This an absolutely fantastic overview of gas vs inertia shotguns. Lots of information, pros and cons and things to consider when thinking about which way to go. Thank you so, so very much! 👍🏼
I once had a customer who refused to buy a gas operated gun as ammo was expensive enough without having to add gas , I tried to explain to no avail , he purchased a pump gun 😊 . Every year we had a few customers coming back complaining about the 2 big pits in the bore and wanting their money back , more tactfull explanations needed .😊😊
I love my gas gun. I’m getting older and my shoulder seems to appreciate recoil less and less, so I’ll take lower recoil over less cleaning any day. (Cleaning the gun is a cathartic experience that I enjoy anyway.)
I personally love a 20ga gas gun. Love my Browning silver. It will cycle EVERYTHING! By the way I'm 24. And a man. I don't mind 12 but 20 is just more pleasant.
Been an avid dove shooter all my life. Never owned an automatic shotgun. But in recent years,even my 20 guage double would give me a shooter headache via sensitive neck. No fun. I hunted dove all afternoon on opening day with my new CZ 712 gas operated twelve guage and no problem whatsoever. I used 1 ounce dove loads, but 1 and 1/8 loads would probably be fine too.😊
I shoot a Beretta A400 Excel Sporting. 4000+ Rounds and runs like a top with everything down to 7/8oz Loads. Given that, I keep it clean; really clean. Especially the Gas System, which gets a full cleaning about every 500 Rounds. Running decent Ammo helps as well. I ran about 1000 Rounds of Aguila 12Ga and it was horribly dirty. I normally run Federal or Remington Gun Club which is cleaner burning. Just one guys .02 cents. Always enjoy TGS!
I’ve had both Benelli’s and Beretta’s also and definitely prefer the Berettas AL390st and an A400 excell for their recoil reduction and sheer durability, The 390 has had a house worth of shells through it without any issues, breakage or ammo sensitivity. The Benelli M2 20 bore has been an expensive disappointment. Ammo sensitive, issues with the shell catch and has been to back to the Benelli service center twice.
I’ve had my old man’s AL-2 for about 20 years, he bought it new in the early 70’s. To this day it’s one of my favorite shotguns to fire. Low recoil and light weight.. even being a 12 gauge. I saw that AL-3 in the video and immediately recognized the internals… pretty much the same as the AL-2. Great vids.
I bought a Browning silver last year for waterfowl. It's a gas recoil, very similar system to the SX3, you had there. Love how it shoots, soft recoil etc., but what I really hate about it is the nasty cylinder burn on the tube (noticed it on your SX3 as well). I clean it after every use, so not a huge problem.
What you have said is all correct. I totally agree with the difference and purposes. Personally, I enjoy cleaning my guns on a cold winter day and Gas all the way for me. Browning Maxus wicket wing. Very soft shooting. 4 years it’s never let me down. It cycles everything. Cheers Mate.
Thanks mate for that video. It says almost everything, the choice is up to preferences. I long hesitated between an M2 Benelli and Maxus 2 Browning (I had 2 Maxus couple of years ago), well I went again for the well balanced Maxus synthetic 12g in 28"barrel. Yes, it defenately requires most upkeep after each shooting clay session, it also give the pleasure to disasemble/reasemble the gun for a better knowledge.
Benelli click. I've hunted with both Benelli and Super x2 back then in the winter on a sand bar and I promise with the only Super x2 in the group, they was second guessing. Action frozen shut until shooting started. The issue with SBE just like now, is the bolt or action not closing. Like pieces of sand in there click. That Super x was just grinding sand for lunch. They are easier to clean and lighter but I think advertising and sponsors got those guys all hype up. Just like Mathews bows. They all are pretty good.
Great video and great comparison... it’s funny how you managed to slow down your talking after that comment the other day 😂... on semiautos, I have a few berettas & a couple of benellis and love them all... I find each of them is more suitable for a specific use... all great and all reliable and I’m blessed to have them all. Cleaning is easier on the benellies as you mentioned but it’s still not that hard on the berettas...
Inertia action invented by Carl Axel Sjogren a swedish engineer in the early 1900's and applied it to roughly 5000 shotguns from 1908 and 1909 SJOGREN SHOTGUN. in 1980 Paolo Benelli improved inertia action system and patented it in 1986. Winchester had to pay Benelli licensing fees to use parts of their system on the Auto 5 recent reincarnation. Personally I will take Benelli inertia system over gas system any day and twice on Sundays!
I have a beretta a400 xtreme that is treated with the same amenities as that Benelli you mentioned. Aluminum receiver, treated parts with either chrome or camo finish. I hunt waterfowl in snow and rain and the gun keeps asking for more. Reduced recoil is really nice feature of a gas gun. I have yet to have a Benelli shoot correctly for me. The last one I had was an sbe3 and what waste of money. It shot high and left even after going back to the factory 2 times. In 10 years of duck hunting I have seen a jam in just about every semi auto I can think of. I have seen the most in Benellis by a long shot!
I'm a bit late with this comment but you've summarised exactly what I found with both my autos. I have an AL391 Teknys Gold Stonecoat and a Benelli Raffaello 500th anniversary. The 391 is heavier in the fore end and much nicer at clay grounds even when starting gun down. On the other hand, for wildfowling and pigeons I always take the Raff because it'll swing faster, is less meat to carry and just feels more dependable. The 391 does take an awful lot more cleaning but then I put more through it over the same time period - clays vs fieldwork. For reference, the 391 is the only one that's given me problems, but then it's had probably 10 times the amount through it. it also refuses to cycle anything less than 28g and occasionally won't even do those. On occasion though I will take my Benelli Super Nova pump to either a clay ground or for pigeons if it's raining and that thing is very animalistic. It's a real simpleton and lighter than both autos for obvious reasons. All three are enjoyable in their own ways and the experiences differ hugely from all my traditional O/Us & S/Ss on clay and game days.
