Benelli’s ETHOS Performance Shop Upland 20-gauge semi-auto shotgun with its Inertia-Driven System meets all the requirements.
SPONSORED CONTENT Every quality upland shotgun should meet these requirements: be easy to shoulder, swing and point; easy to operate by feel (no looking down, the birds are up); and be light enough to not be a burden to carry up and down inclines or across flat fields where elusive birds lurk.
Benelli’s ETHOS Performance Shop Upland 20-gauge semi-auto shotgun with its Inertia-Driven System meets those requirements — and much more.
Unboxing
When I opened the box upon arrival to inspect this hand-assembled shotgun, I was surprised to find the package also included two additional fiber optic front sights (yellow and green) and a six-piece stock adjustment kit for true customization of the ETHOS as you wish. Arriving also with the Performance Shop model shotgun were eight choke tubes (C, IC, M, IM and F, plus three Rob Roberts’ Triple Threat extended tubes), a choke wrench, plus a small box to store the chokes in.
Along with those many parts was a standard-size curved bolt handle for the action — the shotgun’s action arrived with an enlarged rounded bolt handle installed. This gun also has sling swivel installation points pre-set. Better news is the polymer shotgun storage box that held all the components is felt lined.
Hmm, I thought, this gun and all the accessories are off to a great start!
Immediately I began to note several distinct features of the ETHOS Performance Shop Upland Shotgun: a soft rubber comb insert atop the walnut stock; ported barrel; futuristic triangular trigger guard and a slotted end butt pad — Benelli’s unique Progressive Comfort System. A bottle of gun oil was included, and the owner’s manual noted that this specific oil is recommended and that users may need to shoot three or four boxes of standard hunting loads to help with break in and smooth cycling.
Reading the included owner’s manual revealed more valuable insight into the design and features of the ETHOS semi-automatic line, and ways you can increase the customization. As this Performance Shop model arrived, the specs are: length of pull, 14 3/8 inches; drop at heel, 2 1/4-inches; and drop at comb 11/2-inches. Overall, I believe this to be one of the most adjustable and adaptable shotguns I have held and shot. It’s not the standard “this-is-what-you-get” mass-produced shotgun many hunters buy and use. Getting this advanced shotgun — made in Italy — to fit and perform as you wish is easily accomplished.
Another feature I soon noted was a small red dot on the cartridge drop lever under the trigger guard. It’s an indicator that tells you the hammer is cocked. The gun must be loaded with the hammer cocked before you can insert additional cartridges into the magazine. That’s useful because after you shoot swiftly and expend the shotshells, the bolt stays in the open position and this makes reloading through the case ejection port a breeze. In an active dove field, those seconds count.
This shotgun seemed really light — a plus when, for example, walking 10 to 15 miles per day pursuing sage grouse at 9,000-plus feet elevation. Unloaded weight is approximately 5.6 pounds for the 20-gauge model. Yes, light, and the dream of upland hunters everywhere.
The Performance Shop model has a lengthened forcing cone. I noted the barrel (designated as CRIOBARREL) and chokes are cryogenically treated by Benelli to improve shot densities.
A table on page 59 of the Benelli owner’s manual is most useful for shotgunners who expect the cylinder choke specs to be written or laser engraved on the choke tube sides. This shotgun’s chokes have X symbols (not letters) from one X (full choke) up to five Xs (cylinder choke). The choke tubes also have notches at the front edge so you can determine choke without removing it — just glance across the muzzle of the unloaded shotgun and count the notches. As with the Xs, one notch indicates full choke while five notches reveals a cylinder choke is inserted. This is a bonus feature for hunters who like changing chokes while bird hunting based on birds’ flight patterns and distances.
Trying to follow the suggested four to five boxes of hunting shotshells run through the action to break it in (and adding a few drops of oil), I first took the Performance Shop Upland shotgun to practice on a farm shed full of feral pigeons. First two shots dropped two hurriedly exiting pigeons as I walked up to the front of the shed and looked inside.
Wow, I thought, off to a great start.
Despite its feathery weight, the ETHOS is easy to shoulder and has essentially no noted recoil thanks to its Progressive Comfort pad and ported barrel. The Progressive Comfort recoil pad has a unique three-stage system that adjusts to the shotshell loads and backward thrust upon firing. The shotgun will shoot shotshells ranging from light to heavy loads with ease. This shotgun chambers 2 3/4- and 3-inch shotshells — another plus.
After shooting, I wiped the shotgun down and admired the AA satin-finished walnut wood grain and sleek overall exterior appearance. The checkered palm swell is comfortable, well placed and right-hand oriented. Adding eye appeal is the elaborate engraving in the nickel-plated alloy receiver. Users will also readily note the bold white ETHOS wording and Benelli printed on the bolt-release lever add to the eye appeal.
On a sage grouse hunt I selected the modified choke and dropped in several designated extended-range upland hunting 20-gauge shotshells. In the field and under the midday’s bright sunlight, I could easily spot the red fiber optic front sight when pointing and shooting. I would definitely leave that color sight installed for hunting in the fall when leaves of yellow and green are still clinging to tree limbs so the sight is readily visible.
After carrying the shotgun miles up and down mountains while pursuing sage grouse, I did note the carrier latch could possibly be better if rounded at the front edges. The prominent corners on this lever did find the soft spot of my inner hand a couple of times.
There are numerous versions of the ETHOS shotguns available, including 12-gauge and 28-gauge models plus a couple with 28-inch barrels. If you wish to bag waterfowl, the Cordoba version with a black synthetic stock and forend and a BE.S.T.-treated barrel would be an ideal crossover model for both upland and waterfowl. If you want camouflage — or a left-hand version — you must move into Benelli’s Super Black Eagle line.
The tested model, #11471, has an MSRP of $2,999. If you want a lighter shotgun that you can customize and is packed with great features, then this shotgun is well worth the time to seek out and shoulder.
Find additional details at www.benelliusa.com.
