Montefeltro or Ethos ?

The bolt backs off slightly and you go to shoot and it just clicks. I never had it do that for 15 years and then it did it a few times. Very frustrating when it happens. The new Benellis are supposed to not do that. My new Monte has not done it. The older ones could back off a little from hitting brush or anything and you would not know until you go to shoot it. After it happened a few times, I started pushing it forward every few minutes
 
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Blondebomber said:
The bolt backs off slightly and you go to shoot and it just clicks. I never had it do that for 15 years and then it did it a few times. Very frustrating when it happens. The new Benellis are supposed to not do that. My new Monte has not done it. The older ones could back off a little from hitting brush or anything and you would not know until you go to shoot it. After it happened a few times, I started pushing it forward every few minutes
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Gotcha. So as long as the bolt is all the way forward this problem shouldn't occur, is that what you're saying? I'll just try to remember to check it more often.
 
I have one of the ultralight, 12ga 26 inch barrel., very nice gun, mine was built in 2023 according to was stamped on the receiver. I’ve had no problems with the bolt coming out of battery, and I hunt behind a 2 year old lab. Ruff grouse and woodcock in michigans upper peninsula, and pheasants in Montana. My gun pulls the scale down to 6.3 pounds empty , if your use to shooting a heavier gas gun there is a difference in recoil, not so noticeable while shooting at game but I use mine for shooting sporting clays once a week in the summer.
Now supposedly the “newer” ultralight come with a better recoil pad and also the B.E.S.T finish on the would stock. I guess that would explain the stupid price you have to pay for one now. If you have any questions feel free to ask
 
Blondebomber said:
I have a 20 year old Monte 20 and it was my go to gun forever. I never had a problem with it until about 5 years ago and then I had the click happen on several quail flushes. It is terrible when that happens on a bird, especially if you aren't seeing many birds. The new Monte and Ethos have the new and improved rotating bolt and supposedly fixed that problem. Have you ever had the "click" happen on the new Monte?
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Never had it happen on the old or new model. Most of the time the click is user error. Failure to close the bolt properly or maybe sit the gun down on the buttstock loosening the bolt. My dad has a 30 year old Montefeltro, and he has never had the click.
 
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BUL2023 said:
I have one of the ultralight, 12ga 26 inch barrel., very nice gun, mine was built in 2023 according to was stamped on the receiver. I’ve had no problems with the bolt coming out of battery, and I hunt behind a 2 year old lab. Ruff grouse and woodcock in michigans upper peninsula, and pheasants in Montana. My gun pulls the scale down to 6.3 pounds empty , if your use to shooting a heavier gas gun there is a difference in recoil, not so noticeable while shooting at game but I use mine for shooting sporting clays once a week in the summer.
Now supposedly the “newer” ultralight come with a better recoil pad and also the B.E.S.T finish on the would stock. I guess that would explain the stupid price you have to pay for one now. If you have any questions feel free to ask
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The new model isn't really anymore expensive than the old model Ultra Light. Especially for what you get. New and improved receiver and bolt, easier to load, better trigger guard, better recoil pad. And the best part of the new Ultra Light is the much slimmer forearm and buttstock.
 
I am a big fan of the Monte. I don't know why they put a 2 piece on the receiver on the Ethos. They hardly ever get dirty, so I think the 2 piece is unnecessary. I have not had my new Monte click yet. I still like my old Monte, but the click is irritating. I guess if you call walking thru brush and the bolt barely catches a twig and moves the bolt back operator error, then yes it is operator error. But I think once you close the bolt, you shouldn't have to worry too much about walking thru brush or having it come slightly out of battery for any reason-it should be ready to fire. First time I heard about it was from a friend who bought one on my recommendation and it happened to him twice on his first hunt with it. He went and sold it before his 2nd hunt. I told him I had never heard of it and that it had not happened to me up to that point.
 
You have to be careful about easing the bolt down. If I ease the bolt down on my Legacy, like I would when I get out of a truck close to a good shooting spot, the bolt doesn’t rotate correctly and you’ll get a click. I have to ease the bolt almost all the way down and then drop it. It makes a little noise, but it seats correctly and don’t get any clicks.
 
The Ethos has more shell capacity 4+1 and the Monti is 2+1. I personally like the two piece receiver, it does come in handy for cleaning and I haven’t seen any negatives to it.
 