I have a beretta outlander, though its reliable as a game gun, I wish I had bought an inertia as it is very tiring to clean it every single time after shooting. Great video as usual. Thanks!! Greetings from Athens Greece
I've never thought that you talk too fast but I suppose being a Canadian makes the Queens' English not seem foreign to my ear. Welsh... now there's a whole other kettle of fish. Keep up the good work mate, and stay safe and healthy, BG
canadian here too, go to any bar in newfoundland, anytime of the day, there'll be at least 3 guys you can't understand and it's not necessarily the alcohol. edit; I love newfoundland by the way.
@@hissingoose funniest thing I ever heard was at a market in St. John's. I used to have family in Newfoundland years ago. My ma and I were at the market, and she was looking at brussel sprouts. Random dude walked up and said: "yeah, the brussel sprouts are nice this year, but you can't overcook em', or they taste like a fart!" Omg like 15 years later we still talk about that
had my 1st one in 64 had it 10 years i bought another one 1 year ago for £150 .00 it was made in 72 and its still going strong . if it aint broke don't fix it
Great video. Mine Winchester SX4, and I love it. Gas is my choice. Until now it's there is no problem with my SX4. Besides, good handling and easy to lead a target. Anyway, it's my favour to know other shotgun variant...
Very good video tutorial! Well explained and easy to follow and understand. It would have been worth to mention that in order to overcome the recoil problem that you normally get with inertia semi-autos, Benelli has develop the "ComforTech® stock and pad which are designed to reduce up to 48% of the felt recoil compared to other semi-auto shotguns.
Over here in the US the reason why benelli inertia driven guns are so popular is waterfowl hunting. Typically when hunting ducks and geese you face adverse conditions like lots of water while duck hunting and while goose hunting lots of snow wind and ice can form on the guns. I personally shoot an Remington 1187 3.5" gun but have always have had the gas system freeze up while hunting in cold temperatures even if there is no snow or rain, my hunting buddy has a Benelli Super Black Eagle 3 which is inertia driven gun he has had significantly less amount of malfunctions while hunting together (0) to my 1187 almost every shell being shot I have to manually set the next shell in. This is why my next gun for waterfowl hunting will be an inertia gun and I will never use a gas driven gun for anything but sunny 70 degree days because if not I know mine will malfunction. As for 3.5" inertia guns I have seen that same hunting partner shoot 3.5" to 2.75" shells but typically you can't do that out of the box it took him about a year of shooting 3" and 3.5" shells to break in the spring enough to shoot cheap target ammunition reliably. Typically if I see someone with a semi auto shooting clay's at a club if they are serious about it not just shooting for fun they usually have a beretta or a browning maxus, most of the time it is women who are just starting out and I have seen most of the regulars who shoot them eventually move into an over under very quickly
You make a good point about Benellis being more rugged in rain, snow, sleet, and dirty conditions. In that sense, they are kind of like the Glock of shotguns. Back in the 1980s before Benelli had quite figured out their slick marketing, the action was called a "delayed blowback." I guess that wasn't sexy enough, so at some point a marketing guy in Italy suggested they use a much more scientific sounding phrase: "inertia driven." Lordy did that ever ring fancy! Then Benelli was able to charge much more $$$$ for the same gun. ~~ Benellis are generally very good guns, but the hard felt recoil, plastic trigger guards, and many of them not hitting at point of aim have steered me away from Benelli after owning one for 10 years.
@@cracky_wainwright Buy a new Browning A5 its the same type of operating system, personally I haven't like the SBE2 or 3 when I have shot and held them.
Both styles have their benefits really. For me less cleaning is a big plus for the intertia, and also, oddly, that it doesn't chuck empty carts as far as say a Beretta gas design.
Ya nailed it! I had been a gasser most my life with the exception of an old 870 pump back in the 70s. Then turned to 1100s and Super Xs. Then a doctor friend bought an Ethos and let me shoot it. All I remember is wow! So I got a Montefeltro. Best gun I’ve ever owned. I kept the SX4 a week and traded up to the Monty. The Ethos is on the list now too.
I have a montefeltro lovely and light hate the recoil pad when shooting heavy loads but found out you can buy a comfort tech stock for it then it will be perfect . Just info for you incase you in same boat
John Dalton It’s always funny that you find parts after the fact. I ended up selling the Monte not long ago after I got the Ethos. It was a fantastic shotgun but I just didn’t need it. I absolutely love the Ethos. Not much of a difference in them as both shoot just fine. But thanks for the information. Always good to have another source.
I have a gas beretta A350 and an inertia Benelli M2. Love them both respectively. The Benelli seems to come on the more rugged hunts with me and the beretta gets a slightly easier go as far as some hunting conditions go. Cheers from Canada eh 🍻🇨🇦🤘
I have a Remington 1100 12 and 20. Bought both in 68. Shot 10's of thousands of shells through both. Few rings latter and one gas ram. Just the firing pin hitting the primer,no fuss no muss. They just keep going.
Really interesting video, thanks! My Franchi Affinity needed a couple of boxes of game loads to break it in but is now super reliable. Definitely more of a kick than my Fabarm Ellegi gas gun. I don’t mind cleaning my guns regularly so that was never a decider. My Fabarm doesn’t like anything less than 28g but otherwise is a fine gun and has stood the test of time.
A weekends worth of shooting really highlights the difference between gas and inertia wrt cleaning. My 930 Mossberg shovel is filthy after a case while my mates Benelli looks spiffy. The Mossberg coughed on light bird loads until I'd been through a few cases and now it will happily shoot anything from my 535grain handloaded slugs to low velocity 28 gram No7's.
Thanks for speaking more Slowly for us Yanks over here , much Better ! The first Video I watched of yours was tough . Good explanation of the Difference between the two. Keep them coming. Thanks
The funny thing about inertia is that it is a much more simple recoil-operated system, so the fact short and long -recoil came first is kinda funny, though I guarantee John Browning or even someone else came up with inertia op. way back then and just did not pursue it for whatever reason, probably due to not liking a system who's reliability can vary depending on how the gun shot and by who.
I have a Browning Maxus less than a year old I clean it thoroughly every time I come back from corvid / pigeon shooting also have used on clays with 24 gram 8s fibre with no problem at all I would highly recommend one for clay or vermin control.
