Winchester SX4 vs Franchi

Kurtr

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My kid is pushing 6'8" now when he was 12 he was 6'4" we had to add some shims to his benelli nova. He shoots that thing great asked if he was wanting a different shotgun the other day and said no way. Wish we had a gun smith closer to check fit. Finding anything that fits be it clothing or guns is getting more challenging. About the only layout is the alpsoutdoorz legend other wise all the rest are to short
 


Migrator Man

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Winchesters are made in Japan??? Serious question. I had no idea.
Were made in Japan, now most are made in Portugal

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My kid is pushing 6'8" now when he was 12 he was 6'4" we had to add some shims to his benelli nova. He shoots that thing great asked if he was wanting a different shotgun the other day and said no way. Wish we had a gun smith closer to check fit. Finding anything that fits be it clothing or guns is getting more challenging. About the only layout is the alpsoutdoorz legend other wise all the rest are to short
6’8”!!!!! Dang please tell me he’s a BB player! Final Approach pro guide blinds are pretty big
 

snow1

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In my old age,I dumped my layouts (final approach pro guide) a few years ago,today it's apex blind with a fold chair and a built in gun rack and coffee mug holder,whack a few birds is a bonus otherwise we enjoy the sunrise and watch the pup makes the day.This happens with age.
 
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bigv

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BV first off bad habit to bead check,poor advice by gunshop guy...second if your seeing two barrels your eyes are focused on the bead then when you look down range it takes a few seconds for your eyes to re-focus on the target,but agreed your a big boy,taking a new gun off the rack and expect to have the perfect fit ain't happening, same goes for the average size guy,same shotgun 5'4 he'll have issues as well on fit.,Long arms will require about an inch or more added to your franchi stock butt plate,my benelli and beretta both have 14.5" length of pull(LOP) which is okay for average sized guyz you most likely need to add another 1" + otherwise your nose will touch the rec'ver you big galoot.

if you really like your new shotgun I suggest having it fitted rather than adding shim's and hope for the best,a good gunsmith that is a shooter is a great asset if you have one in your area,call your local gun range,they most often will recommend a good smith that shoot's registerd target's you can contact for gun fit,lot's of gunsmith's around the country,finding one that shoots is where you want to go for fit,not sure where you are located but one damn good smith here in spicer minnesota is Pat Laib,he's a specialist,also builds custom rifles...

Pat usually hits all the big trap shoots around the country,not only to shoot but sets up shop for shooter's having gun issue's,not sure if north dakota has any current shoots coming up this late in the season but look Pat up,try to connect with him before he heads to AZ for the winter (he shoots all winter down there)

Another specialty gunsmith that travels and shoots is Tom Larkin owner of the
"stock shop" one on the best gunfit specialist in the country,also an avid waterfowl hunter,field gun he shoots is benelli so he'll be in the know on your franchi, last time I chatted with him,he's located in kenyon minn but travels all over for big shoots but heads to AZ after duck season,just a few thoughts.

goodluck BV...

PS regarding shooting sports we all get in slumps,most often the remedy is a new shotgun,then we customize our new toy,shoot the hell out of it and yatzee no more slump,problem solved after spending $1000's scores often rise(because we are shooting more,it's not the shotgun,rather the indian shooting...so consider a pro for gunfit iffin your a serious shooter then hit the range for a few 100 rds to bond with your new toy.

Try this excersise mounting your shotgun at home,if you have a large mirror in one of your rooms,face the mirror with shotgun in hand,close your eyes and mount your shotgun as if your going to shoot,once gun is mounted open your eyes to view how your line of sight looks,make minor adjustments as needed,cast,cant etc,maybe a drop in your case,but a good smith will help ya out.


Thanks snow. That is good advice. Maybe I should try that first as it does seem a little short for me. My brother who was a shooter in the military said to take gun and grip it like you are shooting it. Hand around grip, finger on trigger etc but point it up with just that one hand. The stock should stick snug in your crotch of arm (where bicept meets forearm). This franchi doesn't quite do that. Is prob 1-2 too short. Think that would make a difference...even a but pad??
 

Kurtr

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Were made in Japan, now most are made in Portugal

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6’8”!!!!! Dang please tell me he’s a BB player! Final Approach pro guide blinds are pretty big

yep going into his sophomore year so starting to grow in to his body and lifting weights. I’m glad he’s a pretty good kid or I might have to get a taser to keep him in line haha
 


snow1

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Thanks snow. That is good advice. Maybe I should try that first as it does seem a little short for me. My brother who was a shooter in the military said to take gun and grip it like you are shooting it. Hand around grip, finger on trigger etc but point it up with just that one hand. The stock should stick snug in your crotch of arm (where bicept meets forearm). This franchi doesn't quite do that. Is prob 1-2 too short. Think that would make a difference...even a but pad??

