HH

I bet she floats in ur hands too.

I have been so happy with my Vinci that I went out over the weekend and bought a new M2 in a 20 ga. If you have ever held one of these babies,. it just floats in your hands. I shot a 3" turkey load out of it this morning using Federal Heavyweight #7 and I got the most beautiful pattern , almost identical to 3" load Winchester #6 that I shot out of my new Vinci. My only dilemna now is whiich gun to hunt with when turkley season rolls around in about 2 months.

If you feel that you can handle a 20 ga. you can be an effective turkey hunter without doubt. Not knowing the extent of your limitations , its hard to advise, but as for input whether a 20 ga can be used, the answer is most defintely. Look at federal premium, #7 heavyweight. now in a 20 ga . It will kill any turkey within 30 yrds and be effective out to 40 yrds.

I got to shoot this morning and shot some 3" XTended range #6 turkey loads at a pattern board. Using the factory full choke from 30 yrds , I got a dead on , very nice, tight pattern. Recoil was not a problem., Cant say how to compare without shooting another gun next to it. I notice the trigger pull and feel its a little heavy for my preference but, feel like I won't have any problems shooting turkeys. the gun is well balanced, not complicated to operate. I am impressed with the tightness of the factory full choke. Doubtful that I will even need a aftermarket choke. I am pleased. I dont know that it automatically out performs my SBE1 that I have had and I cant say that I get the feel and tote of my SxS . Easily , 3" is not too much shell for this gun. and I look forward to testing different loads in anticipation of this spring turkey season.

Thanks for the good input.. I picked it up today and have taken down and re-assembled a few times. Will probably shoot some tomorrow , depending on rain/no rain.

assuming I dont lose all my cabbage this weekend with the playoff games (nfl), and nothing new comes out the shot show, I'll be the proud owner of a new vinci next Tuesday. thanks for all the input guys, I really appreciate it.

"This is beginning to look like a classic case of ''Paralysis by Analysis''." Yep, you right about that., I guess I'm biding my time at least til after the SHOT show. My writing up all that gunfit info is really to make my point that gunfit doesn't really have any thing to do with turkey hunting ,. For instinctive shooting , where you dont have time to adjust your eye to the alignment of the barrel , it makes a lot of difference ( although, a competent shot could adapt to a poorly fit gun ) I think most of the POI problems have to do with the magnum forces of recoil from shooting 3" or 3 1/2" shells from a static position . Since the VINCI is so light, I'm hoping that 3" magnum shells aren't too much. hognutz, I know you had some issue with your pattern shooting high, have you tried to shoot not so powerful shells at your pattern board to see if you get the same high POI?

UncleRuss, you are lucky to have a new Vinci on the way. I'll let you know if I decide to buy one. I'm sure I'll find it to be a great gun. I still have my measure sheet still in the case of my 20 ga. from the Griffin and Howe shooting school; Here are my measurements. 14 5/8 LOP to front trigger 1 1/4 drop at comb 2 1/4 drop at heel 1/4 cast off Here are the standard measures for the VINCI Length of Pull: 14-3/8" Drop at Heel: 2" Drop at Comb: 1-3/8" Since drop at comb is really the most important with respect to eye alignment, this gun should shoot a tad lower than I am used to . So, the last thing I should do is lower this measurement. But, I really contend that this has little to do with how I can expect this gun to shoot when I aim it like a rifle for turkey hunting. When I shoot it in a turkey hunting apllication, My eye will drift up 1/8" to the proper level as I take aim down the rib and squeeze off a shot. If this were a wingshooting event, my natural and practiced mounting will influence where my eye is as I pull the trigger and therefore where my shot will hit. My basic question is how should I expect this gun to shoot in relation to the rib. I hope it shoots dead on.

I can't live without a new Vinci except i heard today benelli is going introduce a new gun at the shot show

As for shotgun fitting, I was fitted by a professional at the Griffin and Howe shooting school many years ago, ordered my gun (a merkel SxS 20 ga) and still love shooting this gun. But, I learned that surprise , surprise, my fitted measures were pretty standard stuff. Alot is made about gunfit, but I think any halfway competent shooter could get used to a gun not precisely his own measurements. Benelli manufactures their guns with pretty standard drops, length of pulls ,etc. I bet they would fit 90% most people. Benelli is a high end production gun and I thouroughly enjoy my SBE1 that I have owned for many years and the gun that I primarily turkey hunt with. My SBE1 shoots dead on and I have never had any unusual problems wiht it . thats why I want to stay with benelli, In cheaply made production guns, I think barrel alignment is problematic and you can get guns that shoot all over the place, no doubt barrel harmonics have something to do with it as well. I need a new gun like a hole in the head, but I love the feel and balance the vinci. I am concerned that magnum loads in such a light gun might be kicking the gun up to produce high patterns. Similar to the way a pistol kicks up..... you gotta aim at the feet to shoot him in the head. I have an aversion to putting a scope device on my turkey gun, especially one that I admire because of the way it feels in my hands.

