Anyone Have Experience With Benelli Vinci

[Justin Spencer]

My shoulder has finally talked me into purchasing a new semi-auto shotgun this fall as the old 870 is starting to hurt more every year. Wondering if anyone has any suggestions I waterfowl hunt as much as anything so I need a reliable gun that can get wet and grimy and still shoot. Things I have read about the Vinci seem like it would be a good (yet pricey) choice. I figure I've got my money's worth out of my 12 year old birthday present (25+ years ago) so if I like it I can hopefully find a used one at a decent price.

[Feathers and Fins]

Justin, NOTHING is better than an 870 My grandfather got his in 1953 and I still shoot it to this day. Go to 2 3/4 shells and it will help. To answer the question everyone i know who has bought one has sold it already for Brownings or Remingtons they just dont like them and I have seen 5 jam frequently.

[jdmidwest]

Justin, we have pretty good luck with them in the gunshop that I work at from time to time. No problems that I am aware of. Neat design and function, but top dollar. Kinda tricky to assemble till you get the hang of them.

I have a Winchester SX2 and my hunting buddy bought a Winchester SX3 last year. Both shoot like a charm, soft recoil on 3". They eat everything I throw in them with no hiccups. I even shoot a few 3 1/2 inchers for geese and turkey. His Beretta Extrema froze up one morning a few years back while my SX2 kept chuggin in the minus 10 weather. He traded it off last season for the SX3.

You can't go wrong with a Super Black Eagle either. I would probably go that route if I wanted a Benelli.

[Justin Spencer]

I'm not real good at cleaning my shotgun, with the 870 they seem to work better the dirtier they are. Worried about a semi-auto that might not get the love it deserves which is why I was leaning toward something simple like the Vinci. How is the SX2 or 3 to clean?

You can't go wrong with a Super Black Eagle either. I would probably go that route if I wanted a Benelli.

What makes you like this gun better than the Vinci, or Super Vinci? Thanks for the good info!

If I do "pull the trigger" and get a new gun I'll be sure to tote the old 870 along for backup as it is reliable.

[Bird Watcher]

My opinion would be to find a first generation SBE HK for about 750-900. It's not going to be the softest shooting auto, but it will definitely be softer than your 870. I'm a big fan of the gun though. I've had one for 16 years that has been abused and misused and never fails unless it's exceptionally dirty. The great thing is that if it is too dirty, I can pull it apart in my layout blind and clean it with no tools.

My everyday gun for the last five years has been a 20 ga. M2. I absolutely love this gun. I first planned on just taking it on a few hunts a year, but after the first time I took it goose hunting I never carried the 12 ga again. It's lighter faster and easier handling. It makes doubles and triples a lot easier for me because I can move the gun faster. No matter what anyone says, the 3" 20 ga load carries more than enough punch on any sized waterfowl out to 45 yds.

[jdmidwest]

I have owned Winchesters since I was a kid, first shotgun was a 20 ga 1400. The SX series comes apart when you uncrew the magazine cap. 2 pins hold the trigger group in. You can take it apart in a blind, hose it out with Breakfree Cleaner, and be back in business in a few minutes if needed. The alloy receiver and Duracote finish are pretty tough.

The old adage that the gun shoots better dirty is just another excuse to abuse a gun by not cleaning it properly. Just like washing the car and changing the oil, all equipment needs maint. to run properly. Duck hunting introduces seeds, bits of blind material, mud, and water into the guns internals that end up with rust and malfunction. Most modern shotguns break down to essential components quickly and there are wonderful aerosol cleaners to blast it out. I always stand my gun near a vent for several days to dry it out then clean it if it was not too bad. If I sit out all day in a rain or snow storm, I take it apart and clean it when I get home.

The Super Black Eagle is a design that has been around for 20 years and works great. If I remember right, it is a recoil design instead of a gas piston action like the SX3. Gas pistons are sometimes more sensitive to lighter or heavier loads and can sometimes fail to cycle. The Vinci is a gas piston. It is a newer design that has only been out for a few years. Just because we have not seen any issues does not mean there are not any. Search the net for reviews.