Never herd of this method for gunfit?,must be for rifle...

but for your situation you need to glue a spacer inbetween gun butt and recoil pad to adjust for LOP,this where a qualified gunsmith comes in for fit,these spagetti guns can be tempermental when making mods to the stock recoil spring such as adding a spacer,I added 2"s on my SBE2 and had cycling issues right away,pissed me off after 17 years shooting benelli,bought this beretta A400 xtreme,but miss my benelli everyday in the field,so dang easy to break down/clean rear trigger guard safety is a plus on the benelli,plus having a high POI makes wing shooting easy,one can float the target(hold underneath rather than cover like the beretta)but that's me,everyone is different.

BOT,couple hunting buds have this sx-4,they shoot alot,targets and birds,no complaints,but haven't hunted with them in severe cold weather so not sure if they cycle well in cold,sx1 and 2 sucked eggs in temps below 20 degree's,wouldn't cycle,$600 single shot,then neither did 11-87's or browning gold's back then,these inertia cycling italian shotguns thrive year around as long as ppl use the right lube in cold weather,keep away from likes of "rem-oil" which turns to honey in cold weather.
 

bigv

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slip on butt pad? Come to think of it...I have a benelli nova I shot years ago. Was too short so slid on butt pad. Lights out for years. Hmm...maybe on to something?
 

tikkalover

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This

Beretta A400 Xplor Action




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Mr. Stevenson

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Pretty sure only Mod 70's are made in Portugal. It's a deal with them and South Carolina.

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I preferred Berretta automatics when they were readily discernable from Rem 1100s.

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Don't get me wrong. The above is a fine looking shotgun.
 
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snow1

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quote:Don't get me wrong. The above is a fine looking shotgun

this pic of the A400 xplor is a sporting clay shotgun,the A400 xtreme replaced breretta extrema2,both old and new beretta's are great semi's.only two gas ports and uses inertia cycling as well.

not long ago I spent 5 day's in argentina hunting doves/pidgeons and trout fishing,we traveled w/o our firearms as the ranch we stayed at had loaner beretta's "al391's" ran well over 2k rds thru mine,dirty slow burn powder spanish made like Rio ammo,very dusty field condtion's everyday,never cleaned that shothgun,yet it always cycled,reason why I didn't hesitate to replace my benelli with this A400,it's a 3.5 rec'ver but these days I only shoot 3"
' ammo in the field,the xtreme A400 is beretta's heavy duty magnum shotgun,unlike benelli's version SBE3 which weighs empty 8lbs and can't handle heavy 3.5 ammo over time day after day compared the beretta xtreme or extrema2.Just my PO.With a few facts throwin in.


 


Migrator Man

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quote:Don't get me wrong. The above is a fine looking shotgun

this pic of the A400 xplor is a sporting clay shotgun,the A400 xtreme replaced breretta extrema2,both old and new beretta's are great semi's.only two gas ports and uses inertia cycling as well.

not long ago I spent 5 day's in argentina hunting doves/pidgeons and trout fishing,we traveled w/o our firearms as the ranch we stayed at had loaner beretta's "al391's" ran well over 2k rds thru mine,dirty slow burn powder spanish made like Rio ammo,very dusty field condtion's everyday,never cleaned that shothgun,yet it always cycled,reason why I didn't hesitate to replace my benelli with this A400,it's a 3.5 rec'ver but these days I only shoot 3"
' ammo in the field,the xtreme A400 is beretta's heavy duty magnum shotgun,unlike benelli's version SBE3 which weighs empty 8lbs and can't handle heavy 3.5 ammo over time day after day compared the beretta xtreme or extrema2.Just my PO.With a few facts throwin in.


Ok you sold me on the Beretta extreme plus. Who wants to buy my Retay????
 

snow1

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Retay,I remember MM couple years ago you brought this model/make up,the benelli knock off at half the price if I remember right, read up on it,other than made in turkey it sounds like the real deal.
 

Migrator Man

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Retay,I remember MM couple years ago you brought this model/make up,the benelli knock off at half the price if I remember right, read up on it,other than made in turkey it sounds like the real deal.

