JoshD

Thank you for the info Butch. I was well aware of the fouling shot and the wind, but did not know that temperature made that much of a difference. Definately something to keep in mind! Thanks again!

Well folks, I just got back from shooting again. I'll probably be branded as a liar or lunatic from now on, but can only speak the truth as to what just happened. Before leaving, I loosened the barrel nut on the magazine tube and retightened it to make sure it was ok. Nothing abnormal. Then, I took off the stabilizer clamp. Everything was fine. Tightened it back up, only SNUG this time instead of torquing it. Drove up to the woods and shot while seated, @ 50yds as normal, using a wood bench w/ a 5gal bucket on top of it for a rest. Put my left hand under the gun, making sure not to let any part of the weapon touch the bucket, as you all have described. Shot from the same 15rnd box of slugs. After my 1st shot, I was overjoyed but in disbelief. It shot exactly to POA elevation wise, and was only about 2" off windage, to the left. I mean elevation was DEAD ON. Fired 2 more shots, and got a nice triangle. Measured the group at the widest point and was about 1 3/4". For open sights, smoothbore, and 40 cent slugs, this was more than sufficent for me. Adjusted the windage 1 tick mark, and proceded to put 2 slugs in the same hole. Not a figure 8, I mean in the same hole. Wow. Only problem was that I was now about 2" to the right of my POA. Moved the sight just barely, only half a tick mark, and it shot to POA as good as any rifle I've shot. The only conclusion that I can draw is that the stabilizer clamp was way too tight and moved the barrel. That may not be true, but it's the only reasonable thing that comes to my mind. Now I can see why competition shooters consider a free floating stock/tube or bedded stock a must, especially when shooting with a sling. Well anyway, that's my wild story for today, you can either believe it or not. Heck, I don't even think that I believe it myself.

Man, I really appreciate the comments gentlemen! Maybe we can get this thing figured out in the next 3 days! LOL My M3 has the same type of front sight as the one pictured on Benelli's webpage. They do appear to be adjustable, but for windage only. It does look like if I could find a very small open end wrench and get the tiny nut off, I might be able to put a small shim of some type under the front sight post and reinstall the sight, raising the height of the post. Of course, a taller post would be better, but I'm not even sure if they make one. Also, I forgot to mention, the sights that I have ARE the adjustable ghost rings. They are the model previous to the ones shown on the website though. The rear sight is fully adjustable for windage and elevation, just not adjustable enough I suppose. When I was sighting in and got these results, the 1st time I was shooting using the bedrail of my truck for a rest, with my hand underneath the forearm. The 2nd time I was sitting in a chair, using a standing wooden powerline pole as a rest. I can't remember if the forearm or barrel was in contact with the pole, but once again, I was holding onto the forearm with my left hand, and just using the pole to steady my aim. So, with my hand supporting the forearm, I wouldn't think it would have anything to bounce off of, but it's possible I suppose. For the past 10 years I have used a 20 ga Rem. 870 for deer. Smoothbore with rifle sights. I've never had a problem like this, and have always used Winchester slugs. Also, this is NOT a rifled barrel. It is a smoothbore with adjustable ghost ring sights. I have fired shotshells in my 870 deer barrel also, and if it affected the impact of the slugs at all, it was not enough for me to notice. I don't really know what else to say about it, maybe I'm missing something. It has the integral 8 shot magazine tube (not a screw on) that has been plugged to hold 2 rounds to be legal. Also has a pistol grip stock. Everything is factory, no aftermarket accessories on it. It does have the stabilizer clamp from the barrel to the magazine, I can see how this could affect the POI, but not sure if it would make it shoot about 8" high from the factory zero.

This is the first time I've ever fired slugs through this shotgun, and prior to that, I've only fired 1 box of regular all purpose loads, 7.5 shot, through it. It was either NIB or LNIB when I bought it. The slugs are the type I mentioned earlier, and were just purchased last week. I do not think it is me. Windage wise, the gun was perfect. I moved the rear sight from the last mark on the bottom to the first mark on the top, just to see if it was me or if it would even make a difference. It went from shooting 4-6in high, to shooting 12+ inches high. So, the sights are working fine, they are just way too high for some reason. Looks like I might have to hold low or use a 6 oclock hold this deer season Anyways, thanks for the suggestions FN. I might try some Remington slugs and see if it makes any difference.

I have a Benelli M3, one of the older HK marked guns. Just the other day, I was shooting 2 3/4" 1oz Winchester slugs through it to sight in for deer season, which starts the 18th here in IL. 50yds is what I've always sighted in at. The rear sight is almost off of the dovetail, past the last white marking on the right. Even being this low (as low as possible), it is still shooting about 4-6 inches high at 50yds. Any suggestions? Does Benelli make a taller front sight post? I can't believe such a quality gun would have a problem like this. BTW- it groups great, just shoots way too high.

sorry, had a problem but figured it out. [ 11-12-2005, 01:09 AM: Message edited by: JoshD ]