Benelli 828U Questions

Good Morning Everyone, I am thinking about buying a Benelli 828U Sport. Now before anyone thinks I'm a troll, I have read quite a bit about these guns and am more than aware of the reputation and reliability issues they have had. I am aware that there are better guns at the price point and that...

www.shotgunworld.com

 

Overpriced, kicks like a mule.

 

But otherwise a great gun?

 

I don’t know anything about the Benelli, but I suspect you would eventually regret getting 28” barrels.

 

Take a look at the thread that Randy posted and you will have quite a few responses to your question.

 

I like the look & the ability to use stock shims. No hands-on experience but plenty on this forum squawk about them. I’m guessing it’s well founded squawking.

 

Total POS. I deal with guns for a living and this gun is just an expensive version of the Mossberg Silver Reserve.

 

Saw shot show video, they are making a heavier steel frame model, waiting to see some in the wild reviews

 

For me it is quite possible the least desirable shotgun made. In my opinion it has no redeeming qualities. Points like a two by four. Kicks like a mule. Horribly overpriced. And aesthetically unappealing. Hard pass.

 

I handled a Sport model and it fit me well and had enough heft that I think it would make a good clays gun but with all the negative feedback from users I'd never buy one. Not to mention you can get a proven Browning or Beretta for the less money.

I see they just introduced a BEST model with a steel receiver like the sport but it's still over $3k.

 

I think the 828 Sport is a nice gun. But it's horribly overpriced.

 

I seriously considered one in 20ga. The weight was appealing, and I liked the ergos of the trigger and lever, and the ability to use the shims. I'm a big fan of Benelli, and with the change of a shim can have it feeling like it was made for me. I shoot benellis exceptionally well.

Now, having said all of that I just purchased my second Browning over the Benellis. Picked up a 725 feather lightning for less money, and by all metrics, it's a superior product. It's a few ounces heavier, but the 725 is well proven.

I wanted to love the 828, but there's just no way I'm gonna gamble $3k on one. Too many known problems.

I have no affiliation with this guy, but his experience isn't a one-off.

 

Shot a 12 owned by a friend of mine. Hardest kicking 12 I have ever shot.

 

For a point of reference, have you ever shot 3.5" buckshot in a Mossberg 835?

 

The standard version is too light. The sport version has more weight, so kicks less. Yes expensive, but i like it's non traditionalist, maverick design features. Might be tempted to buy the sport version if one turns up cheap second hand.

 

For what it’s worth, my wife is new to skeet and I especially like Brownings, which she almost bought until she picked up the 828

Fits her like a glove and she loves hers..so far only around 200 rounds through it and no issue of any kind in its early life

Was concerned it may have heavy recoil since it’s so light, but she doesn’t think so and I’ve fired it and at least in 20, recoil WAS light..which surprised me

I’m not the least bit a benelli guy as I believe they’re super hyped beyond what I think they actually are, but I actually like it’s looks and hers has beautiful wood..not do I see it as overpriced

Anyhow, shes said more than once “I love it” and that’s what counts on getting her to join me in my hobby

 

For what it’s worth, my wife is new to skeet and I especially like Brownings, which she almost bought until she picked up the 828

Fits her like a glove and she loves hers..so far only around 200 rounds through it and no issue of any kind in its early life

Was concerned it may have heavy recoil since it’s so light, but she doesn’t think so and I’ve fired it and at least in 20, recoil WAS light..which surprised me

I’m not the least bit a benelli guy as I believe they’re super hyped beyond what I think they actually are, but I actually like it’s looks and hers has beautiful wood..not do I see it as overpriced

Anyhow, shes said more than once “I love it” and that’s what counts on getting her to join me in my hobby

I think it really depends on what fits you. I thought I'd like these 828s but when I grabbed one I couldn't get the feel for it. Put it back on the shelf and went on down the line.

 

My buddy is a die hard Benelli fan. He's always been a semi-auto guy, but when Benelli came out with an O/U he couldn't resist. He hates it. He said if kicks like a mule and the trigger group was loose and would occasionally fall out. He sent it back to Benelli to have it fixed, but he hasn't shot it since getting it back.

 

Wonder why he bothered sending it in?

 

I shot a round of skeet and a round of trap with a 20ga 828u over the weekend. I thought the recoil was mild. No different than my 686 SP1 20ga I would say.

