I hear ya I was seriously looking at the Alcione when I bought my O\U. Everyone seemed to like it. I did buy a more expensive Beretta (which I love) though because I couldn't find a single one within 100 miles of here to look at! If they could get better coverage with dealers I think they would sell a lot more, but you're right they don't seem to move.

Anywho I'm arranging to have two 30 year old Franchi o\u (12 and 28 gauge) shipped up here from my father's aunt. Hardly been fired I can't wait to see them.

 

Phinton, you are right . I am one who has been a champion fighting for Franchi,s reputation. I also agree with everything you say , but I feel the other companies are still equal to the b guns. I have seen these guns comming around in the gun stores in my area, and a lot of people are starting to notice them more and more. I think the price is shying people away not knowing about them . If they only knew that the barrels are Berreta and the bolts are made like the Benelli's with the return spring around the magazine tube instead of the butt stock and have a simple but very effective gas system they would take more notice than they do.........I to own the higher end Remington's and Browning's (had an Express when they first came out but sold it a long time ago) . They have performed beautifly and will still buy there products.

 

I too have been very impressed with Franchi. I do like Browning the best for semi auto shotguns. I will amitt to having a pretty open mind when it comes time for a new shotgun.
About 3 or 4 years ago it was time for a new auto for upland only. I started looking at the Brownings first then the Beretta AL391. I thought I had my mind made up on a Benelli Montefeltro. Then I held it! It was a Franchi AL 48 in 12 gauge with a 26" barrel. I was in love! I was familar with the Franchi name. I really never payed much attention to or shot one. After playing with the gun and inspecting the quality. I was shocked at the price. It was half the price as the Monte! Need less to say I now have a Franchi AL48 (12) with a 26" tube. Everytime I hold this gun I get a great big smile on my face.
I got my second Franchi (612) about two years ago. I wanted a gun that was lighter and had a shorter barrel than my Gold 3 1/2" with 28" barrel. It would be my crow and early waterfowl gun. Even though I liked the Beretta AL 391 and Benelli M1. I wanted something that held at least 5 shells. It looked like another Browning Gold (3"). Then I thought about Franchi again. I looked at the attributes of the Gold and 612. After a lot of consideration and side by side compairsons the 612 got the nod. I think the Franchi are one of the best values. They have a lot of features, easy to maintain, reliable, and very good quality. The Beretta's Pintail/ES 100 and 390/3901 and Weatherby SAS are also of equal values and quality.
Franchi's have been imported into the US since the 1950's. They seem to be gaining a following slowly. Even some of the guys that write gun reports for some magazines don't seem to know much about them.

 

I am 53 years old and have always been intrigued by Franchi. I finally pulled the trigger yesterday and bought an Affinity in 12 and one in 20. Can't wait for them to arrive next week.

 

I, too, was skeptical about the Franchi line until I bought a 20ga-28ga OU combo several years ago. They shoot and perform as well as some of the more recognizable brands. After 7 years of hunting still no problems with them.
I recently saw a 48 AL in 28ga at a local gun shop. Dealer was selling it as used though he told me the previous owner, who he knew, had only put about a box of ammo through it. Price was very right so I bought it. Now I just have to wait for that grandson to grow a little.

Best...John

 

A couple of years ago Kittery Trading Post was running a sale on 20 ga. Franchi Highlanders. I wasn't into shotguns then, but I took a look at one and it appeared to be a really finely made SxS, beautiful to look at, wood was perhaps a little plain for the price point (the MSRP was something over $3000), but very well balanced. The sales guy's story was that KTP had bought up every Highlander in the country (an exaggeration, as I spotted a new one at a different shop a few weeks later).

Apparently this model just didn't sell. Perhaps it was because, for a $3000 double gun, people expected a selective trigger which it didn't have; perhaps it was because the wood was a little short of "figure," or perhaps because it had an automatic safety, or perhaps because of all of those things.

KTP was letting them out the door at $1100 and they sold 'em all pretty quickly. At that price, they were a steal.

 

I've got a Franchi 612 VS and a Beretta 390 Sporting, and let me tell you, cleaning the Franchi is hands down a relative pleasure.
It's also easier to strip down, what with no bolt tail struggling to align with the recoil spring cup. If there's any down side to the Franchi, it's that you have two pins to remove to get the trigger group out instead of one. BFD
Both guns have about 10,000 rounds through them and both are still ticking along. The Franchi was made in 1997, and the Beretta in 1996. I did have a major repair to the Franchi last year where the operating rods separated from the bolt (They're fixed to the bolt with some mystery attachment that Franchi wouldn't divulge). I took the bolt to a local weld shop and for $10 had the rods TIG-welded to the bolt. Now it's better than new.

 

I am 53 years old and have always been intrigued by Franchi. I finally pulled the trigger yesterday and bought an Affinity in 12 and one in 20. Can't wait for them to arrive next week.

You won't be disappointed. I purchased one this week in a 20gauge and it is a dream to shoot. Can't wait til fall to hunt with it.

 

Not everyone has had the positive experience that you have with Franchi.
My 28Ga O/U had to go back to them twice to get both barrels to fire reliably. It works now, but I have never had that problem with my Berettas.

 

I had a I-12 for about a year. I loved the gun, it pointed well, felt great, hit clays. That said, the pin that is between the bolt and the inside of the receiver worked itself loose and that started to grind the receiver. The pin held the spring and ball that locked the bolt handle in place. It was an easy fix to tap the pin back in and make it smooth. I was not going to send it in to Franchi because I did not want to be out a gun for however long it would take for them to fix it or replace it. I think that there should have been more thought put into how the spring and ball held the bolt handle in place. I have since traded it in for a over under geared toward shooting clays. I would not hesitate to look at Franchi Over Unders, but the semi's with alloy receivers are not for me and I realize alloy receivers is not just limited to Franchi.

