CA.H20Fowl.Hunter

Our group had resi #5 for LDC today ... Of course the refuge closed due to storms. One of us had a backup resi for Sac NWR #53, not a good number but better than #1 in the lottery, 175 people entered Wednesdays lottery. Got out to a "side hole" blind, mostly a ringnecks pond. Hoped for more with the wind between 25-35 all morning, but birds have definately left the refuge and are in the Ag fields. 7 ducks and a snow between 3 hunters that hunted til 11am.

Thanks to all those that posted their issues and solutions. It help me with my high shooting Vinci. Here's my story... I got my Vinci on 1/2/2010. I've done two POI patterning sessions. My Vinci has a "Point of Impact" (POI) 9" inches high at a 40 yard target using #2 steel waterfowl loads. Pellet counting calculated to a pattern of 75/25. I shot from a stable platform. Used both the Benelli IM choke and a Trulock PH IM choke - results were the same with both. The "Point of Aim" (POA) for my POI testing and calculations was the center of the bead with the vent-rib straight and level, front and rear edges lined up, mid-bead dead center of muzzle bead. As most know, "Point of Impact" (POI) pattering determine where the gun shoots and no amount of shimming or gun-fitting can change the gun's POI. Where shimming and gun-fitting come into play is to change the shooter's "Point of Aim" (POA). A shooter's POA can be adjusted so that the relationship between POI and POA is where the shooter desires. I have sucessfully compensated for my Vinic's high POI with a combination of shimming (C-shim) and with a HiViz sight. The bead on the magnetically attached HiViz sight is much higher (relatively speaking) than the factory muzzle bead. Both of these adjustments raise my POA so that this new POA is almost exactly pointing at the guns POI. My pattern with these adjustments is about 55/45, which is acceptable. Other than my Vinci having a high POI, it excels in all other factors that I consider important to me as a waterfowl hunter. How much does my Vinci's high POI matter? (even though I compensated for it). I must admit I'm a bit disappointed having to have a $10 piece of plastic magnetically stuck to the end of my $1400 gun to make it usable for my hunting needs. If I do keep the Vinci long-term I'll get a permanent replacement bead (the magnetic will move on you if you hit tules and such). Keep in mind that this is an issue with my particular Vinci and my specific preferences. If my Vinci shot an acceptable POI, I would be totally satisfied. I enjoy my Vinci, and will finish out the season with it. After the season I'll decide if I'm going to keep it. I'll speak with customer service, but I've heard their response is going to be that Benelli's are "designed to shoot high", and my 75/25 POI is probably within their specifications (unfortunately its not within mine).

Hi HH, in reply to your 1st post. I got my Vinci on 1/2/2010. I've done two POI patterning sessions. My Vinci has a "Point of Impact" (POI) 9" inches high at a 40 yard target using #2 steel waterfowl loads. Pellet counting calculated to a pattern of 75/25. I shot from a stable platform. Used both the Benelli IM choke and a Trulock PH IM choke - results were the same with both. The "Point of Aim" (POA) for my POI testing and calculations was the center of the bead with the vent-rib straight and level, front and rear edges lined up, mid-bead dead center of muzzle bead. As most know, "Point of Impact" (POI) pattering determine where the gun shoots and no amount of shimming or gun-fitting can change the gun's POI. Where shimming and gun-fitting come into play is to change the shooter's "Point of Aim" (POA). A shooter's POA can be adjusted so that the relationship between POI and POA is where the shooter desires. I have sucessfully compensated for my Vinic's high POI with a combination of shimming (C-shim) and with a HiViz sight. The bead on the magnetically attached HiViz sight is much higher (relatively speaking) than the factory muzzle bead. Both of these adjustments raise my POA so that this new POA is almost exactly pointing at the guns POI. My pattern with these adjustments is about 55/45, which is acceptable. Other than my Vinci having a high POI, it excels in all other factors that I consider important to me as a waterfowl hunter. How much does my Vinci's high POI matter? (even though I compensated for it). I must admit I'm a bit disappointed having to have a $10 piece of plastic magnetically stuck to the end of my $1400 gun to make it usable for my hunting needs. If I do keep the Vinci long-term I'll get a permanent replacement bead (the magnetic will move on you if you hit tules and such). Keep in mind that this is an issue with my particular Vinci and my specific preferences. If my Vinci shot an acceptable POI, I would be totally satisfied. I enjoy my Vinci, and will finish out the season with it. After the season I'll decide if I'm going to keep it. I'll speak with customer service, but I've heard their response is going to be that Benelli's are "designed to shoot high", and my 75/25 POI is probably within their specifications (unfortunately its not within mine).