AJ_SD

Hey, thanks for the taking the time to post that about your Vinci! I agree with you, it's a great gun in many ways, its just a shame, for me anyway, that the thing shoots too high. Benelli markets the Vinci as a hunting shotgun, not a trap gun, I think if some of us knew it would shoot unacceptably high we might have looked at other options for shotguns! I've spent months playing around with my Vinci, I think I have it at a 50/50 pattern now! If you don't like the Cabelas hi viz magnetic site, try the bead that comes on the Benelli Nova. The Nova bead is taller than the stock Vinci bead, I bet that might work for you, its worth a shot and more of a permanent solution. In my case, I had to shim my Vinci even more than the "C Shim" to get it to work, but the magnetic site and the Nova site pretty much produced the same results for me as far as POI. Let me know if you try the Nova bead. And one other thing, even though I have the gun shooting ok for me, I'm not doing all that well with it, I've had some good days, but I consistently miss easy shots on Valley Quails and this is NEVER the case with my previous pump shotgun. I'm not 100% comfortable with it and I question myself for keeping the gun. I might practice with the Vinci and try next season, see how it goes in the field. I want to keep the gun, I think the engineering on it is great, but eventually you get tired of missing in the field and your confidence level goes down the toilet. LOL, and another thing I noticed - once you go from pump to auto loader, you can't go back to pump easily, you forget to pump the damn shotgun and the bird is gone and sticking his tongue out at you! Take care, let me know how it goes boss!

Make sure you get to a target or patterning board, it's going to save you a lot of possible frustration time with the gun! I know what you mean about peeking over the sights or barrel to watch that bird fall, we've all done it and missed the shot! Remember though, and I think hognutz will agree, this Vinci needs to shoot as instinctual as possible, any special aiming or lining up of beads to get it to shoot straight is going to be really hard to do when a quail launches like a missile. Last Friday I had my first instinctual shot with the Vinci! This dove popped-up out of this overgrown farmers field, I got him at 25 yards but I never used the sights, I just swung the barrel over there and shot and he dropped. After that happened, I finally felt like I can work this this gun, especially since I have it shooting dead-nuts now! Oh, forgot to mention... I like the looks of the gun to be honest with you, I think it's very forward thinking and the engineering of it is very impressive. You know we all like the guns with the beautiful wood that look like expensive home furniture, but it just sounds like your friends are traditionalists that's all. Plenty of guns out there that have nice wood stocks, etc, that's no challenge. Personally I don't even like camo guns, but I would buy one if the hunt required it!

Road Warrior, you've come the right place my friend! Between myself and hognutz, you might lick this problem. At one point I almost tossed the Vinci into one of these irrigation canals in El Centro, and I'm not kidding with ya! What you need to do is go the range and shoot your Vinci at a pattern board or a relatively large paper target at 21 yards with the modified choke. If you want to email me the results I bet I can help you out, I've been messing with this POI problem for three months, I've already been there. Just so you know, the Vinci is designed to shoot high so according to Benelli there's nothing wrong with the gun, but that doesn't mean the gun will work for you unless you fix this problem. When you shoot your target, point right at the bulleye, don't float the target above the bead (unless that's what you are accustomed to) All of my previous guns shoot exactly where I point them, not sure what you're accustomed to. The shim you want in there is the "CDX", this is the thickest one and will lower your POI the most. If the shim and the easyhit don't do enough for you, let us know, you still have 2-3 more options that I know about. By the way... for me the best patterning shotgun shells are the Fiocchi. The Winchester Super X Game Loads were ok, stay away from the Remington Dove and Quail field loads, they don't pattern consistently. Always shoot the same shotgun shell for your POI tests. Later you can do your own testing of shells, right now you're looking for consistency. Hope to hear more, lets us know!

Good stuff! Personally I believe when your shotgun shooting is instinctive, sort of like an extension of your arm, it's best! I'm happy to tell you that I figured this Vinci out, I added more shim to the existing shim and now it shoots exactly where I point the SOB. I took it Dove hunting on Friday and it's feeling really good. I now have a 50/50 pattern. After 3+ months of messing with this damn thing I'm finally happy, I was seriously going to send this gun back, but now I think I got it dialed-in. For shooters that are accustomed to "floating the target" the Vinci might be ok, but it's still my personal opinion that a field gun should shoot dead-nuts on - and NOT like a trap gun! I didn't see any trap shooting in the Vinci promo ads, did you? Other than the POI issue, I love the gun in every way, it's a very solid piece of engineering in my opinion. By the way, your comment in regards to taking your time and setting up for the shot, I couldn't agree more. Nothing in general ever comes out right, even in life when you rush things! LOL. I think the more you shoot, the more relaxed you become. Before I went to shoot the Dove, I hung the pattern test of my Vinci up in my office, just to remind me how the gun is shooting straight and how I have this wonderful pattern. Guess what - it worked in the field!

Hmmm, ok I will try that, that makes sense. My previous gun didn't have a mid-bead and to be honest I don't really use it on the Vinci. I'm not sure how I would do all that when I need to get a real quick shot off at a quail for instance. I will try it and let you know boss, thanks for the advice. How are you doing with your gun, are you killing birds?

