Franchi Affinity 3 reliability with trap loads

Jonty

Jonty

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I’ve been looking for a reliable semi auto in the sub 1400 dollar range, that has decent spares and warranty, so it’s been a tossup between a Franchi Affinity 3 and a Winchester SX4 in 3”, both synthetic, both 12g, both 28” barrels.

I know it’s also a comparison of gas vs inertia, so that’s why I’ve come to the knowledgeable people of gun nutz for input.

It’s going to be an 80/20 split in favour of target shooting vs hunting, so it will have to be reliable with trap loads, 1&1/8 oz challenger 9 shot.

Having handled both, the affinity feels more sleek and pointable, whereas the sx4 felt more bulky.

Right now I shoot a V3 and it’s been super reliable, but it’s front heavy. I really like it, but just want to get something different as parts availability is concerning.

Let me know your thoughts, particularly concerning the Affinity with trap loads.
 
A few of my buddies have the affinity in 20ga and they've been flawless. Sorry no experience with the 12ga. Word of caution don't count on stoeger for warranty issues. They're about the worst in the industry but the good news is berettas and franchis seldom need warranty
From the issues I've seen with the sx4 I'd go affinity of the 2 you suggested even though I'm a fan of gas guns. If you like the slim forend an inertia gun will likely always feel better and lighter
Another option in similar price range is the beretta a300 outlander. The ultima is slightly higher priced but has some great features. There's also a new sporting version of the a300 which I have not seen in person yet
Another option is mossberg 940. It comes in various forms and the ones I've seen and used function just fine
If you do buy the affinity clean it very well and then fire some heavy field loads thru it. Few boxes of heavy loads help them break in and it may help with the functioning of lighter loads
 
I run a skeet field, and see many different semi autos used with target loads. Several people at our club use the SX-3 or SX-4 for skeet, they are very reliable, and not overly fussy about loads. I have owned three SX-3s myself, and the 3" version has been flawless for thousands of rounds of various loads, including 1 ounce loads. The 3-1/2" versions have been almost as good , but will sometimes fail to feed one or two times out of 100, using the 1 ounce Challenger loads. Parts are readily available, if you should eventually need some, Western Gun Parts had bolt handles in stock, when a friend somehow lost one in the field. The inertia guns have not been as reliable with the 1 ounce loads, so if I was going with a semi auto with the intention of using light target loads, I would go with a gas operated shotgun.
 
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brybenn said:
A few of my buddies have the affinity in 20ga and they've been flawless. Sorry no experience with the 12ga. Word of caution don't count on stoeger for warranty issues. They're about the worst in the industry but the good news is berettas and franchis seldom need warranty
From the issues I've seen with the sx4 I'd go affinity of the 2 you suggested even though I'm a fan of gas guns. If you like the slim forend an inertia gun will likely always feel better and lighter
Another option in similar price range is the beretta a300 outlander. The ultima is slightly higher priced but has some great features. There's also a new sporting version of the a300 which I have not seen in person yet
Another option is mossberg 940. It comes in various forms and the ones I've seen and used function just fine
If you do buy the affinity clean it very well and then fire some heavy field loads thru it. Few boxes of heavy loads help them break in and it may help with the functioning of lighter loads
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Thank you for that! Very informative. I will look at the A300
 
stubblejumper said:
I run a skeet field, and see many different semi autos used with target loads. Several people at our club use the SX-3 or SX-4 for skeet, they are very reliable, and not overly fussy about loads. I have owned three SX-3s myself, and the 3" version has been flawless for thousands of rounds of various loads, including 1 ounce loads. The 3-1/2" versions have been almost as good , but will sometimes fail to feed one or two times out of 100, using the 1 ounce Challenger loads. Parts are readily available, if you should eventually need some, Western Gun Parts had bolt handles in stock, when a friend somehow lost one in the field. The inertia guns have not been as reliable with the 1 ounce loads, so if I was going with a semi auto with the intention of using light target loads, I would go with a gas operated shotgun.
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Thanks! I have a stockpile of 1 1/8 oz loads in my basement!
 
One thing that hasn't been mentioned is fit, the Affinity and A300/400 fit similarly, but the SX-3/4, have much more drop at comb. I briefly owned a couple of A400s that I purchased as demos for a great price, but even using the shims, I couldn't get enough drop at comb, with them, and using two shims, made the butt stock angle awkward. I shot several rounds of skeet alternating between the SX-3, and SBE2, and the A400s , and I consistently shot higher scores with the SX-3, so that is what I kept, and I sold the rest. I came across a fantastic deal on a Maxus Wicked Wing Bronze Edition for $1299, a few years ago, and that is now my primary waterfowl gun, and my SX-3 has become my backup, but I shoot both equally well. I do use my waterfowl guns for skeet on rainy days, and before the hunting season opens, and my SX-3, is my loaner gun for people that want to try skeet, so they don't get used with target loads fairly often.
 