I’ve only had 2 autos, one was a steoger (benelli action) and a Breda Altair (beretta action). The steoger was lighter but way more fussy with cartridges anything less than 32g was a hit and hope, the Breda on the other hand fires everything from 21g to 56g. I got ride of the steoger last year and got a browning 525. I don’t think I’d go near a benelli action ever again. Thanks for the video.
Just sold my stoeger for a benelli. I had a great experience with my stoeger. Used with slugs on deer with fantastic results and great accuracy. Shot clays and 3-gun as well. Never let me down.
I've had a shotgun my dad gave me about 2 years ago just realized it's a gas gun lol. I was always surprised with how well it cycled target loads. Now I'm trying to learn up on gas shotguns.
I have a Winchester Model 50 that is really a pain to clean but with its heavy receiver does absorb recoil better than most of the type. My front-heavy Ithaca with a light-weight receiver is more comfortable in terms of recoil but slower to get on target though swinging through the target is easier and more consistent. As you indicated: Trade-offs. Isn't that always the case with guns?
Benelli all the way for me 😎 SBE2 for most of my field shooting, Rafaello for the nice days and clays 😆 Thanks for your videos, especially on autos, they should be more popular here in the UK, great guns. 👍🏼👍🏼👍🏼👍🏼
Why you was having trouble with the SX3 was that on assembly the piston sleeve locating pin was not in it's guide slot on the left hand side of the receiver thus causing a location issue.
I had an old Rem1100 which was great and smooth shooting. My only experience of a recoil semi auto was a Franchi which seemed to suffer quite badly from stoppages even with regular 1 1/16th cartridges. Seemed to improve with some fresh oil..
My uncle, who was our state's trap champion, used an 1100, too. I shot my first clays with that gun. I was a skinny 15 and turned out to be good enough from the start that the Governor came to watch me shoot. Fond memory...great gun.
Hi Johnny, would you consider doing a video on how to tune a semi auto please.? My 3” chambered Hatsan Escort ( gas driven ) doesn’t like lighter loads. Basically it won’t reliably cycle anything below 70mm & likes 32/34 gram loads, I’d like to use it for clays as well as hunting.
Just found this video today as after owning many 12-gauge pump guns I am in the market to buy my first 12 gauge semi-auto and am torn between the two operating systems.... I would be using it to shoot light loads and I know on a gas gun if it doesn't function all I have to do is enlarged the gas ports... Wondering what the process is on the inertia gun to make it function with light loads ? Lighter springs ?
I have buddies that bought super black eagles and super Vinci's and they are great goose hunting guns. However being 3.5 inch guns they wont cycle light 1 oz target loads. Me and my normal hunting crew all have browning or winchester 3.5 Inch autos that cost half as much and cycle the lightest loads without problems. Active gas system blows inertia system out of the water. Benelli does a great job advertising and hyping up their guns and people eat it up. One of the SBE owners went and bought a second 3 inch gas auto just to shoot skeets with us cause his 2000 dollar benelli becomes an expensive straight pull bolt shotgun
Don't know about other countries, but, in the US, "low brass" target loads usually regarded as "light" actually often develop breech pressures of 10,000 psi just so that they cycle more reliably in semi-autos.
Had M2s (Inertia) and Mossberg 930s (gas). The Benelli is BY FAR the better gun; it feels better, runs better, looks better and is MUCH easier to maintain but was almost twice the cost. It all comes down to money and this time around I went back to a 930 only because its all I could afford and used Benellis in the configuration I wanted (2+1, 24 inch barrel) are rare.
Yes the Benelli M2 is a light weight sleek gun, if you want light and sleek get a m2 supersport. Bit unfair comparing to an ulrika which is a beefy version. I have Beretta A300 outlander which is a lightweight sleek gas operated gun.
I have a Beretta UGB25 exel which I assume is a gas system but as the whole receiver and mechanical stuff is different I have no idea how to strip it, if I can at all. Perhaps you could make a video on the UGB25 Jonny??? I love it and fine that as they are so rare these days the value is rising. I often get asked if mine is for sale. It isn't.
In fact the SX3-20 is much easier to disassemble than the 391. What you missed here is it having a small metal plate on the bottom of the bolt, accessible from the loading port. Push it with your finger tip, the charging handle and bolt will come off in one single motion!
I see you have a 391 urika in 20 bore how reliable are they I have urika in 12 bore but heard that the 20 is much less reliable what is your opinion . Talked slowly but you still have a habit of repeating your self .. it’s a very nice action ...it’s a really nice action ..
Hi Jonny, I found that technical comparison very interesting. I own a 12g Benelli Supersport which has a large stainless steel mid section to add balanced weight to the ideal mid part of the gun - a very clever idea I thought. Combined with the ported barrel the recoil is quite mild and it's controllable to swing through clays - but it won't cycle any cartridges reliably that are less that 28g. It is quite new and I understand they become more tolerant to lighter cartridge loads as they break in a little?
@@tgsoutdoors Thanks Jonny, I'll push a few more 28g slabs through it first and then consider your option 2 - although it is quite comfortable with 28g Eley Select or GB White Golds - I can use up my 24g Hull cartridge stock on my ATA Sporter (when we can begin shooting again of course 😒)
i dont know if a few more slaps would make a difference or not my supersport cycled 24 grams loads from the first shot that i put into the gun and they are the only load that i use in it, 24 grams of shot at 1250 fps using ADI AS30 or clays if you are from the USA
have run something like 2000 cartridges (24 gram steel) thru an m2. and oly cleaned it once at 500. has never jamed. only problem i had was luggs not wanting to go into battery after 1500 plus and no cleaning on manualy closing it. so i fell good in saying that claning the chamber on every 1000rnds and it will run anythin you put in it 24g and up. so the benelli isnt fuzzy.
Didnt explain the inertial system correctly. It has a floating weight with a spring between itself and the bolt head. It is pressed against the bolt head during firing then rebounds, unlocking and taking the bolt with it...
Could you explain to me why my Webley-Scott 810 is, what I can only explain by saying. It is cycling to well, when loaded with three shells(ya know 1 up the spout) and I fire, the remaining two shells try to load thus causing a jam :-( with just two shells in it, it works fine? Any constructive ideas, would be very grateful.