Proper gun fit is important primarily for wingshooting performance. How the gun is mounted , which aligns your eye as the back sight in relation to the barrel has a direct bearing on point of impact. I probably should have specified, that I was considering this gun for turkey hunting. In this application, this gun is "aimed". The shot gun is aimed just like a rifle. Gun fit is of less importance because of this.

no pics to offer but its really simple. . . unscrew the cap open and you will see the stopper that has 2 small holes, get a pair of small needle nose pliers that will fit into the holes and squeeze the holes together and the cap will come out. be ready to hold back the cap and spring from popping out because of the spring pressure.

I'm really close to pulling the trigger on a new Vinci and wanted to get a question addressed. I have seen a couple of instances where people thought the gun shot high. indicating possibly 100% high. Has that been the experience of other Vinci owners ? The design llooks like the recoil effect could be kicking the barrel up . Even though the recoil direction is in-line, it still is looks like it could kick up slightly. I am planning on using the gun for turkey hunting and with magnum loads, the recoil effect would be magnum as well,

What are your favorite rifle sights? I don't really like the profile and clunky look of a propoint or other optics.

I have recently decided tolook at a M2 20 ga for turkey hunting this next year and I went to local dealer and looked at several 20 ga but I really like the feel and balance of the M2 . I currently own a SBE 12 ga that I have hunted with for 6-7 years with really no substantial problems. It needed some trigger work but other than that, no problems cycling rounds and it shoots dead on. I am eager to buy the M2 in a 20 ga but I my confidence is shaky with respect to these two issues. 1. mechanical function- cycling issues? (the one I looked at in the store gave me a hint of a problem. I was working the action open and it got stuck open while playing with it. I asked the saleman about it and he said those guns had been doing that recently and I would only have that happen on the last round, so its no big deal) hmmmmmm ? 2. Point of impact. I have owned 2 benelli's , the first one shot very low and I ended up having a gunsmith ( seminole gunworks) bend the barrel upward slightly, This is of course , after they verified that the gun indeed shot low., My 2nd benelli SBE 12 ga shoots dead on from the beginning and I am happy about this. Please provide input --- hopefully all positive -- so I can pull the trigger and buy a new 20 ga M2 thanks,

I really like the looks of the Vinci shotgun. neat way it breaks down in pieces. I am a little dissapointed that its not available in 3 1/2 chamber but 3 " is plenty big.

I think this will be your year indeed. You have a healthy attitude and optimism breeds success. Especially with turkey hunting. If I didnt think I'd kill a turkey every morning I went , then I would do like mudhen, and just stay home and sell cars. The woods are alive and it is wonderful to get out as often as possible. There are three things every turkey hunter posesses... Persistence,Patience and Hard Headedness

Please accept our sincere apologizes for sending you incorrect energy information on our Winchester Supreme Hi-Density Extended Range Turkey loads. The following is the correct information; Estimated Down Range Energy for Winchester Xtenden Range Load DescriptionPellet Energy (Individual) (Ft. Lbs.) Muzzle Velocity of all (1225fps) ........................................................................ 10yds..... 20yds..... 30yds..... 40yds .....50yds .... 60yds 12ga 1 3/4oz #6 ................................................. 5.73 ........ 4.34 .... 3.32 ......... 2.57 ....... 2.01 ..... 1.59 12ga 1 3/4oz #5 .... ............................................7.56.... .... 5.85 ..... 4.55......... 3.58......... 2.84 ..... 2.28 12ga 1 3/40z #4 .................................................. 9.74.... ..... 7.67 ..... 6.05 ....... 4.83 .......3.89 ........3.17 If we can be of further help please contact us again. Winchester Ammunition Here is some useful info directly from Federal publication.... .................... federal heavyweight ........................ Lead shot yrds .................... #5 ....... #6 ............................ #5 ......... #6 20 ....................... 8.28 ...... 6.14 ....................... 5.16 ........ 3.81 30 ....................... 6.37 ...... 4.65 ........................ 3.84 ....... 2.78 40 ........................ 4.99 ...... 3.58 ....................... 2.91 ....... 2.07 50 ........................ 3.94 ...... 2.79 ....................... 2.24 ....... 1.57 60 ......................... 3.15 ...... 2.20 ....................... 1.75........ 1.20

