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. An 828U sport with 30 inch barrels. I am wondering if anyone can give me insight as to what I am doing wrong? 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. 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. They simply aren't very good and they are more than twice the price they should be. (12-gauge); 26, 28 in. The ammunition, too, obviously, plays an important part, and ours was, somewhat appropriately, an Italian-made Fiocchi GPX offering consisting of 2" shells carrying 138 ozs. Shooting just a little high is exactly what a field shotgun should do to handle rising targets. ozs. 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. But I can't get him to bring it out. That pattern was 13-87 percent, with 153 hits (28 percent) in the 20-inch center circle. The Price for a Benelli 828U has decreased in cost by $483.54 in 2023 compared to 2022. For a gun with some familiar features, such as a walnut buttstock and fore-end, the 828U also has quite a few unexpected innovations. 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. Instead of a hinge-and-pin system, the 828U has a free-floating steel locking plate. 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. I pulled the auto safety as well. The pen is a nice size, and has a nice weight. Removing two more screws frees it for access to a nut on a stock bolt that fixes one of two metal drop plates. Vignaroli used the term global comfort to describe the 828Us combination of weight, balance and ergonomics. Poor patterns, weak target hits, and uninspiring features all contributed to our low grade for this shooting tool. It swings well, points naturally, and has a classic ribbed target barrel that makes it super easy to draw a bead on fast-moving targets. Estimated New and Used Values for a Benelli 828U Values are based on a basic model with no options or colors. You should make sure the barrel lug is seating firmly on the pivot pin before closing. The cryogenically treated barrels, which are highly polished and blued, do not have side ribs, leaving a gap of approximately 5/16" between them starting 378" in front of their join at the monobloc to a point 2" from the muzzle. In fact, it has been my favorite pen for so long. I know the guy that bought it but in the year of Covid I haven't had an opportunity to ask him about it. I know steel inserts in the breech face are part of the 828U design, but the lack of weight mid point I suspect hurts it as a target gun. It fit me very well (needed to switch to a lower drop shim). Read today's "The Armed Citizen" entry for real stories of law-abiding citizens, past and present, who used their firearms to save lives. 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. Advertisement Barrel & Receiver The 828U comes with 26, 28, or 30-inch barrels that have three-inch chambers. Silver Reserve. Defiantly not my favorite sporting gun but it wasn't designed for that. 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. My Browning Citori White Lighting 16 ga. feels just as good in my hands and about the same weight. They point and swing super well. I really like the silver with the engraving. The ammunition, too, obviously, plays an important part, and ours was, somewhat appropriately, an Italian-made. I just really like it. Shot one once at a game fair a couple years ago. Looks goofy as can be, like a camo space gun, but I use it for upland, waterfowl, and turkeys and without an issue. Its weak, problematic ejection, vulgar aesthetics, high recoil and annoyingly violent gun movement is topped-off with a nosebleed price. This, despite its low build cost, means that the 828U is a product condemned to please no one. 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. 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. That makes bringing it to the target nearly effortless. 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 bought a Guerini instead with a kinetic balancer and love it. Secondly, the polyurethane comb cushions any residual impact to your face. 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 agree that Gunbroker is showing prices close to MSRP. I showed my wife, asked her which one she likes better, she said the silver receiverfunny how when I told her it was $500 more, she changed her mind to the black one. 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 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. This Model 725 Field was no exception. I apologize if I mistook your replies for rudeness. Also, for the $$, there's a lot of quality gun options competing with it. 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. 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. We value freedom of speech as much as we do the right to keep and bear arms. Create an account to follow your favorite communities and start taking part in conversations. 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. By rejecting non-essential cookies, Reddit may still use certain cookies to ensure the proper functionality of our platform. 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. At this point, its worth noting that the 828U was designed for easy access to its breech. Benelli is the only shotgun I shoot. It may not display this or other websites correctly. That truism may be one of the reasons why the release of a first-ever over/under produced by veteran semiautomatic manufacturer Benelli was greeted with such fanfare. I like the unusual appearance, most people don't. But that's just one gun, one guy. AgainI shot a very limited number of times. 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. Crio -treated chokes in C, IC, M, IM, and F are also included. of No. 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. Perhaps because of the well-known reputation of Benelli as the maker of fine semiautomatics, even a casual observer will notice the new Model 828U almost appears to have been constructed with some semiautomatic parts or features. Has anyone on this site purchased a Benelli 828 U? Head to the range this week with American Rifleman staff as they discuss a trim little repeater from Savage Arms that comes chambered for the .22 WMR cartridge. Maybe it's just me but I'm not a fan of field O/U's with aluminum receivers. I am not aware of any of my hunting buddies (who never shoot clays) buying or using an 828. I do, but no such luck, nothing on the website as in stock anyways, I'll call to double check. Drawdc- perhaps I'm just not used to the language/etiquette of Internet forums. I have the model with the silver receiver. 