I grew up with my dads flawless 870 with a smooth barrel. Even won some trap comps. I've always wanted an auto, so I bought a benelli. I really like this gun, light weight, how it points, but I have dropped from 80-100% to less than 50%. I can't seem to get used to the ribbed barrel. I also have a newer ribbed barrel 870 that I have the same terrible percentages. I took a friend to Colorado Clays yesterday. It was his first time with a shotgun EVER, and he beat me TWICE!

So, I am looking at the berrettas now because they have the ribbed barrel, but it is not raised. Is there anyone with a beretta that is willing to meet us at a clay range so I can try one out before trading the benelli in? I'll let you shoot mine, and buy you a beer.

On a side note, I aquired the newer 870 mag a while back. I've been using it for 3-gun with the shorter barrel. I didn't have any problems with it other than the forend seems to be a little loose and noisy. I put the longer wing barrel on for clays yesterday, and several times the action was stuck forward and would not eject without playing with it. We were shooting 2 3/4 target shot. I've made one modification to it. I ground down the nubs inside the magazine for the Wilson mag extension to work. Other than that the forend wiggles like it's loose. Is there something I need to look at, or is there someone that could look at it for me?

I live in Castle Rock. Colorado Clays is a nice facility (my first time there). We didn't get a chance to try the sporting clays, but it is just way to far from me to be convenient.

Tanks for any help.
Eric