New To Me Benelli 828U

[RM Anderson]

Had a couple returns to make at Scheels so of course I had to check out the gun rack.
Lo and behold, a very lightly used Benelli 828U over and under with the blued receiver caught my eye. As luck would have it, I had been saving my Scheels points for some time so my out of pocket cost was only $870.
Does anyone here have any experience, good or bad, with this shotgun?
RM

 

[Eric Patterson]

RM

I've never held one but got curious and looked up the specs on it. At 6.6 lbs that is a very light weight double. In doubles mass is important to keep recoil down. I suspect you will like it for dove and clays but will not want to use it for duck loads but am curious how it feels to you in the duck blind. I know you asked the question, but this might be one of those times where you provide the answer to the rest of us.

 

[RM Anderson]

RM

I've never held one but got curious and looked up the specs on it. At 6.6 lbs that is a very light weight double. In doubles mass is important to keep recoil down. I suspect you will like it for dove and clays but will not want to use it for duck loads but am curious how it feels to you in the duck blind. I know you asked the question, but this might be one of those times where you provide the answer to the rest of us.

Eric,
You brought up some very good points. The 828U is a very polarizing shotgun; people either love it or hate it. You are correct that it is light for a double but that is what caught my attention. Most of my hunting is upland and my 7+ lb. Benelli autos tend to wear me down after a long day to the point that when a bird finally does flush my reflexes are long gone.
I'm not sure if I will use it for duck hunting since 3" shells rattle my brain pretty good from the sitting position in an autoloader. My guess is that it will see alot of use in clays with reduced recoil ammo or in hunting scenarios where it is carried more than shot. For those interested in a dedicated clays or waterfowl gun, Benelli also makes a similar model with a steel receiver. One of the biggest selling points for myself is the ability to adjust the stock for point of impact; a feature that has worked well on my SBE 3 and M1 Super 90.
RM

 

[roy brewington]

Hard Recoil from lightness is about the only negative i,ve heard about them. If I recall correctly they're now building a heavier version, possibly target gun. That adjustability is a great selling point. I myself struggle with finding o/u and s/s that have enough D.A.C.

 

[SJ Fairbank]

Hard Recoil from lightness is about the only negative i,ve heard about them. If I recall correctly they're now building a heavier version, possibly target gun. That adjustability is a great selling point. I myself struggle with finding o/u and s/s that have enough D.A.C.

Finding enough drop and pitch is a challenge for me as well. I learned to shoot as a child, with what were at the time "field stocks" which were typically 1-1/2-2 1/2. The move over the last 25 years has been toward parallel combs, or "field stocks" with dimensions like 1-1/4" at the comb. I always enjoy shooting a late 1800's-early 1900's sxs, they typically have what is now termed a "dogleg", which might be 1-1/2"- 3". It's quite comfortable to mount, but of course that angled comb can beat you up a little with stiff ammo.

IMO, pitch is the most overlooked dimension for the hunter, more commonly addressed while fitting a gun for target shooting. People who get bruised in the shoulder pocket, especially ladies, almost always benefit from adding pitch to better seat the entire butt firmly and squarely against the shoulder.

I've always liked the looks of the Browing Citori, but most of the stock offerings were the same old thing, too high. Last year I got my hands on a Gran Lightning 16, it's published dimension is 1-5/8"-2-1/2". I didn't confirm that claim, but it's perfect for me while shooting. Can't say the gold lightning bolt turns me on, but overall it's a nice gun. Nice enough that a couple more in different gauges may have been acquired under cover of darkness.

 

[roy brewington]

Finding enough drop and pitch is a challenge for me as well. I learned to shoot as a child, with what were at the time "field stocks" which were typically 1-1/2-2 1/2. The move over the last 25 years has been toward parallel combs, or "field stocks" with dimensions like 1-1/4" at the comb. I always enjoy shooting a late 1800's-early 1900's sxs, they typically have what is now termed a "dogleg", which might be 1-1/2"- 3". It's quite comfortable to mount, but of course that angled comb can beat you up a little with stiff ammo.

