What are everyone's thoughts on the Franchi Affinity Elite 3.5"? Make sure you watch this great video!:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gPM...XI0Gt-8IXt7jE6IfZCt&index=2&t=0s

Franchi makes excellent shotguns. Im not familiar with that particular model but having owned and shot a number of their shotguns over the years I'd assume that shotgun is no different.

Welcome. I have an older 712 raptor that is a great gun. One thing I noticed in the video is that on the SBE3, the top half of the receiver comes off with the barrel....making cleaning much easier. This one, although based off that design, did not have it.
I shoot a newer browning a5 religiously but do not have anything bad to say about Franchi.

The SBE 3 was redesigned similar to the Vinci/Super Vinci. A number of years ago I ditched the redesigned A5 due to reliability issues and went with the Super Vinci after using one. If the SB3 is as reliable and simple to keep cleaned Benelli will have a winner on their hands.

fwiw, Stoeger and Franchi are Benelli products.

I have an Intensity (what the 3.5" Affinity used to be called) and am happy enough that I bought my wife an Affinity Catalyst as well. The Catalyst LOP ended up being too short for my wife, but that's no reflection on the shotgun. FWIW, I think the Catalyst is designed for those under 5' 5".

My favorite part was him saying he wished he had that gun because his Nova didn't shoot. Well if you don't know how to clean your gun doesn't matter which gun it is.

Which are all Beretta companies

I laughed also. I’m not a nova fan but it takes talent to keep it from shooting.

I'll take that as a compliment!

Off topic but curious, what issues did you have with the post 14' browning? I have 4 seasons of flawless function with mine....dove through duck. Probably 3k rounds including sporting clay outings.

The SB3 is getting some negative press. A lot of people having issues with poi being 12” high due to the design and shape of the new comfortech stock and how it reacts to recoil.

Just saw your question...

I test drove an A5 during an event at a Shot Show and was impressed enough to get one. It was accurate and weighed next to nothing which is a big deal, inertia driven, and I happen to like the look of old school A5's. I bought one locally and right off the bat had issues with shells feeding and the barrel being warped. At the end of the season there was corrosion and heavy pitting on the bolt and the recoil mechanism was corroded to the point that the spring thats housed in the butt of the stock corroded and broke. That, and a barrel that would visibly warp when it got hot was more problems than I cared to deal with.

I'm anal about cleaning firearms and know a thing or two about metallurgy from a previous life as a machinist. The materials used in the sample I owned were subpar and the build quality just wasnt there. I have a few old school A5's including some Japanese samples and I assumed (wrongly) that the build quality would be similar.

When it worked is was a lightweight tack driver and fun to shoot. To say I was disappointed would be an understatement considering what I paid to get my hands on one. I hunted 6-7 days a week at the time and put a lot of miles on shotguns. There's nothing worse than being on an out of state hunt and having problems with a firearm. It affects you and everyone you're hunting with.

I'm curious as to how high at what range. That shotgun typically shoots POA at six oclock. As does the Vinci's and Super Vinci's. A number of shotguns are designed that way.

The Montefeltro autos and K80 I use for clays shoot that way which is my preference. Personally, I don't like holding on the target Im shooting as much as I do below. It doesnt obscure the target.

https://www.randywakeman.com/TheDesignDefectoftheBenelliSuperBlackEagle3.htm

Quick rundown. If you were to search the internet, you get plenty of hits on the topic. Benelli has claimed that’s the way they designed them. I prefer a 60/40ish pattern as well but people are proving the SB3 can be 8”-12” high at anywhere from 20-40 yds. Little to much for my liking. I looked at them very closely awhile back, but between the reviews, and more importantly the feel, I went with the A400.

"As shooters are tragically finding out, the radically skeletonized buttstock of the Benelli SBE3 is a jellyfish....."

lol. Thats Randy, he doesnt mince words. As far as the shotgun is concerned, it's a shame spending that much money on a new shotgun only to be disappointed.