In the case of the Benelli 828U, it's a matter of 'easy if you know how', and even then both removal and refitting of the breach face baffled me for some time. If youve got a computer and a pen, you can probably work with it. Seems to me most of the guys shooting this gun are hard-core SBE shooters with a well developed sense of loyalty. I actually witnessed the trigger group falling out of the gun during a round of sporting. 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. We achieved very few hard, solid breaks with either of the two test loads fired at various targets, both close and far, using the Benelli. Review: Benelli 828U | An Official Journal Of The NRA Benelli has very little experience with over/unders. Benelli 828U Black Anodized & Blued 12 Gauge 3in Over Under Shotgun 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 . I flew to another city and had to break down for checked bag as my case cannot fit it assembled. 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. Benelli 828U Sport The action was not at all stiff. 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. 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. I have shot a few of them on Demo days next too several other O/U. Do they make these in longer barrel lengths yet? She praised the guns appearance, calling it nice and light and adding that it balanced and came to the face well. 828U Sporting Opinions | Shotgun Forum 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. Our trip to the patterning board before field testing on the clay target range with the Browning was an eye-opener. Benelli 828OU Field Black | Over and Under Shotgun Reviews | Gun Mart I took "that" gun back to Scheels and showed them the issue and they like me knowing the issues I have had with the two different guns couldn't believe it either. 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. 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. 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. 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. Customer experience was, and still is, the primary focus, a key to the firms longevity and success. Come join the discussion about optics, hunting, gunsmithing, styles, reviews, accessories, classifieds, and more! 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. The Benelli 828U Cannot for the life of me find one on the shelf to shoulder. Poor patterns, weak target hits, and uninspiring features all contributed to our low grade for this shooting tool. It's an overly complicated gun. The Fora platform includes forum software by XenForo. Archived 828U Sport thread. 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. Be ready for some hate. For a better experience, please enable JavaScript in your browser before proceeding. I have used it for hours at a time, and it is very comfortable to write with. You are using an out of date browser. Shooting just a little high is exactly what a field shotgun should do to handle rising targets. Doubles are supposed to find their appeal in durability and simplicity. Copyright 2023 National Rifle Association. We have patterned several Browning shotguns featuring the Invector DS (Double Seal) chokes and found the tubes seem to pattern very well. The design provides steel-on-steel lockup that fully contains the forces of firing. Here's the inside story of what they found and how they're rebuilding an industry giant. Removing two more screws frees it for access to a nut on a stock bolt that fixes one of two metal drop plates. It seems like the 828U Sport is a better gun than the original/field model 828U, certainly so for clay shooting. I think the Sporting version does have an all steel receiver. Drawdc- perhaps I'm just not used to the language/etiquette of Internet forums. Benelli Adds New Model to 828U O/U Shotgun Line Buy, Sell, and Trade your Firearms and Gear. Reliability issues, and it was just too light for a serious competition gun. They each have their strengths. Rather, the guns strikers are cocked by operating the top-mounted opening lever. I have been wanting to buy some benelli pens for a while now, so Im glad I bought it at a discounted price. 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. Bought one in 26"its 1" shorter than my SP1 was in 28", due to the longer action on the 828. 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. 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. Press question mark to learn the rest of the keyboard shortcuts. One of the problems with using it is that I cant write without it, and it is really tough to write without it. 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. 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. 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. Says they are LH in 12 gauge, but should give you a feel for the gun and you can order what you want then. Shotgun | An Official Journal Of The NRA, The Inaugural Winchester Ladies Cup Championship | An Official Journal Of The NRA, Beretta Launches A300 Ultima Turkey Shotgun | An Official Journal Of The NRA, The Model Of 1903 Springfield: A Collector's Perspective, Remington Returns: The Revival Of An Ammunition Giant, Westley Richards: Bespoke Craftsmanship With Timeless Appeal, The Keefe Report: True Velocity's Leap | An Official Journal Of The NRA, The Keefe Report: On The Range With An American Hero | An Official Journal Of The NRA, Trust But Verify: Function-Checking Your Guns | An Official Journal Of The NRA, Remington Returns: The Revival Of An Ammunition Giant | An Official Journal Of The NRA, WATCH: 2022 National Sporting Clays Championship | An NRA Shooting Sports Journal, WATCH: Colt Python Revolver History | An NRA Shooting Sports Journal, I Have This Old Gun: Maynard Carbine | An Official Journal Of The NRA, I Have This Old Gun: Winchester Model 12 Riot Gun | An Official Journal Of The NRA, I Have This Old Gun: Remington Model 51 | An Official Journal Of The NRA, Armed Citizen protected by Smith & Wesson, The Armed Citizen March 3, 2023 | An Official Journal Of