I saw a review of a benelli 20 gauge supersport and the gun sounded pretty good. Maybe Shotgun Life was blowing smoke. Let me know. It was at http://www.shotgunlife.com
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Should I get a Benelli 20 gauge?
- Thread starter SGL
- Start date
That article (http://www.shotgunlife.com/Peer-Rev...elli-supersport-20-gauge-semi-auto/Print.html) is definitely over the top, but I am a huge Benelli fan. I've only fired SBEs, but they've been reliable and easy to shoot.
Now as for the Supersport model... I personally would go for one of the other models. For one I don't like the extra blast of ported barrels. The M2, Sport II, Legacy, Ultralight, and Montefeltro all come in 20ga. I'd have to be very convinced that the Supersport would offer me something the others would not before shelling out the extra money for it.
Now as for the Supersport model... I personally would go for one of the other models. For one I don't like the extra blast of ported barrels. The M2, Sport II, Legacy, Ultralight, and Montefeltro all come in 20ga. I'd have to be very convinced that the Supersport would offer me something the others would not before shelling out the extra money for it.
The supersport in 12 or 20ga is a very good gun / and yes it offers you a few things that some of the lesser expensive models in the Benelli line-up don't.
It is not my primary gun - but I have Super Sports in 12 and 20ga. I use them for training guns for new shooters, my grandkids, etc / and I use them as a foul weather gun on the Skeet, Sporting Clays ranges - and I use it as my Travel gun - where I only want to travel with one gun to do some Skeet shooting, Sporting Clays, a little bird hunting, etc - and its ok for casual Trap shooting.
Super Sport is a light gun / so in 12ga I like a 30" barrel - to give me a longer sight plane and smooth out the swing. 20ga only comes in a 28" / so that is what I have on that gun. They shoot very cleanly, the comfort tech system makes them a soft shooting gun ( that's the only way the Super Sport comes), they are easy to strip and clean. I shot mine in the rain yesterday for Skeet - took 10 min to strip it, including trigger group out, clean and put it back together when I got home.
Super Sport comes with 5 chokes - which is all you'll need.
The super sport is modular - in that it is easy to change the butt pad / comb pad - but you have to buy them separately. I keep left and right handed pads for mine / 2 comb pads - because I use them for training.
The Super Sport is my semi-auto of choice despite the price / and I see them retailing in my area for $ 1799 for 12ga / and maybe $ 100 or $ 200 so less for the 20ga.
My 12ga SuperSport will cycle loads down to 7/8 oz ( a typical 20ga load ) as long as its 1200 fps - so you can make the 12ga version perform like a 20ga - if that matters to you. If you want to waterfowl with the Super Sport - some black elec tape - will camo the gun up just fine ( receiver is too bright in a duck blind ).
It is not my primary gun - but I have Super Sports in 12 and 20ga. I use them for training guns for new shooters, my grandkids, etc / and I use them as a foul weather gun on the Skeet, Sporting Clays ranges - and I use it as my Travel gun - where I only want to travel with one gun to do some Skeet shooting, Sporting Clays, a little bird hunting, etc - and its ok for casual Trap shooting.
Super Sport is a light gun / so in 12ga I like a 30" barrel - to give me a longer sight plane and smooth out the swing. 20ga only comes in a 28" / so that is what I have on that gun. They shoot very cleanly, the comfort tech system makes them a soft shooting gun ( that's the only way the Super Sport comes), they are easy to strip and clean. I shot mine in the rain yesterday for Skeet - took 10 min to strip it, including trigger group out, clean and put it back together when I got home.
Super Sport comes with 5 chokes - which is all you'll need.
The super sport is modular - in that it is easy to change the butt pad / comb pad - but you have to buy them separately. I keep left and right handed pads for mine / 2 comb pads - because I use them for training.
The Super Sport is my semi-auto of choice despite the price / and I see them retailing in my area for $ 1799 for 12ga / and maybe $ 100 or $ 200 so less for the 20ga.
My 12ga SuperSport will cycle loads down to 7/8 oz ( a typical 20ga load ) as long as its 1200 fps - so you can make the 12ga version perform like a 20ga - if that matters to you. If you want to waterfowl with the Super Sport - some black elec tape - will camo the gun up just fine ( receiver is too bright in a duck blind ).
Waterengineer
New member
I've got a SS 20ga. The porting doesn't bother me. Hugely adjustable, and a real recoil soaker.
It goes like this. I have a 391 that my college age daughter used. After shooting one stand of a five stand round she turned to me and said, "This belongs to me now, I love it." referring to my new out of the box SS. She likes it so much she took it to college with her so, I am back to the Urika if I want to shoot an auto.
Anyway, the gun is very flexible for fit and you can easily add weight to the front end and butt stock.
The little bit I have used it I will agree that it can really soak up the recoil.
There is another user here on TFL that I am sure will chime in soon, he has a 12 ga and also likes it.
Bottomline: Expensive? Yes. But in five years who cares because you will love it that much. Also, cleaning is super easy and quick.
It goes like this. I have a 391 that my college age daughter used. After shooting one stand of a five stand round she turned to me and said, "This belongs to me now, I love it." referring to my new out of the box SS. She likes it so much she took it to college with her so, I am back to the Urika if I want to shoot an auto.
Anyway, the gun is very flexible for fit and you can easily add weight to the front end and butt stock.
The little bit I have used it I will agree that it can really soak up the recoil.
There is another user here on TFL that I am sure will chime in soon, he has a 12 ga and also likes it.
Bottomline: Expensive? Yes. But in five years who cares because you will love it that much. Also, cleaning is super easy and quick.
