I got myself a new shotgun this year for duck hunting. I wanted a Browning Maxus but that just was not in the budget so I went with a Franchi I12. It felt good in my hands and on my shoulder and understood it to be very similar to the Benelli M2. I absolutely loved it during our early season here in Florida and had several great hunts with it.

We stopped off SW of Houston for a couple of days on our way back from our annual Texas deer hunt. The first hunt the gun performed very well. During the second hunt, something hit me in the face (I shoot a right handed gun left handed) and I discovered the bolt handle had flown out. I finished that hunt and the next morning's hunt with a borrowed M2, as the Franchi seemed to have problems cycling without the bolt handle, which made no sense to me. On the drive back home, I called Benelli and they sent me a replacement bolt handle at no cost. I was very pleased with their service.

After getting the bolt handle installed, I have had quite a few problems with it shooting one or two shells, but not loading the third. I have also had problems with shooting once and then loading another shell, only to have the gun not fire the next time birds come in.

I know that duck hunting is hard on equipment, but this just does not make sense. Have any of you had similar issues with a Franchi i12 or Benelli M2, and if so, do you have a suggestion on how to correct the issue. By the way, it has had the same problem with Black Cloud, Remington Hyper Sonics, Kent Faststeel, and Fiocchi (all in 3"). I really hope to figure out what the problem is because when it does fire, I actually shoot this gun quite well.

look for a used maxus. Maybe the super vinci will open that market a bit. I got mine for 1000 last offseason had less than 2 boxes through it. I shot 6-7 boxes of steel and 20 boxes of target loads for skeet and doves through it this season through sleet rain ice etc with ZERO ftf. I highly recommend saving up and buying used! Good luck next season

I had one for 3 seasons could not keep a bolt handle in the thing. Ended up using a pocket screw driver to rack the action when needed, then it got worse all of a sudden for no reason the gun would not fire. It really sucked when I had 7 pintails floating overhead and never got a shot because of that POS.

My main reason I won't buy anything from beretta/benelli they wouldn't admit to the problems, every time I called they said "well that's a problem that hasn't been reported before"

sent the gun into them twice after the second repair (they put the wrong size roll pin in the bolt) I had a big gash in my receiver from the long @ss roll pin rubbing a mark in it. I traded it in as a non-working gun.

Got a Browning Maxus couldnt be happier.

I won't do business with beretta/benelli after that stunt.

-Matt

Matt please don't confuse benelli and beretta. They are not the same companies. Beretta's extrema 2 is every bit as equal to Maxus and some would say better. I can't speak for benelli but I garuantee you would have a hard time finding a bad word about beretta.

Same gun here same problems. Last season it was the bolt handle and I got a new one in the offseason. This season, pull the trigger and no boom. Maybe twice or so a hunt. Really a pain in the azz! I'm going to call CS and see what they have to say this time...

Maybe so but the same parent company means they have the same corp a-holes ripping us off. And besides the extrema 2 doesn't shoulder for me. Maxus was my second choice I really wanted a SBE2 but I refuse to buy one.


I'll stick with my browning and 870s for now on, at least they always go boom.

-Matt

I had the bolt handle come out of my sbe2, called CS they shipped new one right away.

Oh they sent me 3 handles until they realize that they was something wrong with the bolt. That was last season. New bolt this season and it doesn't fire all the time. The shell will have a dent from the pin. It seems the shell isn't getting seated all the way.

i see a new gun purchase this year

You probably don't want to hear this, but sell it.

Take the money and get a reliable pump, or continue to save until you can get the Browning Maxus.

I agree! Now I have to decide what to get...

and that's why I won't buy from them.

$500 franchi bolt handle falling out I can handle,

$1400 SBE2 same problem...pricless

-Matt

$500 for the franchi I wish.

I have the Franchi I-12 and have been pretty happy w/ it. This was its 2nd season and I abuse the you know what out of it. Havent had any bolt handle problems. I was told you need to 'break it in'. Either shoot a few rounds of clays w/ mag loads, which was too expensive for me. Or take it home, clean all the lube off of it. And cycle the bolt, letting it slam home on its own about 200 times. I have never had a problem cycling shells (even dove loads, but I use the bigger loads), EXCEPT when its not shouldered right. You will have that prob with ANY inertia shotgun.

One problem I have had is light primer strikes. I hadnt cleaned it all season. Was about to shartcan it and get an M2 and figured i'd look at the owners manual for once to see if there was something I wasnt getting to in the cleaning process. Turns out that was it. I wasnt taking the bolt all the way apart. Got to the 'forward-most' hole where the firing pin runs through, and it was full of all kinds of crap. Cleaned it out and cleaned it once a wk after that and havent had a problem since.

Sorry you guys arent getting the same results but I love mine and would recommend it to anyone.

I ordered 2 extra bolt handles during the offseason, though. Just in case. I have heard of bolt handles coming out of all benelli and benelli-made shotguns.

If your requirement is 3" then try the Beretta 391. They are a tested design that is easy to find used. New prices are $500-600.

yeah I paid $499 for mine, what's the going price these days?

-Matt

Inexpensive shotguns are inexpensive for a reason.

I hate that Franchi has become a budget gun. I shot my old Franchi 612 gas gun for 12 duck seasons and then my buddy shot close to a hundred ducks with it this year.

I second that. Not sure why they are trying to be Benelli's little brother.

The Franchi 612 is still my #1 duck gun. I nearly swapped it for a I-12 but after 2 friends bought em and had to return them, i backed out. I don't think the newer Franchi autos are of the same quality as the older ones.

yes, the 612 is a great gun. I was looking for a 912 (3.5" version) when I found a deal on a Browning Gold 3.5", otherwise I would still be shooting the 612.

I wouldnt buy one ever. Seen Anthony's misfire at least 3 or 4 times in person. Better off just buying a Stoeger if you are going to have issues. At least you save a few hundos.

I think I paid around $675 for mine last spring?

The I12 is a great gun I have been killing ducks
For 20 years 15 of them was with a amrican shot
Gun and you have to keep them clean all gas operated
And in the past 5 years I have never cleaned my
I12 and never had a jam and that's hunting 5 days
A week . But when it comes down to it as long
As it shoots everytime brand dosnt matter
Right?

Are you comunicating? I call

-Matt