Im sick of my 870 xpress super mag. Had enough problems with it over this last teal season and last yrs seasons to make me ban it from the duck blind from now on and use it strictly for dove. So now im in the market for a new shotgun, and I'm set on an auto.

I wanted the Xtrema2. They have the free KO upgrade going on right now. But I just cant afford that much shotgun, nor do I feel that I need it even though its a hell of a deal right now. Lowest price I have found (walk out) is $1352 (non-KO).

2nd option benelli M2. I can get an xtrema (non ko) then with the KO upgrade have the xtrema and 3.5 in capability for the same price. At $1299 before tax this is not an option (see above)

3rd option, Franchi I-12. Gander MTN has it at about $812 (edited) out the door right now in Max 4. I dont feel the need for 3.5 in capability, honestly. And I really like the way this one feels and the price is right.

Is there any reason I shouldnt go get the I-12 tonight?

Go to Dicks and check out the Franchi Diamond.

It is the old 912 gas operated model which was the "inspiration" for the beretta extrema. Beretta owns Franchi and took their gas operating system from them to use for the extrema.

They are truly great guns, and I believe lower priced than the I-12.

I shoot an old 612, and I prefer it over my beretta 391.

Franchi is a Benelli company. Franchi shotguns use an inertia-driven system.

Nope, sorry

Beretta Holdings owns Beretta, Benelli, Franchi, and Stoeger.

Franchi 612,620, 712, 720, and 912 are gas operated guns with the same piston design that is used on the Beretta Extrema.

The diamond is a gun sold exclusively by dicks sporting goods and is a rebadged 912 which is 3.5 chamber.

Beretta took the gas piston design for the Extrema and then the Franchi I-12 was introduced, which is an inertia operated gun.

It's true, check it out.

The I-12 is a good gun but not as good as the Xtrema or M2 IMO. I purchased an I-12 a few seasons ago and enjoy hunting with it but I have experienced some problems with it. I have handled and shot an Xtrema and an SBE and prefer the way my I-12 handled over the other two but that is a matter of personal preference. Based on feedback and discussion threads on other forums it seems like the I-12 falls between the S2000 and the SBE in terms of quality and customer complaints but again that is not the most reliable method for comparison. The only consistency in the feedback is that all of the inertia guns seem to have issues cycling light loads based on what I have read, that is not to say they will never cycle light loads and I am sure there ar owners who will tell you that they never have that problem but google it for yourself. The Vinci may be the exception to the light load problem but too soon to tell.

I WOULD NOT pay $900 for an I-12, I got a good deal on mine and paid around $600 at the time. I know all guns have gone up but I think I saw one listed for around $700 the other day at Sports Authority or Dicks.

So what about the opinions on the I-12. I've read who-owns-what and not really interested in that. More interested in what you guys think about the I-12. I like the inertia system and the price is right for me but im looking for common problems...etc

I was wrong on the price, sticker is $749, in max 4 camo which is more than the sticker price for the same I-12 in black synthetic. I need the camo coating since I hunt alot of saltwater. Walk out price is ~$815

I would buy a good quality used gun before I paid $815 for an I-12

They do not hold their value.

There was a SBE sold on this forum yesterday for $700

I'll be damned. I had no idea.

A question you will want to answer is what differentiates the inertia system in the I-12 from that in the Stoeger 2000. Unless there are significant differences in the systems and their reliability, you'd have a hard time justifying the extra few hundred for the Franchi.

I own an I-12 and have no problems sharing my experiences with it. I found a link that I posted awhile back that describes my experience with the gun.

Franchi I-12 thread

I am glad I bought the gun and still enjoy shooting it. I have been unable to shoot the gun much since I last posted I will update the results asap. I think you will be happy with most of the guns you have mentioned, by a gun that fits your budget and physical build.

Have you considered the new Browning maxus? I handled one at the BPS in Pearland......VERY NICE GUN!!!

Yes


You shouldn't get the I-12, since you've clearly stated you want the Xtrema 2.

Not sure about Opition 2, since the price point is about the same as the Xtrema, so it realy isn't an opition at all, but a distraction.

Opition 3 is you talking yourself into the I-12, since the price of the Xtrema 2 is so high. If you're willing to spend the $812 on the I-12, why not sell the 870 for a couple hundred bucks and getting yourself closer to the price of the Xtrema. What good is the 870 if it doesn't perform well?

You're now at $1k and closer to the dollar amount needed for the gun you really want.

I just got back from dove hunting with my Franchi I12. I have had some feed problems that occur when I don't have the gun mounted firm into my shoulder(which happened twice today). Most of the time it happens on overhead shots where I'm shooting straight up or any time I'm shooting from an awkward position(which I seem to get into from time to time). I thought it was the ammo(specifically the budget dove loads), but it happened to me this spring using some high power turkey loads. I was in a chair blind and the turkeys were moving right and I had to shoot leaning left to get a shot out the small window of the blind. I didn't have the gun square into my shoulder and the second round didn't feed. I hunt with Sniper John and extreme situations seem to be a common occurance when hunting with him(which is why I like hunting with him). The follow up shots, after clearing the misfeed, where left handed while leaning out of the window of the chair blind, but the gun was firmly mounted into my shoulder and no misfeeds occurred. So, bottom line, if you always shoot from a solid position with your gun mounted firmly into your shoulder, you'll really like the I12. When everything's right, it's a sweet shooting gun. But, if that's not the case,
I would not recommend it. I'm still shooting mine due to foolish pride and because I haven't saved up enough money yet to buy the over/under or side-by-side I want. I hope that helps. Sorry if it's alittle "rambly", but I'm on my third glass of cheap wine and just felt like throwin' my two cents worth in. Good luck and happy shotgun shopping.

