Road Warroir

The beauty of that Vinci (or most any auto) is how it will shoot those 3" loads comfortably. I touched one off in my over & under and it walloped me good, but they were pussycats in the Vinci. FWIW, I had excellent success with the B&P nickel plated 5's for a lead load on the private land. These are a bargain at $12.00/box delivered to your door. (free shpping) They are a 1330 fps load, but kill pheasants extremely well. Not well known amongst the masses, B&P are world class shotshells. They were also very soft shooting in my Beretta OU. Check them out. http://bandpusa.com/hunting/mb-long-range.html

Spike, I was shooting the FASTEEL 3" 1500 fps loads with the size 2 shot. Yes, they are the "waterfowl' version. I had my modified Benelli choke in place. I'm guilty of not patterning the load, but it must have been good because I couldn't have asked for better results. I haven't tried the 3's, but they would probably fill out the pattern better, especially if you bumped up to the 1 1/4 oz. version. I just happen to have the 3" 1 1/8 oz. 2's from duck hunting on hand, and based on how they performed I see no reason to change until I use them up. If change anything I might bump up to the 1 1/4 oz. version, but I'll still stay with the size 2 shot. These wild pheasants are tough like waterfowl, and bigger steel shot like 2's (possibly 3's) driven at a higher velocity is mandatory in my opinion. Hope that helps.

Spike, I just returned from South Dakota and here's what I used. On the nontox areas I used my Vinci with 3" Kent Fasteel 2's and this combo was devastating. I had several comments from other regarding long range kills, and the gun carried and performed like a champ. Loved it! I also used it with lead when I could and it again was a pheasant harvesting machine. On the third day I started using a 12 gauge OU with lead just because I also enjoy my Beretta OU. I shot one 3" steel load out of my 12 gauge OU and it really made me aware of how well the Vinci manages recoil. From that point on it was the 12 gauge OU for lead, and the Vinci with steel on the nontox land. Nice combo. If I could only bring one it would be the Vinci.

Uncle Russ, Congratulations! Let us know how the shooting goes.

That's good to hear, BigAl33! I did the break-in anyway just to be sure. Nothing sours me faster on a gun than malfunctions. Right now I'm pleased as punch with my Vinci! It has the same handling qualities as my OU and SxS guns. It's quite a remarkable shotgun.

I've done some break-in work. I shot three boxes of 1 1/8 oz 1300 fps loads which were pretty snappy loads. Then I rammed 36 of my old rifled slugs (which kicked like a mule!) through it one day. I then put another half box of 1 1/4 oz high brass hunting loads through it. I really think you should follow Benelli's suggested break-in and shoot 4 boxes of some type of heavy loads through it, even if you just hip shoot the heaviest ones. I fired the slugs from my hip after the first couple and my Vinci cycled them all, but 12 gauge slugs have pretty brutal recoil, so they would probably cycle anything.

Just shot 100 rounds of my 1 oz reloads tonight at sporting clays. The Vinci cycled them perfectly, and these were loaded at about 1225 fps. Almost zero recoil.

I like mine! I haven't shot it that much yet, but the so far it's handled every 2 3/4" round I put through it. There have been 3 boxes of the 1300 fps 1 1/8 oz. Rem STS loads, 36 rifled slugs hip-shot just about as fast as I could shoot without the other people at the range thinking I was a wacko. A few more high brass 1 1/4 oz loads at roosters and rabbits. So far it's worked like a champ! I have the black 26" and at 6 lbs. 14 oz. and it's a nice weight for hunting. Really comes up nice, too!

Hattles, what 1 oz loads are you shooting?

Finally took my Vinci out and shot three boxes of STS 1 1/8 oz @ 1300 fps. I just hammered the clays and everything seems to be "dead nuts" and dialed in. I have the lowest shim in place and I did put on the 3mm Easyhit sight. These loads do rock you a bit even in the Vinci, but I want to break in the gun with stouter loads like the manual suggested. However, I do want to shoot lighter loads for future clay shooting. Quick question: Will the Vinci cycle 1 oz @ 1200 fps reliably?

Get the Vinci. I think they handle better.

Upland-SD, last night I put the CDX shim in place and I noticed it lowered the comb nicely without going too low. Between the Vinci patterning a little high, and myself probably "peeking" a little I hope the Easy Hit helps me to keep my head down and lower the POI. I'm shooting some fairly stout ammo at the late season roosters, and I know i tend to lift my head a little with these heavy loads. My other guns are all pretty flat shooters, and I have been known to take a rasp to pricey SxS's that were stocked too high, so gun modifications are no big deal to me. A gun is a tool, and they have to be dialed in to be worth carrying. So...I'm going to try the 5" (3 mm) red Easy Hit and see how I like it. I know that's 2 variables at once, but I read about these a few years ago and wanted to try one at some point anyway. I doubt if I'll put Easy Hits on my fine SxS's, but the Vinci's looks seem to upset some people, so this should really make them mutter! Then i'll kick their butts shooting while I'm at it!

Thanks! I noticed on the EasyHit website they also make a 3.5 mm version, but I have not seen that one for sale anywhere. 3.5 mm might be getting pretty massive. I'll definitely tape it on and try it before I use the supplied adhesive tape. That lowest shim for the Vinci is about as low as I can go without sinking too far below the plane of the rib. I think it will all work out OK. Thanks again.

One more quickie. Are you using the 5" long Easy Hit or the shorter one?

Great start, I noticed I spelled "Warrior" wrong when I registered. DUH!

Upland-SD and Hognutz I've read your posts with great interest. I too seem to be hitting high with my Vinci. I've noticed it on the game I've been hunting and my buddy watched my patterns striking high on a couple running rabbits the other day. I shoot quite a bit in the off season and my other guns are pretty well fitted to me, so I'm pretty sure I'm going through what you guys have with the Vinci. (love the gun BTW) I did go to the lowest shim, but havent shot it since. I'm also going to try he Easy Hit based on your comments, and I've always wanted to mess with one anyway. WTH- a high tech shotgun seems like the place for a high tech sight, right? Any comments on the green vs. orange Easy Hit?