Honestly I haven’t even shot my Retay much. I’m not a big fan of the rear safety position and can’t get used to it. I only shoot 3” lately and have gotten used to my beretta a300. I would like to shoot up some of my 3.5” collection so a softer shooting gun sounds appealing to me.

What are your thoughts on the Benelli Super Vinci? It has the forward safety in front of the trigger that I am used to.
 

snow1

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Quote:What are your thoughts on the Benelli Super Vinci? It has the forward safety in front of the trigger that I am used to.

reconsider MM vinci is still inertia driven cycling,felt recoil is very noticeable if one is recoil sensitive,further vinci has issues with the small diameter stock pistol grip that is flush with the rec'ver cracking unless one is very careful handling this shotgun,this of course is the synthetic version.

as far as a soft shooting 12ga,it's hard to beat the beretta A400 xtreme,I agree with you,on the same page only shooting 3" ammo these days,but my A400 xtreme eats everything up no problem,sometimes I'll have a 3.5 shell in my ammo bag that sliips in in the heat of the moment under assult from incoming birds,but I'm the opposite of you,can't/don't like the front of trigger guard safety plus not keen of how flat this beretta shoots,can't drop the stock as the A400 has the exclusive "recoil kick off" system.it's two gas type cyclinders like shock absorbers built in the rear of the stock to minumize felt recoil so adjusting the POI ain't happening (point of impact).

Not sure where you are located but I'll be in western minnesota and maybe northeast south dakota in october and or mid november if you care to give my A400 a whirl unless I dump it before then.
 
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Migrator Man

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Quote:What are your thoughts on the Benelli Super Vinci? It has the forward safety in front of the trigger that I am used to.

reconsider MM vinci is still inertia driven cycling,felt recoil is very noticeable if one is recoil sensitive,further vinci has issues with the small diameter stock pistol grip that is flush with the rec'ver cracking unless one is very careful handling this shotgun,this of course is the synthetic version.

as far as a soft shooting 12ga,it's hard to beat the beretta A400 xtreme,I agree with you,on the same page only shooting 3" ammo these days,but my A400 xtreme eats everything up no problem,sometimes I'll have a 3.5 shell in my ammo bag that sliips in in the heat of the moment under assult from incoming birds,but I'm the opposite of you,can't/don't like the front of trigger guard safety plus not keen of how flat this beretta shoots,can't drop the stock as the A400 has the exclusive "recoil kick off" system.it's two gas type cyclinders like shock absorbers built in the rear of the stock to minumize felt recoil so adjusting the POI ain't happening (point of impact).

Not sure where you are located but I'll be in western minnesota and maybe northeast south dakota in october and or mid november if you care to give my A400 a whirl unless I dump it before then.

Is that Vinci cracking problem covered by warranty?. I’m not babying my duck guns but not abusing them either. Might look for a used one if I’m good condition
 

snow1

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good question,I doubt it,just a well known issue and has been since the vinci came out,usually warrenty issues are one year and cover malfunction's...everything else is a 30/30 warrenty....30 feet or 30 seconds as you walk out the door.
 

Migrator Man

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good question,I doubt it,just a well known issue and has been since the vinci came out,usually warrenty issues are one year and cover malfunction's...everything else is a 30/30 warrenty....30 feet or 30 seconds as you walk out the door.

Another question for you. Found a good deal on a lightly used Beretta a400 xplor in 20 gauge that was just reduced to $999. They had it marked down to $1400 for the longest time because it was a returned gun. Got the scoop on the gun and I guess it was having cycling issues so it was returned and the store sent it in for repairs. Beretta replaced a part and shot 12 trap loads through it to test it out and it worked great so they sent it back to the store.

Have you heard any issues with this model? I assume the issue was fixed but there is no warranty from the store in the case it isn’t fixed or the part breaks again. For $999 I feel like it may be worth the risk for a $1500 shotgun. I’m tired of waiting for a Beretta A300 Ultima in 20 ga.
 

snow1

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xplor is beretta's sporting shotgun ,have not delt with that model,plenty of shooter's I know that shoot the 12ga. really like this model,light felt recoil,no cycling issues....

MM, sounds like you found a good buy,I would be curious what beretta did to address whatever problem this shotgun had,my guess is the inertia spring could've dis-ingauged causing the cycling issue.

I would ask the store mgr if you could run a few rds through it,it's used so why not...$1k is alot of $ on a dice roll that she won't hiccup on ya.

Goodluck MM.hope it works out for ya,iffin it does it's a good deal for that price.
 

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