Yeah this is all starting to make me wonder if I'm doing something wrong as far as aiming the gun. I had my friend shoot it and it was like a copy and paste of what my shot looked like - too high! Are you using both beads when you aim, what are you doing with the mid-bead? Maybe I'm not doing something right... talk to me.

Hey, forgot to ask, how far away was your target? 20 yards, 25 yards?

Was the pattern high, or did the gun shoot where you pointed it? It would have been a better test with the mod or full choke.

NP, very curious as to how your tests go. Make sure you shoot right at the target, don't float it, this is what I'm curious about, want to know how high your gun is shooting and what shim you have in the gun. I saw a machinist today in regards to making a new shim. I have a few options on how I can go about it, I'll let everyone know where I take this, it's going to take some trial and error though, but it seems like it will be more of a permanent solution I don't know if some of you shoot multiple guns but if one shoots high, and the other shoots dead-nuts, how do you calculate all that in the field? It seems to me anyway that you would want all your hunting guns to shoot the same. You know...if I had all day to shoot my gun I bet I could shot any gun no matter how it was shooting, but I don't have all day, trying to focus on having a fun hunt - that's what I enjoy the most!

Jack, I would love to hear about your pattern tests, let us all know.

Yenrec, I'm glad your technique is working for you! I'll have to agree with hognutz though. On a fast-flushing bird such as a Quail, this just wont work for me. If I'm shooting high taking my time looking at a sitting target at the range, your technique would seem difficult in the field. I'm beginning to wonder if my Vinci just doesn't fit me right. I'm not a big guy, 5' 11'' 170 lbs. My next step is to see if I can have a machinist make a thicker shim, however I looked closely at the gun and I don't see much room in there for a thicker shim, I guess we'll see. Blackdog3, in regards to your comments about desiring a high-shooting gun, I don't disagree with you at all, it seems it would be better, however since all my guns have shot exactly where I point them it's taking time for me to adjust. After 30 years of shooting with a gun that shoots exactly where I point it, it's hard to relearn to be honest. LOL, another frustrating thing is, I use to shoot a pump shotgun before the Vinci and now I can't even go back to shoot that gun anymore because I forget to pump-it for the second shot - it really makes your blood boil in the field, let me tell you!! I'm stuck with this Vinci, LOL.

Hi Yenrec, good to hear from you. Just so I have it clear...with target-type ammunition, are you floating the target above the front sight, or are you putting the front sight right on the target? According to Benelli, the gun is suppose to shoot high and I have a problem with that because all the guns I've owned shoot exactly where I point them and it's hard to adapt, but I am adapting, LOL. What shim do you have in the gun?

Hi Jack, I have a Vinci and I was wondering if you pattern tested it yet? If you get a chance, I would like to know your results. I love the gun but I have to be honest with you, I've had some frustrating times with it because it shoot 8" High! You can read my posts about it here http://www.benelliusa.com/forum/showthread.php?t=20340&highlight=vinci+shooting+high I finally have the thing under control, I put a Cabelas magnetic site on it and it helped lower the POI. Basically Jack, my gun doesn't shoot where you point it, but the fiber optic site helped a lot! Now if I float the target above the sight, it shoots dead nuts on. I do have the thickest shim in the gun so there's nothing else I can do to lower the POI as far as Benelli is concerned. In my opinion a field shotgun should not shoot high like a trap gun, I have a problem with that! When you pattern test your Vinci, do me a favor, shoot it at around 20 yards with a mod choke and aim right in the center of the target, don't float the target, let me know your results please. By the way I want to thank "hognutz" once again for helping me out with this POI issue as I've benefited from his pervious frustrations with the Vinci.

Ok, I received the Champion Easy Hit! I installed the sight right up against the existing Vinci Bead and held in firmly in place with some electrical tape from a marine store! I went to the indoor range today and shot at some targets at 21 yards to look at the point of impact and pattern. With the Easy Hit installed and me putting the sight right on the target, I was getting about 90% of the pattern above my point of aim - this is actually quite an improvement. My next test was to float the target just ever so slightly above the Easy Hit - bingo I was dead nuts on! I would say I'm as close to a 50/50 pattern as I've ever seen with any gun I've shot. As far as floating the target above the Easy Hit, I can probably live with that, and believe that's acceptable, but I don't think I'm going to stop at that point. For giggles I went out to the trap field and shot two rounds and I did just fine, I only missed a few per round. The funny thing about me and Trap is I don't really use any sight at all, it's completely instinctual where I point that gun, I really don't think about what I'm doing, I just swing the gun and shoot. I'll go ahead and order the Nova Sight and see how that will work for me, unless you have a different suggestion? Here is my questions to you. With the Nova Sight installed, how much more do you think it's going to lower my point of impact? The Easy hit worked for you, but it seems I need more help. I really like that fiber optic site, I'm wondering if I could build up some height on the rib and put the Easy Hit on top of that, or somehow maybe try a larger fiber optic sight? Well, that's it for now, looking forward to your response.