[Bird Watcher]

I have owned Winchesters since I was a kid, first shotgun was a 20 ga 1400. The SX series comes apart when you uncrew the magazine cap. 2 pins hold the trigger group in. You can take it apart in a blind, hose it out with Breakfree Cleaner, and be back in business in a few minutes if needed. The alloy receiver and Duracote finish are pretty tough.

The old adage that the gun shoots better dirty is just another excuse to abuse a gun by not cleaning it properly. Just like washing the car and changing the oil, all equipment needs maint. to run properly. Duck hunting introduces seeds, bits of blind material, mud, and water into the guns internals that end up with rust and malfunction. Most modern shotguns break down to essential components quickly and there are wonderful aerosol cleaners to blast it out. I always stand my gun near a vent for several days to dry it out then clean it if it was not too bad. If I sit out all day in a rain or snow storm, I take it apart and clean it when I get home.

The Super Black Eagle is a design that has been around for 20 years and works great. If I remember right, it is a recoil design instead of a gas piston action like the SX3. Gas pistons are sometimes more sensitive to lighter or heavier loads and can sometimes fail to cycle. The Vinci is a gas piston. It is a newer design that has only been out for a few years. Just because we have not seen any issues does not mean there are not any. Search the net for reviews.

Not looking to start an argument, but I think the Benelli Vinci is still a recoil driven system. They just changed it to what they call an "in-line Inertia Driven" That's why the Vinci has that ugly humpback is to accomodate the rod that goes down into the butt on the other Benelli shotguns but goes straight back on the Vinci's. For what it's worth, my best friend went and bought one. The first time he came up to hunt, we hunted on an especially sloppy day. Granted, this is antcedotal, but when we broke the guns down that night in the motel, that Vinci was like a Swiss watch compared to the traditional benelli actions if you ask me. He couldn't get it put it back together right and had problems with it the rest of the weekend. His fault for not fully reading and understanding the diagrams, I know, but it didn't look easy to me.

[ness]

Old guns, Justin...old guns.

Same problems as the new, but they don't look so freakin' gay. Go get a nice, old Browning A5 with a little character, and cuss it when the shell doesn't eject. You'll have the satisfaction of knowing you're one in a long line of people that have cussed that classic duck gun. You'll be holding a masterpiece in your hands, designed by a true genius -- that's reason enough to have it.

Later, you can call them grandbabies over close to the wood stove and show them an old Field and Stream with YOUR gun in the illustration on the cover in the hands of a true sport . You can tell them of the old days with handmade cork decoys, and flocks of mallards so thick you could take your pick of the plump drakes when they set their wings.

You gotta be thinking long-term here, man!

[Justin Spencer]

Old guns, Justin...old guns.

Same problems as the new, but they don't look so freakin' gay. Go get a nice, old Browning A5 with a little character, and cuss it when the shell doesn't eject. You'll have the satisfaction of knowing you're one in a long line of people that have cussed that classic duck gun. You'll be holding a masterpiece in your hands, designed by a true genius -- that's reason enough to have it.

Later, you can call them grandbabies over close to the wood stove and show them an old Field and Stream with YOUR gun in the illustration on the cover in the hands of a true sport . You can tell them of the old days with handmade cork decoys, and flocks of mallards so thick you could take your pick of the plump drakes when they set their wings.

You gotta be thinking long-term here, man!

Or I can put on my digital camo, with my laser looking shotgun with a goofy looking case and be ready when the spaceship comes to take me away before the end of the world in December. Don't want those aliens thinking I'm an old timer!

I've read quite a bit on them, and have seen that some people have problems getting them put together at first, but there are only 3 parts so I have trouble believing it can be too tough. It has the same recoil driven system as the Black Eagle II so I think that part is proven.

I think I'll go search one out take it apart put it together, hopefully be able to shoot it and see what I think. Most reviews online are favorable, but some here give me some doubt. I will give it a hard look before I pull the trigger on one, but if I like it I ain't scared to use that "new technology".

[BilletHead]

Justin,

Myself and Mrs. BilletHead both have the Vinci. Mine has seen two seasons a and the wife has seen one. From dove loads to 3 inch heavy loads, no problems. Yes the wife shoots 3 inchers in hers for waterfowl and turkeys. Sweet guns. Wish I was closer to you, Would let you shoot a couple of boxes through them,

BilletHead