The gun shown in the article as a Super Sport with walnut stock - is not a Super Sport - its a Sport II model. Internally they have the same inertia bolt system / but the wood stock will not have the Comfort Tech system in it.
In a wood stock configuration / the gun will give you about 20% more recoil than a gun with carbon firbe and the comfort tech system. The Comfort Tech system - in my opinion, makes the super sport similar in recoil to a gas operated gun like the Beretta 390 or 391 ( although its controversial on here ) and guys may disagree.
I see Benelli is offering a performance model now in the super sport for about $ 800 more - but I don't think I'd recommend it. The standard Super Sport is a lot of gun for the money - even at list prices of $ 1979 on their web site right now.
In a wood stock configuration / the gun will give you about 20% more recoil than a gun with carbon firbe and the comfort tech system. The Comfort Tech system - in my opinion, makes the super sport similar in recoil to a gas operated gun like the Beretta 390 or 391 ( although its controversial on here ) and guys may disagree.
I see Benelli is offering a performance model now in the super sport for about $ 800 more - but I don't think I'd recommend it. The standard Super Sport is a lot of gun for the money - even at list prices of $ 1979 on their web site right now.
Waterengineer
New member
BigJim commented on the price of a 20 ga SS. As another data point, I gave $1450 for a two year old gun, in pristine condition, at Jaques, in Findlay, Ohio, when I was home for a hunt last fall.
About 6 months ago, I bought a used 12ga SuperSport - in the case - virtually new for about $ 1,400 / but its the only used SuperSport I've ever seen locally ( and I shop the used gun stores in my area pretty heavily ).
I was going to give it to my son for his 30th birthday - but he said if it was ok, he would rather have one of my Browning XS Skeet 12ga O/U's that he had been shooting when he was with me .... I was holding onto the extra XS Skeet as a "backup" competition gun and I didn't really need it ...
so I sold the extra 12ga Super Sport to a friend.
So, lets see, I'm down 2 guns ..... $ 0 dollars ahead ... so what else is new ... but they're both happy.
I was going to give it to my son for his 30th birthday - but he said if it was ok, he would rather have one of my Browning XS Skeet 12ga O/U's that he had been shooting when he was with me .... I was holding onto the extra XS Skeet as a "backup" competition gun and I didn't really need it ...
so I sold the extra 12ga Super Sport to a friend.
So, lets see, I'm down 2 guns ..... $ 0 dollars ahead ... so what else is new ... but they're both happy.
earlthegoat2
New member
In 20 gauge I would go with the UltraLite. That is probably the only Benelli I would ever own.
SGL
You didn't mention what other guns you already have. If it's your first gun, then I'd recommend you start with a 12-ga.
Yes, BigJimP and waterengineer have Benelli SSs, but they have a lot of other guns, too. Neither said the Benelli 20-ga would be their choice for a first gun. They would probably want more specifics about you and your requirements before making any recommendations.
You didn't mention what other guns you already have. If it's your first gun, then I'd recommend you start with a 12-ga.
Yes, BigJimP and waterengineer have Benelli SSs, but they have a lot of other guns, too. Neither said the Benelli 20-ga would be their choice for a first gun. They would probably want more specifics about you and your requirements before making any recommendations.
Roy, I would suggest a 12 over a 20 for a first all around gun for the vastly superior ammo variety with 12 gauge ammo. I bought my Mossberg 500 20 to be my wife's gun but she wouldn't shoot it as it was too much recoil. She simply asked me to keep the .410 bolt gun loaded with buck for her at the house. So it wasn't a savings in the recoil dept. for her. Once it became my only shotgun, I was lacking ammo choices at the counter.
Brent
Brent
Thanks, Brent, I couldn't have said it better. May I add, you can load a 12-ga down to a 20-ga equivalent, but you can't load a 20-ga. up to a 12-ga.I would suggest a 12 over a 20 for a first all around gun for the vastly superior ammo variety with 12 gauge ammo.
Waterengineer
New member
Yes, what Zippy said in post number 10.
+1 on what Zippy and watengineer said.
The Super Sport is my primary semi-auto but its not my primary gun in 12 or 20ga.
If you were to tell me you wanted a semi-auto / good versatile gun - I have no problem recommending the Benelli Super Sport. It does a lot of things well for under $ 2,000. But the Beretta 391's and some of the other gas guns are not bad guns either - for less money. You have to decide if you want a gas gun or an inertia gun / there are pluses and minuses on both - and its often debated on this forum and others. I'll stick by my Super Sport.
In general, I do think an O/U is a more versatile gun / 2 chokes, no cycling problems, etc - but in my mind you're into $ 3K for a good all around gun. You can buy a lot of O/U's for less - but they aren't as good a gun long term, in my opinion.
I will always recommend a 12ga over a 20ga for a 1st gun ( load it light to 7/8 oz of shot, like others told you - and it performs like a 20ga ).
The Super Sport is my primary semi-auto but its not my primary gun in 12 or 20ga.
If you were to tell me you wanted a semi-auto / good versatile gun - I have no problem recommending the Benelli Super Sport. It does a lot of things well for under $ 2,000. But the Beretta 391's and some of the other gas guns are not bad guns either - for less money. You have to decide if you want a gas gun or an inertia gun / there are pluses and minuses on both - and its often debated on this forum and others. I'll stick by my Super Sport.
In general, I do think an O/U is a more versatile gun / 2 chokes, no cycling problems, etc - but in my mind you're into $ 3K for a good all around gun. You can buy a lot of O/U's for less - but they aren't as good a gun long term, in my opinion.
I will always recommend a 12ga over a 20ga for a 1st gun ( load it light to 7/8 oz of shot, like others told you - and it performs like a 20ga ).