I'll get my hands on it sooner or later and give my opinion on it. I have heard that there are several people out there selling them for $100.00 each. I have shot a few of them on Demo days next too several other O/U. Further isolating the fore-end and barrels from the receiver are what Benelli refers to as impulse activated ejectors. 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. Both receivers are sculpted to evoke the wings of a mallard in flight. https://www.cabelas.com/shop/en/benelli er-shotgun. Your email address will not be published. Lithe, purposeful and menacing in black, the 828U Sport looks like it's spoiling for a fight straight out of the box. Buddy went with the Fabarm. But it pointed well, swung nicely without being too whippy or too sluggish. 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. I bought one about 3 years ago. The chambers are then machined directly into the monobloc to ensure precise chamber alignment and finish. 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. Maybe it's not beautiful in every way, but the ability to adjust this firearm makes it a fine choice for . The 828U differs in a couple of important respects. 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. It's your money - your decision, asking strangers won't really help you decide- good luck. Lightweight with the strength of steel, the Benelli over under features a patented steel locking system that eliminates wear, an ergonomic opening lever which resets the trigger when unlocked, and responsive polymer buffers that compress to absorb recoil energy, adjusting to the load you shoot. Benelli 828u Sport - First Look Review - NEW 2019 1,027,956 views Jan 25, 2019 The Benelli 828u Sport has just been delivered to us. I dont have one, but have fondled one a few times at the local shop. Rather, the guns strikers are cocked by operating the top-mounted opening lever. May just be magic beans but reading and listening to the reps the action design is very interesting and the first major divergence from the John Browning friction design. 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. An included tool allows easy removal of the module from the gun. Press J to jump to the feed. 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. 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. This offers added durability and eliminates the need . 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. 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. We were particularly impressed with the pattern spread, finding a very solid and uniform distribution of hits. A U-shaped spring steel wire clip attached to the cocking plate automatically activates the safety when the gun is broken open, but can be removed by the user to deactivate that feature. The 828U is not cocked by any system of rods or levers, but rather by the top lever itself. I have a Beretta 686 for example. I shot 50 rounds and was impressively sore. 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. 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. A guy at a field trial I was at a year ago had one and I really liked it. Instead I have a set of four rather specific questions that I think are appropriate to ask to the group of (knowledgeable) strangers on this forum. It features a single, selective inertia trigger system with a tang-mounted barrel selector/safety button. The recent release of the Browning Citori Model 725 Field seemed to be perfect timing for the head-to-head competition. I have the model with the silver receiver. When the new Benelli Model 828U was introduced, devoted fans of Benelli semiautomatics rushed to get more information. Press question mark to learn the rest of the keyboard shortcuts. The new 828U is ultra-lightweight at just 6 1/2 pounds. The Benelli 828U is a major disappointment and an outright embarrassment. It then recocks the strikers and resets the automatic safety unless a spring steel clip (below, l.) is removed. JavaScript is disabled. The Benelli does beat the weight issue, at some cost IMHO. 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. 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. Im hoping that my new pen is just like that. My Franchi over/under experience wasn't very good. He eventually gave up on it and moved on to a more reliable gun. 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. Buy, Sell, and Trade your Firearms and Gear. 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. Required fields are marked *. 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. Every time I see him, I ask when I can shoot the space gun. 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. You must log in or register to reply here. 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. That pattern was 13-87 percent, with 153 hits (28 percent) in the 20-inch center circle. Lots of 'creep' and pretty heavynot knowing the formal measurement. 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. JavaScript is disabled. They each have their strengths. Should not take a lot of force to snap closed. You are using an out of date browser. Silver Reserve. As if I could actually write with my pen. Oof. For younger shooters or shooters with shorter arms, the new Benelli 828U Compact comes with a 26-inch barrel and 14-inch length of pull, shortened from the 828U's original 14 3/8 inches. Here are our findings: This is another in a long line of solid, fine-handling over and unders. ETHOS Shotgun Product Manual (11 MB) For: ETHOS Sport Shotguns, ETHOS . I really like the silver with the engraving. The shotgun just does not have the feel and look of a standard over-and-under. Its not like its a Chevy Have you got Scheel's where you live? I might sell a kidney to get one. In other words, the gun not only didnt get in the way of my shootingwhich is, admittedly, not of particularly high orderit carried through the entire process without being in any way disruptive. B Britlover Member Feb 19, 2020 #5 I bought one about 3 years ago. of No. Benelli 828U Sport The action was not at all stiff. 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. I decided that I wanted to become a member and contribute to this community, and posted some questions in a respectful manner. 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. 8 shot and an average muzzle velocity of 1,200 fps. My buddy bought one for a retirement present for himself. American Rifleman 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. And that it does so confidently and beautifully is difficult to deny. The First Benelli 828u video of UK Stock and we thought. The other issue already mentioned is long term durability due to the alloy receiver. I flew to another city and had to break down for checked bag as my case cannot fit it assembled. 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. I just really like it. Most of the problems were associated with the extractor/ejector arrangement. The pen is a nice color, and the metal nib has a nice texture to it. the past 2 yrs. He said company engineers were reserved, not letting on that the gun they were working on was an over-under. 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. I dont try and go fast and never use anything force, more just move the parts. Zent, reflecting on those early discussions about the 828U in Italy, said of the gun that he was finally able to hold and shoot, I think what we see now is very close to what was on the drawing board then. Posts: 2,178. 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. The 828U opened and closed smoothly and felt solid at lockup. 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. 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. 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 shot it and it didn't fit me , pretty sure that I swallowed a couple of fillings that day. You can email the site owner to let them know you were blocked. For a better experience, please enable JavaScript in your browser before proceeding. Thought enough about itnot to ever think about it again. 