Franchi bug bit me

Well, since my son started shooting on the school trap team some 5yrs ago, I took to trying out shotguns. Most all my interest up to that point was strictly centerfire rifles and handguns. I had a shotgun or 2 but simple stuff. That has since changed. I fell in love with Over/Unders, and found they can be priced from high to holy sh!t!! I did some research and shot a bunch of different ones at the club. Found I don't like the Brownings at all, bought an SKB trap model and shot it quite a bunch, did pretty well with it. I fell in love with the Beretta 686 and was very close to buying one until someone told me to try a Franchi. I held one years ago in a random LGS somewhere in my travels and remember I liked it. So I bought my first Instinct L 12ga probably 5yrs ago. It is a field model I planned to shoot some trap with it, not my main "league gun" but use it on my western bird hunts. I fell in love with it, right around $1500 at the time it was about 1k less than the Beretta yet very similar. Then last summer I found the Instinct Sporting model, trap version of the L. Well this winter I wanted a 20ga version. But first I ran into an Affinity Upland Elite in 20ga. Affinity is the semi-auto. Made by Benelli, says so right on the receiver and as far as I am concerned, Benelli makes the finest auto loading shotgun. Same action, almost half the price. Then I found the Instinct LX 20ga, and this weekend I traded a couple other trap guns I don't use for an Affinity 3.5 and Affinity 3 12ga. the 3.5 is the 3.5" camo/syn turkey/waterfowl model, the 3 is 3" upland model. Again nearly half the price of a Benelli with the best feature of them...the action! I have shot birds with the 20s and have fell in love!! I feel the 12s are "too much" gun for the preserve birds, although I will give them a go in a couple weeks when we chase some birds, but they will probably be used out west on wild birds mostly. 

Franchi was always know for super light weight QUALITY autos.  what does it weigh.

Wing master wrote: Very nice.  I never have had a truly high end over under. I have a SKB 585 Waterfowler. I shoot it better than any other shotgun I've had except a Winchester 1400 semi auto. The Winchester isn't high end at all but it makes me look like a better shot than I really am.

I agree that since Winchester discontinued the model 12 their shotguns aren't much for quality. I think it's like Bear said it fits me. It shoots where I'm looking.