Reviews & Testimonials

On Tuesday morning, March 5th, I conducted a short scouting trip before work to one of my spring gobbler hunting spots in central PA. At 7:00 am I located three gobblers in a field with the largest one strutting. My thoughts quickly turned to past seasons and a guns and ammo combination I have found deadly on spring gobblers – a Benelli Super Black Eagle shotgun and Hevi-Shot ammo. I still use my Benelli SBE (yes, the original SBE, not SBE II) purchased years ago at LCS, while both of my sons have the newer SBE II shotguns, that offer the maximum recoil reduction. Utilizing the factory full choke and 12 ga., 3 ½” Hevi-Shot #5, I have patterned my Benelli to 70 yards. We stock a variety of Hevi-Shot ammo in our retail store that allows hunters to shoot smaller sized shot, for more effective kills at longer ranges, with great penetration. Yes, the 3 ½” shells are a little over kill, and pack some recoil, but the newer SBE II’s handle it well. Two seasons ago, I harvested a tom at 54 yards, but ironically last year, I shot my 30th gobbler at less than 15 yards. My sons and I use our Benelli Super Black Eagle shotguns for turkeys, ducks, and geese without fail. The inertia system allows them to stay relatively clean from powder residue in wet duck hunting conditions, and they are a breeze to disassemble and clean at days’ end.

Nothing beats the combination of a Benelli Super Black Eagle and Hevi-Shot ammo for the hard-hunted gobblers of Pennsylvania, and you can obtain both at Lion Country Supply.

As a side note of other springtime wildlife activity, killdeers returned to our valley a few days ago, while geese arrived last week, but had few open small bodies of water just yet.

John Bravis – LCS Gun Room Sales

Last Wednesday (May 15th) Joe “Jessie” Fremer, of Brockway, PA walked into our retail store reluctantly looking for a 20 ga. semi-automatic shotgun. Jessie has hunted spring gobblers in PA since a season was established for them in the 1960’s. Owning shoe boxes full of beards, Jessie always used a 12 ga. gun, but now found it “too rough” relative to the recoil. On Wednesday he sported a purplish bruise on his upper right arm, from bicep to shoulder, after he harvested a gobbler on his first tag. Jessie settled on a new 20 ga. Franchi Affinity, liking the Inertia action and the light weight (5.6 pounds) of the gun. Using #4 shot on the following day, Jessie harvested a bird at 35 steps on his second PA tag. The gobbler weighed 19 ½#, had spurs of 1 5/8” and 1 ¼”, with an 11 ¾” beard, and went “right down” with the new Franchi Affinity 20 ga. I spoke to Jessie today and he said he “. . . wouldn’t own any other gun for spring gobbler” after the success and lack of recoil he had with the Affinity. In fact, Jessie said he patterned the gun on the day he bought it, and shot some other rounds through it, and said “I didn’t even know that I shot.”

Franchi lists minimum loads on their website Franchi USA, and recommend a break-in period of at least 100 rounds, which is a bit disconcerting, to seat the springs for proper function. But, if you are looking for a new lightweight 20 ga. to replace a recoil punishing 12 ga., look at the Franchi line of Affinity semi-automatic shotguns. Also, Affinity’s are manufactured in a 12 ga. for those who do not mind the relative recoil.

John Bravis – LCS Gun Room

John I just picked up the gun today. My schedule didn’t work with my FFL but it came in Monday. The gun is better than I expected and just what I was looking for. You did a good job packaging it so no damage. It’s so much nicer dealing with a professional company like yours. Thanks again.

Kyle A – Rapid City, SD

Hey John,

You all are more than welcome to use those photos for whatever. Again thanks for running such a great company! I wish I could afford a grade 4 Ugartechea right now… hopefully in the future! Anyway, I hunt birds here in southern Utah which consist of gamble’s quail, chukar partridge, dusky (blue) grouse, and pheasant. The dog in the picture with the grouse is a 4 year old German Shorthair and his name is Hoss. The dog with the quail and chukar is an English Pointer named Reck and she will be two this August and she is already a machine. I recently ordered a swiss bell from LCS to use this Fall for the grouse hunting in the black timber. She wont wear a bell that flops against her neck like the one Hoss is wearing in the picture. All the birds my dogs and I hunt are wild and on public land, and if you put in the miles hiking, there are plenty of opportunities. I decided a couple years ago that lugging around the 12 gauge was getting old, even though I am a “younger” guy. I got online to see what the best gun for me would be and I came across your website and immediately knew I wanted a Ugartechea in the 28 gauge. I purchased a grade 1 and two cases of fiocchi golden pheasant in 7.5 shot from LCS. I then added a recoil pad to increase the length of pull, and used some tru-oil to finish the wood. Boy do I love that gun and I seem to shoot it very well! I have made many shots where I swear I didn’t even think about aiming, it was like the gun knew what I was thinking and made it happen! The golden pheasant loads are wonderful as well! I even harvested four wild roosters last year with the 28 gauge and it was just as effective as the guys hunting with me who were using 12 gauges. I can’t wait to give the ultralight a try this year, but it will be hard to not use my Ugartechea… The reason I bought the ultralight 20 was to have a more versatile gun with choke tubes, that was still super light for all the walking I do. I also hunt turkeys, coyotes, and foxes. I use #4 buckshot for the coyotes and foxes because where I call them in the foliage is thick and the shots are very close. I think the ultralight 20 will work well! Thanks again for all your help!

Tyler McLemore