I shot gas guns for several years, versamax, v3, maxus. I just traded in and got a sbe3 last year... I will never go back to a gas gun, inertia is superior in every way in my opinion. I take my sbe clay shooting and i shoot better with it then my 686. 24-25 in skeet consistently with the sbe
I noticed in your “Keepers Day” video that the young game keeper was shooting his pheasants with a semi auto. I thought that was a hanging offense in Britain? Any way, it seemed he was doing a very good job of it. The recoil handling properties of a semi, especially a gas gun with a good recoil pad, make it a great choice for fast shooting with heavy loads. IMHO
I prefer the recoil one.. I use those shells with biodegradable wads. And from my understanding, is that gas ports and biowads don't do well together. The downside is that the recoil one (I've got one of those modern long recoil shotguns) requires adjusting (ie. tinkering) when switching ammo. Gas operated semis are seemingly less picky about ammo.
Got me a ..benelli Cordoba..simply the best semi auto I have owned .got fed up using half a kitchen roll to clean the gas port system on my A400 xtreme
joe allison I have a 12 ga Córdoba and it’s a great gun... but I find it better suited for smaller birds because of how light it is... again; great gun!
If you want a shotgun for protection ? Like dangerous animals etc to have in a car … which model or which type should be best ? Like to shoot 00buckshots flite control wads etc ?
How easy are “standard” auto’s to use left handed? There are some models available left handed but most aren’t and very limited choice secondhand. Do the adjustable stocks offer much adjustment in terms of cast?
That is a more complex question and depends on how sensitive you are to the cartridge flying across your face and how you hold a gun (let alone whether you will use it at night) The sock sets are the same on both, with the shims going equally right or left handed.
Of course, there are bottom ejecting guns on the used market. They were favored by duck and goose hunters. The ones I remember were pumps. Remington made a bottom ejecting semi-auto though I never saw one. Must be some available out there.
I traded in a browning maxus Gas semi auto for new browning A5 inertia mechanism The A5 will not cycle light clay loads at all stripped and cleaned it Its fine with heavier duck loads I think the gas maxus was more reliable 👍
There's a tab inside of the receiver you have to press while pulling the charging handle to get the charging handle out. It's only on the 20ga variants of the SX3, the 12ga dosen't have this tab.
I like the reduced recoil of gas guns because i'm a wuss... and a mix snow-goose/honker/duck hunt (total combined limit 36 birds per person) one can easily bang off 75 rounds of 1 1/4oz @ 1550fps in 1-3 hours, which does start to suck at the end. in canada it is completely possible to be bagged out on all 3 in an hour. i've had 7 minute* honker hunts; 8 10-12lb geese within 7 minutes... those are usually early season solo hunts in swaths from a layout when the flight groups are still 3-5 birds/flight, flights are 1-2 minutes apart, and they'll land 5-6 yards from you if you let them. *time does not include setting up decoys or the blind. lol edit: th-cam.com/video/uZ2kn_EqZeA/w-d-xo.html
@@tgsoutdoors that's a daily limit. total personal possession limit on ducks is 24/license, dark geese (includes up to 9 specks) 24, and snow geese currently have no total limit. My wife and i both hunt, so our household limit is double that.
This an absolutely fantastic overview of gas vs inertia shotguns. Lots of information, pros and cons and things to consider when thinking about which way to go. Thank you so, so very much! 👍🏼
I once had a customer who refused to buy a gas operated gun as ammo was expensive enough without having to add gas , I tried to explain to no avail , he purchased a pump gun 😊 . Every year we had a few customers coming back complaining about the 2 big pits in the bore and wanting their money back , more tactfull explanations needed .😊😊
We have all been there!
These people should be refused any kind of sale on the grounds that they don’t understand weapons anywhere near enough 😂😂😂
They do not do their research on what they are buying. They can be dangerous around guns
if you don't understand how it works and don't want to learn you cant have it
@@robertboreman7672 Yep, definitely a danger to themselves at least!
1975 Belgium Browning 20mag a5 bought new....shoots any shell....hits what I point at, a dream to carry. . Easy to clean.... steel proofed
LOVE IT
I'll stick with old long recoil. Love the browning auto 5
You'd probly like a franchi affinity 3 or 3.5 then. Closest thing to that long recoil design today.
Great video. I'm a Beretta homer. So gas is my choice.
I love my gas gun. I’m getting older and my shoulder seems to appreciate recoil less and less, so I’ll take lower recoil over less cleaning any day. (Cleaning the gun is a cathartic experience that I enjoy anyway.)
20 ga is an option too!!
You speak wisdom.
I personally love a 20ga gas gun. Love my Browning silver. It will cycle EVERYTHING! By the way I'm 24. And a man. I don't mind 12 but 20 is just more pleasant.
Been an avid dove shooter all my life. Never owned an automatic shotgun. But in recent years,even my 20 guage double would give me a shooter headache via sensitive neck. No fun. I hunted dove all afternoon on opening day with my new CZ 712 gas operated twelve guage and no problem whatsoever. I used 1 ounce dove loads, but 1 and 1/8 loads would probably be fine too.😊
I got the CZ712 G2 which is beautiful with its walnut stock and parkerized finish. Really like the gun.
I shoot a Beretta A400 Excel Sporting. 4000+ Rounds and runs like a top with everything down to 7/8oz Loads. Given that, I keep it clean; really clean. Especially the Gas System, which gets a full cleaning about every 500 Rounds. Running decent Ammo helps as well. I ran about 1000 Rounds of Aguila 12Ga and it was horribly dirty. I normally run Federal or Remington Gun Club which is cleaner burning. Just one guys .02 cents. Always enjoy TGS!
Is it difficult to clean?
I have 4 Benelli's including an M2 SP and 2 AL391's and i think that was a very fair video and an honest comparison - Well done!
I’ve had both Benelli’s and Beretta’s also and definitely prefer the Berettas AL390st and an A400 excell for their recoil reduction and sheer durability, The 390 has had a house worth of shells through it without any issues, breakage or ammo sensitivity. The Benelli M2 20 bore has been an expensive disappointment. Ammo sensitive, issues with the shell catch and has been to back to the Benelli service center twice.
