The most notable difference is that the 828 features a floating steel breech block within its' aluminum receiver. Secondly, the polyurethane comb cushions any residual impact to your face. It has a nice weight and balance, and has a battery that lasts up to 3 hours. 828 U Product Manual (14.83 MB) For: 828 U Shotguns, 828 U Upland Performance Shop Shotguns, 828 U Sport Shotguns. I agree that Gunbroker is showing prices close to MSRP. By rejecting non-essential cookies, Reddit may still use certain cookies to ensure the proper functionality of our platform. I flew to another city and had to break down for checked bag as my case cannot fit it assembled. This website is using a security service to protect itself from online attacks. They simply aren't very good and they are more than twice the price they should be. It is no stretch to suggest that the new gun offers appealing aesthetics, innovative engineering, precise manufacturing, intuitive handling and satisfying shootability. My Franchi over/under experience wasn't very good. My Browning Citori White Lighting 16 ga. feels just as good in my hands and about the same weight. I did get an exceptional deal on it. It was about as loon as my A400 xcel reciever, balance from what I remember felt so so, it didn't fit me at all, and it felt like it swung light, as a field gun should or would. Thomas Jefferson. The fore-end iron attaches in such a way that the fore-end itself is nothing more than a cosmetic cover. 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. Create an account to follow your favorite communities and start taking part in conversations. 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. 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. I would have it. Poor patterns, weak target hits, and uninspiring features all contributed to our low grade for this shooting tool. 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. Beretta A400 Xcel "Black" Cole Special - Beretta A400 Xcel 20 Gauge - Beretta A400 28 Gauge -. I decided that I wanted to become a member and contribute to this community, and posted some questions in a respectful manner. Shot one once at a game fair a couple years ago. Technical innovation must drive it, and function and durability must trump styling, but, ultimately, the styling must be distinctive. A guy at a field trial I was at a year ago had one and I really liked it. Note the texture in the solid carbon-fiber rib and the recesses for the barrel locking pins that keep the action closed. I have never seen one being shot in person. Removing two more screws frees it for access to a nut on a stock bolt that fixes one of two metal drop plates. 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. It may not display this or other websites correctly. Press question mark to learn the rest of the keyboard shortcuts. 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. Buddy of mine bought one because he duck hunted with s SBE. Im hoping that my new pen is just like that. Reddit and its partners use cookies and similar technologies to provide you with a better experience. I apologize if I mistook your replies for rudeness. These old-fashioned scatterguns are often viewed as traditional and many believe they simply can't compare to modern semi-auto or pump-action models. The sporting model is almost $4000. 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. Benelli is not giving me any additional information, but have stated it is damaged and they will not repair or replace the wear I have apparently done. The 828 is a design that had serious potential, but is extremely lacking in configuration and execution. Vignaroli used the term global comfort to describe the 828Us combination of weight, balance and ergonomics. I have used it for hours at a time, and it is very comfortable to write with. It was in the shop more than on the range. Press J to jump to the feed. Even with the light loads used in the testing, recoil was significantly more noticeable than with shots fired in the Browning. 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Nsca # 540300. That is always the answer before buying a new gun. Silver Reserve. They each have their strengths. It utilizes Benelli's innovative Progressive Comfort Stock. Think I'll just order from soortsmans and they say i can always decline it when it shows up if it's not my cup of tea. When innovation and inspiration collided the 828U was born - the first over/under worthy of the Benelli badge. Has anyone on this site purchased a Benelli 828 U? He offered me his new 828 field ? This pen is currently only available for $39.95 at benelli.com, and it is available in 16 different colors. I bought the field version 2 months ago and I love it-Lights out in field and sporting clays-LOVE IT!!! I might sell a kidney to get one. The breech block also contains the spring-loaded firing pins, making them easily replaceable should the need arise. 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. It doesn't compare to 694, F16, or CG in that price range. The gun was impressive, apart from a few nags:2 1) Auto safety ! When you purchase through links on our site, we may earn an affiliate commission, which supports our community. The 828U differs in a couple of important respects. Both inserting and withdrawing shells and spent hulls, even with a gloved hand, is noticeably less difficult than with many other over-unders and a real boon in the field when reloading. 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. 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 actually bought one for my daughter, she probably shot 100 rounds through it on the Skeet field, it was too light for her, odd, she is a whopping 110 lbs., she ended up liking my old 325 the best, that is what she is shooting. I tried the 828U a couple months ago. With this in mind, this is an easy to use pen that you can write with on the inside of your computer. This Benelli test target is "within parameters" according to Benelli. 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. Advertisement Barrel & Receiver The 828U comes with 26, 28, or 30-inch barrels that have three-inch chambers. 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. 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. Matine1 - I have the same issue on an 828U. Good amount of barrel lift and recoil in spite of the design. 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. You don't want opinions on the gun, but that's the truth. Results with the Improved Cylinder choke were substantially worse. 