There's a stormtrooper out there somewhere who wants his blaster back...

Ugly: Yes
Innovative: Most Likely
Chance of me buying one: none/zero

The shotguns I own work just fine, are a fraction of this cost..... and look good.

Phil, I saw the video and got onto the site to read about it. It's interesting. When you get one I am curious about something - there is a telescoping (?) rod behind the bolt. Wondering what that is supposed to do. Wouldn't want to bend that piece.

Also has a detachable tube magazine - is there a practical reason? Or is this just they could do it? There is a sling swivel on the mag so there is less chance of losing it. I am also surprised that this was not introduced with a 3-1/2" chamber. That is an SBE advantage.

As I said in another post, this reminds me of the original Infiniti marketing. None of the ads showed the car. Dealerships were even designed so that you couldn't see the car from the street. When people finally saw the car after all the hype many were disappointed. Technology was there but the styling was ... homely. Since then I have always expected ugly when a product is marketed this way.

I agree it is an ugly gun and can only imagine it being uglier with a wood stock. I'm guessing it won't take long to get a version that will shoot 3.5" either, but as long as it took to launch what they did I can't see including that would have taken any longer. As far as price its cheaper than I figured, try and get a Super Black Eagle for under $1000, that's old technology compared to this, so I think as far as their pricing its pretty cheap.

It might be as ugly as Cinderella's sisters, but how does it shoot? That is the question. Anyway if my SBE ever wears out My preference is for another SBE because they shoot 3.5 inch ammo.

I'm sick and tired of seeing new rifle/shotgun designs that look something out of lasar-tag. Please don't tell me the only way to improve on function is by wrapping it in some 23rd Century package.

Bleck.

A ugly shotgun for 12,500.00 less than a ugly rifle. A 870 not only looks better but its about 1,100.00 dollars cheaper too. How about some honest to goodness value for your dollar in these economic troubled times!

There is not much left to be said, it looks akward, although the camo patterns make it look a little better. But, I still can't believe it doesn't shoot 3.5, I have always figured that Benelli was geared more towards the waterfowler so I am surprised in its lack of firepower.

2Poppa,
It weighs either 6.8 or 6.9 pounds depending on the barrel length.

While it isn't the most aesthetically pleasing shotgun they have made, I find it interesting that they have switched to an inline inertia mechanism, and hte ease of dissasembly..

we will just have to wait till its tested.

Mark-1 and Mike Diehl said it all. I just sent a letter of heart felt apology to Savage for calling their 110
ugly, I vow never to say it again. BLECH!!!

With Benelli's Vinci and Remington's 887, 2009 must be the year of the plastic shotgun.

I guess the tacticool market has taken over guns completely......

Jim

Neither the looks of it nor the price impress me so I hopefully it is one hell of a gun. If not, then I doubt it will have any success at all.

Ugly? Beauty is in the Eyes of the Beholder....I'd like to BEHOLDEN it right now. It's repetation is what will sell it.

All that building excitement and what should I behold but a plastic brick-bat. What a waste of hype and excitement. I wouldn't even accept one of those to test because I wouldn't ever show up to the range with something so ugly. My old 1100 with it's high gloss bluing and walnut stocks is much prettier and works just fine.

It's gorgeous! I love plas... er... synthetic, though. The only thing I don't feel good about is the price tag.

They make some nice gear, but f'cryin' out loud, it's a shotgun! To me, no matter how pretty, shotguns always seem to come down to 'decent choked barrel = performance'.

I was about 40 years old before I even believed a choke made a difference at all. Now I am a believer.

I doubt Benelli was out to make the prettiest little 12 gauge on the market. Perhaps they wasted all that time designing a gun that shot 88,000 rounds without malfunction. But if you'd rather have a cute gun than a reliable one, I understand, I am not judging you.

Sorry, make that "makes".

Sort of fugly for that kind of cash, but who cares if it functions flawlessly and doesn't rust. I have a grand total of about $900 invested in the five shotguns I have. Two of which I use regularly during waterfowl season and one for varmints. The others hang out in the cabinet. If duck season was extended another 60 days per year, I might wear one of mine out and need a new Benelli.

Chad love nailed that on the head with the storm trooper quote. I have mixed feelings on this gun. First, it does disassemble quickly. Second, it looks freakin wierd. Third, I will never have the chance to own one, much less shoot one because I don't know anybody who can actually afford it. It aint what I had invisioned.

