Thinking about picking up a new gun for next season. Looking at the Affinity, Gordion (or Masai Mara), and Benelli M2.
This will be a 12ga, solely a turkey gun, and need to be drilled and tapped or be able to be drilled and tapped. I had the Meadow Creek and it's too far forward for me personally.
I'm not super picky on barrel length, 24 or 26" is fine.
I own a SBEII and M1 now, but I really don't want to put optics on those. The SBEII is strictly my duck/goose gun, and the M1 is my do-it-all gun. I absolutely LOVE Benelli's and have owned several and never any issues at all - (other than shooting POA).
I don't have any experience with the Retay or Franchi, but the price tag sure seems a lot nicer than the Benelli's, so they've certainly got my attention for a strictly turkey gun. Not to mention that the M2 is the most expensive of the 3, plus would have to be drilled and tapped, possibly dipped too. The Affinity and Retay have drilled and tapped models, plus already come in camo options.
Any thoughts on the 3? Pros? Cons? Features/benefits for or against any of the 3?
I have a Benelli m2 12 and 20 and neither one are drilled and tapped. Just purchased a Franchi 3.5 Affinity 3.5 for my son and if I were buying a new Turkey gun the Affinity would be my choice regardless of gauge. They are d&t, have oversized bolt, and bolt release.
Can you get the 3.5" Affinity with a 26" barrel? All the ones I see are 28".
Quote from: twyatt on April 19, 2021, 09:48:38 AM
Can you get the 3.5" Affinity with a 26" barrel? All the ones I see are 28".
not sure, my son wanted the 28" barrel against my preference for a 26". It is a shooter, it's ridiculous with 3.5 TSS
Local store has the bottomland Affinity 3.5", but it's not the "Elite". Also has a 28" barrel. Trying to decide if the Elite is worth the extra couple hundred. Elite has the oversized bolt, bigger loading port, larger forcing cone. I'm not sure if that's all worth it or not. Do you have the "elite" or just the regular affinity 3.5"?
Quote from: twyatt on April 19, 2021, 11:09:36 AM
Local store has the bottomland Affinity 3.5", but it's not the "Elite". Also has a 28" barrel. Trying to decide if the Elite is worth the extra couple hundred. Elite has the oversized bolt, bigger loading port, larger forcing cone. I'm not sure if that's all worth it or not. Do you have the "elite" or just the regular affinity 3.5"?
just the regular, it wouldn't be worth the extra to me. They only had the black in stock locally, I would have purchased the bottomland if it had been available.
What choke/load combo are you shooting?
I just picked up a Gordion Turkey XT last week. I have a Sumtoy mount and .665 on the way. Looking at optics now. Leaning towards holosun 507. Ill let you know how I like it. So far, it seems like a great gun. This is coming from a Benelli snob... Ive been strictly shooting my SBE2 25th anniversary edition for near 5 years now.
Keep me posted please, that's the exact sight and mount I'm looking at too. Just torn between the affinity, and the Gordon right now. What's the Gordion "xt"? I see the Masai Mara XT, but not a gordion xt.
Is Indian creek making chokes for the gordion?
Quote from: twyatt on April 19, 2021, 11:33:38 AM
What choke/load combo are you shooting?
federal TSS 2 1/4 9's with Carlsons TSS 640 choke. Also installed weaver 93A picitinny scope base with vortex venom.
Youre right, i thought it was called the gordion xt, buts its just called the gordion turkey. The only differences i saw between the masai mara and the girdion is that the gordion has a 2" longer barrel, the trigger does not have the button removal option, and its fully dipped instead of dip/cerakote. I just couldnt see spending 3 to 400 more dollars for those 3 options. I called Sumtoy and spoke with them about choke options... I wanted a choke that is good for 20 to 30 yards but can still kill at 40 with #7s. They recommended the .665. They are machining the choke and mount todau I believe. I looked at the Holosun, Vortex Venom, and Burris FF3 for optics. I was least impressed with the Burris... Low clarity. The holosun had the best clarity, but the Vortex does have a lifetime warranty. Once I receive the choke, mount, optic and put bsome shells through it, ill reach out to you.
