2023 M2 / Montefeltro / Affinity

[sndmn11]

my wife used to have a 20 ga montefeltro, the unique design of the shell carrier produced benelli thumb for her and everyone else with a thumb smaller than a 20 ga shell. if they haven't fixed that issue i'd look elsewhere.

That was one thing it sounds like they addressed with the receiver redesign.

 

[Ucsdryder]

Did that angst come about with quail a lot more than grouse?

The impetus to this is a desire to hunt more, and even between my tags, @KickinNDishin 's tags, my stepdad, and my brother, I still found myself hoping someone would text me to pack out meet or sit behind my spotter. I went to JUCO in Colby, KS and we hunted roosters a lot, but I haven't since. We had ambitions to fly fish in different states every other weekend before our son was born, and now we think bird hunting behind this mutt-pup would be a fun way to hunt many states without paying for big game tags.

That's a long way of saying, I don't know that I would want to shoot at a bird that the dog doesn't point. The excitement for me is doing the team thing. I did go out a few weeks ago to KS with @Ucsdryder and some other friends with dogs, and one pointed a covey of quail right next to me. A dozen flushed, and then 30s more some more, and then the same again. I can see wanting a lot of shots lined up in that scenario, for the blue grouse I envision in elk country CO, I think I'd be lucky to two bang.



I agree that "fit" is paramount. My fear with the gun store fit check is what @Sanchez describes with his M2. Hopefully I can get out with @Hnthrdr 's Affinity before the one on here is sold.

Those roosters are still haunting my dreams…

 

[30338]

I find that either Benelli M2 or various Affinitys have worked fine after tweaking them with the associated shims. I prefer a higher rib and both have those. My son has been knocking roosters dead with 3" #5 20 gauge loads and I do the same but with 2 3/4 12 gauge. If doing it again I'd go 20 and not look back.

I'd borrow a couple and shoot them to see what floats your boat.

 

[sndmn11]

Those roosters are still haunting my dreams…

They should. You shot through a tank of gas worth of shells!

 

[coachmks]

I bought a Montefeltro in 2022. Couldn’t hit anything with that low rib. Sold it and bought a new M2 in November. I am extremely happy with the M2. Both were 26” 12 gauge.

 

[sndmn11]

I bought a Montefeltro in 2022. Couldn’t hit anything with that low rib. Sold it and bought a new M2 in November. I am extremely happy with the M2. Both were 26” 12 gauge.

Did you ever pattern either?

I ended up buying an affinity off of here. I handled an affinity and ultralight (low rib also) side by side, and surprisingly I didn't notice an alignment difference between them in store. I'm concluding they are a lot like bows where one can spec sheet things to death but you never know until you shoot them for a fair bit of time.

 

[coachmks]

Did you ever pattern either?

I ended up buying an affinity off of here. I handled an affinity and ultralight (low rib also) side by side, and surprisingly I didn't notice an alignment difference between them in store. I'm concluding they are a lot like bows where one can spec sheet things to death but you never know until you shoot them for a fair bit of time.

I did pattern them. That’s when I realized the low rib was really the issue. The Montefeltro (at least in 2022) did not come with shims. I could not get the stock dropped enough. The M2 shoots where I aim. No adjustments needed since it has the high rib. Side note…I do not shoot factory chokes. I use TruLock extended chokes.