Franchi I-12 Inertia System.

Sea Buck · April 14, 2011, 03:00 PM

I am interested in the Franchi I-12.I am not familiar with this model: "Free floating bolt with inertial operating system". What does this mean? Sounds like a recoil intensive system despite the advertising. Has anyone experience with this shotgun.

BigJimP · April 14, 2011, 05:48 PM

Benelli started a pretty big revolution a few years ago ...with their Inertia guns / vs the more traditional gas operated semi-autos..

Today - Franchi - is owned by Beretta / Benelli ...but I don't know if the Inertia system in the Franchi models is the same as the Benelli models. I've heard it said at gun counters - that the Franchi is just a cheaper version of the Benelli / implying its the same internal components ...but I don't know that its true / or if its guys just selling guns ....

I have a pair of Benelli semi-auto Inertia guns ... both Super Sport models - one in 12ga and one in 20ga. In that model - Benelli put a recoil supression system into their synthetic stock called a "comfort tech system" and I don't know if they offer that in the Franchi line or not. You cannot put it into a wooden stock gun / because the system is inserted into the carbon fibre stocks - and it compresses on recoil / abosorbing some of the energy.

The Inertia Driven system is pretty simple - there is a spring in the bolt assembly - that compresses / the head of the bolt rotates / it moves back and forth based on Inertia ( Benelli says it better on their website ) ...I'm butchering it a little .... but the system cycles quickly, it shoots cleaner than any gas gun because the burnt gas is not operating or cycling the bolt --- it also makes for a light weight gun - low maintenance etc ...

On the recoil side - without the Comfort Tech system / I would say the Inertia guns have about 20% more recoil than a gas gun. With the Comfort Tech system - I think the recoil is about the same as a gas gun. There are some improvements in gas guns - Browning / Winchesters system of Activ Valve ...Beretta's new 391's etc ...so they are faster than they used to be ---but I think the Benelli system is at least as fast as a Remington 1100 as an example / maybe a little faster.

Franchi is less expensive than the Benelli. The problem I have - is I've seen a few of them at my range that have cycling issues. Maybe they were dirty / maybe not lubed ...I don't know. Maybe the system they use isn't as refined as the Benelli system ?? I can tell you my Benelli Super Sports have been extraordinary guns in terms of cycling 100% and no problems even in a 4 day sporting clays tournament ( but that model is selling new today for around $ 1,875 ) ...

http://www.benelliusa.com/shotguns/b...nd_sport_2.php

I bought the first Benelli Super Sport in a 12ga, 30" barrel ..and its only 7.2 lbs - because I had fractured a shoulder blade in a cycling accident / and it hurt to shoot my heavy Browning Over Unders ...and to shoot in a 4 day tournament was out of the question...so I bought one several years ago / and shot it all season while my shoulder blade was healing... Now 4 or 5 of my buddies have invested in them as well ...and I've added a 20ga version in 28" barrel ...for some of the younger grandkids to shoot ( and for me to have another gun truthfully ) ... Today I use the Benelli as my travel gun -- easy to ship on airlines / does everything pretty well - skeet, sporting, bird hunting, etc ...and I can get by with one gun traveling. I also use it as a "foul weather gun" when I don't want to take a nice Over Under, wood stock gun, out in the rain and sleet ...and it does great there too...

kozak6 · April 15, 2011, 05:26 PM

Did you see this?
http://www.franchiusa.com/inertia_dr...stem/index.php

I fired my neighbor's I-20 years and years ago. It functioned beautifully, but I don't recall how the recoil compared to other shotguns.

Cowboy_mo · April 15, 2011, 05:59 PM

I have had a Franchi AL48 since the 1970's. It is an inertia driven gun built off the Browning semi auto patent.

I don't know anything about the newer version, but mine has functioned flawlessly as an upland bird and rabbit gun. I recently decided to start trap shooting and to prepare, I purchased a Sims slip on recoil pad. The recoil on my 20 ga. Franchi is more than the recoil on my Remington 1100 12 ga.

