? for I12 owners

[Hunting_Dad]

Before I drive two hours to check out a Franch I12, I was hoping someone here might be able answer a question for me: Does the I12 come tapped for a scope rail? I am looking for a turkey gun primarily, but it will likely serve double duty as a waterfowl gun. Thanks
GW

[tucker301]

I don't think they are, but you can certainly have it done later for little cost.

A wrod of caution: Make sure you're getting a current model. There have been a number of problems associated with the first year I-12's.

[Hunting_Dad]

Thanks Tucker,
I was originally looking at the Stoeger as an economical choice having read good reviews on here and other sites , but some have raised doubts about the reciever on the Stoeger being able to handle heavy loads with a tapped scope mount. Do you know if the Franchi is a heavier steel than the Stoeger?

[ 05-18-2006, 09:51 AM: Message edited by: Hunting_Dad ]

[tucker301]

In general, Franchi makes better guns using better quality materials and craftsmanship than does Stoeger.

I'd consider buying an I-12, especially since the kinks seem to have been worked out.
I have no interest in owning anything made by Stoeger at any price.

[Hunting_Dad]

Gotcha, thanks. It looks like I have a ride ahead of me in the near fuuture.

[xd9x19]

Originally posted by Hunting_Dad:
Before I drive two hours to check out a Franch I12, I was hoping someone here might be able answer a question for me: Does the I12 come tapped for a scope rail? I am looking for a turkey gun primarily, but it will likely serve double duty as a waterfowl gun. Thanks
GW Hunting_Dad, I think the I-12's ARE tapped for a mount. I'm somewhat of a gun novice, but on the top of the receiver and down the "centerline" of my I-12, I have two spots that have something that looks like "plugs". They're flush with the receiver, but they appear to me to be spaced appropriately for a scope mount.

If you REALLY want to know before you go on your drive, go over to the Franchi message board @ Shotgunworld.com and post your question. A guy using the handle Worc will probably answer your questions within a day or two.

[tucker301]

xd9x19,
Yes, those plugs indicate the receiver is drilled and tapped.
They are typically rubber/plastic material that can be gently pushed out from the inside of the receiver to reveal the threaded holes.

Probably a Weaver #93 on the spacing, but the dealer can confirm that.

[Case Collector]

I just purchased a new I-12 on 4/1/06. It is definitely NOT drilled or tapped. The gun has functioned flawlessly so far (125 rounds). I have not yet checked patterns with the various chokes.

[chilly460]

I bought an I-12 on 5/15, and it does not have any holes tapped in the receiver.

[user]

I was wanting to know if you guys thought $650.00 was a good price for a new Franchi I-12
With satin finshed walnut stock and blued barrel

[wallhanger54]

Just a little FYI to all out there. The Stoeger 2000 and Franchi I 12 are made by the same people in the same place and niether receiver is steel. They are both aluminium. IMHO I'd rather have the 2000. The lines on the I 12 are just bad, the forend slopes away from the barrel and there are just too many bugs to work out.

[user]

Have you ever owned a I-12. If not how do you know they are such bad guns.

[tucker301]

Trust me, user.
Wallhanger knows what he's talking about.

[user]

So your telling me I should forget going tusday to buy a new I-12.Those were the plans I had til I read this stuff.

What kind of problems do people have with the I-12

Why is there such a price diffrence between two?

[tucker301]

Before wallhanger's post, I did not know that the I-12 was manufactured in the same plant as the M2000.

Given this new information, I would recommend neither, and would instead suggest that you save your money towards the purchase of a Benelli M2 or SBEII.

I'd rather have used Benelli than a new gun from the people who make the M2000.

[Case Collector]

The I-12 is made in Italy and exported to the US by Benelli. They are not made were Stoegers are made. It's a great gun for the price. $650 is an OK price. Suggested retail is about $660. I got mine on an April 1st (no comments please) sale for $645 with no sales tax.

So far it has performed flawlessly. I have'nt shot anything less than 1 1/8.

No question the SBE 11 is a great gun! But, it's over twice the price. I believe the I-12 will do anything the SBE 11 can do with the exception of 3 1/2 shells. This is one mans opinion!

[user]

THANK YOU!
Case Collecter

That is the exact same thing I had out of a outdoor
life magazine.

And also does the Inertia Driven action work as good as a regular simi-auto?

