I’m very happy with my Benelli Montefeltro. Going to try a Retay Gordion this year but can’t vouch for it yet.

 

I can vouch for it.

I have a wood stocked Retay Gordion 20 gauge that has been flawless from very first shell. That includes some of the factory rejects aka Winchester Universals.

Very little maintenance required to date. I felt guilty is only reason I cleaned it some.

However if I wanted a real inexpensive but reliable 12 gauge inertia, the Impala Plus can't be beat.

FAR less $s than ANY other brand and my buddy has one that has been completely reliable!

 

Gauge?

 

I have all my other configurations in 28-20-16-12, with a few 410’s in the mix. Honestly, I’m indifferent.

 

Franchi affinity 3

 

Weatherby Element. I have 12 gauge 28in synthetic shoots handles 7/8 and 1 ounce loads just fine. Great dove gun In South and Central Texas. Affordable.
.

 

I'm kinda old school (and old) I've got a Remington 11-48 sixteen gauge I really like, but a Belgium or Japanese Browning would probably bring a smile.

 

Benelli has the best design IMO and almost all the duck hunting guides I’ve seen had a Benelli stuffed in the boat. Those guys hunt just about everyday of the season so it’s pretty telling when you keep seeing one brand

Franchi and Stoeger are Benelli clones so I wouldn’t hesitate buying one, they just have the recoil spring flipped around. All three brands are owned by Beretta and I think Benelli and Franchi are built in the same building with Stoeger being made in Turkey

 

I have a Benelli Montefeltro I really enjoy. I understand the newest ones have been improved to eliminate the possibility of the infamous "Benelli Click," which I've never experienced.

 

OP is looking for an inertia gun which would rule out the 11-48. I second the Weatherby Element. Or I dare say an Impala Plus. Though I don’t have one I’m looking very closely at them.

 

How so the 11-48?

 

Impala Plus without a doubt!

 

Another option.

Sauer SL5 blued/walnut first look #sl5 #sauer - YouTube

Sauer SL5 Select Wood 12 Gauge Semi-Auto (chuckhawks.com)

SL5 SELECT WOOD | Sauer USA (jpsauer-usa.com)

 

Oyeme...what is the lightest load you run reliably your 20 bore Gordian? Do you use reloads? Especially 3/4 oz. reloads?

 

I no longer reload and after 45+ years of doing so, don't intend to go back.

So I only have shot lots of the Federal 4 packs and a few of the Winchester Universals 7/8 oz ones. It has not hesitated even from the first shot.

I would expect that a 3/4 oz load at 1,250 fps or a bit faster would work fine. Don't know but with the ease that my Greycon Gordion has processed those promo loads, I am guessing the 3/4 oz at more speed would also function.

Gotten real fond of this gun and I think Retay is starting to feel the heat from their competitors, because I spoke with a dealer that said he just got a notice that the Gordions are 25% off and the Masai Mara have been reduced 35%. That is a good thing because I too feel their latest pricing was too high.

 

The only inertia semi I have is my son's Benelli M2 20g and it is fantastic.

 

I have a pair of Benelli semis. Super Sport and M-2. Never had a problem and reliable as ever. These are well made guns. I have added weight to both and the recoil is almost non existent for both. Just my thoughts. Grade6man

 

They're tons of choices on the market these days. Buy one that you can get parts for.

 

I like the SBEIII and older Benelli M2 with the Comforttech stock. Both the SBEIII and previous M2 seem to handle identically to me so if 3.5" capability isn't a concern, go M2 and save some money. Had a couple of early SBEIIIs that shot high but my newer ones have shot to point of aim and are incredible. Hard to miss with those guns. I also really like the Benelli Montefeltro for a field gun but recoil is heavier for me with the standard (non Comforttech) stock on the Montefeltro.

I've had two Retays, a Masa Mara and Gordion. I probably wouldn't buy another Retay. With the guns I had, I felt the Internet hype significantly outpaced the quality of the Retays and now they're expensive to boot. Some seem to like Retays, though, so take my opinion with a grain of salt.

 

I like the SBEIII and older Benelli M2 with the Comforttech stock. Both the SBEIII and previous M2 seem to handle identically to me so if 3.5" capability isn't a concern, go M2 and save some money. Had a couple of early SBEIIIs that shot high but my newer ones have shot to point of aim and are incredible. Hard to miss with those guns. I also really like the Benelli Montefeltro for a field gun but recoil is heavier for me with the standard (non Comforttech) stock on the Montefeltro.

I've had two Retays, a Masa Mara and Gordion. I probably wouldn't buy another Retay. With the guns I had, I felt the Internet hype significantly outpaced the quality of the Retays and now they're expensive to boot. Some seem to like Retays, though, so take my opinion with a grain of salt.

what issues did you have with your retays? I’ve heard different things from; feeding issues, parts rusting out, cycling issues! Did you experience any of those?

 

For the money, this is the one.

 

THIS!!! I have two of them, zero issues and I will say the machining and wear are better than any Benelli I have seen at a fraction of the price.

 

I like my gas pipes. A 400 and 391

 

The OP doesn’t want the cleaning associated with gas operated shotguns. Hence the question specifically Re: Inertia guns.

 

Absolutely love my 2 benellis. 1 m1 12g and 1 12g supersport. They have been great reliable guns and I am not the best about routine cleaning g them. I don’t use them much these days and rely on my O/u generally due to my laziness of picking up shells after skeet or trap.

 

I have had great luck with the shootability & reliability of my Benelli Montefeltro.

 

I stsrted buying and shooting Benellis before I joined a gun forum, still have them and would not trade any one of my Benellis for two other brand inertia guns.

 

Same here. Benellis function so well and lesser known but more importantly their ergos are perfection.

 

I got a CZ 1012 last fall and so did my son. It appears to be a Benelli M2 clone in the bolt and receiver assembly. I have two M2s. Only complaint with the CZ is that it prefers 1 1/8oz loads or heavier. I got mine on Gunbroker for $499 because nobody bid against me. They retail at $750.

 

Extremely happy with the only 2 inertia guns I have which is a Browning A5 12 and 16…couldn’t be happier with either and have been flawless

Also like the humpback as at least for me, they point very naturally

 

Extremely happy with the only 2 inertia guns I have which is a Browning A5 12 and 16…couldn’t be happier with either and have been flawless

Also like the humpback as at least for me, they point very naturally

Not inertia guns; long recoil.

 

I would say the best inertia SA is the one owned by Beretta. That would be Benelli.

 

I personally Love my Winchester Model 50. Super soft shooting. super accurate as well. The Granddaddy of them all.