Quote from: 7shooter on April 19, 2021, 01:30:05 PM
Quote from: twyatt on April 19, 2021, 11:33:38 AM
What choke/load combo are you shooting?
federal TSS 2 1/4 9's with Carlsons TSS 640 choke. Also installed weaver 93A picitinny scope base with vortex venom.
Could you send me a picture of that please?
I just got back from looking at the Gordion vs the Affinity 3.5. I'm leaning hard towards the Franchi, I just wish they had it in a 26" barrel. They have the Bottomland/Cerakote, and I liked just about everything about it.
Nothing at all wrong with the Gordion, I just think I like the Franchi better. Now I just need to decide if I want the 3.5" with the 28" barrel, or for a couple hundred less, get the regular Affinity 3 with the 26" barrel.
With today's shells all your ever going to need is a 3".
I do believe the Franchi affinity Elites come drilled and tapped from the factory.
I have a 20ga on order.
They are, I just can't seem to find the one I want anywhere locally. Everywhere just has the 3.5" with 28" barrel (not the elite, just the Affinity 3.5).
It's a beautiful gun, cerakote and bottomland, shoulders nicely, is drilled and tapped, and is only 7lbs, and I haven't ruled it out. It's just $1100 dollars versus $800 for the Affinity 3" gun.
I'm not sure $300 more dollars is worth having the 3.5" shell option.
The more I look at pattern pictures too, the more I see that 20's are putting up about the same numbers as the 12's. I'm not sure how or why, given the huge amount of more pellets there are in the 12's, (224 more to be exact) but I haven't seen too many killer 12ga patterns when searching around for Affinity 3 12ga patterns.
My 870 20ga, as well as some of the Affinity 3 20ga patterns with 9's are looking similar to a 275/175 numbers. I kinda expected to see 350/250 numbers out of the 12ga with 9's, but all the ones I've seen look more like 20ga numbers.
I recently bought a Retay Masai Mara...very pleased with it. It's going to be an all-around shotgun for me as I already have two turkey specific guns...12 ga Rem 870 and 20 ga Moss 500...but I will still use the Retay from time to time. Excellent pattern with hand loaded 3" TSS 9s and a Sumtoy .665.
I'm still kicking it around. I sorta settled on the Franchi Affinity 3, I just can't find one locally. I looked at the Gordion, that one is nice too. I didn't pay much attention to the Masai Mara simply because it's not drilled and tapped, which is a must for me. This will be a turkey specific gun for me, as I already have too many all-around shotguns.
I actually had the Gordion in my hand and the gun store talked me out of it and said they'd had several in for repair. He didn't get into the details, and I take some of that with a grain of salt given that the guy I was talking to was young, and had told me he owned a Franchi and was clearly biased.
I still haven't ruled it out, it seemed like a nice gun and certainly fit the budget.
The guy on here that got one and couldn't remove the firing pin wasn't good news either.
get a 20 in what every you chose, with todays loads no need for a 12!
I have the Affinity Cobalt in 20 gauge. Light weight and you can see the patterns.
Where did you get that top picatinny rail?
It's a Weaver 48339. Multi slot for Benelli but also fits Franchi. It's a low base and fits close to the receiver.
https://www.ebay.com/itm/233350312335?hash=item3654c3318f:g:9nMAAOSw4eBf~3JK
Thanks! I've been looking for that, and even called Franchi to see if they'd sell me the rail they put on the turkey elite models and they said no. The only other one I could find was from EGW, and it looks like it sits up too high. That was actually keeping me from making the drive to get the 20ga Bottomland Affinity 3 I found this afternoon an hour away. I couldn't find the rail to put my optic on, and I need a full rail like that, not a Sumtoy style mount.
I'm assuming it comes with screws?
Yep, screws all included. I can't remember if I had to file the front screws a couple passes with a flat file or not. Seems like they were a little long, but a 30 second fix.....
For what its worth...
I got in contact with Retay about the firing pin. He said that removing that pin is "a bear." He said to not be afraid to hammer the living daylights out of the pin to get it to move, and that normally once its moved it shouldnt be too difficult in the future. He also went on to ensure me that if I did damage something in doing so, that I have a bigger issue and that they would send me a new bolt free of charge. Still havent tried it since I threw in the towel last time.
