Hot Rod Your Benelli Hunting Rig
Benelli shotguns have built an excellent reputation for reliability, but their popularity has made them so common that it appears like everyone has a Benelli. But just as with motorcycles and cars, you can customize your Benelli shotgun so that it's one of a kind. Whether you're looking for practical mechanical upgrades to your gun or want attention-grabbing good looks, you can build your Benelli to suit your needs and tastes.
You can do many upgrades to your shotgun at home, but for some, you'll want to turn your Benelli over to a professional who can upgrade your firearm in ways you simply cannot. Here's a look at some of the custom upgrades and DIY improvements you can make to your Benelli.
The King of Custom Benellis: Rob Roberts
Rob Roberts of Batesville, Arkansas, has become famous for customizing shotguns, particularly Benelli guns. His company, Rob Roberts Custom Gunworks, offers a wide range of options for shooters and hunters, and he can handle even some of the most technical and off-the-wall requests.
"If they (his customers) hum it, then we will try to sing it," Roberts says. "We get lots of different requests and some off the wall. You can see all the many things we do listed on our website. But practical additions are what we push, and lots of the cosmetic stuff such as camo dipping, Cerakoting, and laser etching are more of the customer's discretion. "
Roberts says that the goal when hunting should be to kill the animal cleanly and without suffering. This responsibility requires the shooter to spend time at the range with their gun before hunting season honing their shotgun skills, but he says there are some upgrades he performs that can improve the gun's field performance.
"Doing the forcing cone work along with porting, pattern testing, choke tubes, cocking handles, and slammer buttons are more of the practical side," Roberts says. "These things give the shooter more advantages in making clean shots and follow-up shots. The forcing cone work matched with the correct choke is what gives off the best patterns, and after all, patterns make the shooter hit the target and, as far as hunting situations, make the kill."
Roberts believes that porting is one of the most beneficial upgrades, but only if the porting is done correctly.
"We are not just making holes for looks," Roberts says. "These holes are burnt through the barrel using EDM machining, not drilled. The holes are all elongated and rounded, so there are no stress points and also burned into the barrel at an angle so that they are actually catching the pressure and pulling it back and up so that it is taking recoil off your face and keeping the muzzle jump down allowing you to stay on target and get quicker target engagement."
In addition to the practical work that his company does, Roberts offers a complete line of custom touches that will make your Benelli stand out from the crowd. Creating and adding camo patterns may help conceal and protect your shotgun, but they also give it a one-of-a-kind aesthetic that makes it stand out in the duck blind, on the range, or in the upland fields.
DIY Additions
Having a qualified custom gunsmith like Roberts work on your gun will allow you to add many upgrades and give your shotgun a unique look, but some of the work can be accomplished at home. The good news is that Benelli guns have plenty of aftermarket accessories so that you can add some extras at home. If you don't feel comfortable or competent, you can also have a qualified local gunsmith do the work for you.
One upgrade that anyone can do at home is adding aftermarket choke tubes. The factory chokes included with every Benelli shotgun work very well and are among the most reliable chokes included with any production gun, but sometimes matching a quality aftermarket choke with your shotgun and load allows the shooter to "tune" their gun so that it performs well for the application you have in mind.
Located in Houston, Texas, Briley offers some of the world's best aftermarket chokes and provides options to match most any Benelli gun. Their popular Helix Hunter chokes are made in the USA of aircraft-grade 17-4 stainless steel. The helical porting improves patterning and reduces pellet deformation, and the extended design makes them easy to swap out in the field. Their Short, Mid-Range, and Long chokes work well with lead and non-toxic shot and allow you to customize your constriction to meet the needs of each hunt, whether you're shooting early-season teal at close range or late-season divers at extended distances.
In addition to their long list of high-quality chokes, Briley offers a list of other premium add-ons that make your Benelli even more practical and give it a custom look. Some of the most popular add-ons are mag cap weights, bolt handles, bolt release levers, and safeties. The oversized bolt handles, bolt releases, and safeties add practicality (they're easy to locate for hunting or target shooting) and allow you to customize your Benelli shotgun. Hence, it stands out from the other guns on the rack. These accessories are available in various colors like green, blue, and purple, perfect for high school or college shooters who want to make their competition gun show school pride.
Of course, having a good sling is a fast, easy upgrade to your shotgun that is practical for field applications. Various slings on the market are suitable for a wide range of applications, but most waterfowlers prefer a sling that won't slip when your hunting clothes get wet. A sling should also distribute the gun's weight so there is no "bite" when carrying your firearm in the field. There are many good sling options under $50, but one of my favorites is the Quake Claw (about $20). This sling holds fast to the shooter's shoulder and doesn't slip, and the rugged polymer design stands up well to abuse.
A Great Shotgun with a Personal Touch
Benelli firearms have a rock-solid reputation for reliability earned in duck blinds, upland fields, and clay ranges from Italy to Argentina. A stock Benelli shotgun will perform as well as the best-competing shotguns. Still, a gun is more than a tool to a serious hunter or shooter—it's a prized possession accompanying us on some of our greatest adventures. Shouldn't your Benelli have a personal touch that reflects the tastes and personality of its owner?