[Case Collector]

user

I think the Inertia System works very well. It is a fairly new concempt and a modified version of the blow back system. Many shotguns on the market today are gas operated, and they certainly have proven themselves. However, the Inertia System is much simpler with less parts involved and a great concept. It's a Benelli pattened system. Benelli owns Franchi and Stoeger.

The Benelli SBE and the Franchi I-12 systems are very similiar. The Inertia Spring bolt assembly and locking systems are about the same. The major difference is the recoil spring. On the SBE it's in the butt stock, and on the I-12 it's around the magazine tube under the forearm. For cleaning or maintenance, it's much easier to get at.

Gas operated shotguns have been around a long time and there are some great ones out there, but they do require more care and cleaning.

As for recoil, I suppose a gas operated gun is somewhat softer. However compared to a pump gun or a double, whether it be a side by side or over and under, the inertia systems recoil is less. Recoil is a subjective thing anyway. Which loads being used or the shooters tolerance for recoil are all variable.

I have other shotguns and have shot Winchester semi-autos and pumps for many years. But, I must say that the fit and feel of the Benelli SBE or the Franchi I-12 really impressed me and felt better than the rest.

I went with the I-12 simply because of the price and so far have not been disappointed.

This is my first experience with the Inertia System and I'm sure I have more to learn, but I hope the above helps somewhat!

[tucker301]

I still have great confidence in what wallhanger says, and if he says that they are made in the same place, then I consider that to be solid information.

Perhaps the Franchis are made in Turkey and assembled in Italy - I don't know?

But the man knows these guns and the companies that make them.

The mag tube spring is my biggest gripe with the M2000, and since the I-12 is the same design, I have little faith in it as well.

Recoil = discharge energy - gun weight, plain and simple. Other than the energy required to set the weight of the gun in motion, there is no other place for the energy to be transferred.

Gas guns lessen recoil by using some of the discharge energy to operate the system. Similar to porting, this redirects some of the energy.

Recoil operated guns direct the energy into compressing the Inertia spring and recoil spring, but only after the gun has been initially moved by the energy.
This is why an Inertia gun will not cycle properly if you remove the recoil pad and place the buttstock against a solid surface.
Without movement, there is no tranfer of energy to the Inertia system.

Gas guns are typically heavier due to the required parts for the gas systems. The added weight reduces recoil off the top.

All other tricks, gimmicks, and devices that do not add weight reduce felt recoil by dissipating the energy over time and space.

[user]

I read another fourm and it said that they are both imported to benelli not made.

But I read a little more and and another person said that benelli , stoger and franchi are owned by bertta.

Another person said they are made by ruger I realy doubt it.

But somebody else said franchi,stoger and uberti are handled by benelli.

I don't know who to belive now.


Case collector your post was alot of help
Thanks

Since you have owned one I'll take your advice.

[Case Collector]

I'll make one final comment on the Franchi subject.

Franchi has been manufacturing firearms in Italy since the middle if the 19th century.

All firearms made in Italy are required to be tested and proof marked by an Italian governmental agency. One of the proof marks is a code identifying the year it was proofed. Usually in a small rectangular box with two letters within. This mark can usually be found on the underside of the barrel or receiver.

Franchi's, Benelli's, Beretta's, etc. all have this Italian proof mark.

And finally, my Franchi I-12 is stamped "Made in Italy".

Check a Stoeger M2000 and see were it's made!

[shootandmiss]

franchis are made in Italy and last I heard, the franchi plant was producing a large amount of the barrels for the beretta family...ie Beretta and Benelli, I'm not sure if thats true but its what I heard. Stoegers are made by Vursan in turkey...shotgunworld.com has a wealth or information on more shotguns than you can imagine with people posting over there that are have a lot of knowledge

[xd9x19]

Originally posted by tucker301:
Before wallhanger's post, I did not know that the I-12 was manufactured in the same plant as the M2000.
Be careful....just 'cause it's on the internet doesn't make it true.

I love my I-12. It's got a neutral/balanced fell that I love and the gel recoil pad is great. It's a breeze to clean....and it cost's a whole lot less than the M2.

[tucker301]

Yep. Tha's a fact.
I just figured that wallhanger knew his stuff, because he seems to always be dead on with this kind of thing.

[user]

Well looks like my plan has been ruined. Lady called from bass pro and told me that the Franchi I-12 I had trasfered from Denver Colorado to oklahoma was broke and in unsellable condition and that she could not get another one with satin walnut stock and blued barel and on sale for 600.00 . She would not tell me what had happend . Hope yall have good luck with yours.

