The presentation of this Benelli rifle begins with the concept "In uniqueness the creative power is expressed, the free intuition that takes shape in unrepeatable examples" and continues with "Uniqueness which is part of our spirit and is reflected in the selection of materials, in the attention to detail, in the elegant aesthetics of the engravings ". It seems only right to take a step back when the appellation of Endurance for the first time he had qualified and distinguished a model of the semiautomatic rifle to which some improvements had been made aimed at compensating for the poor care of many hunters. The old habit of giving the weapon a brush before the hunting season and maybe giving a second one at its conclusion is hard to die: then you go on to explain that at a certain point every mechanism gets to block when the deposits of dirt of various kinds and provenance are too many, but just too many. "The rifle jammed just as I had a train of wild boars in front of me ..." here is the usual statement that does not pay any attention to direct causes, but only observes the outcome that every wise person already takes for granted.
Precisely to compensate for these situations, Benelli had replaced important parts of the semi-automatic system with stainless steel, such as the rod on which the piston / impeller slides: this was originally a monolithic assembly, then divided into two pieces, entrusting to stainless steel the first part in contact with the gases and keeping the second, much less exposed, in light alloy. The disassembly of the complex has been further facilitated: there are no valid excuses for not carrying out that minimum of necessary maintenance in order not to be classified as "filthy gunsmiths".
In addition, several other innovations were applied such as the Be.ST finish to the external steel surfaces which makes them insensitive to oxidation and wear, making the operational life much longer and giving, at the same time, a technological and elegant appearance. Other measures have been implemented to make the trigger system pleasantly functional and at the same time perfectly safe according to the most drastic safety standards: the loaded shotgun is dropped on six sides from a height of 150 cm and onto a concrete slab. without accidental firing ever occurring. Just by thinking about this procedure we crawl our skin and our collector's soul twitches imagining the poor shotgun so mistreated: on the other hand, after such tortures we will have the guarantee of a totally reliable weapon.
The technique and the calibers
The manufacturer chose a similar system to offer a range of customers who love not only function, but also aesthetics, a series numbered from 1 to 300 for each of the five calibers provided, which are 7 × 64, .308. Win. .30-06 Sprg., .300 Win. Mag. And 9,3 × 62, all with 51 cm (20 ") barrel except the 9,3 which mounts 56 cm (22"); other differences related to the magazines see the removable pack of 4 shots or only 3 for the .300 Win. Mag. While the alternative of the folding sole package limits the available cartridges to 2. Other variables related to power supply concern the 7 × 64 offered only with a fixed magazine while the other calibers can have, as standard or as a separate purchase, magazines of 2, 5 and 10 cartridges for .308 Win. and .30-06 Sprg. or 2 or 5 shots for the .300 Win. Mag., 2 or 10 shots for the 9,3 × 62.
The barrel represents a technical element of primary importance: after the rifling and the formation of the perfectly coaxial cartridge chamber, the cryogenic treatment is carried out which re-stretches the metal fibers after the tensions created by the machining, increasing the qualities of precision, constancy and resistance to 'usury; the external surfaces of the barrel and of the breech sheath onto which it is screwed undergo the Be.ST treatment which gives the metal an elegant appearance together with resistance to physical / chemical attacks that usually occur in hunting. In addition to the predisposition for mounting Picatinny, Weaver or QR rails, the half batting rib, made of carbon and with the two green points in the rear sight, and the adjustable red fiber optic front sight are already supplied: the complex takes its name from Easy Aim.
The gas-operated reset system, mounted under the barrel, sees the short-stroke piston transmitting motion to the two impulsors inserted in the yoke and from these to the bolt carrier carriage which, via a peg and relative cam track, is connected to the three-fin head. The stable bond occurs in the breech extension of the barrel where the mortises are obtained. In the lowered face the hole of the firing pin, the extraction nail with its own adjusting spring and the elastic pin of the ejector are highlighted. The parts in contact with the gases are made of stainless steel and, as already mentioned, are easily accessible for cleaning.
The stock
In harmony of appearance with the mechanics and decorations, the stock also shows excellent qualities: stock and fore-end are taken from selected Grade 4 walnut logs, oiled and with checkering. WoodTouch. Lines and volumes, grip points and details qualify the work as the handle prepared for the application of a customizable silver guard and supplied with the shotgun. From a technical and ergonomic point of view we find on the nose pad the application of an interchangeable polyurethane insert, designed to dampen the vibrations that the shot transmits to the cheekbone and from there to the brain.
The energy absorption system is also really curious: first of all, those who love wood like it because it is installed without modifying the line and with minimal detachment from the natural material; ingenuity is all in the patented system Progressive Comforts which starts on the outside from the soft anti-recoil pad and extends in the internal part that can be collapsed axially and gradually. The recoil is dissipated thanks to the interaction between a series of fixed cantilever beams that flex with the action of the arms of the prismatic shaft pushed by the movement of the butt plate.
Basically at the start of the shot there is a first absorption of the energy by the butt plate which, subsequently, moves towards the stock, activating the double series of beams, one of less thickness and the other more consistent, to dilute with progression of the energy of the shot. The effects are distinctly perceptible in shooting range: the sensation in the shoulder and face is very minimal and, together with the reduced wheelie of the weapon, allows you to keep the target in aim, remaining quickly ready to double the shot in a hunting situation. Truly an ingenious invention that adds ballistic technical performance to a pleasant aesthetic.
The external embellishment
Bottega C. Giovanelli has placed its signature on the formal enrichment work that characterizes these series of the Endurance Be.ST in a limited and numbered edition, caliber by caliber, from 001/300 to 300/300, using the rolling technique with manual resumption of details. The idea of making the concept of action of a rifled weapon immediately appreciable, created especially for hunting in motion, is given in a very realistic way with the wild animals reported on the sides of the castle. The search for perspective and depth of field is very accurate, thanks to which the subjects seem to be in motion. On the left we observe some wild boars in full flight while on the right some deer of the two sexes appear surprised and restless as they break into the clearing of the dominant male: in the center of the two scenes, a specimen in gilded material leaps to the eye which gives even more the sense of fullness of the situation, as well as the very gilding of the tiny acorns of the oaks enlivens the ideal background of the whole image.
First impressions
We were lucky enough to be able to try this specimen of theEndurance first in the polygon where the combination with a Steiner optic Cleaning 4-16 × 56 allowed us to calibrate our eye with only three shots: the first a little to the left, the second without touching anything to confirm the first, the third after three shots to the right in axis 3 cm above the center com 'is our habit.
Later he saw us waiting on the roof terrace in the AFV La Stoppa della Montefeltro (Rivergaro / PC) accompanied by Carlo Cazzaniga, an exquisite person of rare gunsmithing and hunting skills, a bit squeezed together with Roby, the master photographer who, right did his excellent service not only for the images but also for supporting our right arm on the occasion of a lucky shot at the wild boar revealed in the clearing in front. We will explore these topics in a future occasion: in the meantime, we can acknowledge that the motto “More forward forever” maintains all its validity in Benelli with this very recent series of semi-auto rifled models with excellent functionality and a pleasant and exclusive appearance.