I'd shoot it, but then again, I'll pretty much shoot anything once. The marketing was definitely a case of too much hat, not enough cowboy.

Man! so many quick to judge! Yes, I agree it's not best best looking shotgun I've ever seen but let's keep in mind IT'S A TOOL. A piece of equipment designed to cycle better, breakdown easier, and have a smoother trigger than most shotguns. As far as 3.5" Vs. 3", anyone who owns a 3.5" (including myself S.B.E.) knows that it will not cycle light loads well. And really how many times can you honestly say "I couldn't make that shot without a 3.5" shell"...not many. In most cases a 3" shell will out pattern a 3.5" anyway. That matters to most Turkey and Duck hunter tremendously. With this TOOL, basically Benelli is offering a modified M2 designed to shoot light loads (Dove) all the way to the heaviest Turkey loads. Sound like they might be on to something. I think maybe before you make a decision about this shotgun you should take the time and do your homework, go put one in your hands, see how it points, LOOK IT OVER FIRST. You dont have to be the first one comment on it. I here that Marks Outdoors in Vestavia, AL (205) 822-2010 has them in stock. Call them and find out they think, they have had time to play with it a little. I'll be there at lunch to check it out for myself.

Wow! I can't believe the shallowness of the comments on here. It reminds me of a bunch of old-timers who have been driving the same truck for 50 years and are whining about all the new models. The only legit comment is about price. It is pricy.

But did anyone actually read anything about the features? Light weight, low recoil, adjustable for fit, simplified takedown, easy to clean/maintain, fast cycling, simple bolt mechanism, etc. These are great features. I will wait for more reviews, but 88,000 shots thru 12 guns without and issue is great reliability in my book. Are you really going to ignore all that because it doesn't 'look' like some stereotype? That's just pathetic.

It's obvious that this thing was designed with ergonomics in mind and initial reports are that is fits, feels, and swings great. How terrible. And ugly? Yea, its ugly the way all Italian sport cars are ugly, with high-tech materials, nice lines, and well placed controls for easy operation. Who would want that?

Until you have spent some time with something to actually give it a good proof test, I don't think you should be so close-minded about new things.

Oh, yeah. Some of us are "experienced" enough not to dump what works just fine in a hurry to run out and buy the latest and greatest gun, gizmo, truck, etc.

tidefan365

I have a few pieces from Marks's myself. I grew up in the 'Ham and my younger brother still lives in Hooville just down the road and haunts Mark's often. Small world, I guess.

$500 is my practical limit for any shotgun, new or used.... Most will pattern fine with the right choke tube and a tight nut behind the recoil pad.

The ugliest thing about it is the price, and I don't think that it will out shoot my 1100 3". I have two extra barrels for the 1100, and through about 10,000 rounds through one individual gun, the 1100 has never failed. If I remember right, it cost less than $300.00 in 1974.

PRICING, let's take a moment to think this through.

I don't get it?!?!? People are hilarious to me, you go and buy a $20,000+ Truck, $3000-10,000 atv/rhino, $150-300 camo, $100-whatever binoculars, $1000-5000 per year club fees, $500-5000 hunting trip, but then you buy a "Remington Model 710" rifle or something cheap like that to shoot. Why not make and investment in another piece of equipment just like your others, and don't give me that "Ford Vs. Chevy" argument, CRM3006 for you to even mention 1100 in the same sentence as Benelli is ridiculous, and I own a safe full of both. I guess "igorance is truly bliss". All I'm saying is think of what you spend to create the hunting opotunities that you want, now why go cheap on your rifle/shotgun. That should be your true investment in hunting.

tidefan365

OK, boy, you just opened that can of whoopass. $20k+ for a pickup doesn't even buy a good used 4x4, show me a reliable 400 class ATV that starts and runs reliably for less and I will buy it, $100 is cheap for binoculars to hunt with, my lease is $500 a year, trip to Colorado is about $2K, and dog food ain't cheap.

But $1500 for a shotgun that is ugly as hell and doesn't pattern any better than the choke tube in it ain't worth the green. It by golly better function flawlessly (better than the other Benelli's I've seen) for that kind of cash. Nobody said to get a China-made H&R, just get what you want and can justify. I see the bubbas every weekend with jammed guns whining about them. Keep them clean and feed them good ammo. Got to do the three things the Duck Commander sez: Go boom, boom, boom......

