atop the 30in barrels, and a unique, patented steel locking system has been developed by Benelli's engineers to reduce wear and tear on the action. Be ready for some hate. Benelli Model 828U No. 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. 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. 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. At this point, its worth noting that the 828U was designed for easy access to its breech. Nice guns. 8 shot and an average muzzle velocity of 1,200 fps. So we had to pay particular attention to the right angle and the right ergonomics of this lever through its geometry, Vignaroli said. Benelli's 828U shotguns deliver mandatory . Silver Pigeon. Thanks, won't be out that way until end of Aug. Poor patterns, weak target hits, and uninspiring features all contributed to our low grade for this shooting tool. 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 is a nice color, and is the perfect size to comfortably hold in one hand. They definitely arent like a browning or beretta which I really want to like but never feel right to me. 828U Sport, always black, steel action so heavier, better recoil characteristics. The floating breech block us intriguing, as are the re-designed ejectors. Both receivers are sculpted to evoke the wings of a mallard in flight. Advertisement Barrel & Receiver The 828U comes with 26, 28, or 30-inch barrels that have three-inch chambers. The 828U is a lightweight gunimportant for a long session of upland hunting in which it is likely to be carried much more of the time than it is shotbut it is the distribution of the weight that is key. That's harsh Randy, but I certainly appreciate the thoughts. One of our test-team members scrounged up a heavier load (a 1-ounce, 1,230 feet per second shell) that did eject from the bottom barrel. I did get an exceptional deal on it. Create an account to follow your favorite communities and start taking part in conversations. Come join the discussion about optics, hunting, gunsmithing, styles, reviews, accessories, classifieds, and more! 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. I have been wanting to buy some benelli pens for a while now, so Im glad I bought it at a discounted price. The 828U Compact, which weighs 6.5 pounds, features an engraved nickel plated receiver and has an MSRP of $2,999. 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. The lever cocking the firing mechanism felt very solid and is a new concept you don't see on other guns. Removing two more screws frees it for access to a nut on a stock bolt that fixes one of two metal drop plates. I think that I had the barrel seared firmly in the receiver, like I said done this many times over quite a few years with other over under without issue. Same ejection problems and GMK unable to fix (not their fault - they didn't manufacture the thing). A ragged pattern that might only cause a chip to fly off a clay target is acceptable on the range, but a crippling shot on a bird in the field because of ineffective pellet trauma is not. JavaScript is disabled. And they only weigh about 6.5 lbs. The stock A subject close to my heart, and one I can grasp more easily than the benefits of a replaceable breech face, is gun fit. One of the problems with using it is that I cant write without it, and it is really tough to write without it. Was a surprise to see him with it as he typically shoots a Perazzi. The ammunition, too, obviously, plays an important part, and ours was, somewhat appropriately, an Italian-made. Shot one once at a game fair a couple years ago. Buddy went with the Fabarm. I agree that Gunbroker is showing prices close to MSRP. 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 ).). I shot 50 rounds and was impressively sore. 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. I dont have one, but have fondled one a few times at the local shop. Bought one in 26"its 1" shorter than my SP1 was in 28", due to the longer action on the 828. 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. It's your money - your decision, asking strangers won't really help you decide- good luck. 828 U Product Manual (14.83 MB) For: 828 U Shotguns, 828 U Upland Performance Shop Shotguns, 828 U Sport Shotguns. Should not take a lot of force to snap closed. The block also contains spring-retracted firing pins that are impacted by strikers during firing. I bought a Guerini instead with a kinetic balancer and love it. 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. 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. 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. It is no stretch to suggest that the new gun offers appealing aesthetics, innovative engineering, precise manufacturing, intuitive handling and satisfying shootability. When I first got the firearm it became stuck in the "cracked open" position not able to come apart or even be closed. 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. Kind of a unique looking gun. 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. Time will tell. Hello I purchased a 828U several months ago in 12 gauge, and have had nothing but problems. I have used it for hours at a time, and it is very comfortable to write with. Written and photographed by Ralph Winingham, using evaluations from Gun Tests team testers. JavaScript is disabled. 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. To whatever extent we guessed where they were headed merely validated the instincts of a company that manages to stay one step ahead of the market. Overall, no major complaints were registered regarding the 828Ua testimony to the guns overall design. For a gun with some familiar features, such as a walnut buttstock and fore-end, the 828U also has quite a few unexpected innovations. Ridiculously overpriced. 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. If youve got a computer and a pen, you can probably work with it. I have never owned a Benelli but have read about the SBE issues. 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. An included tool allows easy removal of the module from the gun. Overall, our test team members were satisfied with that configuration. The 828U does not disappoint in that regard, balancing well directly at the hinge point. Have you seen one or held one? Current offerings are in 12 gauge with 3" chambers and 26" or 28" barrels. Buy, Sell, and Trade your Firearms and Gear. 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. Kicked like a mule. 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. You are using an out of date browser. Following the sale of Remington Outdoor Company's assets in September 2020, Vista Outdoor purchased Remington Ammunition. However, a guy at our club has a new 30" 828U Sport and it felt really nice (I didn't get to shoot it). I have never seen one being shot in person. Good amount of barrel lift and recoil in spite of the design. A colleague of mine had one of the sporting versions. ETHOS Shotgun Product Manual (11 MB) For: ETHOS Sport Shotguns, ETHOS . Download the appropriate manual for your Benelli shotgun or rifle. 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 . 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. Further isolating the fore-end and barrels from the receiver are what Benelli refers to as impulse activated ejectors. I might sell a kidney to get one. Click to reveal 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. I pulled the auto safety as well. 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. The Price for a Benelli 828U has decreased in cost by $483.54 in 2023 compared to 2022. BTW my buddy ended up keeping it but hardly ever shoots it. The only reason to buy one is because it says Benelli. 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. Press question mark to learn the rest of the keyboard shortcuts. Be ready for some hate. I.e Beretta, Browning, Ceasar. Nsca # 540300. I've own 'B' guns, SKB's, and Rizzini O/U's. With birds in the air, we should note we were particularly impressed with the trigger-pull touch-offs of 4.5 pounds for the bottom barrel and 4.25 for the top barrel. It may not display this or other websites correctly. The 828U and it's sporting counterpart are simply ill designed for heavy sporting use. I do not recall the barrel length of this 828, it is at her place. *What is the (approx) street price for a new 828u Sport? Hello I purchased a 828U several months ago in 12 gauge, and have had nothing but problems. I have heard that there are several people out there selling them for $100.00 each. 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.