I spotted an 828u Upland Performance at the LGS. Handled nice and I liked that it had extractors vs ejectors. Tempted to go back and take a second look.

 

Looked one over a while back---just thought it was overly complicated than it needs to be with a lot of points of possible failure.

Other designs have already proven that simpler is better with robust long lasting and reliable function.

 

I would buy the 20 gauge.

 

I have an 828U in 20 gauge with 28" barrels. Its a VERY light gun. So its gonna kick more than a target gun that weighs 2 pounds more or even a field weight O/U that will weigh a pound more... Duh! Personally, I'll absorb the extra recoil on a few shots at pheasants versus lugging an extra pound and a half of over/under all day long in a cornfield any day! What I like about the 828U is the ability to adjust the drop, cast, LOP etc with shims etc. Like my Benelli semi-autos the shims make the gun fit perfectly. And btw when a gun fits you properly it also will kick less.... And fit is the most important thing to me about a shotgun.... I also like that its got a purely field game gun feel to it. Its meant too be carried a bunch and shot a little. Like most good field guns. Its not a traditional looking gun but people balked at Glocks when they first came out too...how many people do you see carrying a walnut and blued steel Smith Revolver any more? Not many.

Because I'm a waterfowler I've used Benelli semi-autos extensively and have been around hundreds of hunters with all brands of waterfowl shotguns. Benelli is probably the most used gun in our duck blinds by a wide margin and for good reason. They are reliable guns that stand up well to hard use better than most anything out there, Though the last few years my daughter has claimed my SBE2 and I've been using a Beretta A400... People will say the same thing about recoil operated semi-autos...they kick more. And they do. But who notices recoil in a duck blind when you are swinging a gun on a duck?

 

I recently looked at a 32 inch sport model. I wanted to like it....i really did. My problem with it was the weight balance felt incredibly nose heavy. Compared to my CG or the Beretta 694 i was eyeing it was just not happening for me.

 

They have a weight set you can add to the buttstock

 

I watched an episode of myth busters a while back. It is possible to polish a turd. But make no mistake. It’s still a turd. Apologies to those that own and like ‘em. But my least favorite gun I’ve ever shot.

 

The problem with the 828U is that it shares the same price-range with some amazing O/Us. For the money, the Browning offerings always felt better in hand. The 725 is a great piece for the same price. And this is coming from a Benelli "fanboy".
For me Benelli SAs and Browning OUs is where it's at.

 

I handled a 12 gauge one in store today. I’m curious about the 20 gauge model, it has a great weight for a carry gun.

I get that it’s a polarizing design, but I don’t agree that it looks or feels like a cheaply made gun. Quite the opposite actually, and the typical wood grade you see on them is far better than the junk that Beretta is putting on its O/Us. Browning can’t make a subgauge under 7lbs so that takes them out of the running for a lot of people.

 

I can’t attest to the build quality of the 828, nor is it aesthetically to my taste. However, a member of my local skeet club allowed me to try a game with his 828U Sport (30”, I believe) earlier this week, and as far as handling is concerned, it was lovely for me. It felt lively in the hands and the rib height was perfect for my preferences. I wound up breaking 24/25. My only major gripe with the gun was how long the travel is on the toplever - very difficult to use as a left handed shooter.

 

I’m lefty as well and from the one I handled yesterday it didn’t seem that much different to me, but maybe I would feel differently after repeated use.

They also make a left handed version for the 12 gauge where the top lever is reversed.

 

I shot a round of skeet and a round of trap with a 20ga 828u over the weekend. I thought the recoil was mild. No different than my 686 SP1 20ga I would say.

I spotted an 828u Upland Performance at the LGS. Handled nice and I liked that it had extractors vs ejectors. Tempted to go back and take a second look.

Just in case you are still interested, I saw one of these this weekend on a SD pheasant hunt. My first impression upon handling it was what a nice, over complicated, non functional, accident waiting to happen, shotgun for something in the $700 range. Then the new owner, who naively purchased it without knowing no ejection and a goofy safety, proceeded to cut up his finger trying to get shell's out. He tried to return it on the way home but the retailer wouldn't take it back without a large discount, can't say I would blame them, if I finally got rid of this thing, I wouldn't want it back either. What really floored me was today when I visited with him about the great trip we had he told me the gun cost $3000 !!! Has no one ever looked at the myriad of other choices out there in the same price range? I know I am a bit late to the party but that's my opinion and I am sticking to it.