Multiple misfires on a Benelli Legacy

[Engineeringtech]

Hi Benelli shooters!

Need some advice...

I bought my first Benelli last May. Beautiful Legacy 20 ga. A new '04 model that had gone un-sold. Unfortunately, I have had nothing but problems. I bought two cases of Remington Gun Club from Dick's Sporting Goods. Had over 30 misfires! I cycled these shells through the gun 3 or 4 times before they would fire. Everyone tells me the primer dimples are very light (about .015 deep) and off center. Dicks wouldn't refund or exchange the unused shells. Nor would Remington. I sent pictures and shells to Remington. They analyzed the problem and insist it is the Benelli. Sent pics to Benelli also. They said the problem was the ammo, but then they sent me a heavier hammer spring to try. I installed it and it helped SLIGHTLY. Changing to Winchester AA helped somewhat too. But still too many misfires to allow me to shoot skeet. Have by now cycled over 600 shells through the gun.

Noticed that the primer dimples on the Winchester AA are very deep and big, wheras the dimples on the Remington are very small and light. What is going on here? Hard primers? That is what I thought. But even the AA missfires sometimes. I haven't found any other brands of ammo in this area, and don't have any friends who reload 20 ga.

Please don't anyone tell me that I need to clean my gun. It was clean and lightly oiled when I got it, and I have completely field stripped it and cleaned and re-oiled. I operate the gun per the manual. I let the bolt slam shut and I don't ease it into place.

I supposedly have a 5 year warranty on this gun. Benelli tells me they don't know what is wrong with it. If I send it back I will have to wait 4 weeks or more to get it back. And since it is an '04, they may have to mix new parts with old. I like the looks of my gun and don't want it monkeyed with. I also don't know if I can trust Benelli service. I would hate to get it back dinged or scratched up.

Any ideas anyone? Do you think I should bite the bullet and send it back to Benelli to have a look?

[Liberty or death Jr.]

Well, remington shells seem to be notorious for hard primers, but not one gun shotgun in our house, (thats over a dozen) has failed to fire any remington shells.

Benelli service is the most reputible I have ever heard of, I would trust them with the gun. Send it in, wait the 4 weeks and hopefully the problem will be resolved. Also, I would not think a 3 year old gun would have different parts as a new one?

[HOGWILD]

Sounds like you need an RA # and let Benelli fix you up and stop crying, guns malfunction and keeping one that malfunctions is about as bad as crying about it!! I have heard lots of great CS repair issues but i have also heard a lot of your type, will do anything but the rite thing!! Any special reason for not sending it in other than the ones above?

[tucker301]

Well, I guess it's a bit too late to extend you a warm and hearty welcome.

Are the failed Winchesters struck nice and deep too?
If so, then you have awful luck buying shells, but the gun's OK.
If not, then your gun could have headspace issues or a defective firing pin or hammer.

Benelli CS is top notch and they will fix your gun if you do a good job of describing the problems to them.
They will handle the gun carefully and will not replacee any parts that are cosmetically inappropriate.

I'd recommend saving the shells that do not fire and taking some good close-up photos of them.
Ask CS if you can send them the the bases if you cut them off, removing the powder and shot.
I doubt they'll let you, because the primers are still unfired, but it's worth asking.

At least you can send the photos.

Welcome to the forums!

PS: Dick's Bait & Tackle is no place to buy ammo!

[TMAC]

I too would go along with letting the factory take a try at repairing the gun, even after 3 trys the were able to fix my M2000 to the point it actually works well all the time (hard to believe). Like Tucker mentioned head space and firing pins could be the culprit but unless you submit to the hands of the professionals you wont know for sure, let them do their job.

[HOGWILD]

BTW XOXOX!! The ammo being used is at Min range to cycle in this shotgun as long as no mods have been done to it, and choice of ammo according to Benelli is find one that cycles and do not use ones that will not cycle. The main problems with this malfunction is bolt being hit and not knowing it, or bad ammo other than that it needs Benelli's attention and i would sell the other case of ammo and shoot a couple boxes of Heaviest ammo the gun could take and then shoot some lighter loads say Federals or Winchesters and only do this after gun came home from Benelli.!! also sounds like it needs properly cleaned,oiled & lubed