 

Good short read, re: Randy Wakeman's "best new shotguns of 2012":

http://randywakeman.com/TheBestNewShotgunsof2012.htm

and a longer piece on the Franchi and some Beneli's:

http://randywakeman.com/FranchiAffinity12GaugeAutoloaderReview.htm

 

I love my I-12 in wood. Fits me well, always cycles and looks good.

 

My 48-AL 20 ga is my favorite gun. super reliable, light as a feather, only 600 new. The step rib makes it so sweet for one handed carry in the field. The finish on the gun is sure durable. I shot clays all day, leaving prints all over the gun. I put it in the case and left it for 3 weeks till I cleaned it and there was not a hint of rust. A blued gun will start to rust in hours after beeing handled sometimes.

I would love to have one just like it in 12 ga or maybe a 720 so I could throw more shot at chukar.

 

An eight year old post.........and I still feel the same way about Franchi.

A lot has happened in the auto loading market in that time frame. Franchi had the I-12 come and go, replaced by the Affinity in both 12 and 20. The Franchi 612, 620, 712, 720, and 912 are all gone. The Beretta Xtrema 1 was replaced with the Xtrema 2. The AL391 became the Urika 2. The A400 Xplor/Xcel and A400 Xtreme have been released. The Pintail/Es100 is no longer available in the US. Benelli stopped the SBE and M1 and made changes to the whole line in 05'. The Vinci, Super Vinci, and Ultra Light are all now here. Benelli also added a 28 gauge model. Browning introduced the Silver, Maxus, and "New" A5. Browning's production on the Gold 12 and 20 gauge models ended. Remington had both the Cti 105 and Cti 105 II come and go with the VersaMax here today. Weatherby replaced the SAS with the SA08. Winchester replaced the SX2 with the SX3 and added a 20 gauge. Just to name a few, plus I was still in my thrities, late but still 30 something.

 

Love a Franchi. This one is 50 years old and digested > 3000 shells in 3 days by a 12 yo.

 

What did that shell catcher cost you?

 

The one sitting on the stool who looks thrilled to be there? Those guys just watch people shoot all day long. They most learn a lot though, we let them shoot a few boxes of shells and they were smoking doves well past 40 yards, rarley missed.

 

Hi All:

I use a 48AL mfg, 1952 and a Falconet mfg. 1954 for upland hunting. I have never had a problems with either. They are a joy to use and the Franchi line is the best kept secret in the gun world!

One can pick up these guns for a "bargain" and have a gun that will last a very long time!

Stay well.

Franchi

 

The two Affinity's came in but had to send the 20 gauge back. It had a huge scratch on the receiver and there was something wrong with the forearm nut. It would screw on the magazine tube if just the forearm was attached or just the barrel was attached but not when both were attached to the shotgun. The dealer is out of stock and will be sending me a new one as soon as he gets one. The barrel is also a little tricky to install but easy once you get the hang of it. The instructions say to install it with the bolt open, but you have to do it with the bolt closed and then pull back on the bolt while you slide the barrel in to position.

That being said I shot my twelve gauge today and was very impressed. First of all I was more accurate with it than I am with my SX3 or my Maxus. Secondly there were no FTC'S or FTE'S. I shot cheap Federal 1oz loads and Winchester AA 1 1/8 oz loads and the Federals cycled just as well as the AA's. And third, the recoil was not bad at all. I think this shotgun is a winner.

 

I stumbled upon a "Frenchy" at a local mom and pop sporting goods store. Counter guy thought it was made in France. It turned out to be a Franchi Falconet in 20 gauge. They had taken it in on a trade, and must have given less than the $225 that I offered them for it. Done deal, and nice little gun. It may be the lightest gun I own. Mark

 

I just don't understand how this company can be such a sleeper in the industry.

The sprawling Beretta Group competes against itself. Consider that, for autoloading shotguns, you have a Stoeger, Franchi, Benelli, and Beretta brands of autoloaders, with countless models within those brands.

Browning has has essentially one autoloader for years. Remington, until recently, has essentially one as well . . . since 1963. 105Cti ignored, as it should have been. Beretta Family has more models of autoloaders than all other major makes of autoloaders, combined. Not every nameplate from one company can be a top priority and Franchi is largely a result of that.

 

Any one have trouble with the forearm cap on the new Franchi Affinity? It seems to have a little trouble going on and you have to becareful not to cross thread it.

 

Most definitely. I bought a 20 and a 12 and had to send the the 20 back to the dealer b/c of a bad scratch but also b/c the cap would not screw on. When the new one came in I still had difficulty but finally got it to work. Each time I screw it back on it gets easier. It is difficult to explain how to do it but you have to push the cap down firmly on the tube but at a slight angle. If you want to PM me with your phone number I will call you and try to explain it.

 

im not an autoloader guy, but my renaissance sure fits me well. im shooting this gun alot better than my 101. alot of people didnt dig the recoil pad on the renassance but i sure do notice a difference in felt recoil and like the way it looks. im not a fan of the new instinct as it has way to much made in turkey screaming all over it. i got my renassaince on clearance for 900.00. i love mine. now if i were to buy an auto the affinity would be at the top of my list. it to feels nice comming to my shoulder and the price cant be beat by a mile. i just wonder if the safty on the affinity can be flipped for us southpaws.

 

I bought an I-12 about three years ago, and today I had the first failures to feed on it. Everything seemed okay when I took it down. I'm not sure what went on. In all cases, the spent shell ejected and the bolt closed, leaving the new shell under the bolt in the receiver. It has been a very reliable gun for me.