Franchi

[Partyguy816]

Well I have been looking for a shotgun for a while now and I narrowed it down to a Franchi and Stoger. I was in the gun shop today and the Stoger felt better than the Franchi, but if I am buying a semiauto shotgun I want gas opperated. So then some more choices I had to make. Franchi and Remington. Which one would you choose? I went ahead and bought the Franchi 612 I think it was. It is still in the box and haven't played with it yet. Is there anything bad that anyone knows about? I though about getting on a forum for the Franchi but haven't done that yet. I usually find all my info here.

Thanks.

 

[kudu]

My bro-in-law has one that has given him nothing but problems since he got it. It's a 20ga that 9 out of 10 times won't bring another shell out of the magazine, even cycleing it by hand. For some reason he won't get rid of it.

I know another guy that has two Franchi semis in 12 and 20ga that he really likes, but has had several minor problems with. I don't know if these are the same models as the ones you are asking about, but I haven't been impressed with anything I've seen of them. But I have 4 Remington autos in all gauges with rarelly a problem in many thousands of rounds, so I'm biased.

 

[Chris Rhines]

I have two semiauto shotguns - a 12ga. Franchi 612 and a 20ga. Remington 1100 LT-20.

The Franchi is the most reliable shotgun that I have ever owned, and more reliable than any semiauto shotgun I've ever seen. It has never malfunctioned once in the thousand-odd rounds I've put through it, everything from 1-oz. dove loads to 3" magnum deer slugs. I recommend the Franchi 612 series without hesitation.

The 1100 is also a wonderful gun and has been very reliable, but I've tuned it to function with light skeet loads - the one time I tried shooting slugs through it, it locked up completely. Good gun, but I'd rather have the Franchi given the choice.

- Chris

 

[Partyguy816]

Thanks I've been reading some bad stuff about about them on another website that I just found. Most of the stuff seems to be just normal pre-cleaning problems and not lubing. I won't be able to shoot it until next Saturday so I have plenty of time to sit here reading and cleaning.

 

[Partyguy816]

Will my aftermarket Benelli Nova chokes work in this Franchi 612? Sure looks like it will, but I want to be sure first.

As for break in will the 3 1/4 DRAM work or should I look for something heavier?

Thanks.

 

[MrMurphy]

Franchi is a good maker. They sell more in Europe than here, but they're a solid maker.

 

[Partyguy816]

I notice on the Franchi website that they show that the minimum loads recommended for reliable cycling on the 612 12-gauge is 1 1/8", 3 dr.

I guess this would be the light setting and anything of 3 1/4 dr or greater, I would set the piston to heavy? Has anyone gotten the 2 3/4 dr to function?

I'm also looking to replace my sight on this 612. Does the bead unscrew?

 

[HSMITH]

I used to shoot with a guy quite a lot that had a Franchi AL48 ( I think that is the right model) and it was a darn nice shotgun. I shot it quite a bit as well, we used to have sporting clays bets, draw straws to see what gun you got out of the guns in the group of guys, $10 in and winner take all type of thing. Very light, reliable, and fit me well. The only other gun that made me more money was a SuperX1. I remember that Franchi being around $700 when he got it, back in the early 90's. Between that one and some others on the range I have always had a solid respect for the brand. I don't know a thing about the new ones but a few years back they made good shotguns.