Franchi Shotguns

[JBird]

Just wondering what you folks think of the Franchi shotguns in the autos. That's the price range i'm in right now. If there are other makes that you can enlighten me on in that same price range that would be a great help! Thanks!

[James Staten]

I gotta tell ya I absolutely love my old Franchi 912 Variomax!! It is a tank of a gun. The newer version of it is now the Franchi I-12 and my good friend has one and he loves it as well. They are great guns without a doubt.

[JBird]

Thanks James, the I-12 was the one I was looking at. Just haven't heard to much about them over the years! Thanks!

[Mark Brendemuehl]

I had one for about a year. It was a pretty good gun, but, it failed to lock back the bolt when it was empty on a regular basis. Sometimes it would lock back and then with the slightest touch it would close. It resulted in a broken finger for me, so the gun was gone the next day.
It shot well, shouldered good, consistant patterns, but, the flaw (that mine had) couldnt be overlooked.
I have had friends with them that have had them for awhile that have no complaints.
Good luck with it
Mark

[Michigan Killin Crew]

Like Mark said, It shot well, shouldered good, consistant patterns. Then one hunt a dud, ok fine figured it was a bad shell. Nope! It got worse from there, boom click, boom boom click or just click.............All the primers in every dud were hit lightly, threw them into differant guns and everyone went off? wasnt the shells! Completely stripped the gun looking for something wrong, Nothing! Rotating bolt head was fully engaging, bolt was engaging all the way, firing pin was smooth a silk. No reason for the malfuntioning? Had a master gunsmith check it over and found nothing wrong? nor was the gun dirty one bit! He went as far as checking the firing pin length, correct hammer pressure and even stretched the action spring to make sure the bolt was completely closing, still the same thing "dud city" it went buh bye real quick! Even the Stoger M2000's are having the same issues, but worse! and there supposedly the same gun..

sorry for the rant, before you buy one do some research. There not what there cracked up to be.

[JBird]

Thanks Michigan K.C. I have gone through two Stogers so far and they all had the same problem!! They ended up as single shots. Found out what the problem was! The hammer pipe pin is to long! so it was not keeping the cartridge drop lever snug against the trigger guard! so it would move just a fraction but it was enough to catch the bolt coming back forward! If they would shorten the hammer pipe pin I think they would have the problem solved? It doesn't stay flush. I guess I'll just have work out some more funds some how and move up to a Benelli or Beretta? Thanks for the info!

[Cameron Maxson]

My brother just got one and he really likes it i shot it, its areally light and its a heck of a gun all around

[JBird]

Thanks Cameron, Has he put enough rounds through the gun to know if the gun is going to have problems right away or not? The reason I was looking at that gun was the price range! Would like to get the higher end guns but it doesn't quite fit my budget! If you can, keep me informed if he has any problems with it!!! Thanks

[Michigan Killin Crew]

Jbird, should have told ya. Gun was new this year 200 rounds at the skeet range for some break in, couple boxes on early goose and our duck season opened Oct 13th with maybe 6 more through it and its already DOA. Spend a couple pennies more and get an M2

[JBird]

Thanks Michigan K.C. for the reply!! Greatly Appreciated I guess the only way now is UP!