[Andrewsky]

pinch my right thumb when I load shells into the magazine?

This doesn't happen with my 1300, Browning Gold, or 870?

It pinches it right on the nail.:cuss:

[The Deer Hunter]

I find the same problem with my Benelli M1-S90. It really hurts!

I find it better to push the shell in only pushing like the top 1/8th of the shell.

[Andrewsky]

Ouch, the worst is when you don't push the round in far enough and it falls back and sits above the loading gate so you can't keep loading the magazine.:banghead:

I think the solution is to place the left hand on the middle of the receiver, hold the gate open, then load rounds with the right hand.

[Chris Rhines]

Try keeping your thumb bent 90 degrees while stuffing the shells in.

- Chris

[MCgunner]

Same problem on an 870 (got rid of that thing and that's one of the reasons) and my Winchester 1400. Now, it never bothered me in warm weather. It's fine during dove season and that's mostly what I've used the 1400 for. But, when your thumb is cold it hurts like all get out and if you don't get that shell all the way in until it clicks, you'll have a heckuva jam on an 870 to dig out with a pocket knife. It's just plain irritating. You can't use a gloved hand either or it grabs the glove.

I hunted ducks for years with a 12 gauge SxS until steel shot became the law and then I got an old Mossberg. The Mossy does not have that stupid gate and a bonus is it has a tang safety for lefty shooters like me, much quicker and more convenient than a crossbolt safety. I flat gave up on Remingtons I got so irritated at getting my thumb gnawed on in cold weather and having to clear jams and cussin' like a sailor in the marsh. I'm using my Winchester autoloader more duck hunting now days, but on cold days I take the Mossy and leave the Winchester at home.

Some day I may get a Browning BPS, the perfect duck gun for me, but it's a little cash intensive and, frankly, the Mossy kills 'em pretty danged dead. Only reason I take the Winchester hunting when I can is the light recoil of the gas gun and the sweet fit. That gun fits me like a well fit glove. The Mossy is more like OJ's glove.

[Andrewsky]

My dad has a Browning "Gold" 10 gauge (semi-auto). With that gun, the loading gate is locked up while you're loading.

Funny, MCGunner, I never get my thumb bit on 870s.

I want a Saiga for home defense, but I hear they're not what you call jury friendly.:evil::evil::evil:

[MCgunner]

Funny, MCGunner, I never get my thumb bit on 870s.

Mine was an early 60s wingmaster, didn't bother me at all on a nice, warm day. But, when it's near freezing and ice is beginning to form on things and your thumb is numbed by the cold, it feels like you just had your thumb hammered by a 10 lb sledge. Hurts like heck! They may have redesigned the loading gate on the thing since, I mean I was 16 years old when I started hunting with it and I'm 54 now and parts change over time. But, that is a main reason I never went back to an 870 for ducks. Glad you like 'em, you can have 'em all! My Winchester does the same thing on a cold day, not limited to the 870 it seems. I had flash backs last season when I decided to use it on one particularly cold day. I started holding the gun upside down and shoving the round in with my index finger which helped a bit. If you're wearing gloves, you can hold down on the gate with your off hand and hope the glove don't get tangled or ripped. Me, when it's cold, I'm glad I have my Mossberg to fall back on what don't have that stupid gate/elevator in the way.

You have plenty of days in ND to see what I mean. :D Take that 870 out on a cold day, sit in the snow for an hour pullin' your glove off to load it every 10 minutes or less. Tell me it don't bite back. Like I say, maybe they changed the elevator shape or something and it's not as bad, but I sorta doubt it since I had the same problem with the Winchester. Regardless, I don't even have to remove my glove with the Mossberg since it has nothing in the way, and it kills ducks and geese just as dead as that old 870 did. The gate is up against the bolt like your dad's Browning when in battery. I think of it as my poor man's BPS. :D Some day I'll get a BPS, though. I like those things, or, maybe a Browning Gold like your dad's. :D

[Dave McCracken]

Individual physiognomy and techniques have to play a part.

I've fed shells into 870s that I broke ice from to do so and not had any "Bites".

[waterhouse]

Individual physiognomy and techniques have to play a part.

I agree. I've never had issues with my SBE, or 870, or any of the other autos or pumps sitting in the safe, but I've read complaints about most of them on the internet.

FWIW, I do seem to read about the thumb pinch most when discussing Benellis. I just did a google search for "benelli thumb" and came up with this thread over at shogunworld

http://www.shotgunworld.com/bbs/viewtopic.php?t=29458&sid=d07458d0e8d275afddcbccefd6ca9a4d

If you get down to post 5 it will send you back to the high road with some fixes :) It looks like one of our own members made the "fix" part, http://www.c-rums.com/Shotgun.html and it looks like it would set you back about $30

[Black Majik]

Benellis bite me too, that's one of the main reasons I haven't bought one yet. Though I really want a M3S90.

[Chuck R.]

Check out the Brian Enos 3 gun forum, there's a couple guys there that do a simple, not too expensive modification, to the Benelli lifter that prevents bite.

Chuck

[MCgunner]

They were hawkin' the new Remington CTi on one of the outdoor shows on Outdoor Channel yesterday. That gun is like the BPS/Mossberg in that the shell elevator is flush with the bottom of the bolt when in battery. Also, it ejects out the bottom like the BPS/Ithaca actions, though it's an autoloader. A bit pricy for my wallet, though. Sure sounds like a nice shotgun. My one gripe other than cost is, it's got a crossbolt safety.

[45crittergitter]

Ouch, the worst is when you don't push the round in far enough and it falls back and sits above the loading gate so you can't keep loading the magazine.

At least with a Benelli the bolt works and it will shoot this way. Try it with a Remington, et al, and you get to take your loaded gun apart.... :cuss:

[MCgunner]

I never had to take my 870 apart. I just would stick a knife in beside the elevator and push on the shell that was jammed, push it back into the magazine. It took some force and was a royal pain, though, but better than taking the thing apart while you're standing knee deep in a pot hole. It DID get irritating, I'll grant you THAT! Never had to do that with the Mossberg. I live happy completely 870less. :D

[Zak Smith]

This is probably the well-known (to 3Gunners) "Benelli Thumb". It can be avoided by keeping your thumb as straight as possible while loading (which I find easier to do weak handed than strong handed).

[throdgrain]

Happens on my M2 as well . Look at it as a badge or something :)

[Hoser]

Weld that thing up...

http://coloradoshooting.org/ipw-web/gallery/albums/Hoser/Benelli_Bottom.sized.jpg