Not too concerned about its looks, just its weight.
I am a right handed shot, who had my left scapula removed a while back, and consequently have almost no ability in my outstretched left arm to support a rifle/shotgun. I hunt deer with a Wetherby Ultralight, which I can barely raise long enough to acquire the target for a moment.
Hence, I am looking for a the lightest shotgun available for obvious reasons. I beleive that a pistol grip set-up would give me more control with my right are, and take the weight off of my left. I primarily hunt upland, but want something for waterfowl in a pinch as well.

Any suggestions would be much appreciated.

Safety is in the wrong spot plan and simple. To me the same rule for mag releases on pistols applies to shotgun safeties they should be behind trigger as God and John Moses Browning intended. Forget that its ugly, this alone is un acceptable to me. Break open shotguns get an exception for tang mounted safety.
I am glad it costs alot and is ugly. I bought walnut stocked M2 on sale at Sportsman Warehouse for $800 last year and ditched my old 870. I was scared Benelli was going to make a moderate priced more traditional 3.5" gun.
As to the cost of Benellis in general, all new premium brand semi-autos are expensive in-case you haven't noticed. Also for the person not interested in ever cleanig a shotgun and still wanting a semiauto I have seen Benellis living in boat boxes for entire seasons(saltwater environments) with nothing but a shot of CBC every once in a while. Its a dang AK-47 of shotguns; sure the SBE or M2 may not win beauty competitions and this new Vince can't even get in the building but they will fire and cycle rusted and full of swamp mud. Mine won't ever get like that because I am retentive about cleaning my gun but its nice to know you don't really have to.

I'm not against the whole "space gun" concept; I have a Nova. It's just that my 870 cycles better, feeds better, has the safety in the right place, etc., and I don't have to pour water out of the stock every time I wade to the duck blind with it. A factory recoil pad for the Nova also costs over $80, and there is a wait list to get them. The Vinci may be the hottest thing since bottled beer, but if it doesn't do something my Auto-5 won't do, I ain't interested in laying down the coin for it. I have seen Benellis fail just like any other manufacturer's product can fail under the right conditions. I am interested in the adjustable stock dimensions, as this is one feature sadly lacking in the other plastic fantastics.

It costs way too much for me!

what i dont understand is all of the people comparing benelli to remington. There is absolutely no comparison in the two. I own both and they are not even in the same class. sure if you want to go cheap buy the remijam and spend half of your day using your pocketknife to retrieve the shell you just shot, or you can spend some extra money and actually hunt the whole duration your in the blind. i cant even tell you how many people ive guided that have gun malfunctions because they have the money but are unwilling to ditch 'ol faithful' as if the gun has feelings or something. And there is absolutely nothing wrong with loving the look of 'ol faithful' but it is truly the performance that counts (by the way i dont think the vinci is ugly) like it was said above, beauty is in the eye of the beholder. no its not traditional, but the gun is supposed to break the mold not fall into it. it doesnt hurt my feelings at all if you dont like the gun, i just dont understand why you people cant give credit where credit is due. everyone is entitled to their own opinion, but dont show your ignorance.

tidefan365-
If your Remington is jamming, I suggust you either learn how to clean it or take away its guitar. My own 1100 has fired +/- 10K rounds, most of which were reloads, with 3" mags, heavy dove loads, and trap loads in that mix. Buy the latest and greatest if you must, but I don't forsee a bright future for your (overpriced)Benelli if you take care of it like you obviously have your (abused) Remingtons.
Jim in Mo- Yes, that included the extra slug barrel, and mine was the left hand magnum model, so that accounts for the price difference.

Hey Everyone,

I am going to say a couple things and it may upset some of you, but oh well. First off this thing about the shooting 3.5 inch loads is ridiculous. You don't need an 3.5 inch shell for anything I don't care if it's the biggest damn turkey you've ever seen, a 3.5 inch shell is impractical, especially for duck hunting. I wish all these companies would stop making 3.5 inch guns. As far as recoil goes, I haven't fired a benelli yet that has bad recoil and I expect this will be no different from the rest of their line. I also have never in my life had a benelli jam on me; I have had many others jam. I think that the inertia driven system is the best system I've ever shot, now I admit this inline inertia driven system looks like it could be a little different, but I hope it's just as reliable as the regular inertia driven system.

O.K. that's about it.

I cannot believe all the complaining about the "looks" of the Vinci, I for one don't care about how guns look- I am more concerned with performance. Once favorable reviews are in, the same people that thought the Vinci was ugly will be waiting in line to buy one.