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. However, a guy at our club has a new 30" 828U Sport and it felt really nice (I didn't get to shoot it). Benelli 828U Black Anodized & Blued 12 Gauge 3in Over Under Shotgun - 28in, https://www.benelliusa.com/shotguns/828-u-upland-performance-shop-shotguns, Recommendation for a tarp for my pack - mostly going to use to put quarters on but, FORLOH AllClima Softshell and AllClima Stretch Woven Pant Review. 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. The Benelli 828u is a pen that I received as a gift. 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. When the new Benelli Model 828U was introduced, devoted fans of Benelli semiautomatics rushed to get more information. The benelli 828u pen is a small, high quality, battery operated pen. The surprising part, though, was how nonintrusively it had done so. Barrel lengths offered are 26-, 28-, and 30-inch. That pattern was 13-87 percent, with 153 hits (28 percent) in the 20-inch center circle. Utilizing an inertia trigger system that requires the firing of the first barrel to engage the second, the Model 828U triggers touched off at 4.5 pounds for the bottom barrel and 4 pounds for the top. Lots of 'creep' and pretty heavynot knowing the formal measurement. My understanding is that there is a major difference in handling and recoil between the 828U and the 828U sport. 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. 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. It's the OU that folks love to hate, I guess it bucks traditional builds and some folks just aren't receptive to that. I have shot a few of them on Demo days next too several other O/U. Firing the Winchester Extra-Lite No. Kind of a unique looking gun. An included tool allows easy removal of the module from the gun. A forum community dedicated to Shotgun owners and enthusiasts including the Remington, Beretta, and Mossberg shotguns brands. Most dont have pattern tests. Probably a good idea to get your hands on one first in my opinion. The gun's main appeal is the weight, and it is light. 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. 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. One of the problems with using it is that I cant write without it, and it is really tough to write without it. Overall, the gun is well-balanced thanks to the weighted magazine cap. Time will tell. In a classic example of premature innovation, we found the new Benelli 828U simply did not function, feel, or perform as well as a veteran Browning Citori 725 when fired head to head. We liked the feel and looks of the checkering on both the pistol grip and the newly designed forearm. The pen is a nice size, and has a nice weight. Realize, too, that this was legitimate wild-bird hunting among wide-open crop fields and across rolling terrain that was as natural as pheasant habitat gets. The action on the Benelli Sport II is strong, fast, and flawlessly cycles pretty much any target load you try to feed it. I am also hoping that the colors they are using are a more accurate match to my pen. 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 Steel Specifications Chamber: 12- and 20-gauge (2 3/4- and 3-inch) Barrel Length: 26, 28, 30 in. 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. 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. A forum community dedicated to Shotgun owners and enthusiasts including the Remington, Beretta, and Mossberg shotguns brands. While some will pan the 828U because it doesnt fit their notion of what an over-under should be, othersparticularly fans of Benellis unique style of engineeringalong with those apt to being open-minded about unexpected new offerings, may find the 828U difficult to resist. 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. Recently, in a move unexpected by nearly everyone. " 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 ).). The Benelli also failed to eject any of the light loads from the bottom barrel, which caused us to consider whether there was a problem with the impulse-driven ejectors that might require gunsmith work. 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. 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. People are not being rude, but they are probably of the opinion that casting rose petals on a pile of dooty will not improve the stench. For a gun with some familiar features, such as a walnut buttstock and fore-end, the 828U also has quite a few unexpected innovations. Its not like its a Chevy Have you got Scheel's where you live? Good to see an honest and thorough review too many around that arent. We have patterned several Browning shotguns featuring the Invector DS (Double Seal) chokes and found the tubes seem to pattern very well. The recent release of the Browning Citori Model 725 Field seemed to be perfect timing for the head-to-head competition. Both versions have sold very poorly and have had issues. The 828U represents a true breakthrough in over-under shotgun design, and Benelli hopes it will also help the company break through with a whole new group of upland and recreational sport shooters. This new field model patterned well, broke targets well, and looked good while doing its job. 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. I do not recall the barrel length of this 828, it is at her place. It consists of a cast steel fire control housing pinned to an aluminum trigger guard. But if you look at the under side of the safety lever with the trigger group out and work it back and forth you can see studs on both sides that ride under spring arms. 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. Both receivers are sculpted to evoke the wings of a mallard in flight. The pen is a very small, lightweight pen in a nice color. Copyright 2023 National Rifle Association. As noted earlier, this is the latest version of a long line of Browning over-and-unders that have found favor with the shooting public. I am not/have not advertised it; but, I'd likely sell it, it is just sitting there unused and unappreciated. Have only shouldered one, never had a chance to shoot one. How Different Is It?Described dispassionately, the 828U is simply a wood-stocked over-under shotgun built around an aluminum receiver. 