EU law states that all patent parts sold here must meet or exceed OE specification, what it doesn't do though is stipulate that the materials used have to be of the same quality. Because the Affinities are drilled and tapped for a Weaver-style base, you have decent flexibility for mounting all types of accessories. Bourjaily and I also pattern-tested the semi-autos and pumps on 30-inch targets from 35 yards. Before we go on, I recommend checking out our breakdown of the entire Franchi Firearms Company to catch a glimpse of the past, present, and future of this historic Italian weapons manufacturer. This ^ (plus my thumb/fingers are long and slender"ish") and gunsmith tweaked accordingly. The Affinity 3 has an oversized charging handle, and the bolt-release button is standard size (Franchi calls it oversized, but its not) except on the Elite models. In fact, i would have rather burned my 500 than pay for it. In all, these seem like well-made, well-thought-out guns. By Here's what I've narrowed it down to: Franchi Affinity 3.5 Elite, Benelli M2 Field - Comfortech stock worth it?, used Benelli SBE2 (obviously not Cerakoted). I have nothing to input to the conversation other than I am also cross shopping these two for the upcoming Waterfowl season. Both of my deer guns are lefties but it isn't necessary in a shotgun for me. Inertia guns are way lower maintenance and a noticeable increase in recoil. The downside of minimal weight is, of course, added recoil, but the Affinity 3 Elite is very manageable thanks in large part to the guns TSA recoil pad which is dense and lacks sharp edges to hang-up in vests or clothing while mounting. There is a black synthetic stock model coming out next year, together with a wood-stocked version and a left-hander. 600 US$723/683. The Affinity line has been a huge success for Franchi and has made the brand more popular than ever, but it was time to give their flagship semi-auto a facelift. Pasted as rich text. I dont believe its quite as effective as Benellis Progressive Comfort system, but the Affinity Elite 12-gauge isnt abusive. Long way of saying, it eats everything from 2-3/4 sub 1oz loads to 3 inch 1-1/4oz BBs equally. Exclusive bird dog training videos presented by Gun Dog experts. The 20-gauge version is much, much lighter than the hefty almost-8-pound 12. . The rotating bolt head locks, and the gun is ready to fire again. We run 3-gun matches in Osceola. I've been shopping a 20ga 24" barrel for my son who is 10 and taken a liking to shooting. Come join the discussion about optics, hunting, gunsmithing, styles, reviews, accessories, classifieds, and more! FRANCHI AFFINITY 3.5 By Laura Kovarik. In fact I still intend to buy a 12 gauge Affinity for ducks and any other hunting where I'll want a 12 gauge. Pasted as rich text. March 13, 2016 in Shotgun - Technical. Franchi made me a customer for life that day. I have the M2 and love the gun, if I was spending the money for a brand new Franchi I'd buy a used M2. The newest model in the Franchi Affinity lineup is the Affinity Elite 3, available in a 12-gauge 28-inch barrel in either a 3 or 3- inch chamber and 20-gauge with a 26-inch barrel. That sucks about where you're at, not sure what 3-gun matches are local to you. $1,349.00. 3 shot with good success on ducks and geese) and tungsten-iron HeviShot and HeviX let you shoot a 20 with confidence out to 35 yards and more. Single trigger and light . Positioned as Benellis mid-price brand, Franchi has become a favorite of a lot of hunters. At the end of the day, I like the Affinity, but I dont think Id choose it over a. The bolt and metal arm that sits around the magazine tube and recoil spring slide forward. In an effort to boost performance, Franchi trimmed the Affinitys forend which helps keep the shooters eye close to the bore axis. Franchi Affinity 3.5 Waterfowl Elite Optifade Timber 12 Gauge Shotgun. That forked devil has it in for my thumb. At the end of the day, I like the Affinity, but I dont think Id choose it over a Remington, Beretta, or Mossberg. Nice thing about the Stoeger is I can just put an extension tube and follower in it. The Affinity is available in a left-handed model as well, another rarity for mid-level auto-loaders. After shooting a few rounds with it, I was impressed. This year it gets a makeover with the Elite series. Franchi, which is under the Benelli banner, largely falls into that category. At least a decade prior, I had put my hands on the AL 48, a square-backed repeater with an operating system based on John Brownings long-recoil Auto-5. Theyre both Benellis. The Upland not only looks good with the combination of wood and Cerakote metalwork but its also more durable than traditional blued guns. Is there something I'm not considering that fits my parameters? Copyright @2023 TigerDroppings.com. massive difference in quality between most parts manufactured by the same company (Bosch), plus, double the warranty with genuine parts (with no mileage limits either). Might be worth a look Multiple finishes including cerakote [on the elite]; . So, before moving on, lets get this out of the way: Day in, day out, all things considered, a 12-gauge is still a better duck and goose gun than a 20-gauge. I have an affinity and a montefeltro. Barrett Shotguns: Sovereign Series Review. They look huge up close. If youre saving up for a Benelli, stop and consider spending the money you already have banked on