Found an Xtrema2 in the Austin area for $899.

I think you should jump on it. If you're interested send me a PM and I give you the shop's phone number. They should be able to ship it to you.

Specs:
Black
No Kick-off
28" (I think. It looked and felt the same length as mine)
case, chokes, manuals included
looks like it had +/-12 shells put through it. There is no wear anywhere I could see except the ejection port. I would have thought it was unfired if not for the small,almost unnoticeable, nicks from ejected hulls.

WLgorman, I'd jump on that so fast I'd get a track scholarship.

My I12 shoots duck loads great. It will NOT cycle dove loads at all.

The Xtrema2 will cycle dove loads. I shoot mine for skeet, trap, dove and sporting clays.

Damn..first time I've seen you wrong about something. Oh well happens to the best of us. This guy is right on about the Dicks Diamond gun it is a gas gun. In fact they used to have the Franchi 912 as a DU gun several years back.

I have an I-12 and really like it. I think people make a mistake in wanting a gun strickly because of the price. You have two types of shot guns when talking auto-loader, gas and inertia. Personally, I wanted inertia because it's easier to clean and I don't have to worry about seal problems. I also felt comfortable with the idea from shooting benelli's. So my option was to find a used benelli or an I-12. I wasn't up for Stoeger because of the history of failures. I didn't find a benelli so I bought the I-12. I have had only one FTE problem and that was from not having a solid plant on my shoulder. If it's not solidly planted, the inertia system can't do it's job. I have always stayed with 1 oz. dove loads and have not had any issues at all. I've shot a few hundred rounds of dove loads and steel for ducks. I like the build in pad in the butt as well. Makes the 3 in steel loads less painless.

Well guys, thanks for the input. I cant spend that much on an xtrema. thanks for the link also on the used one, but a black gun isnt an option for me. I hunt the salt marsh/bay 90% of the time and i've had 4 shotguns so far that were black synthetic or wood and they dont last one full season due to the salt content in the air. Most get rust before the first hunt is over. This happened on my buddies SBEII that is black synthetic also. The nova I had was camo except for the mag tube and it didnt rust at all except on the mag tube which was bare exposed metal.

I picked up an I-12 last night in full max4. They say if you break it in right it shouldnt give you any problems. There are two ways that I've read about to do this. One being, take it home, pull the bolt back all the way and let it slam home a few hundred times to round out the edges and smooth surfaces then disassemble and relube. They say you cant shoot anything less than 1-1/8 oz dove loads with a heavy dram eq. They also say typical 3" waterfowl loads should cycle fine. From what I read this is the case with the SBEII as well but I could be wrong about that. My buddy had a bit of trouble with the SBEII i mentioned cycling lighter dove loads as well. Ive also heard about not cycling if its not solidly mounted to your shoulder. IDK but im taking it out this afternoon for a dove hunt. If it doesnt cut it its going back to Gander Mtn.

Enjoy your new gun!

Getting a new gun (new or used)is right up there with getting new mud tires on your truck and the birth of your children best days of a man's life!

As long as it fits and goes bang, and you like it, that's all that really matters.

I will never get rid of my old Franchi.

Enjoy your gun, but I did want to let you know Xtrema2 has what Beretta calls Aqua coat treatment especially for hunting in saltwater environments, even on their black guns.

I have not put mine to the test, but everything in the gun supposedly stainless steel or coated with that stuff.

well, I sure didnt know the black X2 had the aquacoat. Im partial to the camo for my duck guns though and if I would have gotten the black I wouldnt have been satisfied. Thanks for all the help/suggestions.

Took the I-12 out yesterday for dove. Didnt see any dove. When I brought the shotgun home before taking it out, I broke it in the way alot of folks at shotgunworld.com suggested and worked the bolt a few hundred times letting it slam home on its own. Then disassembled and relubed. Grabbed some heavy dove loads (1-1/8 oz, high dram eq.) and went out last night. Shot about a box and a half through it. Im impressed/satisfied. Carried the gun across the field a few times and it was pretty light compared to my 870. Shouldered nicely. We didnt see any dove hardly at all. Started shooting clays as it got dark and I did pretty good with it. Didnt have a single malfunction. Cycled the dove loads fine. It did kick a bit harder than I expected but im 23 yrs old and 6'3" 230 so nothing I cant handle.

Great. I'll bet it is lighter than an Xrtema.

Be sure to post up some pictures when you get some birds. Also we all like some gun pron.

Ill be sure to do that. Stay tuned