Going a new direction this year as I am restarting up Sporting Clays for 2021. I had a very nice CG that I just sold and now want a matching 12 20 semi-autos. Only a few options for this. Years ago, I had an Remington 1100 competition 12 and wish I would have never sold it. It was the lightest shooting 12 I have ever shot. So why would I want a Benelli over a Beretta since the Benelli is Inertia and is supposed to kick worse than gas? I also am wondering if any top shooters are using Benellis? It is hard to try guns out in winter in Michigan. Fitting is also an issue for me as a tall narrow face that needed a, ( O/U) 4 3/4 poi cast stock. I know I can maybe have a custom stock made but that might not work for some autos. Open to all suggestions..thanks

You wouldn't - I can't think of any hard-core SC shooters (either pro or amateur) that use a Benelli. Benelli makes wonderful hunting guns (I have one), but the inertia system results in more perceived recoil over a gas gun. Get a Beretta A400 Xcel (not Xplor, that's the hunting version and is very lightweight) in 12 and 20 and don't look back. The 20 will be lighter than the 12 but you can buy aftermarket forend and stock weights if you feel a need to get them the same weight. Shoot them first...

With regard to fit, pretty much all modern semi-autos, including Benelli and Beretta, are very adjustable for both drop/cast and LOP with the provided shims and the multitude of different thickness recoil pads available. No real need for a custom stock, a little experimenting/tweaking is fun. Plenty of forum posts and youtube videos to show you how.

Thanks Perdiz. Any thoughts on Fabarm l45 or xlr5? I know they don't have a matching 20 but they look very nice.

OP: I am pretty sure you would like either the XLR5 or L4S Sporting models but getting your hands on one to try will be the biggest challenge. They have a superior build and IMO an excellent shotgun plus they have very good customer service.

I suspect your best chance to handle one would be from a fellow shooter. You could also try calling FABARM and ask if there are any in stock guns in your area. Good luck in your search.

I called Pat's shop over in Lake Orion, and they have demos there. So I will head over there and try both the A440 and the Fabarms..

You would not want a benelli for volume sporting. Recoil matters.

Thanks Perdiz. Any thoughts on Fabarm l45 or xlr5? I know they don't have a matching 20 but they look very nice.[/quote]

I don't have any real experience with them. The couple I have handled seem solidly built, one of the guys I shoot with just got a lightly used left-handed model with an adjustable comb and high rib that looks nice. I don't think (emphasis on think...) they have the variety of spacers, pre-fit recoil pads, forend weights and other adjustment factors that the Berettas do, but could be wrong.

Just as an example of such things, my A400 Xcel has a Briley weight on the front, a Briley oversized bolt closer (a must-have IMO for clays), and a Beretta 0.5" spacer paired with 0.25" grind to fit spacer and a pre-fit Limbsaver recoil pad on the back. The Limbsaver is slightly thicker than the thickest pre-fit Beretta recoil pad. And the Beretta 65mm shim installed. I'm slightly larger than your normal shooter...

I had to make my own 0.5" spacer for my Benelli M1.

I don't have any real experience with them. The couple I have handled seem solidly built, one of the guys I shoot with just got a lightly used left-handed model with an adjustable comb and high rib that looks nice. I don't think (emphasis on think...) they have the variety of spacers, pre-fit recoil pads, forend weights and other adjustment factors that the Berettas do, but could be wrong.

Just as an example of such things, my A400 Xcel has a Briley weight on the front, a Briley oversized bolt closer (a must-have IMO for clays), and a Beretta 0.5" spacer paired with 0.25" grind to fit spacer and a pre-fit Limbsaver recoil pad on the back. The Limbsaver is slightly thicker than the thickest pre-fit Beretta recoil pad. And the Beretta 65mm shim installed. I'm slightly larger than your normal shooter...

I had to make my own 0.5" spacer for my Benelli M1.[/quote]

Do you know where to send the gun for Mods? I live in Michigan.

Tronspace can do just about anything you might want for a SA. He’s in MI.

THANK YOU...

Good luck, good shooting.