IMO, pitch is the most overlooked dimension for the hunter, more commonly addressed while fitting a gun for target shooting. People who get bruised in the shoulder pocket, especially ladies, almost always benefit from adding pitch to better seat the entire butt firmly and squarely against the shoulder.

I've always liked the looks of the Browing Citori, but most of the stock offerings were the same old thing, too high. Last year I got my hands on a Gran Lightning 16, it's published dimension is 1-5/8"-2-1/2". I didn't confirm that claim, but it's perfect for me while shooting. Can't say the gold lightning bolt turns me on, but overall it's a nice gun. Nice enough that a couple more in different gauges may have been acquired under cover of darkness.

Only O/U I,ve ever bought that has enough drop at comb from factory for myself is a Browning Citori 3.5" gun . Same as yours 1 5/8" . Only thing I had to change on that was O.A.L. as I shoot 14" , not 14 1/4" as most Browning's were at the time. Bought a Citori 20 Lighting O/U latter that had 1 1/2" D.A.C. . Had to change that . My first exposure to working down comb. I,ve gotten very proficient at reworking combs and shortening buttstocks, installing decent recoil pads. On some shotguns I actually like a bit of positive pitch. Big chested guy at 255 lbs. Just cut down comb on a CZ Teal 28 gauge O/U yesterday and shortened L.O.P. Stripped original finish today but waiting on stock filler & stain & Limbsaver pad before I can finish. I,ve put positive pitch shims in my A300 20, Sx4 20 and Maxus 2 12. Mainly to bring them to 50/50 from 60/40. I do like a shotgun that fits!

 

[SJ Fairbank]

Only O/U I,ve ever bought that has enough drop at comb from factory for myself is a Browning Citori 3.5" gun . Same as yours 1 5/8" . Only thing I had to change on that was O.A.L. as I shoot 14" , not 14 1/4" as most Browning's were at the time. Bought a Citori 20 Lighting O/U latter that had 1 1/2" D.A.C. . Had to change that . My first exposure to working down comb. I,ve gotten very proficient at reworking combs and shortening buttstocks, installing decent recoil pads. On some shotguns I actually like a bit of positive pitch. Big chested guy at 255 lbs. Just cut down comb on a CZ Teal 28 gauge O/U yesterday and shortened L.O.P. Stripped original finish today but waiting on stock filler & stain & Limbsaver pad before I can finish. I,ve put positive pitch shims in my A300 20, Sx4 20 and Maxus 2 12. Mainly to bring them to 50/50 from 60/40. I do like a shotgun that fits!

Sounds like you're a man that knows what he wants. A gun that fits sure is a pleasure to shoot! Far too few hunters spend the time to figure out what stock dimensions actually fit them. Rather, they fit themselves to the gun. Then complain when they can't hit anything and get beat up by the gun.

 

[roy brewington]

I enjoy wing shooting and shooting clays. Don,t want the dog frowning at me if I miss! There was a time I could shoot a 1 1/2" x 2 1/2" stocked shotgun. When I started wearing Glasses full time I caught myself lifting head swinging on birds when picking up top rim of glasses looking down barrel from my face position on stock. Of course that head lifting was a miss. Larger glasses Lense/frame size and increased D.A.C. solved the issue. Since discovering the issue many years ago i,ve learned to modify my guns to fit. Even my old 870,s and 11-87 have had stock tweaked. For several years they sat lonely in the back of cabinet! And your absolutely correct about some shooters not connecting the dots. Weight, balance and stock fit all contribute to consistently hitting the bird or clay.

 

[RM Anderson]

A gun that fits sure is a pleasure to shoot! Far too few hunters spend the time to figure out what stock dimensions actually fit them. Rather, they fit themselves to the gun.

And your absolutely correct about some shooters not connecting the dots. Weight, balance and stock fit all contribute to consistently hitting the bird or clay.

