Hi,

I've found myself thinking a lot about Benelli R1 Argo rifles... They're available in 9,3x62 here in Sweden, which is not mentioned anywhere on the Benelli home page. I plan to use it mainly with iron sights (the lovely battue sights) for driven hunts, but I also want to mount a Picatinny rail for a fixed-power high-light scope, maybe a 8x56.

Pros:
[LIST]

Since I'm moving into specializing in the tracking of wounded game (the Bavarian Bloodhound is sitting next to me now ), I guess this will be a nice gun for use at short to medium ranges, less than perfect angles, and through-the-foliage shots withe little care about neathess.

There is a 10-round mag available

Cons:
[LIST]

Tests in gun magazines here have indicated a less-than-perfect accuracy. In case I get another barrel in a fast chambering such as the 300 winmag, will the accuracy allow me to utilize the extended ranges allowed by the chambering? Of course, I have little use for tack driver accuracy for this gun, I have better guns for that purpose.

Will the Picatinny rail stop me from seeing the iron sights properly?

Best Regards,
/HerrBerg

Write hard and clear about what hurts
-E. Hemingway

Herr Berg,

I have a .35 Whelen[very similar to the 9.3x62]it is an excelent performer. I have killed Boar and Dingo with it and found it killed instantly.You can get heavier bullets for the 9.3, which should suit Moose and Elk very well.

I get very good accuracy with mine and don't know why you should not get acceptable accuracy from a new Bennelli.

Q. What are "battue" sights ? Battue means boat, doean't it ?

Cheers.
Tony.

Indeed, the chambering is a proven one and "enough gun" for anything in Scandinavia, regardless of hunting method. My question was about the gun, not the chambering Did I understand you correctly? Are Benelli R1 Argo's sold with .35Whelen in Oz?

The "battue sights" can be seen on this picture:


The rear sight is V-style, and extended so that you get a shotgun feeling, which is great for target acquisition. I have it today for a slug barrel on my Beretta Urika, and I like it a lot:





Best Regards,
/HerrBerg

Sorry, my mistake, my rifle is a M98 custom, bolt action. I traded a winchester .22 leveraction for it some years ago.
I haven't seen any adds for the Bennelli rifle downunder and as it appears to be a semi-auto, we will not see any down here.
The rifle in the picture looks very sleek, how do they get 10 rounds in? Is it a rotary mag?
Cheers
Tony

The rifle in the picture has a 5-round mag. And I haven't actually seen the 10-round mag even though it exists, I guess it gives you a somewhat more "soviet" touch to the gun

Herr Berg,
I have handled and shot the Benelli rifles. They handle very nicely. I am used to many aspects of the action/operating system from years of shooting Benelli shotguns. For your purposes I believe the five round magazine and the 9.3x62 barrel would be ideal. I believe the extra velocity and power of the 300 Win Mag are wasted on this rifle. Too much vibration with a barrel that is so skinny. The 300 Win Mag chambering is mainly an American marketing gimmick. A ten round magazine would just mess up the balance.
Yes, a 9.3x62 with battue sights and a five round magazine would be a very functional and durable piece of art, indeed.
lawndart

Thanks, interesting opinions! Have you shot any R1 Argo's that have the picatinny rail mounted? Does the rail cover the iron sights? Battue-style iron sights are always a bit high, and pretty much so on the R1. Maybe it works?

afro408, bateau = boat, battue = beaten , I assume the best english translation would be driven [beat the bushes ! ] or a gun that would be suitable for a drive ,fairly close range ,game moving quickly.

HerrBurg,

I have handled an R-1, and it mounted like a shotgun for me. I have not had a chance to shoot one yet.

I used a Tikka carbine with Battue sights, and I ended up replacing them with a forward mounted, low-power scope. I found the Battue sights weak for an elevation index. Since you already have mastered them, I expect they will work for you.

jim

quote:

Originally posted by HerrBerg:
I haven't actually seen the 10-round mag even though it exists, I guess it gives you a somewhat more "soviet" touch to the gun

Wouldn't a belt feed version be nice for those driven hunts Soviet factor might also improve a bit

Cheers
/JOHAN