I’ve had my old man’s AL-2 for about 20 years, he bought it new in the early 70’s. To this day it’s one of my favorite shotguns to fire. Low recoil and light weight.. even being a 12 gauge. I saw that AL-3 in the video and immediately recognized the internals… pretty much the same as the AL-2. Great vids.
I bought a Browning silver last year for waterfowl. It's a gas recoil, very similar system to the SX3, you had there. Love how it shoots, soft recoil etc., but what I really hate about it is the nasty cylinder burn on the tube (noticed it on your SX3 as well). I clean it after every use, so not a huge problem.
The browning silver and sx3 both use the same active valve gas system. Pretty much the same gun on the inside
What you have said is all correct. I totally agree with the difference and purposes. Personally, I enjoy cleaning my guns on a cold winter day and Gas all the way for me. Browning Maxus wicket wing. Very soft shooting. 4 years it’s never let me down. It cycles everything. Cheers Mate.
Best video I've seen to explain, in detail, the differences. Thank you very much!
Thanks Jonny, you helped make up my mind. Benelli it is.
glad to hear it - good choice
Vinci is awesome, not traditional, but ya smile every time you take it out
Thanks mate for that video. It says almost everything, the choice is up to preferences. I long hesitated between an M2 Benelli and Maxus 2 Browning (I had 2 Maxus couple of years ago), well I went again for the well balanced Maxus synthetic 12g in 28"barrel. Yes, it defenately requires most upkeep after each shooting clay session, it also give the pleasure to disasemble/reasemble the gun for a better knowledge.
Thank you for that TGS. That was just the explanation I was looking for.
Benelli click. I've hunted with both Benelli and Super x2 back then in the winter on a sand bar and I promise with the only Super x2 in the group, they was second guessing. Action frozen shut until shooting started. The issue with SBE just like now, is the bolt or action not closing. Like pieces of sand in there click. That Super x was just grinding sand for lunch. They are easier to clean and lighter but I think advertising and sponsors got those guys all hype up. Just like Mathews bows. They all are pretty good.
Great video and great comparison... it’s funny how you managed to slow down your talking after that comment the other day 😂... on semiautos, I have a few berettas & a couple of benellis and love them all... I find each of them is more suitable for a specific use... all great and all reliable and I’m blessed to have them all. Cleaning is easier on the benellies as you mentioned but it’s still not that hard on the berettas...
As long as you keep on top If it, cleaning is never that hard.
Glad you enjoyed it
Inertia action invented by Carl Axel Sjogren a swedish engineer in the early 1900's and applied it to roughly 5000 shotguns from 1908 and 1909
SJOGREN SHOTGUN. in 1980 Paolo Benelli improved inertia action system and patented it in 1986. Winchester had to pay Benelli licensing fees to use parts of their system on the Auto 5 recent reincarnation.
Personally I will take Benelli inertia system over gas system any day and twice on Sundays!
Having no experience of autos I have learned something new today. Thanks
An auto shotgun that shoots properly is gold in the bank; if it does not operate properly ~ 🐀💩
I have a beretta a400 xtreme that is treated with the same amenities as that Benelli you mentioned. Aluminum receiver, treated parts with either chrome or camo finish. I hunt waterfowl in snow and rain and the gun keeps asking for more. Reduced recoil is really nice feature of a gas gun. I have yet to have a Benelli shoot correctly for me. The last one I had was an sbe3 and what waste of money. It shot high and left even after going back to the factory 2 times. In 10 years of duck hunting I have seen a jam in just about every semi auto I can think of. I have seen the most in Benellis by a long shot!
Just getting into shooting and hunting. Great overview. Lots of benefits to both, so it look like both it is.
I'm a bit late with this comment but you've summarised exactly what I found with both my autos. I have an AL391 Teknys Gold Stonecoat and a Benelli Raffaello 500th anniversary. The 391 is heavier in the fore end and much nicer at clay grounds even when starting gun down. On the other hand, for wildfowling and pigeons I always take the Raff because it'll swing faster, is less meat to carry and just feels more dependable.
The 391 does take an awful lot more cleaning but then I put more through it over the same time period - clays vs fieldwork.
For reference, the 391 is the only one that's given me problems, but then it's had probably 10 times the amount through it. it also refuses to cycle anything less than 28g and occasionally won't even do those.
On occasion though I will take my Benelli Super Nova pump to either a clay ground or for pigeons if it's raining and that thing is very animalistic. It's a real simpleton and lighter than both autos for obvious reasons. All three are enjoyable in their own ways and the experiences differ hugely from all my traditional O/Us & S/Ss on clay and game days.
I have a beretta outlander, though its reliable as a game gun, I wish I had bought an inertia as it is very tiring to clean it every single time after shooting. Great video as usual. Thanks!! Greetings from Athens Greece
I am sure you could clean it far less. Maybe just fully strip it down every 10 outings. I quite like cleaning mine as it goes.
You do not need to clean every time it is used. I’ve put several thousand shell in mine without malfunction between cleaning.
I've never thought that you talk too fast but I suppose being a Canadian makes the Queens' English not seem foreign to my ear. Welsh... now there's a whole other kettle of fish.
Keep up the good work mate, and stay safe and healthy,
BG
canadian here too, go to any bar in newfoundland, anytime of the day, there'll be at least 3 guys you can't understand and it's not necessarily the alcohol. edit; I love newfoundland by the way.
@@hissingoose funniest thing I ever heard was at a market in St. John's. I used to have family in Newfoundland years ago. My ma and I were at the market, and she was looking at brussel sprouts. Random dude walked up and said: "yeah, the brussel sprouts are nice this year, but you can't overcook em', or they taste like a fart!" Omg like 15 years later we still talk about that
Love my Remington 1100. Great video Johnny!
had my 1st one in 64 had it 10 years i bought another one 1 year ago for £150 .00 it was made in 72 and its still going strong . if it aint broke don't fix it
Great video. Mine Winchester SX4, and I love it. Gas is my choice. Until now it's there is no problem with my SX4. Besides, good handling and easy to lead a target. Anyway, it's my favour to know other shotgun variant...