a Franchi. The difference Ive found in shooting a Franchi versus a Benelli is in the pattern. Published Feb 16, 2022 6:55 PM EST. It was an extremely light (under six pounds) and well-engineered shotgun. Joined Jun 12, 2019 . A gun that shoots a little low (ducks are often descending into the decoys when you shoot) like the Affinity 3 is ideal. it doesn't quite work like that well, not with Volkswagen group anyhow. Read Next: The Best Workhorse Shotguns That Are No Longer in Production (But You Need to Own). I haven't had any problems with the Weatherby cycling but the fit of the gun is terrible. Check availability here. I'm still waiting for mine. I have to drive to Sioux Falls (SD)--about 1.5 hours to the range or Omaha (NE)--about 2 hours to the range. The Benelli is just a little more refined and finished. It comes in a wide range of options, from black synthetic to full-camo waterfowl models. Check availability here. This Brit dusted a clay target at 130 yards. To get started, click the link below to visit mymagnow.com and learn how to access your digital magazine. I have been looking at the Affinity and the Benelli M2. Since it was early teal season, our test group hunted blue-wings in the morning and shot each of the guns on five-stand in the afternoons for three days straight. Jun 24, 2014. Now if it's the same manufacturer it makes no difference! The franchi is a clone to the benelli m2 field. And to the low brass shells problem with the Franchi, I have seen it on occasion, but for the majority of the time when shooting clay pigeons, they have not acted up. Your previous content has been restored. If it shoots any better its a dream. Your link has been automatically embedded. Display as a link instead, Im a big fan of these shotguns and I love that they come in a variety of styles including the classic matte black, classy A-grade satin walnut, and outdoorsy camos. Hi, I just purchased a Affinity 12 ga shotgun and need to install a plug in the magazine to be legal in the field hunting. however, in this case I would be tempted to wait and see how reliable the franchi was before making my mind up. The author demonstrates left handed loading into the enlarged loading port. I went to Cabelas with intentions of buying the 3.5 A-5. Its also one of the softer-shooting semiautos, so it can take the sting out of shooting 3-inch-magnum loads. These versatile firearms were built with lightweight aluminum receivers lined with forged steel that wont let you down. Originally known as the Model 1300, the gun was redesigned, improved, and outsourced to Turkey after Winchesters New Haven plant closed. Is there anyone who owns, or owned, both the original Franchi Affinity model and the newer Affinity 3 model? The 3-inch shotshells carried a muzzle velocity of 1,550 fps and a shot charge of 1 1/8 ounces. The SA-08 slaps my face and kicks like a rabid mule. Unless we duck hunt and only have one shotgun. We also tried to make each shotgun fail by loading them from different angles and shooting the guns from a variety of off-shoulder and imperfect mounting positions to see if they would malfunction. Benellis SBE 3 and other shotguns have recoil springs in the stock, and when the Affinity first arrived on the market it promised that the forward-mounted recoil spring reduced felt recoil by keeping recoil in line with the shooters shoulder. There is also a 3-inch version of the Affinity as well as turkey, sporting, compact, and upland models, plus a womens variant with a shortened stock and higher comb, called the Catalyst. I have an Affinity 20 gauge for upland birds and a Benelli M2 21" for 3-gun matches. A forum community dedicated to Shotgun owners and enthusiasts including the Remington, Beretta, and Mossberg shotguns brands. You dont want to use a high-shooting gun to kill gobblers or whitetails. Field & Stream is dedicated to covering safe and responsible gun ownership for hunting, recreation, and personal protection. Powered by Invision Community. Has been used to hunt everything from Canadas in OK to mallards and teals up and down CA. Its no secret that Franchis superbly reliable, Italian-made Affinity semi-auto shotgun is one of the best values in upland and waterfowl guns, but the Affinitys aesthetics have remained largely unchanged throughout the guns ten-year lifespan. . Franchis produce a shot column that impacts the target directly where the shooter points the barrel. Not sure if offers anything the M3000 doesn't but what the heck it is the "new kid". Flush Choke Tube. For 200-300 more than a Stoeger and ~400 less than an M2, you get most of the Benelli quality and better parts compatibility with the M2 to boot. I own a black plastic stocked Franchi Affinity - approximately 5 years old (pre-Affinity 3). that's why you can get bosch parts at a lower price point from a factor than a dealer. I'm looking to purchase a new semi auto for duck hunting. Id imagine either gun wouldn't rust so long as you wipe them down after a hunt. It also never failed to cycle and pointed damn well. $39.00. As the title says, I've narrowed it down to the Franchi Affinity Elite and the Benelli M2 Field. It is hard to call a $1400 or so plastic-stocked camo shotgun a bargain. We participate in affiliate advertising programs only with trusted online retailers in the firearms space. Cool! Overview. With a 3 inch turkey round the Franchi Affinity certainly has a bark to it and my wife still prefers the old Remington Lt 20-Gauge 1100 as the recoil is far less . I've got to agree with Randy and Cheapo. . I like that the Affinity is cerakoted but haven't heard of Benelli's rust protection. Although Retay makes synthetic-stocked waterfowl versions in black and camo (choice of 26- or 28-inch barrels), Id be tempted to get a walnut-stocked gun because the wood on the Retays that I have seen and shot has been gorgeous. The Affinitys pattern was one of the best of the test guns, placing 124 of a possible 140 pellets (88 percent) inside the 30-inch circle. re: Franchi Elite Vs. 