Highvoltage said:
The Ethos has more shell capacity 4+1 and the Monti is 2+1. I personally like the two piece receiver, it does come in handy for cleaning and I haven’t seen any negatives to it.
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The regular Monte, the Sporting and the Silver are all 4+1, the Monte Ultra Light and Silver Featherweight are both 2+1.
 
Blondebomber said:
All Monte's are 4+1. To each his own on the 2 piece receiver. I like my shotguns tight, nothing loose.
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Sorry but the Ultra Light and the Silver Featherweight are only 2+1 according to Benelli's web site
 
My monty holds 5. However, I keep my plug in the magazine because I don't like the added forward weight of those 2 added shells.
 
Blondebomber said:
I am a big fan of the Monte. I don't know why they put a 2 piece on the receiver on the Ethos. They hardly ever get dirty, so I think the 2 piece is unnecessary. I have not had my new Monte click yet. I still like my old Monte, but the click is irritating. I guess if you call walking thru brush and the bolt barely catches a twig and moves the bolt back operator error, then yes it is operator error. But I think once you close the bolt, you shouldn't have to worry too much about walking thru brush or having it come slightly out of battery for any reason-it should be ready to fire. First time I heard about it was from a friend who bought one on my recommendation and it happened to him twice on his first hunt with it. He went and sold it before his 2nd hunt. I told him I had never heard of it and that it had not happened to me up to that point.
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It’s got nothing to do with operator error. I became so obsessed with constantly checking it that it became irritating. Supposedly there is a fix out there that I haven’t looked into. Honestly once I started using my Citori featherweight 16, I haven’t shot it much.
 
I too prefer the Citori now. You're right the constant checking of the bolt is a buzz kill. My partner bought me a 28 ga silver pigeon w/ 28" barrels which is my goto quail gun. My Citori is a 20 ga with 26" barrels which i like a lot but not as well as the silver pigeon. I bought the new Monte 12 ga with 28" barrels for chukar and probably will use it for pheasant too. My favorite of the 3 is the silver pigeon, followed by the Citori. I would like to get a Winchester Model 21 in 20 ga because they look so nice, and there really is nothing like a side X side
 
I like most all of the Benelli's. I was faced with similar decisions as the OP and went with "all of the above". I started with a used super vinci for dove/waterfowl/turkey/crow. Then a used montefeltro silver 20 for quail. Then a new montefeltro silver featherweight 12 for pheasant/quail. Then a wood Ethos 20 just because I didnt know anyone who personally had one. Then a synthetic supersport for dove/trap/sporting clays.

Here's my take/review.

Vinci--ugly and has killed the most game

Supersport--best shooting, smoothest action

Montefeltro silver 20--prettiest of them all but I don't shoot it great(lower rib)

Montefeltro silver featherweight 12-- my favorite hunting gun. 6.2 lb 3" 12 with gold inlay and decent wood. Maybe the perfect pheasant gun.

Ethos 20-- jury is still out. Shot a few dove with it. I think I'll shoot it better than the silver 20. I like the higher rib. Sub 6 lb 5 shot 20 gauge. I dont love the 2 color action looks but oh well. It will get carried 40-50% this upland season.
 

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uplandokie said:
I like most all of the Benelli's. I was faced with similar decisions as the OP and went with "all of the above". I started with a used super vinci for dove/waterfowl/turkey/crow. Then a used montefeltro silver 20 for quail. Then a new montefeltro silver featherweight 12 for pheasant/quail. Then a wood Ethos 20 just because I didnt know anyone who personally had one. Then a synthetic supersport for dove/trap/sporting clays.

Here's my take/review.

Vinci--ugly and has killed the most game

Supersport--best shooting, smoothest action

Montefeltro silver 20--prettiest of them all but I don't shoot it great(lower rib)

Montefeltro silver featherweight 12-- my favorite hunting gun. 6.2 lb 3" 12 with gold inlay and decent wood. Maybe the perfect pheasant gun.

Ethos 20-- jury is still out. Shot a few dove with it. I think I'll shoot it better than the silver 20. I like the higher rib. Sub 6 lb 5 shot 20 gauge. I dont love the 2 color action looks but oh well. It will get carried 40-50% this upland season.
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None of those have Benelli's new forearm, new buttstock, new receiver, or new trigger guard. And they may have the old bolt system. You have to go the Montefeltro or M2 I believe. I think they left the silver as is.
 
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