Very good video tutorial! Well explained and easy to follow and understand. It would have been worth to mention that in order to overcome the recoil problem that you normally get with inertia semi-autos, Benelli has develop the "ComforTech® stock and pad which are designed to reduce up to 48% of the felt recoil compared to other semi-auto shotguns.
Well explained and demonstrated on the differences between the two Johnny. Nice one 👍
Over here in the US the reason why benelli inertia driven guns are so popular is waterfowl hunting. Typically when hunting ducks and geese you face adverse conditions like lots of water while duck hunting and while goose hunting lots of snow wind and ice can form on the guns. I personally shoot an Remington 1187 3.5" gun but have always have had the gas system freeze up while hunting in cold temperatures even if there is no snow or rain, my hunting buddy has a Benelli Super Black Eagle 3 which is inertia driven gun he has had significantly less amount of malfunctions while hunting together (0) to my 1187 almost every shell being shot I have to manually set the next shell in. This is why my next gun for waterfowl hunting will be an inertia gun and I will never use a gas driven gun for anything but sunny 70 degree days because if not I know mine will malfunction. As for 3.5" inertia guns I have seen that same hunting partner shoot 3.5" to 2.75" shells but typically you can't do that out of the box it took him about a year of shooting 3" and 3.5" shells to break in the spring enough to shoot cheap target ammunition reliably. Typically if I see someone with a semi auto shooting clay's at a club if they are serious about it not just shooting for fun they usually have a beretta or a browning maxus, most of the time it is women who are just starting out and I have seen most of the regulars who shoot them eventually move into an over under very quickly
You make a good point about Benellis being more rugged in rain, snow, sleet, and dirty conditions. In that sense, they are kind of like the Glock of shotguns. Back in the 1980s before Benelli had quite figured out their slick marketing, the action was called a "delayed blowback." I guess that wasn't sexy enough, so at some point a marketing guy in Italy suggested they use a much more scientific sounding phrase: "inertia driven." Lordy did that ever ring fancy! Then Benelli was able to charge much more $$$$ for the same gun. ~~ Benellis are generally very good guns, but the hard felt recoil, plastic trigger guards, and many of them not hitting at point of aim have steered me away from Benelli after owning one for 10 years.
@@cracky_wainwright Buy a new Browning A5 its the same type of operating system, personally I haven't like the SBE2 or 3 when I have shot and held them.
You'll have to do another video on the SX3 now. use Tribe Oil to soak that piston and clean the outside of the mag tube, it works a treat on mine.
Both styles have their benefits really. For me less cleaning is a big plus for the intertia, and also, oddly, that it doesn't chuck empty carts as far as say a Beretta gas design.
Ya nailed it! I had been a gasser most my life with the exception of an old 870 pump back in the 70s. Then turned to 1100s and Super Xs. Then a doctor friend bought an Ethos and let me shoot it. All I remember is wow! So I got a Montefeltro. Best gun I’ve ever owned. I kept the SX4 a week and traded up to the Monty. The Ethos is on the list now too.
I have a montefeltro lovely and light hate the recoil pad when shooting heavy loads but found out you can buy a comfort tech stock for it then it will be perfect . Just info for you incase you in same boat
John Dalton I tried to find a comfort tech stock. Got tired of looking so I bought an Ethos with the progressive recoil and I love it.
@@Kornholeeoo im left handed so I'm even more limited . Sportsman gun centre Devon has comfortech stocks for them or can source
John Dalton It’s always funny that you find parts after the fact. I ended up selling the Monte not long ago after I got the Ethos. It was a fantastic shotgun but I just didn’t need it. I absolutely love the Ethos. Not much of a difference in them as both shoot just fine. But thanks for the information. Always good to have another source.
very well explained. Thank you
I have a gas beretta A350 and an inertia Benelli M2. Love them both respectively. The Benelli seems to come on the more rugged hunts with me and the beretta gets a slightly easier go as far as some hunting conditions go. Cheers from Canada eh 🍻🇨🇦🤘
Really like your comparison. Got a lot of good information.
Thanks, this was good information for me, as I have never owned or used a semi auto shotgun
I have a Remington 1100 12 and 20. Bought both in 68. Shot 10's of thousands of shells through both. Few rings latter and one gas ram. Just the firing pin hitting the primer,no fuss no muss. They just keep going.
Really interesting video, thanks! My Franchi Affinity needed a couple of boxes of game loads to break it in but is now super reliable. Definitely more of a kick than my Fabarm Ellegi gas gun. I don’t mind cleaning my guns regularly so that was never a decider. My Fabarm doesn’t like anything less than 28g but otherwise is a fine gun and has stood the test of time.
A weekends worth of shooting really highlights the difference between gas and inertia wrt cleaning. My 930 Mossberg shovel is filthy after a case while my mates Benelli looks spiffy. The Mossberg coughed on light bird loads until I'd been through a few cases and now it will happily shoot anything from my 535grain handloaded slugs to low velocity 28 gram No7's.
Thanks for speaking more Slowly for us Yanks over here , much Better ! The first Video I watched of yours was tough .
Good explanation of the Difference between the two. Keep them coming. Thanks
You know you can adjust the playback speed, right?
Nice video ! Personaly i prefer inertia shotgun like my old browning auto 5 model 1904 a real pleasure to hunt with !
I thought the old A5 was gas?
@@andrewn.5117 No old a5 use inertia !
The funny thing about inertia is that it is a much more simple recoil-operated system, so the fact short and long -recoil came first is kinda funny, though I guarantee John Browning or even someone else came up with inertia op. way back then and just did not pursue it for whatever reason, probably due to not liking a system who's reliability can vary depending on how the gun shot and by who.
My first semiauto shotgun is beretta a302...is great!
A must watch video. Thanks
I have a Browning Maxus less than a year old I clean it thoroughly every time I come back from corvid / pigeon shooting also have used on clays with 24 gram 8s fibre with no problem at all I would highly recommend one for clay or vermin control.
I’ve only had 2 autos, one was a steoger (benelli action) and a Breda Altair (beretta action). The steoger was lighter but way more fussy with cartridges anything less than 32g was a hit and hope, the Breda on the other hand fires everything from 21g to 56g. I got ride of the steoger last year and got a browning 525. I don’t think I’d go near a benelli action ever again. Thanks for the video.
