Range Report - Benelli R1

Xen · 10-02-2007, 12:59 AM

Well, I finally decided to buy the R1. I read reviews, talked to people that had them, and finally, I just decided I had to have one.

So, for my 30th birthday, I purchased myself a Benelli R1 with the comfortech synthetic stock. The scope I chose to put on it is a Leupold VX-III 4.5x14x50 Long Range w/ Illuminated Reticle.

I am very happy with both the gun and the scope.

I bore sighted the scope with a cheesy $39 bore sight from cabelas. It worked very well for the left/right. In fact, I made no l/r adjustments at all when sighting it in. I think the height was an issue because I only had about 25 feet to work with the bore sight. If it was dark, I might have been able to see the red dot better. Anyway, it took me about 3 shots to just say ok, I'm not even close and then moved to about a 25 yard shot. After that, it was 3 shots to get the height right on. The scope adjustments really worked like they were supposed to, which was amazing to me. 1 click really was 1/4" at 100 yards... go figure.

I took to more shots to verify that the height was right and then started moving back. I was able to put a 4" group at 300 yards. Yeah, ok, nothing to write home about, but I was happy with it. There was a little bit of a breeze, and I wasn't rock-solid on my shooting platform.(pillows stacked up on the back of my tailgate)

Anyway, after getting it dead-on at 300 yards with 165 grain bullets, I shot 3 180 grain bullets through it to check out the difference in drop. I had a 5" group with 3 shots, all were about 3 to 4 inches lower than the 165 grain.

I was using the Federal Vital-Shok ammo with the nosler partition bullet. I plan on hunting mule deer with the 165 grain. I didn't draw an elk tag this year, and won't have time to go on the open, so I won't worry much about the 180 grain.

No misfires, no malfunctions. Smooth feeding. Easy to get the mag in and out... and holy cow, talk about a fun shooting gun. Noticeably less kick than the 7mm Rem Mag I had been shooting. I hope I don't get kicked out of the OTPG for shooting a gun with so little recoil

I'll keep you guys posted on the kills with it this season. I am going on the open buck deer hunt and I have a tag for 2 doe. I think I'll let the young bucks go this year.

**hangunnr** · 10-02-2007, 06:38 AM

Thanks for the report.

One question though...

What caliber did you get?

hangunnr

**WaCoyote** · 10-02-2007, 08:16 AM

Originally Posted by hangunnr

Thanks for the report.

One question though...

What caliber did you get?

hangunnr

Yeah, what he said!

Xen · 10-04-2007, 09:55 PM

oh, dang, i forgot to mention that, sorry

.300 Win Mag baby!

Xen · 10-16-2007, 07:21 PM

1 shot, 1 kill - hit a doe in the heart at 50 yards... bullet went right through her and didn't even slow down. she ran about 100 feet and laid down. didn't have a camera with me, so I wasn't able to get any pics. nice to have fresh meat going in to the general season. only plan on shooting a buck if it has a nice rack.

just a side note: the gun I am referring to is my Benelli R1 .300 win mag

ronin · 10-16-2007, 07:28 PM

Congrats and nice gun! Recoil does not matter just the magnum part!!

Xen · 11-02-2007, 09:12 PM

2nd shot, 2nd kill

had a doe turn broadside to me at approx 100 yards. I was aiming for the neck to keep as much meat as possible. I hit her in the neck, but with how she was turned, the bullet went all the way through her neck and through her spine as well.

both front shoulders were fine and I added more meat to the freezer. I made a stew out of the last doe and it was incredible! looking forward to some great roasts and stews this winter