I purchased the Retay Gordion last year after the season. One feature I love is the quick unload where it ejects the shell from the bottom of the gun. I sent mine to Sumtoy to have the barrel cut down (I like a super short barrel) to 21 inches. Had him rethread it and put a .665 choke in it. I also got a low profile Mount for the Burris FF3 put on it. Retay customer service is fantastic as I had a crazy issue that they resolved no questions asked. Killed 2 birds with it this year and am extremely impressed with how it patterns. Huge advocate of Retay and the customer service. (https://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/20210511/da0058d2ad5f111cc9bd21653cbc88b5.jpg)
30 yards
Sumtoy .665
Apex GT 3 #9s
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There's a pretty stout rumor that Retay will be coming out next year with a pistol grip version of the turkey XT. For now, here is what they offer.https://www.retayusa.com/copy-of-masai-mara-upland
I currently have a Stoeger M3020 20 gauge and with a 3" 1 5/8oz load im getting 337 in 10" @ 40 yds. with the energy to kill past what the pattern will stay together. That being said, and it was mentioned earlier why NOT go with a 20 gauge? They weigh less, recoil less, shells are a bit cheaper and while they won't put 500 pellets in the 10" ring @ 40 yds. they have more than enough in there to get the job done. IMHO, and alot of folks will agree with me, 2 oz ,2.25 oz, 2.5 oz , heck really any more than 1 5/8 or 1 1/2 oz. is nothing more than wasted shot. If it were me I'd go with one of the 20s I've listed. Or if you want the shorter barrel ,get the Franchi A3 compact...it has a 24" barrel and comes with the stock shims so you can adjust it to a longer LOP if desired. Far as 12 gauge goes, Retay has you covered there too. 22" bbl. and drilled & tapped with a rail. The Franchi is a fine choice as well in 12, and well you already know about Benelli. I've always wanted an M2 with the 21" bbl. myself and would be great if they made one in 20. I might mention, the Retay 12s have their own choke thread system-Marapro whereas the Retay 20s utilize the Benelli crio threads. Whatever way you go, keep us apprised of your choice, and good luck!
Quote from: kennedyh1990 on May 11, 2021, 05:58:25 PM
I purchased the Retay Gordion last year after the season. One feature I love is the quick unload where it ejects the shell from the bottom of the gun. I sent mine to Sumtoy to have the barrel cut down (I like a super short barrel) to 21 inches. Had him rethread it and put a .665 choke in it. I also got a low profile Mount for the Burris FF3 put on it. Retay customer service is fantastic as I had a crazy issue that they resolved no questions asked. Killed 2 birds with it this year and am extremely impressed with how it patterns. Huge advocate of Retay and the customer service. (https://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/20210511/da0058d2ad5f111cc9bd21653cbc88b5.jpg)
30 yards
Sumtoy .665
Apex GT 3 #9s
Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
I bought a Gordion Turkey as well this year. Called Sumtoy and he recommended a .665 for the kind of pattern I'm looking for, so I bought that and a low profile mount as well. With a pattern like that, I might have to get my barrel cut down too! How do you like that ff3? I'm considering either that, or waiting until the ff4 comes back in stock.
Quote from: Pluffmud on May 22, 2021, 03:02:39 PM
Quote from: kennedyh1990 on May 11, 2021, 05:58:25 PM
I purchased the Retay Gordion last year after the season. One feature I love is the quick unload where it ejects the shell from the bottom of the gun. I sent mine to Sumtoy to have the barrel cut down (I like a super short barrel) to 21 inches. Had him rethread it and put a .665 choke in it. I also got a low profile Mount for the Burris FF3 put on it. Retay customer service is fantastic as I had a crazy issue that they resolved no questions asked. Killed 2 birds with it this year and am extremely impressed with how it patterns. Huge advocate of Retay and the customer service. (https://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/20210511/da0058d2ad5f111cc9bd21653cbc88b5.jpg)
30 yards
Sumtoy .665
Apex GT 3 #9s
Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
I bought a Gordion Turkey as well this year. Called Sumtoy and he recommended a .665 for the kind of pattern I'm looking for, so I bought that and a low profile mount as well. With a pattern like that, I might have to get my barrel cut down too! How do you like that ff3? I'm considering either that, or waiting until the ff4 comes back in stock.
I love the FF3. It's the only red dot I've ever shot. Made the switch last year and wonder why it took me so long to switch
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