April 14, 2011, 03:00 PM	#1
Sea Buck Senior Member Join Date: September 9, 2008 Location: New England,Florida Snow Bird Posts: 312	Franchi I-12 Inertia System. I am interested in the Franchi I-12.I am not familiar with this model: "Free floating bolt with inertial operating system". What does this mean? Sounds like a recoil intensive system despite the advertising. Has anyone experience with this shotgun.

April 14, 2011, 05:48 PM	#2
BigJimP Senior Member Join Date: February 23, 2005 Posts: 13,195	Benelli started a pretty big revolution a few years ago ...with their Inertia guns / vs the more traditional gas operated semi-autos.. Today - Franchi - is owned by Beretta / Benelli ...but I don't know if the Inertia system in the Franchi models is the same as the Benelli models. I've heard it said at gun counters - that the Franchi is just a cheaper version of the Benelli / implying its the same internal components ...but I don't know that its true / or if its guys just selling guns .... I have a pair of Benelli semi-auto Inertia guns ... both Super Sport models - one in 12ga and one in 20ga. In that model - Benelli put a recoil supression system into their synthetic stock called a "comfort tech system" and I don't know if they offer that in the Franchi line or not. You cannot put it into a wooden stock gun / because the system is inserted into the carbon fibre stocks - and it compresses on recoil / abosorbing some of the energy. The Inertia Driven system is pretty simple - there is a spring in the bolt assembly - that compresses / the head of the bolt rotates / it moves back and forth based on Inertia ( Benelli says it better on their website ) ...I'm butchering it a little .... but the system cycles quickly, it shoots cleaner than any gas gun because the burnt gas is not operating or cycling the bolt --- it also makes for a light weight gun - low maintenance etc ... On the recoil side - without the Comfort Tech system / I would say the Inertia guns have about 20% more recoil than a gas gun. With the Comfort Tech system - I think the recoil is about the same as a gas gun. There are some improvements in gas guns - Browning / Winchesters system of Activ Valve ...Beretta's new 391's etc ...so they are faster than they used to be ---but I think the Benelli system is at least as fast as a Remington 1100 as an example / maybe a little faster. Franchi is less expensive than the Benelli. The problem I have - is I've seen a few of them at my range that have cycling issues. Maybe they were dirty / maybe not lubed ...I don't know. Maybe the system they use isn't as refined as the Benelli system ?? I can tell you my Benelli Super Sports have been extraordinary guns in terms of cycling 100% and no problems even in a 4 day sporting clays tournament ( but that model is selling new today for around $ 1,875 ) ... http://www.benelliusa.com/shotguns/b...nd_sport_2.php I bought the first Benelli Super Sport in a 12ga, 30" barrel ..and its only 7.2 lbs - because I had fractured a shoulder blade in a cycling accident / and it hurt to shoot my heavy Browning Over Unders ...and to shoot in a 4 day tournament was out of the question...so I bought one several years ago / and shot it all season while my shoulder blade was healing... Now 4 or 5 of my buddies have invested in them as well ...and I've added a 20ga version in 28" barrel ...for some of the younger grandkids to shoot ( and for me to have another gun truthfully ) ... Today I use the Benelli as my travel gun -- easy to ship on airlines / does everything pretty well - skeet, sporting, bird hunting, etc ...and I can get by with one gun traveling. I also use it as a "foul weather gun" when I don't want to take a nice Over Under, wood stock gun, out in the rain and sleet ...and it does great there too... Last edited by BigJimP; April 14, 2011 at 05:56 PM.

April 15, 2011, 05:26 PM	#3
kozak6 Senior Member Join Date: June 16, 2005 Location: AZ Posts: 3,113	Did you see this? http://www.franchiusa.com/inertia_dr...stem/index.php I fired my neighbor's I-20 years and years ago. It functioned beautifully, but I don't recall how the recoil compared to other shotguns.

April 15, 2011, 05:59 PM	#4
Cowboy_mo Senior Member Join Date: June 23, 2010 Location: Missouri Posts: 1,039	I have had a Franchi AL48 since the 1970's. It is an inertia driven gun built off the Browning semi auto patent. I don't know anything about the newer version, but mine has functioned flawlessly as an upland bird and rabbit gun. I recently decided to start trap shooting and to prepare, I purchased a Sims slip on recoil pad. The recoil on my 20 ga. Franchi is more than the recoil on my Remington 1100 12 ga.