[How to Keep Your Benelli from Jamming]

On 7/13/2010 at 8:26 PM, Jim1776 said:

I wrote some time back about a 20 gauge Benelli Cordoba that was having jamming problems. I had tried everything from cleaning to different lubricants and different ammo. It still had a jamming rate of about 1 to 2%. This was unacceptable to me so I sent it back to Benelli.

I got the gun back with form letter saying that the gun was repaired and cleaned. I took it out to the skeet range for three rounds of skeet. Same old thing. It jammed again. I was disgusted and threw the thing in the trunk of my car and left. Nothing was fixed at all, just a lot of time wasted.

Yes, I heard all the arguments about using the right lubricant, the right ammunition, and the one I love, shouldering the gun tightly! I love that one. It comes from gun writers reading each other and repeating the same thing. I have seen guys in Argentina shoot the old Benellis one handed like a pistol and no jams. This is with Argentinean ammunition, the worst I have ever used. Not properly shouldered, yeah right!

The ammunition thing gets me too. The gun was supposedly designed to use in Argentina where you shoot a 1,000 or more rounds a day without cleaning the gun. The ammunition, like I said, is crap, well unless you want to pay a lot more for imported ammunition. My Cordoba would jam on AA, Federal, Remington, everything. It would be a joke with Argentinean ammo. A real damn joke. This gun can't fun 50 rounds without jamming with American ammunition.

Anyway I happen to own part of a metal shop so I took it there and had them weld up the rear most notch and mill it down even. Now it looks and works like the old Benellis. Yes, it will float a fourth shell on the carrier now but what is important it hasn't jammed once after 400 rounds. I am not going to say it is cured until it goes a thousand rounds without a jam or cleaning but this is the best run it has ever had.

For those that don't know this change in the gun happened a few years back when USFW threaten to ban the importation of Benellis if the company did not change the design so it could not float a fourth round. Benelli at the time explained that this was not meant to be a cheat feature but rather an anti-jam feature. They were correct. The guns are no longer as reliable as they were. It can be easily fixed though as I did.

As far as being able to float a fourth round goes, well if someone wants to load more than 3 rounds it is damn easy to do without floating a cartridge on the carrier. Simply unscrew the forearm cap and remove the plug. It can be done in less than 20 seconds and then you can load 5 rounds without floating one on the carrier. I have no idea why USFW got so bent out of shape about the floating fourth round. If people are going to cheat, they are going to cheat.

If the change I made in the gun is illegal well USFW can kiss my a--. I bought the gun to use in Argentina where there are no shell limits and the USFW has no jurisdiction. Really they can go to **** for screwing up a good gun with their petty rules and fear of someone cheating.

Oh, Benelli found it in its interest to get rid of my post. I hope some people will see it before they decide to delete it again.

Feel your pain. I’ve been lucky I guess.so far mines ok. Thank God!

[R1 Pro Accuracy]

Gotta say I’m scared. I just picked up my new Argo in 308 last week .

Haven’t found time to focus on shooting it yet, sure hope it shoots even within a 6 in group with open sights. 
I’m used to scopes and enjoy shooting at Center of Center , seeing  Center with a 4-12x 6-18x etc. With higher powered scopes you can see Center of the Center of the target, this means a lot of your trying to shoot under 1 1/2in groups or better.

[R1 accuracy and forend involvement]

On 7/20/2020 at 7:48 PM, Gary Suarez said:

Has anybody else noticed that due to the 2 piece forend design that hand placement on the forend is crucial? I found that a light hand grip on the very rear of the forend improved accuracy from 4moa to 1moa at 100yds with Speer 180 gr SP bulk buy ammo.....for those wondering how to improve your accuracy just try shifting your hands and avoid the sand bag in front....you wouldn't carry it into the field....so impressed with the 30-06 went and bought the 270 wsm.....

I agree

[Cleaning The R1]

On 12/23/2019 at 6:05 PM, bass72 said:

bought an R1 270 short mag today, went on my land and fired 5 shots just to see how this gun works!! 4 out 5 shots got a jam!! I am sick to my stomach right thinking I just spent that kind of money on a gun that I can't get more then one shot off!! what are my options now?? any feedback about what is going on? 

Oh boy! not good. Best advice I can give is- Take it back to them and threaten to make them order in another . That will prompt them to send for repair. Almost the same  thing happened to me 40 years ago. Remington 72400 , I was not happy to say the least. They sent it back to me,  it fired without an issue for years after.

Dont  loose the faith.!

 

[Tearing the Argo 308 gun down?]

Gun shop just decided to put my together claiming they felt it would be best cause there tricky. 
I studied a lot before buying and they say it’s simple to tear down and rebuild. I haven’t shot it yet. Should I take it apart just so I’m familiar. Or are they that difficult?

[Cleaning The R1]

Canadian, just ordered in my Benelli Argo in 308.

gun shop called and said it arrived. I got there the next day to pick up. 
instantly, the guy brings it out saying - hears the box, we thought we’d help you and put it together, I essentially impressed. I asked why he would open it, he said there difficult to put together, I said that’s funny, I watched enough info on it and no one felt it was a big deal. I’m in the trades, so I’m sure I could have done it. Now does this mean they changed out parts possibly, not impressed at all. Haven’t taken the time to shoot it yet, I want to have a lot of time , and that’s tough to find lately. What do you guys think of the gun shop opening and putting it together. ?

[R1 Pro Accuracy]

On 9/30/2020 at 5:44 PM, flyaloha said:

Looking at purchasing an R1, but am also concerned with the posts about accuracy. What loads have you found to work well, and would you recommend it as a purchase?

 

Cant imagine Benelli couldn't build a decent barrel. If they couldn't get under a two inch 5 shot group they wouldn't last long. My Remington Semi 308 first shot 2 in groups, over a short period of time, with a 1.5X6.  I could get 1.5-1.75 all day long, once I could pin point dead center with a 4-12x my groups tightened.There's a lot of factors, I watch guys off a bench and it makes me cringe. They sit at a different level each time they shoot, they hold the fore end one minute, and not the next, I can see the barrel moving all over the place....Good Grief, if you hold the gun improperly all the time consistently you would be better off. A lot need to learn to shoot, I mean when sighting in. 

You've heard the phrase- "Its not the Gun its the Shooter"... that's still holds true!  A buddy of mine recently sent me a picture of a brutal group with his 6.5 Creedmore, I asked what he was smoking, he said he was at the open range that day...34F and very windy. It was a bad day to be driving in never mind shoot!

Learn to shoot consistently, exactly the same hold, shooting position etc. Once you figure that out move to different Brands, weight etc. Then you can have a true understanding of wear to lay blame. 

I think you will find, it's not the gun. I recently bought a Benelli R1 308 after my 44 year old Rem 7400 simply wore out and started to act up.. At this point in my life, my Benelli doesn't have to last 44 years like my Remington did, but if it gives me the same pleasure I'm a lucky guy.

P.S. the Rem Semi 308-

I'm spending the whole 17.00 on the Main Spring, Firing Pin Spring, then if It fires two boxes in a row without an issue, I'll simply sell it at a reasonable price.