Fitting a shotgun to yourself is harder than it seems because your brain is at least partially successful in adapting to an ill fitting shotgun. It took alot of expirementing with the shims before patterns began to emerge. Last week the training wheels (AcroS2) came off my SBE3 and I have been shooting very well without it. When I first purchased the Atlas thrower, my form was really quiet terrible. My gun mount looked more like a jab from a fly weight boxer than a graceful swing. It has taken several thousand rounds to break those old habits.
I'm excited to try the 828U as it feels very much like my SBE3 but I am hesitant to introduce too many new variables as a novice shotgun shooter.
RM

 

[SJ Fairbank]

Don't want the dog frowning at me if I miss!

Yup, nothing says stinkeye better than a retriever deprived of his mission. Then, there's pointing dogs. When I was a kid, we had two pointers who had been champion field trial dogs. Fabulous for grouse and woodcock. Until somebody missed. Then they ran home alone. My dog Gunner is the best of both worlds, he's a pointing lab. I wouldn't trade him for the world, and he forgives me if I miss. Provided I pass along a biscuit as consolation.

 

[SJ Fairbank]

Fitting a shotgun to yourself is harder than it seems because your brain is at least partially successful in adapting to an ill fitting shotgun. It took alot of expirementing with the shims before patterns began to emerge. Last week the training wheels (AcroS2) came off my SBE3 and I have been shooting very well without it. When I first purchased the Atlas thrower, my form was really quiet terrible. My gun mount looked more like a jab from a fly weight boxer than a graceful swing. It has taken several thousand rounds to break those old habits.
I'm excited to try the 828U as it feels very much like my SBE3 but I am hesitant to introduce too many new variables as a novice shotgun shooter.
RM

There a lots of books about gun fitting, but the only way to get it right is to experiment. You're doing it the correct way. Make a small change, shoot the gun, observe the results, ponder. Small changes can make a big difference. I doubt you'll ever be 100% satisfied, there's always one more tweak!

 

[HenryHawthorne]

Rollin Oswald and Don Currie books on gunfitting are the best I've found - both good reads.

I've settled on Browning Superposed and Citoris as the best unmodified "fit" for me, but have had to lengthen LOP (by more than I should really need) to get the drop I need (long neck) to avoid having to bend my neck too much. I've always wanted a custom stock, but never been willing to put the 5-10k required into a <$2k gun, so I've just learned to compensate.

As a tease, I'm aware of a project to make custom stocks affordable enough for the typical shooter. My wife and I will be among the initial proof of concept batch, and hope to have stocks later this summer. Will keep this group posted if there is interest (I have no financial interest in the company).

 

[RM Anderson]

Rollin Oswald and Don Currie books on gunfitting are the best I've found - both good reads.

I've settled on Browning Superposed and Citoris as the best unmodified "fit" for me, but have had to lengthen LOP (by more than I should really need) to get the drop I need (long neck) to avoid having to bend my neck too much. I've always wanted a custom stock, but never been willing to put the 5-10k required into a <$2k gun, so I've just learned to compensate.

As a tease, I'm aware of a project to make custom stocks affordable enough for the typical shooter. My wife and I will be among the initial proof of concept batch, and hope to have stocks later this summer. Will keep this group posted if there is interest (I have no financial interest in the company).

Henry,
I've seen you wood working skills first hand; perhaps make you own stock?
RM

 

[HenryHawthorne]

Henry,
I've seen you wood working skills first hand; perhaps make you own stock?
RM

I'd be more inclined to attempt a rifle stock... but the number of iterations it would require for me to get to a satisfactory shotgun stock would likely be more than I'd enjoy tackling. Particularly inletting multiple iterations. If I were to try, I think I'd modify an existing first (adding and taking away) to get close.

 

[RM Anderson]

No updates on how the Benelli 828u shoots. Per doctor orders; no shooting for ten days after my angiography so for entertainment I watch YouTube videos about my new shotgun. Lame, I know...
RM