Remington 870 works just fine for 1/5 the price. And It's prettier.

tidefan365
also keep in mind most of these people are so negative because the have never gotten the opportunity to shoot anything but a lower quality shotgun. a long time ago i was the same way, until i shot one. then i realized the degree of my ignorance. i have some traditional, beautiful old shotguns and im the same way you are, i cant get rid of my remington...but it doesnt join me in the duck blind.

As a side note, I have owned 4 of the other brands auto-loaders,(I got tired of having them break or malfuction in the field), I don't like pumps, and my side X sides cannot shoot steel. I don't need 3.5 inch shells because I only shoot 10 - 40 yards.

gundalow

Benelli does make the Ultralight in 12ga.,24" or 26" barrels at a weight of 6lbs. and a 20ga.,24"bbl at 5.2lbs. MSRP $1599. Good luck in the future and keep the barrel up.

Ugly. Weird. Cheap looking.

But possibly the best shotgun ever. Lighter and more reliable. Faster cycling. Easier to maintain. Lower recoil. Improved patterns. Better fit and handling. Potential bottom line: Shooting results superior to any other shotgun.

OK, little evidence of meticulous gunmaking skill work. Or might it be a long-overdue cleansing of cherished but useless adornments of obsolescent designs?

This kind of innovative and forward-looking thinking might turn our beloved classics into decorative wallhangers or props for Edwardian hunting party reenactments.

At the very least, it promises more dependability than my 11-87, which, cleaned or not, stovepipes after barely a few boxes of cheap filthy promo fodder (my preferred ammo).

jUST FINISDE SHOOTING ONE AT THE SKEET RANGE. I usually shoot my Cordoba 12 GA. Right out of the gate shot better htan I had with my other guns - WOW. Why? Less recoil, less barrel rise = more on second targets. I would say it recols like a light load 20 with a medium load 12. Easy to swing. Typical Benellli - top notch.

Well I also just bought it and will sell a breeak open gun I did not like as much.

As far as 3.5 shells. I still have my Nova but really no reason to shot 3.5s as I hit what I aim at with 3 inch for the last 8 years. Keep the Nova just in case.

I really like it. No one around had any concerns about the looks especially when we took it apart. Clean up is worth the new design - EASY!

Price - OK - not cheap but what worth while is cheap. One golf club for $350.00 now that is not cheap!
Enjow

I bought a Vinci 12ga., and I love it! The Vinci is a very high quality shotgun. The recoil really is greatly reduced, my 5'2" 115lb. wife can shoot it and says there really is no "kick". I cannot wait to hunt real birds with it as it is a pleasure to shoot. Anyone that says the Vinci is ugly does not deserve a gun of this quality and definately should not buy one.

Manned up and forked over the cash for the Vinci. It is way lighter than the competition / very low recoil / and just has a very natural point of aim to it. Sight alignment and picture just happens without any thought. I spent a lot of time debating the Maxus, SX3, SBE, etc. Before my purchase, I read MANY MANY of the comments out on the net. I can say now, most are BS. Some guy claimed the gun is almost impossible to assemble and break down. My daughter is 16 years old / about 105 lbs. and has no problem at all doing either. Another guy claimed it jams a lot - only to be advised to use 3" shells until the break-in is complete. Another load of bull. Had it about a month now and put maybe 350 shells through it. NOT ONE SINGLE MISFEED OR JAM...Most of those were the cheapest 2 3/4 winchester "clay loads" I could get. Gotta say I have sat here and read every single post in this blog. Took a while but good info. I'm not seeing any criticize the patterns, function, etc... A lot of "it's ugly", "it costs too much and my $250 brand x is just as good", etc... It comes down to getting what you pay for. The typical American consumer is pretty smart and isn't gonna pay the price difference if the value's not there. Just last week a friend commented about my stupidity for paying so much for a gun. Fast forward to this Monday morning... a group of us were talking about this past Saturday's dove shoot and he was talking about how something broke on the foregrip of his #@*&^ pump and how he was having to use his thumb and index finger to manipulate it to get through the day...Point Made...Thanks. Maintenance on anything is critical and there are a ton of fine guns for very little money, but complaining because some people opted to make a real investment in a firearm is much of an argument. BTW, if anybody has bought one and doesn't like the thing, post what you'll take for it to get it off your hands. I'm interested...