Well, I've been and gone and done it!!

[Bloke]

After some weeks of drooling and saving, with much encouragement from Shortstock (Get thee behind me, Satan ) I went to Derek Lee and got a 28" Benelli Supersport. First time out with it today - what a super gun! Almost no felt recoil at all with 28gm 7.5's, no perceptible muzzle flip, and a really nice tight pattern on the pattern plate at 25+ yards with 1/2 choke . Took it out to Park Lodge and it seemed so natural, I increased my (admittedly shaky ) hit rate by at least a few. Yes the flying Cartridges are the usual pain, (why can't someone make a simple universal deflector plate? ), but that's semis for you. Cleaning is so simple compared with my mate's gas recoil Winchester. I am well pleased with the gun, I definitely won't be getting rid of my O/U, but the Benelli is really fun and light and painless, for a change of pace some days. I know they are a bit of a 'marmite' gun looks-wise, but definitely more weather proof etc. This will definitely be a long-term 'keeper'.

Edited November 8, 2010 by Bloke

[Guest cookoff013]

(why can't someone make a simple universal deflector plate? ), but that's semis for you.

 

you can buy a shell catcher that holds the shells by the rim on the side of the action. they just line up.

[Bloke]

you can buy a shell catcher that holds the shells by the rim on the side of the action. they just line up.

 

cheers, I'll have a look for that!

[hairyduck]

The flying cartridges is the best bit about the semi

[originalgeezer]

You finally did it

 

Welcome to the Dark Side......and I am still smiling about buying mine and feel well chuffed the amount of people who comment positively about when I take it out.

 

I use a 1/4 choke and it patterns very well and has no trouble on distance birds at shoots I attend.

[Bloke]

You finally did it

 

Welcome to the Dark Side......and I am still smiling about buying mine and feel well chuffed the amount of people who comment positively about when I take it out.

 

I use a 1/4 choke and it patterns very well and has no trouble on distance birds at shoots I attend.

 

Thank you for the welcome, oh Benelli Sith Lord !

 

You are right, its a grin-inducing bit of kit, I have only shot it for one session yet, but had a great time. I have set mine on 1/2 choke and patterned it up to 35yds, a really even shot spread on the pattern plate. I have also bought the longer butt pad, to get the trigger length as near to the 14 7/8 that I have on the browning. The only moan I have is the small size of the bead, I normally use bifocals, but my shooting glasses are single prescription, and if I check my mount by looking down the barrel, the bead is really hard to see. Not a problem when shooting, obviously, as I have just about managed to stop looking down the barrel after a year of trying, but it could do with being a little larger. I might try one of the magnetic mount sight pipes, to see if that helps.

 

Otherwise, brilliant - I couldn't get over the lack of recoil, using three different brands of 28gm 7.5's to try. I also tried 24gram and 21gram and although the 24's cycled no problem, it did fail to cycle about 4/21 of the 21gram carts, not that there is any need to use them in a gun like this.

 

I can see the carbon-fibre 'dark side'movement growing as more people try these - they'll be ten a penny in the next few years

Have fun with yours, Bloke.

Edited November 5, 2010 by Bloke

[steve_b_wales]

you can buy a shell catcher that holds the shells by the rim on the side of the action. they just line up.

 

 

Where from???

[Fuddster]

Good Man-I'm lusting after a sport too. I saw Lee's price on guntrader.

 

Did you get a discount or a freebie at all?

 

cheers

 

fudd

[edr]

I bought all our guns from derek lee,a top guy to deal with and would recommend him to anyone. The only thing i would say is that he very rarely gives discount. He does this because he is already the cheapest around and is normally still cheaper even when other shops have knocked a bit off. I just bought a 682 gold e, brand new from him for £2,000 with specially chosen wood from gmk; it is still £300 less than other shops in the area and the wood is twice as good, great after sales as well.

 

ATB

EDR

[Bloke]

Good Man-I'm lusting after a sport too. I saw Lee's price on guntrader.

 

Did you get a discount or a freebie at all?

 

cheers

 

fudd

 

No, no freebies, I am afraid. I did ask, but Derek knows all the prices around, as well as how much it will cost you to travel or RFD a gun, he is still the cheapest if you take all that into account.

 

I must say though, looking around, it is a shame that the dealers do not stock the extended butt pads/combs. I know they cost a lot (£85 for a butt pad and £40+ for a comb ), but at least one other size would allow you to try the gun for fit, as the standard pad is quite short. This must lose them some potential sales, as the standard pad makes the gun feel like it is only for smaller shooters, whereas long-armed 'apes' like me need at least the 14 and 7/8 inch configuration. The only dealer I know in the North/midlands that stocks these pads is Bates of Doveridge and if you buy the gun from him, he discounts the pad, but his prices are dearer to start with.

The other moan is the dreadful, cheap and nasty choke key that comes with the gun, for one of the dearest semis around, this is just not good enough . the cheaper guns often come with the better choke keys - what is that about? I bought a Benelli key at my local dealer for a tenner, I think the supplied one would bend or damage the gun, it looks so nasty!

Having said all that, I have taken it to my local ground twice now and I LOVE THIS GUN !!!! It really is a joy to shoot, I really am going to have to make sure I don't neglect my O/U. Now it has has a couple of hundred shells through it, it cycles 24 and 28 gram loads effortlessly and after I ran short of them I put nearly a box of 21 gm Eleys through it without a mis-cycle, what more could you ask?

Edited November 8, 2010 by Bloke