Franchi Affinity 20 gauge

[WalleyeDrifter]

I'm thinking of buying one. I'd like a nice light grouse gun for myself and also I have grandkids that are getting interested in hunting and shooting. Can anyone give me some feedback on reliability and recoil? Medium to light recoil is important for the kids.

[PurpleFloyd]

I bought one for my daughter. We had a problem patterning it and ended up returning it and getting her a 12g SX3. She said the recoil is lighter on the sx3 than the 20g affinity and it shoots where she points it. One of my trap students bought a 12g affinity and he likes it.

I personally feel for the money a 20g SX3 is a superior gun. I would also suggest looking at the Mossberg SA20 ( or it's sister the Weatherby SA20) That was my sons first S/Auto and it was very light, soft shooting and accurate as heck for him.And much less expensive.

[ESSGuy]

Years ago I bought my wife a AL48 semi auto because it was nice and light. She is 5 6 and after 5 shots she was crying because of the recoil. Bought her browning gold hunter micro gas operated 20ga and she can shoot it all day long. Lightweight recoil operated guns kick like mad. Buy a gas operated for women and kids IMO.

[Basseyes]

I have a AL48. It's earned the knick name "Slappy". Gun weighs in a hair under 5#s. You don't get something for nothing when you give up that much weight. I love the gun for grouse hunting, but I could care less about recoil grouse hunting. The weight savings is what I'm after. I'd never suggest the gun for a kid. When we get together and shoot clays with our group, I'm about the only one that shoots the AL48. And I rarely shoot more than half a box of shells through it at clays, just to painful. Has been a very reliable gun, but it is an older one. Good luck with it.

[BoxMN]

My brother has a Franci 20 ga auto, and it is a nice gun... except for the carrier bolt, or whatever the thing is called that you use to pull the action open. It falls out seemingly at random times. Have seen it happen to me, my brother and my grandson. They cost about $20-$30 and take a while to arrive if you don't see where it falls. It is the same thing that many Stoeger users have reported, since they share much of the action.

Also, being a Browning Gold user myself, the Franchi/Steoger/Bennelli type style of loading shells into the magazine just baffles me. I know there is a reason for that little red button on the bottom, but for the life of me I just can't find a way that it is useful. It is just another step that isn't needed (unless you want to illegally "float" a shell while waterfowling, which I don't).

The Gold is so darn simple - shot you last shell and the action stays open - push a shell into mag and it automatically cycles into the chamber without the need to push another button. Since they don't make Golds anymore (I don't think...) I would look for a gun with an nice easy loading method and gas operated. They shoot nice and soft and you don't need to learn which button to push first to simjply get a shel in fast.

Okay, enough from me. I would look at SX3, Gold or the Berrettas (whatever is now the 390 model equivalent). Pick one that fits right. Good luck!

[WalleyeDrifter]

I think I'll pass on the Franchi. Big recoil is not good for 9-12 year olds. Also, I've read about how hard it is to load the Franchi Affinity 20 gauge. I'm looking hard at the Winchester SX3 20 gauge. Thanks for the comments.