mtstream

The first time out I had a few issues with light loads but once the gun had some rounds down it I've not had a problem since. I've mag dumped Federal LE low recoil which is only 1145fps without issue and have run enough through my M4 to be comfortable with it as my self defense load. I would suggest not getting discourage if it's picky to begin with and see how it performs once it's done some work.

Sorry if this has been discussed previously. TTI is too short a phrase to search and any words I add to it returns a lot of unrelated results. I've read a couple early reviews where the TTI design had some issues with heavier slugs and had to be modified. It looks like they may have made some changes since then so I was wondering if anyone had found reliability issues with heavier slugs or other types of rounds? I have an M4. The specific slugs I am wondering about are Brenneke Black Magic 3" 602grs ~1.38oz (you know, in case I ever need to stop a Cadillac). Considering the TTI to reduce chances of thumb damage, especially while practicing to get faster with reloads.

My father has always been an elite athlete and continued to play basketball with college age students until he turned 70. He was also a crack shot with a rifle - my memories are of him shooting crows on the fly with a .22. So I was surprised when he asked me to show him how to shoot a semi-auto pistol he received as a gift and he really struggled with it. He didn't catch on quickly and shot very poorly (anticipation, no follow through). Afterwards he also admitted to starting to loose some dexterity in his fingers. He's never owned a shotgun but I'm thinking it would be a better home defense solution for him than a pistol. I believe simplicity is the most important factor. I had intended to get him a basic pump but am now wondering if a semi-auto would be better? Your opinions?

Use it to open a locked bathroom door. It'd be the last time a teenager does that! I probably shouldn't joke, some moron may try it.

Even when my M4 was having some issues with light bird shot it would cycle the low recoil flite control LE132 without any problems. I've used both 8 pellet LE133 and 9 pellet LE132 and get the same number of rounds in the tube, both before and after adding the extended tube.

Received an e-mail from Botach that their Bemelli M4 accessories are on sale. The disclaimer is that I haven't price checked the items and what they have is very limited, but it's rare to see M4 stuff on sale so I thought I'd post it. I have bought M1A accessories from them and been pleased with the price/free shipping - never interacted with anything but their web site so I can't speak to service. http://www.botach.com/categories/firearm-accessories/gun-accessories-for-benelli-shotguns.html

Closing the loop - they shorted the refund by 35.74. Basically the original shipping -$.01. About a month ago (11/13) they said they would send a check for $35.74 but haven't responded since. I guess I should stop holding my breath now. We'll see if the original check clears or not. Between weather and work, I haven't been back to the range but I'm planning to keep documenting the wear pattern on the Vinci. Seems like a small but interesting project.

Most revealing to me though is the receiver shows no wear at all from the bolt handle [ATTACH=CONFIG]2350[/ATTACH] Now that I have experience with a new Benelli and re-examined after 200 rounds, I feel confident in stating the first gun was not only used but very heavily used. Until I observe the continuing wear patterns I can't guess at how many rounds had gone through the original gun but I'm expecting its a very large number. Some of y'all with more experience can probably make a reasonable guess. As far as shooting the new Vinci - we didn't do very well overall :-) but we weren't that serious about hitting them most of the day. At one station by buddy did hit both clays with one shot 3/4 tries so it wasn't the gun's fault we were missing a lot. The front sight kept coming loose. I have some medium Loctite 242 - would that be too much for the front sight? The lighter kick isn't as noticeable as I was hoping for BUT at the end of the day, I'm feeling a lot less worked over than after a day with an 1100. I think this is a combination of the comfortech and the lighter weight of the gun (less energy spent). Not being 100 degrees outside probably helped a lot too.

Just got back from the range where we put 200rds of Herter's (aka Wolf) Field load through the new Vinci. So now I know what a new Vinci looks like and a slightly used Vinci looks like . . . I have no idea what the first gun must have gone through. Here's the bolt uncleaned after 200rds - slight wear pattern starting to emerge on the sharp edges. NO wear pattern on the body as the first gun had. [ATTACH=CONFIG]2345[/ATTACH] [ATTACH=CONFIG]2346[/ATTACH] The barrel mark did appear but only after shooting, it had not appeared after the original assembling/disassembling. [ATTACH=CONFIG]2347[/ATTACH] Here's the choke uncleaned after firing 200rds - look familiar? [ATTACH=CONFIG]2348[/ATTACH] Difference is, this choke whipped clean when the original wouldn't [ATTACH=CONFIG]2349[/ATTACH]

Assembling the new Vinci the first time was tough! I eventually had to get out a vice to help mount the barrel. After 3-4 assemblies it loosened up enough to do just holding the stock between my knees. I've assembled somewhere around 12-15 times now and it keeps getting a little easier. I sat on the couch and cycled the bolt over 100 times to emulate a likely level of in store handling and removed/reinstalled it from the barrel a few dozen times. Below is a picture of the bolt after all that handling/cycling: [ATTACH=CONFIG]2343[/ATTACH] Here's the choke with the factory oil/grease on it [ATTACH=CONFIG]2344[/ATTACH] Even with all the torqueing I had to do to get the gun together the first time and the number of times I've assembled, there's no noticeable wear marks on the barrel. The other thing that really stood out is how light weight the factory oil is. The first gun was greased and not new grease like it had just been done. I'm not finding anything close to it from the factory, a lot of oil out of the box but very light weight oil. I'm heading to the range with a friend today to do a break in with standard loads then bust some skeet. I'll post the "after" pictures of the bolt.

Never ending saga - UPS shows the return was received Tue 10/29. They sent an e-mail on Wed saying the refund would be mailed that day or the next. That same Wed. I bought a new Vinci on Gunbroker from an out of state dealer. That transaction is completed and I received the gun from my FFL yesterday. But have I received the refund? No, no I have not I e-mailed them today 11/8 asking when it was mailed and the response was "this week" They also said "FYI Distributor still standing buy initial report that gun is new, reselling in store as LNIB . . ." Unbelievable, there's nothing "Like New" about it.

It's not dishonest, it's "salestruth"

You're correct, after I posted I thought about that and tested it out. The surfire forend/light is almost heavy enough to cycle itself when the weapon is standing in the corner. I had to set it in so the friction of the wall would keep it up.

Do you want them to shoot or just for the nostalgia? I like to shoot, so I'd sell at least one for a premium (high starting bid) and get the regular M4, make whatever changes you want and use it. You won't wonder about how much value you're losing every time you take it out.

I don't have a Nova but will give some thoughts on the 870. I bought an 870 express tactical 7 shot for my wife as my M4 is heavy for her. I added the specops recoil reduction stock (was cheaper to add then buy the model w/ it installed). Everything you said about the 870 is true so I won't repeat. The only add is there are a ton of options avail for 870s also. 1. Deciding it's going to be an 870 only narrows it down to what, 30 models? 2. Most home defense/tactical are 18" barrels. Mine doesn't take chokes, so "gun games" are out. It's only purpose in life is close quarters home defense. Without something like skeet, even if you do training and take it to the range, I wouldn't expect to put thousands of rounds through it. It's fun to shoot but still doesn't have the "cool" factor of my M4 or speed so it's not getting that many rounds. I took it out last weekend with some Federal Premium LE. It was nice to shoot with the tacops stock. More of a push than a kick - not as soft as the M4 but the gun is not as heavy either. I was pleased. I don't like the bolt lock. Since it lives in the corner of the walk in closet, I don't like keeping a round in the chamber. That means my wife would need to work the little metal lever to release the bolt to cycle and chamber a round. I don't know what this is like on the Nova but I don't like it on the 870. [ATTACH=CONFIG]2319[/ATTACH]