If you could find a few hundred dollars more the beretta 1301 comp is an amazing gun. I use mine for everything and it reliably cycles my 7/8oz reloads and has no trouble with others 3/4oz skeet loads. It's light fast and very soft shooting. It is higher than your price range but you may find one on the used market. I find that when ever I'm reaching for a semi auto it's the 1301 I grab. Only negative is some ranges don't allow the shorter barrels for some reason. The comp comes in 21" and 24"
 
The franchi seems to be one of the most popular guns around. Online reviews show it to be very reliable. The 3.5” elite waterfowl would be the gun I would buy if I was in the market and you want 3.5”

I am in Ottawa and Gunco is a warranty center for stoeger and was wonderful when dealing with an issue on an m3000 my friend had.

Winchester warranty centres are not local to me and have expensive shipping on your dime. That said 2 of my friends have the sx4 and they run everything flawlessly.

I personally have an 940 and my entire shooting and hunting group owns almost every variant of the 940 and they run flawlessly and I would recommend one fully.
If anything were to require warranty Mossberg might be the most difficult to handle but I have personally never heard of issues with the 940.
If you don’t care for 3.5” the Mossberg 940 waterfowl is currently on sale at Tenda for $300 off and would be my first choice.

I hope this helps,
Good luck
 
hawkmp9 said:
The franchi seems to be one of the most popular guns around. Online reviews show it to be very reliable. The 3.5” elite waterfowl would be the gun I would buy if I was in the market and you want 3.5”

I am in Ottawa and Gunco is a warranty center for stoeger and was wonderful when dealing with an issue on an m3000 my friend had.

Winchester warranty centres are not local to me and have expensive shipping on your dime. That said 2 of my friends have the sx4 and they run everything flawlessly.

I personally have an 940 and my entire shooting and hunting group owns almost every variant of the 940 and they run flawlessly and I would recommend one fully.
If anything were to require warranty Mossberg might be the most difficult to handle but I have personally never heard of issues with the 940.
If you don’t care for 3.5” the Mossberg 940 waterfowl is currently on sale at Tenda for $300 off and would be my first choice.

I hope this helps,
Good luck
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Popularity depends on your location, the Affinity is not at all common here in central Alberta, the SX-3/4 , Maxus and the A400 are probably the most common semi autos that we see at skeet,trap, or sporting clays. We also see some of the cheap Turkish semi autos, but they are nowhere near as reliable.
 
Franchi is made by Benelli. I might be the guy with the 20 ga. that Brybenn is talking about. I bought the gun as a rain gun for shooting skeet. I have an A400 12 ga., A391 12 Ga., A391 20ga and the Franchi 20 ga for modern semi auto's. The Franchi will cycle everything except Challenger. However 20ga Challengers are also not reliable in my 20ga 391 and will pierce primers if I use 20 ga tubes in my Win 101. I stay away from 20 ga Challenger ammo. No problems with 12 ga Challenger an any of my 12 ga guns.
It is a light gun and swings very well and I like shooting it. I will use it for sheet and Sporting clays and have used it during the shotgun season for deer with slugs even if it isn't a rainy day.
 
maynard said:
Franchi is made by Benelli. I might be the guy with the 20 ga. that Brybenn is talking about. I bought the gun as a rain gun for shooting skeet. I have an A400 12 ga., A391 12 Ga., A391 20ga and the Franchi 20 ga for modern semi auto's. The Franchi will cycle everything except Challenger. However 20ga Challengers are also not reliable in my 20ga 391 and will pierce primers if I use 20 ga tubes in my Win 101. I stay away from 20 ga Challenger ammo. No problems with 12 ga Challenger an any of my 12 ga guns.
It is a light gun and swings very well and I like shooting it. I will use it for sheet and Sporting clays and have used it during the shotgun season for deer with slugs even if it isn't a rainy day.
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You're one yes. I agree there's something with challenger 20ga shells. My a400 never fails to feed fore and eject them but the action won't stay locked open when the gun runs empty. I've shot 4 flats of various lots and all have the same issue. They all fire and eject so I don't know the issue but no other brand has an issue
 
maynard said:
Franchi is made by Benelli. I might be the guy with the 20 ga. that Brybenn is talking about. I bought the gun as a rain gun for shooting skeet. I have an A400 12 ga., A391 12 Ga., A391 20ga and the Franchi 20 ga for modern semi auto's. The Franchi will cycle everything except Challenger. However 20ga Challengers are also not reliable in my 20ga 391 and will pierce primers if I use 20 ga tubes in my Win 101. I stay away from 20 ga Challenger ammo. No problems with 12 ga Challenger an any of my 12 ga guns.
It is a light gun and swings very well and I like shooting it. I will use it for sheet and Sporting clays and have used it during the shotgun season for deer with slugs even if it isn't a rainy day.
Click to expand...
Challenger uses Cheddite primers, which were brittle, and 20-25% would pierce in a few of my shotguns. However, Cheddite has changed their primers, and any made in the last year or so, don't pierce in my shotguns. Many of us that avoided Cheddite primers in the past, are now using them to load our target loads.
 
I have had my SX3, same action as SX4, for nigh on ten years now and have fired thousands of target loads of all brands without a hiccup, FYI. Same results for hundreds of 2 3/4 and 3" hunting loads. Easy to keep clean too.
 
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