[xd9x19]

Maybe things have changed with recent models, but here's a picture of the top of the receiver on my I-12:

http://i80.photobucket.com/albums/j167/xd9x19/i-12top.jpg

Appears to me that these are holes for scope mounting, but I'm not anywhere close to a firearms expert. Are they for something else? The holes go through the receiver and can be seen on the inside of the receiver when the bolt is locked back.

[tucker301]

Yes, they are for scope mounts.

[Case Collector]

You're right, they are for a scope mounts. My I-12 is not drilled and taped. I'd be interested to know if this was done to earlier "or" later models. Maybe it's simply that some are and some are not. It's a conundrum!

[Hunting_Dad]

Thanks to everyone for their insight. I put my original question to Franchi customer service and despite waiting several weeks for a response they eventually told me that "some" I-12 recievers are drilled and tapped. Unfortunately, according to the person that responded to my inquiry, there is no way to know which guns are tapped at the factory. At least now I have some indication the the company itself has confidece in the reciever to support the scope mount so that if I decide to make a turkey gun out of it I can just go ahead and do it myself. That leads me to another question regarding the I-12 and Franchi...
It seems to me that Franchi is missing out on the 3.5" market since no longer importing the 912. Any insider info or speculation wheter or not there are plans to offer a 3.5" I-12 for 2007?
Thanks Again

[wallhanger54]

I'm sticking to my guns Tucker. Franchi hasn't made their own barrels or many of any other parts in years. Made in Italy really means "somewhat assembled in Italy" with the majority of parts sub contracted out to Spain, France and Turkey (the 2000). All of the trigger assembly parts, the ejector, shell latch, most of the bolt parts and the barrel extension are interchangeable. The kicker is, the 2000 was out many years before the I-12. It doesn't take a Harvard grad to figure the 2000 link, and Stoeger and Franchi are owned by Beretta Holdings.

[tucker301]

I know.
I was trying to goad you into repsonding.
It's not like you've got antyhing else to do with your time :cool:

Made in X these days means that's where the last bolt was tightened.
Suppliers, sub-suppliers, commodities... it's a small world.

[Case Collector]

Is it possible that you two guys read somewhere that Franchi I-12's are good "turkey" guns????

[ 06-26-2006, 12:36 PM: Message edited by: Case Collector ]

[JWP]

I have a Franchi I-12 in 24" barrel (factory Hardwoods camo) and yes, it is drilled and tapped for a scope.

I also have a 912 plus a 620 and they all say "Made in Italy" which according to the truth in advertising laws means just that.

The Browning BGH says "made in Belgium, assembled in Portugal"...Remington 11-87 says, "made in USA", et.al.

Lots of guns have parts made under contract, etc.

The latest rumor is Beretta Holding Co. has bought the plant in Turkey where the Verona 405 series S/A's are manufactured and will likely use that facility for a host of Beretta & Benelli components...it's also my understanding this facility is one of the most "state of the art" in operation these days.

Franchi has been making shotguns since 1945...Benelli since 1970 and their main product(s) before then were mopeds.

[Acefreely]

I'm sticking to my guns Tucker. Franchi hasn't made their own barrels or many of any other parts in years. Made in Italy really means "somewhat assembled in Italy" with the majority of parts sub contracted out to Spain, France and Turkey (the 2000). All of the trigger assembly parts, the ejector, shell latch, most of the bolt parts and the barrel extension are interchangeable. The kicker is, the 2000 was out many years before the I-12. It doesn't take a Harvard grad to figure the 2000 link, and Stoeger and Franchi are owned by Beretta Holdings.

I know this is over a year later but I found it by a Google search. Wanted to correct this misinformation in case someone else finds it.

The Franchi I-12 and Stoeger 2000 are NOT made in the same place. The Stoeger is made in TURKEY and the Franchi is made in ITALY. I have both guns and there is a huge difference in fit, finish and components.

The Stoeger is what it is, an economical, reliable semi-automatic. It's a great gun, and for the price you can't go wrong.

The Franchi I-12 however is definately a higher quality firearm. The components are superior and the fit and finish is right up there guns costing twice as much.

If you just want something to abuse, get the Stoeger. If you fancy a beautiful firearm that can take abuse, or look good over the fireplace, get the Franchi.

Personally I prefer the Franchi as it's a little heavier, better balanced, nicer quality components and it looks incredible. Both are shooters though and I've never had failure to cycle with either one.