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. They each have their strengths. Im a browning junkie for sure but Ive handled but never shot the 828u but I think they are quality one guy said space gun kind of true just like when browning introduced the cynergy citori lovers just couldnt except that look well Im an avid citori owner having around six of them and I own two cynergy models feather 12 and field 20 I really like the cynergy low receivers handles very well but making that change is the milestone. I can keep both pens in one pocket and write with the one that is bigger and easier to reach. 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. Each barrel is soldered to protrusions machined over the one-piece, heat-treated monobloc. 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. Title. I would have 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. 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. The Benelli does beat the weight issue, at some cost IMHO. I have shot a few of them on Demo days next too several other O/U. I shot 50 rounds and was impressively sore. - Benelli. The Benelli 828U is a major disappointment and an outright embarrassment. Thanks for the replies. 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. Benelli Model 828U No. BTW my buddy ended up keeping it but hardly ever shoots it. This offers added durability and eliminates the need . The Benelli 828u is a pen that I received as a gift. This pen is currently only available for $39.95 at benelli.com, and it is available in 16 different colors. And due to the stupid barrel overlap at the receiver, you can't use sub gauge tubes. A colleague of mine had one of the sporting versions. Better triggers - when they work - mine used to go 'click' fail to strike the primer , target lost. Press J to jump to the feed. I did handle it, I couldn't get over how long the reciever was. 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. 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. 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. In the field, my first shot on a live bird brought a similar, satisfying experience. 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. Barrels are soldered to a monobloc that is machined to accept sears that are set to either extract shells or, if activated by the impulse of the shells expanding hull, forcefully eject them from the gun. The 828U is what you would expect from Benelli - a hardworking, lightweight and low-recoil shotgun. Hosts Mark and Robin Braatens comfortable lodge provided an ideal setting in which I was able to discuss the guns design with the Urbino-based engineer who spearheaded it: Marco Vignaroli. It worked. Lithe, purposeful and menacing in black, the 828U Sport looks like it's spoiling for a fight straight out of the box. I like the unusual appearance, most people don't. The 828U does not disappoint in that regard, balancing well directly at the hinge point. He has used it in S.D. The breech block interfaces with recesses and lugs within the receiver and monoblock on closing of the action. 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. https://www.cabelas.com/shop/en/benelli er-shotgun. We have patterned several Browning shotguns featuring the Invector DS (Double Seal) chokes and found the tubes seem to pattern very well. For a better experience, please enable JavaScript in your browser before proceeding. That's harsh Randy, but I certainly appreciate the thoughts. Seems to me most of the guys shooting this gun are hard-core SBE shooters with a well developed sense of loyalty. It was the worst over under I've ever shot. 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. This field shotgun provided a solid, well-balanced platform for handling clays and birds, as expected. I tried the 828U a couple months ago. A forum community dedicated to Shotgun owners and enthusiasts including the Remington, Beretta, and Mossberg shotguns brands. My daughter can't move the safety lever and it takes me some good pushing. Hello I purchased a 828U several months ago in 12 gauge, and have had nothing but problems. 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. in front of their join at the monobloc to a point 2" from the muzzle. We liked the feel and looks of the checkering on both the pistol grip and the newly designed forearm. It has a nice weight and balance, and has a battery that lasts up to 3 hours. 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. In addition, the Model 828U has a unique lever that re-cocks the hammers when pushed to the right, rather than relying on opening the action to reset the hammers as in standard over-and-unders. 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. Come join the discussion about optics, hunting, gunsmithing, styles, reviews, accessories, classifieds, and more! It was in the shop more than on the range. For a better experience, please enable JavaScript in your browser before proceeding. 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. 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. 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. Both versions have sold very poorly and have had issues. This website is using a security service to protect itself from online attacks. He said company engineers were reserved, not letting on that the gun they were working on was an over-under. If a shooter favors the looks and feel of a semiautomatic, the Model 828U may be just the ticket. In the past I've found that Gunbroker is not a reliable indicator of street price, though I certainly could be wrong on this one. Good amount of barrel lift and recoil in spite of the design. Here are the features to watch out for. Seems like a solid gun if you need a field O/U. The pen is very comfortable to write with, and is the perfect size for comfortable writing. 828 U Product Manual (14.83 MB) For: 828 U Shotguns, 828 U Upland Performance Shop Shotguns, 828 U Sport Shotguns. 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.