Just sold my stoeger for a benelli. I had a great experience with my stoeger. Used with slugs on deer with fantastic results and great accuracy. Shot clays and 3-gun as well. Never let me down.
I've had a shotgun my dad gave me about 2 years ago just realized it's a gas gun lol. I was always surprised with how well it cycled target loads. Now I'm trying to learn up on gas shotguns.
Can you help me with a broken gas gun
I have a Winchester Model 50 that is really a pain to clean but with its heavy receiver does absorb recoil better than most of the type. My front-heavy Ithaca with a light-weight receiver is more comfortable in terms of recoil but slower to get on target though swinging through the target is easier and more consistent. As you indicated: Trade-offs. Isn't that always the case with guns?
Benelli all the way for me 😎 SBE2 for most of my field shooting, Rafaello for the nice days and clays 😆 Thanks for your videos, especially on autos, they should be more popular here in the UK, great guns. 👍🏼👍🏼👍🏼👍🏼
Why you was having trouble with the SX3 was that on assembly the piston sleeve locating pin was not in it's guide slot on the left hand side of the receiver thus causing a location issue.
I had an old Rem1100 which was great and smooth shooting. My only experience of a recoil semi auto was a Franchi which seemed to suffer quite badly from stoppages even with regular 1 1/16th cartridges. Seemed to improve with some fresh oil..
My uncle, who was our state's trap champion, used an 1100, too. I shot my first clays with that gun. I was a skinny 15 and turned out to be good enough from the start that the Governor came to watch me shoot. Fond memory...great gun.
Nice love your vids
Interesting topic. Both have their merits.
Hi Johnny, would you consider doing a video on how to tune a semi auto please.? My 3” chambered Hatsan Escort ( gas driven ) doesn’t like lighter loads.
Basically it won’t reliably cycle anything below 70mm & likes 32/34 gram loads, I’d like to use it for clays as well as hunting.
bruce mahoney think that was done on a Breda video recently
Just found this video today as after owning many 12-gauge pump guns I am in the market to buy my first 12 gauge semi-auto and am torn between the two operating systems.... I would be using it to shoot light loads and I know on a gas gun if it doesn't function all I have to do is enlarged the gas ports...
Wondering what the process is on the inertia gun to make it function with light loads ? Lighter springs ?
I’d highly I recommend the sbe3 cycles everything heavy loads and low loads perfectly
Very informative. Good vid!
16:30 What are some examples of Benelli inertia driven semi-autos better suited for clays?
My take from this
Great video
Both have good and bad qualities
Lastly
Buy BOTH
My 391 will shoot 21 gram all day, as always another great review
great presentation .. thank you
I have buddies that bought super black eagles and super Vinci's and they are great goose hunting guns. However being 3.5 inch guns they wont cycle light 1 oz target loads. Me and my normal hunting crew all have browning or winchester 3.5 Inch autos that cost half as much and cycle the lightest loads without problems. Active gas system blows inertia system out of the water. Benelli does a great job advertising and hyping up their guns and people eat it up. One of the SBE owners went and bought a second 3 inch gas auto just to shoot skeets with us cause his 2000 dollar benelli becomes an expensive straight pull bolt shotgun
Don't know about other countries, but, in the US, "low brass" target loads usually regarded as "light" actually often develop breech pressures of 10,000 psi just so that they cycle more reliably in semi-autos.
Did You Do a Video on The Long Recoil Action of The Browning Auto 5 😀
Had M2s (Inertia) and Mossberg 930s (gas).
The Benelli is BY FAR the better gun; it feels better, runs better, looks better and is MUCH easier to maintain but was almost twice the cost.
It all comes down to money and this time around I went back to a 930 only because its all I could afford and used Benellis in the configuration I wanted (2+1, 24 inch barrel) are rare.
Yes the Benelli M2 is a light weight sleek gun, if you want light and sleek get a m2 supersport. Bit unfair comparing to an ulrika which is a beefy version. I have Beretta A300 outlander which is a lightweight sleek gas operated gun.
Her name is Benelli, She is the mother of all brothers.
Beretta bought the benelli so .... I don't think so
I have a Beretta UGB25 exel which I assume is a gas system but as the whole receiver and mechanical stuff is different I have no idea how to strip it, if I can at all. Perhaps you could make a video on the UGB25 Jonny??? I love it and fine that as they are so rare these days the value is rising. I often get asked if mine is for sale. It isn't.
Very good video. Thank you.
Excellent video, now i know what I need 😁.
Do a review on the browning a5 a proper semi auto 👍
In fact the SX3-20 is much easier to disassemble than the 391. What you missed here is it having a small metal plate on the bottom of the bolt, accessible from the loading port. Push it with your finger tip, the charging handle and bolt will come off in one single motion!
I see you have a 391 urika in 20 bore how reliable are they I have urika in 12 bore but heard that the 20 is much less reliable what is your opinion . Talked slowly but you still have a habit of repeating your self .. it’s a very nice action ...it’s a really nice action ..
Excellent!
Hi Jonny, I found that technical comparison very interesting. I own a 12g Benelli Supersport which has a large stainless steel mid section to add balanced weight to the ideal mid part of the gun - a very clever idea I thought. Combined with the ported barrel the recoil is quite mild and it's controllable to swing through clays - but it won't cycle any cartridges reliably that are less that 28g. It is quite new and I understand they become more tolerant to lighter cartridge loads as they break in a little?
I have had not problems with my Super Sport with 24g loads, It will even function with NSI 3/4 ounce loads feebly,
@@cyclonevmc Thanks for the reply - maybe just needs a few more slabs putting through it?