The NRA, NRA Women | The Armed Citizen March 3, 2023, BEAR Arms: Making The Switch From Gun Owner to Armed Citizen | An Official Journal Of The NRA, NRA Women | The Armed Citizen February 17, 2023, X-Vision Optics Launches Thermal Impact Scope | An Official Journal Of The NRA, NRA Hunters' Leadership Forum | Veronica Kosich Receives NRA-Sponsored Diana Award at SCI Convention, Henry Supports Fallen Firefighters Foundation | An Official Journal Of The NRA, NRA Hunters' Leadership Forum | Freedom Hunters: Giving Back to Americas Veterans through Hunting and the Great Outdoors, Hardware: SIG Sauer P320-XTEN | An Official Journal Of The NRA, Rifleman Review: Smith & Wesson M&P12 | An Official Journal Of The NRA, Review: Ruger 10/22 Compact | An NRA Shooting Sports Journal, Rifleman Review: Taurus G3X | An Official Journal Of The NRA, Video Review: Springfield Armory XD-M Elite 4.5 OSP in 10mm Auto | NRA Family, Springfield Armory XD-M Elite 4.5 OSP In 10 mm Auto, Video Review: KelTec P15 Semi-Auto Pistol | NRA Family, Video Review: Savage Stance Pistol | NRA Family, Preview: Leupold 2-10X 30 mm Mark 5HD Riflescope | An Official Journal Of The NRA, NRA Women | New for 2022: 20-Gauge Beretta A400 Xtreme Plus, Preview: Springfield Armory 1911 DS Double-Stack 9 mm Pistol Lineup | An NRA Shooting Sports Journal, Find More Great NRA Publications Perfect For Every Interest, Discover Everything That The NRA Has To Offer. Hello I purchased a 828U several months ago in 12 gauge, and have had nothing but problems. 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. Thanks for the replies. It makes the gun handle, and perform better in the long term. That makes two 828u's in almost the same number of weeks with the same issues. 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. 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. Manuals | Benelli Shotguns and Rifles 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. 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 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. 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. When I first got the firearm it became stuck in the "cracked open" position not able to come apart or even be closed. There were 202 hits in the 20-inch circle with the Modified choke and 164 hits with the Improved Cylinder choke. The Price for a Benelli 828U has decreased in cost by $483.54 in 2023 compared to 2022. 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 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. With the lighter aluminum receiver and other features, including the 26-inch barrels, the Model 828U weighed 6.5 pounds and had an overall length of 43.5 inches. 8 shot and an average muzzle velocity of 1,200 fps. 828U 04-2020.pdf (16.67 MB) For: 828 U Shotguns, 828 U Limited Edition. A lip at the guards front engages a groove in front of the receiver well, and a spring-loaded plunger at the housings rear locks the unit in place. Also, for the $$, there's a lot of quality gun options competing with it. Benelli is the only shotgun I shoot. The 828U does not disappoint in that regard, balancing well directly at the hinge point. 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. I have held one at a gun store. I am not/have not advertised it; but, I'd likely sell it, it is just sitting there unused and unappreciated. If you're only going to drag it out for upland a dozen hunts a year or less I think one could justify it. Gun Value Conditions explained: New in box - 100% condition in unopened box. I really like the silver with the engraving. Benelli 828u is an interesting pen because its cheap and has a lot of features. 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. Come join the discussion about optics, hunting, gunsmithing, styles, reviews, accessories, classifieds, and more! Hello I purchased a 828U several months ago in 12 gauge, and have had nothing but problems. It is a pen that a lot of people use for writing, especially in college. Most noticeable is the shotguns patented locking mechanism that incorporates a free-floating locking plate in the front of the aluminum receiver. 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. 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. The recent release of the Browning Citori Model 725 Field seemed to be perfect timing for the head-to-head competition. Your Worst Nightmare About benelli 828u problems Come to Life The 828U and it's sporting counterpart are simply ill designed for heavy sporting use. We smacked most targets with authority. The surprising part, though, was how nonintrusively it had done so. After that round I omitted the Benelli 828 from my list of "want to try". I am not aware of any of my hunting buddies (who never shoot clays) buying or using an 828. I am wondering if anyone can give me insight as to what I am doing wrong? Better triggers - when they work - mine used to go 'click' fail to strike the primer , target lost. It has a nice weight and balance, and has a battery that lasts up to 3 hours. Vignaroli used the term global comfort to describe the 828Us combination of weight, balance and ergonomics. Good to see an honest and thorough review too many around that arent. It is a pen that is also very expensive. An Over-UnderFrom Benelli?There had been no hint that Benelli might venture into more traditional forms such as break-actions. We value freedom of speech as much as we do the right to keep and bear arms. 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. 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. It was the worst over under I've ever shot. Its weak, problematic ejection, vulgar aesthetics, high recoil and annoyingly violent gun movement is topped-off with a nosebleed price. This article, "Breaking With Tradition," appeared originally in the November 2015 issue of American Rifleman. It was the only one I could ever have made that I could put my finger on. 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. Reddit and its partners use cookies and similar technologies to provide you with a better experience. 