Help me decide! Retay vs Benelli vs Franchi 20 or 12 gauge

I have been doing a lot of research on my next turkey setup and want to move down to a 20 gauge mainly due to the weight factor. Although I stumbled on Retay Gordion 12 gauge with 24" barrel at 6.2 lbs! I can order one around $874 which comes in camo with piscatinny rail! Just a touch heavier than the Franchi affinity 20 gauge!

I shouldered the new Retay Masai Mara small town hunting setup in 12 gauge with 22' barrel and its sweet! It comes built and setup exactly like I would do it. Cerakote, camo, piscatiny rail and Jebs choke for $1100 Ready to hunt minus any sights!

I have been doing a lot of research and reading and hearing a lot of great things about Retay. If they had a 20 gauge offering I would have already jumped on it!

But I am partial to the Benelli M2, I love that gun its what I have shot for ducks for several years. I have shouldered the Franchi , Stoeger and none of them feel right like the M2. Of course its spendy and not drilled and tapped for sights. At $1300 I am looking at another $350 for camo dip, $80 choke. ?? gunsmithing etc, etc. Another thing I could pass the compact version of this model down to my son for ducks and turkeys in a few years..

Or there is the franchi compact for around $799 which also comes in black and would need another $500 at least for camo and choke.

Also have a 870 20 gauge I borrowed from a buddy that I could use in the meantime until I decide and things calm down..

What do yall think?? These are my finalist.

1. Benelli M2 24" $1300 black only
2. Retay Gordion 24" $874 includes camo, rail
3. Retay Masai Mara Small town $1100 camo, cerakote, rail, jebs choke
4. Franchi affinity compact $799 camo, drilled
5. Just shoot the 870 and wait until the Retay 20 gauge comes out?

Re: Help me decide! Retay vs Benelli vs Franchi 20 or 12 gau

To me, the affinity and M2 are nearly the same guns and feel the same. I love benellis, franchis, and all that they make though. No clue about the Retay.


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Re: Help me decide! Retay vs Benelli vs Franchi 20 or 12 gau

Definitely the Franchi Affinity.

Re: Help me decide! Retay vs Benelli vs Franchi 20 or 12 gau

Shoot the 870 and wait on Retay

Re: Help me decide! Retay vs Benelli vs Franchi 20 or 12 gau

Roost 1":29g391gi said:

Shoot the 870 and .......

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.....and put the rest in the stock market. :tu:

On a serious note, I have been seeing a lot about Retay, but I do not know their story. Does anyone here have insight on who they are, how they came about, any past experiences with their products, etc. I do not care to be the guinea pig with anyone's first offerings (car, ATV, shotgun, etc). That would be my biggest concern from a company I know nothing about.

Re: Help me decide! Retay vs Benelli vs Franchi 20 or 12 gau

Franchi Affinity is my say too. No need to spend the extra on the M2 as they are absolutely identical aside from the recoil spring location.

Re: Help me decide! Retay vs Benelli vs Franchi 20 or 12 gau

Andy S.":1nuwnbj6 said:

Roost 1":1nuwnbj6 said:

Shoot the 870 and .......

Click to expand...

.....and put the rest in the stock market. :tu:

On a serious note, I have been seeing a lot about Retay, but I do not know their story. Does anyone here have insight on who they are, how they came about, any past experiences with their products, etc. I do not care to be the guinea pig with anyone's first offerings (car, ATV, shotgun, etc). That would be my biggest concern from a company I know nothing about.

Click to expand...

Turkish made gun headquartered in Maryland. Basically same inertia system as Benelli with the kinks(click) worked out.. Supposedly all premium materials no plastic components to be found. Trigger system is easily removable in Masai Mara models.

Spoke with someone in the industry who met with them at SHOT show and said they are great guys.. I believe you will be seeing a lot more from Retay in the future..

Re: Help me decide! Retay vs Benelli vs Franchi 20 or 12 gau

Thanks for sharing. Their price point isn't very far from Benelli from what little I looked this morning.

Re: Help me decide! Retay vs Benelli vs Franchi 20 or 12 gau

prstide":7l3tn0t0 said:

Franchi Affinity is my say too. No need to spend the extra on the M2 as they are absolutely identical aside from the recoil spring location.

