Benelli durability

[harrydog]

I've read here that an 870 can probably be expected to last about 100K rounds with target loads, 75K with hotter loads.
Does anyone have any idea how long a Benelli M1S90 might be expected to last?
Does anyone have one with a really high number of rounds through it?

 

[Kahr carrier]

One of the ranges I go to has a rental one,it must have hundreds of rounds thru it ,still runs fine.

 

[alkiburki]

My brother shoots competitively, and although they are indeed light loads, he has a buddy with an M1S90 that has over 75,000 rounds through it. No parts replacement so far. Based upon what I have seen of my M1S90 with a couple thousand rounds of slugs and buckshot through it, I would expect it to last a lifetime with only a moderate degree of care. Mine shows no more wear than would be expected from cycling the action by a hand a few times.

I have heard rumours of Benellis with over 150,000 rounds, but I have found no evidence to substantiate them.

Out of curiosity, I e-mailed Benelli with this question. If I get a response, I'll post it here.

 

[TrapperReady]

I've got roughly 8,000 shells through a Montefeltro 12ga. Most have been light target loads, but I've also done a decent amount of upland hunting with it as well.

After I clean it (which I do after every time I shoot it), it literally looks as good as new. I've had not a single FTF or FTE at any point in time.

Since I'm now shooting an O/U for clay games, the Benelli has been "inherited" by my wife, who will continue to put 100-200 shells through it per week. We'll see how that stacks up over the years to come.

That being said, I just picked up a fairly old 870 Wingmaster 20ga, which I'm now using for hunting. It's looks like it was well taken care of and shoots great. I've also got a VERY old Winchester Model 12, which doesn't get shot too much any more, but works well.

IMO, if you get a quality gun to begin with, and perform routine maintenance, it should last almost forever. I certainly think that the Benelli products fall into that category.

 

[harrydog]

I don't have many rounds through my M1S90 but some years ago I spoke with the owner of a range who had two Benelli rentals that he estimated had at least 50,000 through each, and they were still functioning perfectly. Almost no maintenance done to them either.

 

[Dave McCracken]

These are opinions, and not Writ on a stone tablet with a Fiery Finger....

Shotguns, regardless of make, origin, or price, can be divided into two groups here.

The Light Use group includes "Hardware store" guns, off brands and even (Shudder) those Chinese clone guns misguided penny wide pound foolish folks keep asking about (told ya these are opinions).

For the folks that shoot a few boxes during hunting season, a couple rounds of informal clays a year, Any of the Light Use guns they fancy will do well. The problem is, many of these folks are terrible shots, and getting the practice needed to become better means some light use guns would be pounded into junk.

The other group of shotguns could be called Any Use. These are well made of good materials and design and will outlast us all, regardless of how many rounds go through them.

Gunsmith Bill Gillette of Big Ridge Gunsmithing speaks with admiration of 1100s with a million rounds through them worn so much that everything inside was honed to a razor's envy and still working every time.

Anecdotal evidence of 870s going 250K rounds without giving up(tho needing some work) have reached me,and I've not heard of a Savage double, an A-5, or a Big Four Pumpgun wearing to the point of unusability.

Shotguns used in British shooting schools are reputed to have over a million rounds through them.

The A-5s used to train aerial gunners for WWII wwre said to need some parts every 50,000 rounds, but none wore out after training hundreds of gunners.

The Benellis are Any Use shotguns.Harry, the best way to find out for yourself is to get one, run a truckload of shells through it, and get back to us when it's shot into junk.Maybe several truckloads.

And, for every good shotgun worn out by heavy use, there's a thousand out there turned into junk by neglect, abuse and ignorance....