Franchi Affinity

[bulletpusher]

Has anyone shot the Franchi Affinity? I've been looking at the 12ga and wondering about how good they are.

Bulletpusher

[Gil Martin]

I had a Franchi over/under 12 gauge that was a real beauty. There were two problems that cause me to trade it in on a Browning Citori. The Franchi had an aluminum receiver and was very lightweight. With high brass shells it really beat me up. My gunsmith said it took up to six month to get parts and showed me a few Franchi shotguns in his shop waiting for parts with no firm delivery date. All the best...
Gil

[bulletpusher]

Gil,

I've heard such things before. I'll keep looking. I'm looking for one final shotgun to use for the rest of my life.

Remington 1100 Competition 12ga
Benelli Ultralight 12ga
Browning A5 Sweet 16

I've narrowed it down to these three, but I'm still looking. The Browning is leading the list, as I love the 16ga. but we will see what happens down the road.

Bulletpusher

[Gil Martin]

I just picked up a 16 gauge Baikal over/under for less than $300 and really like it. It goes with my other 16 gauge shotguns that have served me well. All the best...
Gil

[Rapier]

The 1100 you can get fixed almost anywhere in the US. But you can not take it off to a high volume shoot and expect it to return in one piece. Old saying in Argentina, if you bring an 1100, bring 6 because it will take 5 to keep one running for a week. An A-5 will start failing to extract in 4 boxes of shells. A Franchi will come apart in your hands like a 2 bit watch. In the US where a 12 bird limit is normal, it is hard to break anything but do not go off to Mexico or Argentina. I have owned a light Benelli and I doubt you will like getting slapped in the face every time you pull the trigger.

Were It me, I would look for a 20 gauge 30 or 32 inch ported barrel 425, 525 or 625 Citori sporting gun, used. With the finish in good shape. A person can put 500,000 rounds through one and never hurt it. The Browning O/U is made so it just gets tighter as it wears and the Japanese, with the 525 have the O/U CNC build down to a science, 90% of the barrels for one size frame will fit other frames without any adjustment. The for-ends, including the ejector hammers, will interchange and fully function.
Ed

[Dan Morris]

The 1100 you can get fixed almost anywhere in the US. But you can not take it off to a high volume shoot and expect it to return in one piece. Old saying in Argentina, if you bring an 1100, bring 6 because it will take 5 to keep one running for a week. An A-5 will start failing to extract in 4 boxes of shells. A Franchi will come apart in your hands like a 2 bit watch. In the US where a 12 bird limit is normal, it is hard to break anything but do not go off to Mexico or Argentina. I have owned a light Benelli and I doubt you will like getting slapped in the face every time you pull the trigger.

Were It me, I would look for a 20 gauge 30 or 32 inch ported barrel 425, 525 or 625 Citori sporting gun, used. With the finish in good shape. A person can put 500,000 rounds through one and never hurt it. The Browning O/U is made so it just gets tighter as it wears and the Japanese, with the 525 have the O/U CNC build down to a science, 90% of the barrels for one size frame will fit other frames without any adjustment. The for-ends, including the ejector hammers, will interchange and fully function.
Ed

LOL, back when I was regular on Skeet, I had more spare parts for a 1100 than most shops....in the little guns, the 410 was a nightmare.....that's why I
went to a Browning O/U with Purbaugh tubes......
Dan