Franchi Fast Review/First impressions

[pigglet]

Posted this on another forum, thought I'd stick it on here too for anyone looking at semi auto's.

This is more of a first impressions thread than a full review as I've only had it a few days but thought it may be of use to anyone looking for a semi.

 

I had been after an inertia driven semi for general rough shooting and pigeon use and had pretty much decided on a benelli untill I heard of stoeger on here. A bit further investigation revealed that stoeger and franchi and benelli are all owned by beretta and that the stoeger and franchi utilise the benelli action.

Stoeger aren't available in the UK so that left the Franchi to investigate.

 

I tracked one down at Bywell shooting ground for £765.

When compared to the benelli the only area I think it looks noticeably cheaper is in the blacking on the alloy action. As such i figured I'd save myself £500 odd quid for a stalking rig and go with the Franchi.

That by no means is meant to detract from the benelli, rather due wanting other toys, the franchi means I have some funds for other things, if i had enought cash to buy a benelli and a rifle, I probably would of

 

The fit and finish is good and the woodwork seems surprisingly well figured for a sub £800 gun. It is however very dull and will benefit from a couple of coats of oil to make it both more durable and aesthetically deeper.

Both the action and barrel are stamped benelli arms. The barrel and chokes are chrome plated.

 

The gun is very light, with a 28" barrel and sling it weighs 6lb11 and is nicely balanced.

 

The gun comes with a 7 year warranty, 5 chokes (berreta mobil chokes are the same and as such interchangeable)

4 shims to alter the drop from 50-65mm in 5 mm increments. They are reversible to change cast from left to right.

and a comprehensive manual.

 

The action as far as I can tell is identical to the benellis and has just the same features. It has an automatic magazine lock so if you want to eject the chambered sheel, just cycle the bolt. You then have to press the magazine release/ slide lock button and cycle the bolt again to chamber the next round in the mag.

 

In use the gun cycles very fast, much faster than a hatsan escort I've used and much smoother too.

Check out Tom Knapp on youtube if you want to see it in action.

Recoil seems very light to me despite the light weight of the gun. The TSA recoil reduction system which basically consists of recoil pad made of 2 componds of rubber or whatever seems to do it's thing well.

 

Jeff at Bywell let me shoot a few clays with it to suss out where it was shooting.

It seemed to shoot very flat and cycled the 28g loads no problem despite the manual saying 32's should be used to run it in

In short it shot where I pointed it and broke the clays, it then felled a few pigeons last night.

 

Since then I've adjusted the drop as I am a lanky youth with a giraffe like neck. With The 65mm shim fitted it now mounts and feels nicer than any gun I've used bar my Hammer gun

just need to shoot it now and see how it's affected the way it shoots.

 

It's very well balanced and points quickly, the only gripe I have is that it's currently only available with a 28" barel, I would of prefered 26.

 

If they ever release a 24" barrel that would definitely be on my shopping list for hide use.

 

So far I've put 50 28g shells through it and about 30 32g. No issues with stopages.

 

The gun is extremely quick and simple to strip, I'm new to semi ownership so don't know how it compares to other guns.

Basically, whip the forend nut off and the forend and barrel come off the action.

The bolt carrier handle is held in place by means of a spring loaded detent to a sharp tug removes that and then the bolt slides out.

I push fit pin at the back of the bolt comes out to relaese the firing pin and a thick pin in the top comes out to release the bolt head.

This lot literally takes a minute to strip down to component parts.

The trigger assy is removed by punching out the retaining pin that runs through the action.

 

A quick wipe with an oily rag and its all back together again, simples

 

To sumarise, I don't know how it compares with anything else as I've only shot a hatsan and briefly a beretta semi before.

I don't know how well it will last as it's still new but based on first impressions, for £765 with a 7 year waranty and the benelli name on it, it seems a good value and well made semi auto.

I would of prefered a 26" barrel and the absence of a swivel stud on the forend is annoying but hopefully will be easily resolved (actually it has been with a cable tie)

 

Edited April 10, 2010 by pigglet

[hookbones]

good gun n good pics mate...

[pigglet]

Cheers, I just ripped the baove text from the other site, I've had it about 10 dys now.

No stoppages, the woodwork looks really good now it's had acouple fo coats of oil and being inertia driven it's an absolute doddle to strip and clean. literally a 2 minute job

 

Going to blat a few clays with it today so I'll see if it cycles 24g loads.

[Simon123]

Great written review. Lovely gun, well done :good:

 

These gun really are great value for money ;)

 

This is a gun which should be very much considered if your looking for a semi ;)

Edited May 11, 2011 by Simon123

[officerdibble777]

one of the diferences between the binelli inertia system and the franchi is the binelli uses the spring in the stock,whereas your franchi if you look has the spring over your magazine tube.I thoyght about buying one last year in the US they were selling for about $750-$800 and they were also giving you $100 rebate.I ended up buying a beretta a400.

good write up,and yes a very good gun,hope you have lots of fun with it

 

john