Thanks again for the info. Go run into the kitchen and tell your wife that you're a man of great detail!! JA JA. She what she tells you, LOL! Ok... well I'll certainly let you know how things workout. I'm going to try the Easy Hit first, hopefully that will do the job. 1000 rounds is a good amount of testing, you should be getting somewhat comfortable with the Vinci. What shell is giving you the best pattern for upland? I tested the Remington Dove and Quail fields loads (7 1/2), the Winchester Super X Game Load (7 1/2) and the Fiocchi White Rhino (7 1/2). The Fiocchi shell is a target load but i think it would work fine for dove and quail. It's 1250 FPS. The Fiocchi clearly had the best pattern, very dense, Winchester was second, not nearly as good, and the Remington were last - and the Remington shot to the left a bit as well. I've used those Remington's for 20 years and have killed thousands of birds with them, I was surprised, they really don't pattern well out of the Vinci. I'll probably try to find a good field load in Fiocchi and hunt with them. Cheers and thanks again!!

Sorry, here's the link: http://www.brownells.com/.aspx/cid=848/mfg=301/Products/Benelli_Nova_Front_Sights/BENELLI

Thanks for taking the time to respond again. Just have one more question and I'll get out of your life Does the front Nova sight just screw in to the Vinci? I think I found the Nova sight, unfortunately there is no pic! Is this the one? My Vinci might be shooting higher than yours, therefore I want to see what's involved with the Nova sight if the Easy Hit doesn't work for me. Agree with you on the fast flushing-birds, sometimes when I hit those Quails I wonder how in the heck I got them. Flush - boom-boom!

Hognutz, thanks for the good advice. I ordered the Easy Hit earlier today so I'll be playing with it soon - good tip about the electrical tape! How high was your gun shooting before you installed the Easy Hit? I would have thought the Nova bead would have lowered your point of impact more than the Easy Hit no? When you say your Vinci is throwing 60% of the pattern high, are you floating the target above the bead, or are you putting the bead right in the center of the target? How long have you been shooting your gun, are you getting accustomed to the way it shoots, is it feeling like it's an extension of your arm? LOL, I can tell that you were frustrated with your gun, I'm glad you got it dialed-in! I think I shoot as you do, the gun needs to shoot where I point it, 25 years of shooting like that, it would take me time to re-learn. I haven't shot trap in ten years, after a few boxes I started to figured the Vinci out, I was getting 23 out of 25 shots which I thought was ok. All pumped-up I went for a Valley Quail hunt and I was missing easy shots. LOL, its like you said and in addition to that I think my memory in my muscles are dialed in to my other gun! Looking forward to your response.

hognutz, thanks for the info, I'm glad I found someone that has experienced the frustration, LOL. Question: at this point are you using the Easy Hit Site exclusively and not the Nova bed? Or, are you using both sights? Just want to be sure I move in the right direction with this. Does your Vinci now shoot exactly where you point it, and what is your pattern like? Is your gun shooting where you point it with your Modified and Improved Cylinder Chokes? And for the other comments, I have to tell you, my father passed away ten years ago, he was a machinist for 40 years, he would have made me a shim easily. I have to agree, the shim is the way to go if it would work. Does the shim just need to be thicker on top only? I do have the thickest shim in there now. I asked Benelli if they had more shims for the gun and they said NO. Let me know!

Hello Everyone, I have a Benelli Vinci and it's shooting 8 inches high at 21 yards with a modified choke. I really love the gun and don't mind working with it, but this is an irritating problem to say the least for an upland game hunter. All the shotguns I own shoot exactly where I point them - and after 25 years I'm not sure I want to re-learn. I thought this Vinci was being promoted as a field gun, in my opinion it's shooting like a trap gun. I've tried several different shells and the best pattern by far is the Fiocchi, however it still shoots too high. I played with the shims... I currently have the "CDX" shim in there and it helped the most. The shim that came installed in the gun was shooting 11 inches too high. I'm not sure what else I can do with this gun to lower the point of impact, I'm hoping some of you might have some suggestions, I'm willing to play with it for a while I suppose. I read elsewhere that maybe a taller hi vis type sight might help me. That's it for now, hope to hear some promising news.

Hognuts, how did the taller sight work for you, did it lower your point of impact enough? Is it shooting dead nuts? I have a Vinci, I've shot about 8 boxes of shells and its been flawless other than the fact that it shoots 8" too high. I'm only considering working with with this gun, because I like it so much! When I first shot the gun I was just shocked because they promote it as a field shotgun, not a trap gun! My other guns shoot dead nuts exactly where I point them and after 25 years I'm probably not going to want to re-learn. That being said, and this is kind of funny, I took the Vinci for trap, and I haven't shot trap for ten years, after a few boxes I was getting 23 out of 25 clays and this was with mounting the gun for every shot as a hunter would do in the field for quail. That being said, I went quail hunting and I was missing what I would call pretty easy shots that I would never miss with my other 12 gauge guns. I need this gun to shoot were I point it. Right now I have the "CDX" shim in it and that seemed to lower the POI the most, but I can't get it to shot any lower. Any suggestions would be appreciated.