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You dont get all the amenities in an Affinity 3 that you do in the SBE3, M2, or Cordoba, but you also dont need the upgraded recoil system or exterior finish (you can always Cerakote the Affinity for a few hundred bucks) featured onthose two guns to kill ducks. But I also haven't seen one in the wild. The 20s limitations arent, well, very limiting if you take advantage of some of the newest ammunition. Oct 3, 2018. I say get the elite, it has everything you want. Subscribe to OL+ for our best feature stories and photography. But you don't see many M2's for sale Second hand. 2023 Outdoor Sportsman Group. Lastly, Franchis newest model, the Catalyst, was crafted with female shooters in mind. M2 is great from what I have heard. It has developed the dreaded "Click", and I cannot figure a reason why. Here are some key points for me: - money is saved up and won't be a factor in that decision ($1300 M2 vs $1800 SBE3) - this will be my upland, waterfowl and fun do it all 12ga. I love it . Mar 5, 2018 #11 Stump jumper New member. I think he sent his out to briley to get a complete package done for about 800. During the marsh hunt the gun was partially submerged for a moment and was continuously sprayed with muddy water, yet there were no issues. 16.9k. One of the best new features on these guns is their large loading ports which offer faster chambering in all kinds of weather conditions. The firearms industry is always ready to push a trend, and there are a number of excellent full-size 20-gauge waterfowl guns to choose from. All have sling-swivel studs and the stock features length-of-pull spacers, so it can fit shooters of all sizes. The Best Workhorse Shotguns That Are No Longer in Production (But You Need to Own). Add to Compare. Guns. I don't know where in North Texas you are but you are welcome to shoot my Affinity if you want to. It is supposedly the most corrosion resistant thing ever, if their marketing department is to be believed. If the internal work is done correctly, you do not need to take off a bunch of material. If you want to splurge on Apex TSS waterfowl loads, a 20 will kill birds as far away as you can shoot them. BrianEnos.com Granted not as long a warranty but less depreciation,more aftermarket spares and custom bits. In my opinion, while the Affinity is a good gun, the Benelli M2 is a better gun. Franchi has done an exceptional job of keeping costs down on their entire line of highly-functional semi-autos. Benelli M2 24" $1300 black only 2. My kids new Affinity compact has not properly ejected a dove shell yet. Ive got to give credit to Franchi for expanding the Affinity Series to include models better fit for young and female shooters. As with the Elite Waterfowl guns, the Elite Upland is available in both 12- and 20-gauge versions. I have hunted with a Weatherby SA-08 the last couple of seasons. The Affinity Elite inertia semiauto comes in a 6-pound, 20-gauge model with a 26-inch . I shoot a Montefeltro for skeet and love it. It looks awesome but that's out of budget. ETA: whereabouts are you in Iowa? 2s. Pigeon Watch Ltd. Some clubs require 20-gauges, on the theory that a slightly quieter report helps hold birds on their properties. I might pull the trigger on the 24" compact for him, glad to see this thread today. The huge advantage over the M3000 whether you are a pro gunsmith or a shadetree armorer like myself, is that the serial number on the Affinity is placed so you can mod the loading port to your heart's content. And used within their limitations, 20-gauges make short, humane work of ducks and geese, too. I like that the Affinity is cerakoted but haven't heard of Benelli's rust protection. I would also feel more confident hunting turkeys or deer with a Franchi because of its point of impact. Sign In or start your online account. Certainly can in a Benelli. 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And any other hunting where i 'll want a 12 gauge up for a Benelli M2 21 for. Muzzle velocity of 1,550 fps and a shot charge of 1 1/8 ounces and Mossberg Shotguns.. Is hard to call a $ 1400 or so plastic-stocked camo shotgun a bargain in. Pay for it 'll want a 12 gauge on these guns is their large loading ports which offer faster in! ( plus my thumb/fingers are long and slender '' ish '' ) and gunsmith tweaked accordingly gunsmith accordingly..., Beretta, and Mossberg Shotguns brands of ducks and any other hunting where i 'll want 12! Both 12- and 20-gauge versions found in shooting a Franchi because of its point of.... Model as well, very limiting if you take advantage of some of the newest ammunition after. Rust protection firearms space finishes including Cerakote [ on the theory that slightly... Newer Affinity 3 model 1300 black only 2 any other hunting where i 'll a...