A great slate call from misty mountain callers.. http://www.mistymountaincaller.com/index.php

Mudhen, what test did you do with the Xtended Range ? I like these shells myself but i read somewhere that it didnt penetrate thru ply wood at 50 yrds but the hevi 13 blew holes I havent done any such test but would like to know about your test. Here are the references: from another forum "I compared Winchester supreme's versus Remington Hevi Shot. Both were 3 1/2" #5's shot out of an 870 SPST. Both shells patterned about the same @ 20, 30, 40, and 50 yards. The only difference I noticed was the awsome penetration of the Hevi shot's. I used 1/4 inch plywood for a backstop. The Hevi shot went clean through the plywood @ 50 yards, but the Winchester barely stuck in the board and came out with a flick of a fingernail. That's what sold me on the Hevishot. Also, the bird I shot this year was exactly 50 steps and broadside. When I took the breast meat out I noticed pellets that penetrated through both breast." and then another "My dad noticed the same thing.. We have shot Hevi-Shot, Hevi 13, Federal Heavy-Weight, and the WInchester XR... He noticed there were some silver pellets that were not even going through our wooden backstop while alomst all the other pellets were.. We found it was the XR..It put the most pellets in the target at 50 yards in his gun, but he has switched to #5 Hevi-Shot due to the lack of penetration in the XRs." thanks, HH

Not shooting dead on is a risk you will run with any production gun. Benelli is probably not much different than any other market gun...... close you eyes and pick one out... I'd say you have about 80 % chance of picking a winner. There are some things to do if it doenst shoot dead on , like bend the barrel, buy eccentric chokes but that is hardly worth the moeny or bother. In my opinion, most off shooting guns relate more to magnum loads that we push thru them, and a lot of problems relates to that.. Buy a gun that you can shoot comfortably but most important,,,,, learn to turkey hunt and realize that 55 yrd shots isnt a prize. sure, its nice to kill a stubborn old field bird but most turkey hunters can call them in their laps.......

"......don't get me started on the poor penetration of those #7's at 40yds " Have you done much testing with the new Federal Heavyweight #7's This is quoted from Federal's Senior Shotshell Engineer....... “Actually, one exciting thing for this year is we are bringing out #7 shot in our HEAVYWEIGHT line. The reason I am so excited about this is because at 40 yards, you still have the energy you would have with #5 lead because the of unprecedented density of HEAVYWEIGHT. The number of pellets is significantly more than you would have in a #5 lead load. With the additional pellets in the payload, you have much more of a chance for multiple hits in the vital area. I think that it is going to be a very exciting product for this year.”

Nitro makes a load in a 3" 20 ga that is loaded with HeviShot #7 (you get high pellet count--- I think somewheres around 500 pellets) I looked at some of Nitro #7 shot and I am not convinced that they are all truly #7 sized.... looks like there are some smaller shot than #7 mixed in there. Makes for a good swarm of shot for inside 30 yrds. 1 7/16 oz actually,,,, the 20 ga 3" shell with that much shot going thru a 20 ga sized bore and its like youre shooting thru a tight choke.... 3" shells thru a 20 ga is notorious for shooting a long shot string... not so great for wing shots but perfect for turks.

Here's some energy numbers in ft-lbs for different down range yardages based on 1300 fps muzzle velocity. basically its retained energy of each pellet. .................... federal heavyweight ........................ Lead shot yrds .................... #5 ....... #6 ............................ #5 ......... #6 20 ....................... 8.28 ...... 6.14 ....................... 5.16 ........ 3.81 30 ....................... 6.37 ...... 4.65 ........................ 3.84 ....... 2.78 40 ........................ 4.99 ...... 3.58 ....................... 2.91 ....... 2.07 50 ........................ 3.94 ...... 2.79 ....................... 2.24 ....... 1.57 60 ......................... 3.15 ...... 2.20 ....................... 1.75........ 1.20

'NUFF SAID INDEED ! ! !