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. They definitely arent like a browning or beretta which I really want to like but never feel right to me. Our conclusion was that the Model 828U system doesnt like light loads not a good thing in a light firearm. To subscribe to the magazine,visit theNRA membership page here and selectAmerican Rifleman as your member magazine. It is a nice color, and is the perfect size to comfortably hold in one hand. This, despite its low build cost, means that the 828U is a product condemned to please no one. 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. You could do most of this research yourself. 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. I'm trying to be the person my Little Brown Dog acts like I am. https://www.cabelas.com/shop/en/benelli er-shotgun. I'd like to hear from thoughts from some owners. Ive been using benelli 828u for a few weeks now, and it is surprisingly fast and easy to use. 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. Benelli Model 828U No. Benellis Over/Under Shotgun Cant Beat Browning, Low profile silver nitride, with roll engraving, Grade II/III checkered walnut, gloss oil finish. 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 believe his 828 has 30's and that might have been by choice as he is a smaller guy. Posts: 2,178. The floating breech block us intriguing, as are the re-designed ejectors. Cloudflare Ray ID: 7a28dd07b9c52d16 A colleague of mine had one of the sporting versions. There were only 38 pellet hits above the center of the target and several large areas with no strikes at all. So especially the beginning was really tough for usunderstanding the over-under and its habits and the way the gun moved.. They usually have a couple under glass for sale. According to Vignaroli, The modularity of the design means that the function of the various subassemblies is almost independent. He added that, Wherever it is needed is strong material; wherever it is not needed is light material. For instance, the aluminum receiver is unstressed, and departs even from other aluminum-receiver shotguns in the sense that its hinge and locking components do not directly bear the brunt of firing stresses. An 828U sport with 30 inch barrels. 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. I shot 50 rounds and was impressively sore. JavaScript is disabled. Been loving this game since 01. It is a pen that is also very expensive. Hello I purchased a 828U several months ago in 12 gauge, and have had nothing but problems. It was the worst over under I've ever shot. 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. Doubles are supposed to find their appeal in durability and simplicity. I had really good luck with it. 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. I did get an exceptional deal on it. I had the opportunity to shoot a guys Benelli 828 12 ga. at some clays yesterday. The Beretta you have will run circles around it if it fits you. Required fields are marked *. When you are in a hurry, it is easy to forget to hold the pencil, or not to look at your phone. They do support the Franchi line, which isn't exactly an endorsement. It fit me very well (needed to switch to a lower drop shim). The 828U Compact, which weighs 6.5 pounds, features an engraved nickel plated receiver and has an MSRP of $2,999. I even tried to tell her I wanted to buy her a new shotgun didnt fly when she saw the price tag. 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. Rather, pressures are contained by way of a 1 1/4" wide by 2316" high by 15/16" steel breech block. Click to reveal To minimize this, the 828U cheekpiece has a replaceable Air Foam pad that cushions your face. 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. 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. In 2014, early production samples were unveiled during an upland hunt at Browns Hunting Ranch near the town of Gettysburg in the pheasant-rich game fields of South Dakota. 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. Bought one in 26"its 1" shorter than my SP1 was in 28", due to the longer action on the 828. The 828U Steel comes chambered for 2 3/4- and 3-inch shotshells in both 12- and 20-gauge. Only broken it down 2-3 times. I've own 'B' guns, SKB's, and Rizzini O/U's. 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. Please include what you were doing when this page came up and the Cloudflare Ray ID found at the bottom of this page. The only reason to buy one is because it says Benelli. 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. I forced it open and sent it in to Benelli who "fixed" it and sent it back to me. 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. Our trip to the patterning board before field testing on the clay target range with the Browning was an eye-opener. I have watched Benelli videos, and have owned several over under shotguns, and have never had any issue like this before. Hardly ever. 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. Here are our findings: This is another in a long line of solid, fine-handling over and unders. It seems like the 828U Sport is a better gun than the original/field model 828U, certainly so for clay shooting. We made allowances in our testing for the slightly better handling characteristics that are generally attributed to longer barrels and a heavier gun, ensuring these factors did not influence our evaluation. It was the worst over under I've ever shot. 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. 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. Read today's "The Armed Citizen" entry for real stories of law-abiding citizens, past and present, who used their firearms to save lives. The block also contains spring-retracted firing pins that are impacted by strikers during firing. I have heard that there are several people out there selling them for $100.00 each. I forced it open and sent it in to Benelli who fixed it and sent it back to me. Unfortunately, this is a gross misconception that needs to be rectified. The modified choke in the top barrel produced a 39-61 percent pattern, with 306 hits (46 percent) in the 20-inch circle around the center. The pen is very comfortable to write with, and is the perfect size for comfortable writing. Benelli 828u is an interesting pen because its cheap and has a lot of features. Better triggers - when they work - mine used to go 'click' fail to strike the primer , target lost. You must log in or register to reply here. But I can't get him to bring it out. He has used it in S.D. 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.