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. Seems like a solid gun if you need a field O/U. Ive made several small changes to my pen, and these were done using a pen for a few minutes, and then a few minutes of practice until I got the pen ready to use it. I did get an exceptional deal on it. To minimize this, the 828U cheekpiece has a replaceable Air Foam pad that cushions your face. 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. The construction of the barrel assembly is fairly unconventional. About 5 months in, it started doubling. 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. There are no cocking rods. 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. Shooting just a little high is exactly what a field shotgun should do to handle rising targets. On this Benelli O/U attempt, first thing I noticed was the triggers. 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. 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. Unfortunately, this is a gross misconception that needs to be rectified. It is a nice color, and is the perfect size to comfortably hold in one hand. *What is the (approx) street price for a new 828u Sport? But its also true that the 828U upholds at least one traditionthat of being a uniquely innovative and distinctive firearm bearing the now-famous marque of a motorcycle-turned-gunmaker named Benelli. To subscribe to the magazine,visit theNRA membership page here and selectAmerican Rifleman as your member magazine. I would have it. I have never owned a Benelli but have read about the SBE issues. Our Team Said: This shotgun, whose predecessors date back more than 40 years, is a true tribute to the solid, reliable, high-quality Browning over-and-unders on the market today. The 828U and it's sporting counterpart are simply ill designed for heavy sporting use. 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. 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. They usually have a couple under glass for sale. 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. 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. One was NRA Publications Editorial Director John Zent, an experienced upland hunter and clays shot. Phillips-head screws hold the pad in place, which, once removed, allows access to the Progressive Comfort module. 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. The block also contains spring-retracted firing pins that are impacted by strikers during firing. 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. This, despite its low build cost, means that the 828U is a product condemned to please no one. 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. Better triggers - when they work - mine used to go 'click' fail to strike the primer , target lost. Do they make these in longer barrel lengths yet? I apologize if I mistook your replies for rudeness. Posts must be somewhat related to firearms and must comply with the Global Reddit Rules. I even tried to tell her I wanted to buy her a new shotgun didnt fly when she saw the price tag. There were 202 hits in the 20-inch circle with the Modified choke and 164 hits with the Improved Cylinder choke. We found the Browning hit targets hard when the shooter puts the pattern in the right place at the right time. Barrel lengths offered are 26-, 28-, and 30-inch. Benelli's 828U shotguns deliver mandatory . We smacked most targets with authority. On another thread someone mentioned that street price for a new 828U Sport was already in the $3300 range. 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. The Price for a Benelli 828U has decreased in cost by $483.54 in 2023 compared to 2022. They have sold so few new ones there simply aren't many on the street.Look on Gun Broker. The swing was beautiful but the recoil destroyed me. Getting back to the shooting of the gunon crossing targets this light gun will force you to focus on swing maintenance. Looks goofy as can be, like a camo space gun, but I use it for upland, waterfowl, and turkeys and without an issue. 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. 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. The silver receiver model, well it was not pleasant for me to shoot, and I've owned a few Benelli s/a's with no issues. If you're only going to drag it out for upland a dozen hunts a year or less I think one could justify it. 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. Its weak, problematic ejection, vulgar aesthetics, high recoil and annoyingly violent gun movement is topped-off with a nosebleed price. 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. 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. Technical innovation must drive it, and function and durability must trump styling, but, ultimately, the styling must be distinctive. Has anyone on this site purchased a Benelli 828 U? with pheasant hunting every year has one and likes it. 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. Our conclusion was that the Model 828U system doesnt like light loads not a good thing in a light firearm. Though I wouldnt recommend it, I would love to see how it works with the other benelli pens. The surprising part, though, was how nonintrusively it had done so. 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 have good things to say about all of them. At first glance, there are only minor differences in the appearance between this field model and its sporting-clays cousin introduced about five years ago. There were only 38 pellet hits above the center of the target and several large areas with no strikes at all. I have a pen that takes up a lot of space, and I really like the fact that I can carry both pens at the same time. Each barrel is soldered to protrusions machined over the one-piece, heat-treated monobloc. My understanding is that there is a major difference in handling and recoil between the 828U and the 828U sport. Been loving this game since 01. Why are you disassembling it so often? But that's just one gun, one guy. Recently, in a move unexpected by nearly everyone, Benelli created an all-new, lightweight over-underthe 828Uand, with it, an opportunity to capitalize on its reputation among brand loyalists, waterfowlers and shotgunners in general. The Benelli didn't fill me with the same inspiration. 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. A. . Also, for the $$, there's a lot of quality gun options competing with it. IMO, I think in O/U shotguns, especially those used for targets, a receiver made of steel not alloy is a must. 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. Probably a good idea to get your hands on one first in my opinion. My first impressions of the gun, shooting at quick, going-away presentations, was one of seamlessness as it came from the high-ready position to my face. I thought it felt very much like my super vinci in regards to the balance and mounting. Its weak, problematic ejection, vulgar aesthetics, high recoil and annoyingly violent gun movement is topped-off with a nosebleed price. 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. BTW my buddy ended up keeping it but hardly ever shoots 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. It was the only one I could ever have made that I could put my finger on. Shot one once at a game fair a couple years ago. 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. Firearm Discussion and Resources from AR-15, AK-47, Handguns and more! Come join the discussion about optics, hunting, gunsmithing, styles, reviews, accessories, classifieds, and more! 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 list of unusual features covers all aspects of the shotgun's operation, as discussed here. I know the guy that bought it but in the year of Covid I haven't had an opportunity to ask him about it. My daughter can't move the safety lever and it takes me some good pushing. Excellent - 95%+ condition with or without box. Until now, over-unders have been the province of traditional gunmaking, in which the various mechanical functions were interrelated by mechanisms that had to be finished by hand to ensure reliability.