Probably a few more slabs and maybe an adjutment to the recoil spring
@@tgsoutdoors Thanks Jonny, I'll push a few more 28g slabs through it first and then consider your option 2 - although it is quite comfortable with 28g Eley Select or GB White Golds - I can use up my 24g Hull cartridge stock on my ATA Sporter (when we can begin shooting again of course 😒)
i dont know if a few more slaps would make a difference or not my supersport cycled 24 grams loads from the first shot that i put into the gun and they are the only load that i use in it,
24 grams of shot at 1250 fps using ADI AS30 or clays if you are from the USA
have run something like 2000 cartridges (24 gram steel) thru an m2. and oly cleaned it once at 500. has never jamed. only problem i had was luggs not wanting to go into battery after 1500 plus and no cleaning on manualy closing it. so i fell good in saying that claning the chamber on every 1000rnds and it will run anythin you put in it 24g and up. so the benelli isnt fuzzy.
Well spoken, bro. 🇺🇸
the spring in the magazine cap of the benelli is functional,or just a replacement for the same bolts coil?
That sx3 looks same as ma only browning fushion a had ? Am looking at getting a new auto and it’s toss up beteeen maxus and a sx4 3.5”
Didnt explain the inertial system correctly. It has a floating weight with a spring between itself and the bolt head. It is pressed against the bolt head during firing then rebounds, unlocking and taking the bolt with it...
What would be best for cold weather,,, hudson bay area canada spring weather ,, inertia or gas,, if it even matters
Inertia Gun can shot 31 grm cartridge or not w/o any problem? Or 31 would be always be a headache for inertia
Could you explain to me why my Webley-Scott 810 is, what I can only explain by saying. It is cycling to well, when loaded with three shells(ya know 1 up the spout) and I fire, the remaining two shells try to load thus causing a jam :-( with just two shells in it, it works fine? Any constructive ideas, would be very grateful.
I shot gas guns for several years, versamax, v3, maxus. I just traded in and got a sbe3 last year... I will never go back to a gas gun, inertia is superior in every way in my opinion. I take my sbe clay shooting and i shoot better with it then my 686. 24-25 in skeet consistently with the sbe
I noticed in your “Keepers Day” video that the young game keeper was shooting his pheasants with a semi auto. I thought that was a hanging offense in Britain? Any way, it seemed he was doing a very good job of it. The recoil handling properties of a semi, especially a gas gun with a good recoil pad, make it a great choice for fast shooting with heavy loads. IMHO
Buenas con que arma este entras dos se quedaría para disparar arcillas , fabarm ls4 Sporting VS Franchi afinity sporting , espero vuestra respuesta
I prefer the recoil one.. I use those shells with biodegradable wads. And from my understanding, is that gas ports and biowads don't do well together.
The downside is that the recoil one (I've got one of those modern long recoil shotguns) requires adjusting (ie. tinkering) when switching ammo. Gas operated semis are seemingly less picky about ammo.
Great video....
I have a Benelli 12g Super Sport and just bought a Beretta A400 Xplor 20g. Both are fantastic guns. But then, I'm a semi auto kind of guy.
Nice video thank you
I love my Benelli sbe2 and wouldn't change it for anything. Johnny, are you ok mate, you seem to be talking very slowly.
Got me a ..benelli Cordoba..simply the best semi auto I have owned .got fed up using half a kitchen roll to clean the gas port system on my A400 xtreme
joe allison I have a 12 ga Córdoba and it’s a great gun... but I find it better suited for smaller birds because of how light it is... again; great gun!
Adam I use mine for everything clays,pigeons and walked up stuff so versatile .. also in 12 gauge cheers 👍
If you want a shotgun for protection ? Like dangerous animals etc to have in a car … which model or which type should be best ? Like to shoot 00buckshots flite control wads etc ?
I think Browning said he was most proud of his auto 5 shotgun. That says slot coming drom.a guy that invented almost every gun there is
How easy are “standard” auto’s to use left handed? There are some models available left handed but most aren’t and very limited choice secondhand. Do the adjustable stocks offer much adjustment in terms of cast?
That is a more complex question and depends on how sensitive you are to the cartridge flying across your face and how you hold a gun (let alone whether you will use it at night)
The sock sets are the same on both, with the shims going equally right or left handed.
Of course, there are bottom ejecting guns on the used market. They were favored by duck and goose hunters. The ones I remember were pumps. Remington made a bottom ejecting semi-auto though I never saw one. Must be some available out there.
@@tgsoutdoors an idea for a video, good semi auto options for lefties ?
I traded in a browning maxus Gas semi auto for new browning A5 inertia mechanism The A5 will not cycle light clay loads at all stripped and cleaned it Its fine with heavier duck loads I think the gas maxus was more reliable 👍
Big mistake
Should’ve kept the Maxus
Did you figure out the issue with the SX3?
Not yet, a post lockdown investigation
There's a tab inside of the receiver you have to press while pulling the charging handle to get the charging handle out. It's only on the 20ga variants of the SX3, the 12ga dosen't have this tab.
@@tgsoutdoors depress the blade looking piece in the bottom of the bolt through the magazine loading port .it locks the bolt handle in place .
No long recoil semi's like the old Browning a5's anymore ?
I dont think so, probably too expensive to make and too complex for the modern gun owner to run
@@tgsoutdoors Or just to many in working order. Once you have made a few million you start competing with the used market to much.
I like the reduced recoil of gas guns because i'm a wuss... and a mix snow-goose/honker/duck hunt (total combined limit 36 birds per person) one can easily bang off 75 rounds of 1 1/4oz @ 1550fps in 1-3 hours, which does start to suck at the end. in canada it is completely possible to be bagged out on all 3 in an hour. i've had 7 minute* honker hunts; 8 10-12lb geese within 7 minutes... those are usually early season solo hunts in swaths from a layout when the flight groups are still 3-5 birds/flight, flights are 1-2 minutes apart, and they'll land 5-6 yards from you if you let them. *time does not include setting up decoys or the blind. lol edit: th-cam.com/video/uZ2kn_EqZeA/w-d-xo.html
Is that a season limit?
@@tgsoutdoors that's a daily limit. total personal possession limit on ducks is 24/license, dark geese (includes up to 9 specks) 24, and snow geese currently have no total limit. My wife and i both hunt, so our household limit is double that.
@@hissingoose A lot of birds to eat.
Hi Johnny I have a Beretta prevail 1 sv10 game addition and the bead is loose how do I tighten it up mate ?
locktite
Berreta did build a inert gun so now you have both