I have the same issue with the Benelli 828 I just bought. I noticed the stiff safety in the store but thought it would loosen-up. It has not. It might be less of an issue if there was more of a perch (which a serious field gun should have anyway). As is, there is no point in taking this gun to the field unless one keeps the safety off - which I am not willing to do. I am very disappointed with this Benelli design especially for a field gun and I will try to return it. If they want to try a practical test without the benefit of wild pheasants or grouse, they could try on clays where 1) the gun is half mounted (at most) and the safety is on before the clay is thrown. Next do the same with gloves and after that try with gloves while your fingers are half dumb from cold. This might reasonably simulate hunting wild birds in the midwest U.S.
Now I recognize that there may be an easy fix for this of which I am not aware and, if this is the case, I will update this forum. Also, it may depend on the gun i.e. the machining tolerances are so lax that some guns have the issue and some do not. Anyway, unless someone can suggest an after-market solution, I suggest serious hunters think twice about selecting this product.