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. 828U Sportcirca 10k carts later - Guns - ShootClay Forum The internal recoil system did nothing for me, although I have had 4 shoulder surgeries. 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. I am not asking for opinions on this gun, though of course I respect any opinions that are posted here. It is no stretch to suggest that the new gun offers appealing aesthetics, innovative engineering, precise manufacturing, intuitive handling and satisfying shootability. 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. We were particularly impressed with the pattern spread, finding a very solid and uniform distribution of hits. The chambers are then machined directly into the monobloc to ensure precise chamber alignment and finish. I don't particularly care for the looks but I'm old school. Benelli has stated that the receiver has wear from improper assembly. Re: street price. 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. Poor patterns, weak target hits, and uninspiring features all contributed to our low grade for this shooting tool. For more than two centuries, Westley Richards has produced some of the worlds finest firearms, each wearing a timeless and classic look with bespoke flourishes. But around 2012, Benelli engineers, spurred by the belief that they could contribute something new to traditional shotgunning, quietly began work on an over-under that would be engineered like none before it. When you purchase through links on our site, we may earn an affiliate commission, which supports our community. Further isolating the fore-end and barrels from the receiver are what Benelli refers to as impulse activated ejectors. 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 ).). It is a nice color, and is the perfect size to comfortably hold in one hand. JavaScript is disabled. I decided that I wanted to become a member and contribute to this community, and posted some questions in a respectful manner. Our Team Said: We were disappointed in the looks, feel, and handling ability of Benellis first venture into the over-and-under market. 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 can keep both pens in one pocket and write with the one that is bigger and easier to reach. Everyone that I know that has bought one of these got over them fairly quickly. 712 shot shells at a range of 30 yards, we found the Modified choke in the top barrel produced a 57-43 percent pattern (57 percent above the center and 43 percent below) and the Improved Cylinder choke in the bottom barrel produced a 62-38 percent pattern. It seems like the 828U Sport is a better gun than the original/field model 828U, certainly so for clay shooting. I'm trying to be the person my Little Brown Dog acts like I am. In fact, it has been my favorite pen for so long. There were only 38 pellet hits above the center of the target and several large areas with no strikes at all. An 828U sport with 30 inch barrels. Good amount of barrel lift and recoil in spite of the design. Both receivers are sculpted to evoke the wings of a mallard in flight. 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. The Benelli Disaster - RANDY WAKEMAN I agree that Gunbroker is showing prices close to MSRP. Maybe it's just me but I'm not a fan of field O/U's with aluminum receivers. That's harsh Randy, but I certainly appreciate the thoughts. When innovation and inspiration collided the 828U was born - the first over/under worthy of the Benelli badge. This Benelli test target is "within parameters" according to Benelli. I thought it felt very much like my super vinci in regards to the balance and mounting. Benelli used everything they know about making shotguns simple, easy to carry all day, and reliable, to create their first over-under. 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. Same thing happened again first time I attempted to assemble/disassemble the firearm. My Browning Citori White Lighting 16 ga. feels just as good in my hands and about the same weight. There are several actions that could trigger this block including submitting a certain word or phrase, a SQL command or malformed data. in front of their join at the monobloc to a point 2" from the muzzle. Best Over Under Shotguns: Over The Top & Under Control - Gunivore Only broken it down 2-3 times. Press J to jump to the feed. Most of the problems were associated with the extractor/ejector arrangement. The shotgun just does not have the feel and look of a standard over-and-under. Technical innovation must drive it, and function and durability must trump styling, but, ultimately, the styling must be distinctive. 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. Current offerings are in 12 gauge with 3" chambers and 26" or 28" barrels. Instead of a hinge-and-pin system, the 828U has a free-floating steel locking plate. You know, the funny thing is that I've probably spent hundreds of hours reading these forums over the last few years. For a better experience, please enable JavaScript in your browser before proceeding. The stocks exhibit figure and also have fish scale checkering in panels on the fore-end and pistol grip. That pattern was 13-87 percent, with 153 hits (28 percent) in the 20-inch center circle. This, despite its low build cost, means that the 828U is a product condemned to please no one. The pen allows you to write on the front of your computer without having to make any adjustments to your computer, it also has a rechargeable battery which can last up to 3 hours, and it also has a light. I bought one about 3 years ago. 828U Sport, always black, steel action so heavier, better recoil characteristics. Our conclusion was that the Model 828U system doesnt like light loads not a good thing in a light firearm. In fact, Benelli became so well-known for its semi-automatic shotguns that it found itself a bit typecast. My understanding is that there is a major difference in handling and recoil between the 828U and the 828U sport. Most dont have pattern tests.