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not really. Yes the both use the same system and bolt design as well as chrome lined barrels. However the overall design is different (butt and front stock). The warranty is also different (if I remember correctly)

Ive owned both and loved each one of them but ended up selling the Franchi for the M2. IMO the M2 is the best 20 gauge available today, again just my opinion. I absolutely love the feel and fit of the stock and balance of the gun and Ive owned a lot of shotguns (and still do)

when it comes to cost or I can get X gun for $300 less here is my own view. If you have a gun you just love then save and get the one you want, you will have it for a LONG LONG time. In 15 years you wont care it cost you $300 more.

As far as Retay I dont have any personal hands on experience, Ive only watched some videos of guys making reviews on them. From what I gather they are a very good quality gun that tooks benellis design and updated it some to try and resolve the benelli "click" issue (one I personally have never had in 10 years of shooting them) but they also have some shortcomings, like all shotguns. aftermarket parts are hard to come buy and it is a newer gun that has not had the years of field testing that others have

at the end of the day you need to decide what is the gun that fits and feels the best to you and ignore the cost because that part of it wont matter in 20 years. Of the 3 I dont think you can make a bad decision as all of them are quality guns that should last you a lifetime.

one other note, I am the type that likes my gun to be custom to me and my own taste. I prefer to ALWAYS buy black and then cerekote it and customize it the way I want it to be. I dont really like to buy a gun that is customized to the masses or by someone else If I can help it. That way the gun has a bit more value to it to me because I created it in my view. That is why I usually try and actually find used guns and then strip them down and bring them back to life with custom dips and cerekote.

Re: Help me decide! Retay vs Benelli vs Franchi 20 or 12 gau

Geez guys for the cost of M2, custom cerakote, aftermarket turkey choke, etc. a guy could probably go on a mission trip. :bash: :stir:

Re: Help me decide! Retay vs Benelli vs Franchi 20 or 12 gau

If the Franchi had a 22" barrel like my SA459 I'd like it much better. Plus I think the Franchi is heavier than M2 or SA459.
870 is all any of us really need,recoil is not an issue with any 20ga.

Re: Help me decide! Retay vs Benelli vs Franchi 20 or 12 gau

slickwillie":2augkcd3 said:

Geez guys for the cost of M2, custom cerakote, aftermarket turkey choke, etc. a guy could probably go on a mission trip. :bash: :stir:

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guess that depends, I have about $650 invested in mine I bought 5 years ago. Helps when you have buddies that own a cerekote business.

Re: Help me decide! Retay vs Benelli vs Franchi 20 or 12 gau

Andy S.":3i1sz7ow said:

Thanks for sharing. Their price point isn't very far from Benelli from what little I looked this morning.

Click to expand...

IDK the Retay Gordion is more comparable to Benelli M2. Gordion is $850 , M2 is $1350...


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Re: Help me decide! Retay vs Benelli vs Franchi 20 or 12 gau

REN":2ftaqalk said:

prstide":2ftaqalk said:

Franchi Affinity is my say too. No need to spend the extra on the M2 as they are absolutely identical aside from the recoil spring location.

Click to expand...

not really. Yes the both use the same system and bolt design as well as chrome lined barrels. However the overall design is different (butt and front stock). The warranty is also different (if I remember correctly)

Ive owned both and loved each one of them but ended up selling the Franchi for the M2. IMO the M2 is the best 20 gauge available today, again just my opinion. I absolutely love the feel and fit of the stock and balance of the gun and Ive owned a lot of shotguns (and still do)

when it comes to cost or I can get X gun for $300 less here is my own view. If you have a gun you just love then save and get the one you want, you will have it for a LONG LONG time. In 15 years you wont care it cost you $300 more.

As far as Retay I dont have any personal hands on experience, Ive only watched some videos of guys making reviews on them. From what I gather they are a very good quality gun that tooks benellis design and updated it some to try and resolve the benelli "click" issue (one I personally have never had in 10 years of shooting them) but they also have some shortcomings, like all shotguns. aftermarket parts are hard to come buy and it is a newer gun that has not had the years of field testing that others have

at the end of the day you need to decide what is the gun that fits and feels the best to you and ignore the cost because that part of it wont matter in 20 years. Of the 3 I dont think you can make a bad decision as all of them are quality guns that should last you a lifetime.

one other note, I am the type that likes my gun to be custom to me and my own taste. I prefer to ALWAYS buy black and then cerekote it and customize it the way I want it to be. I dont really like to buy a gun that is customized to the masses or by someone else If I can help it. That way the gun has a bit more value to it to me because I created it in my view. That is why I usually try and actually find used guns and then strip them down and bring them back to life with custom dips and cerekote.

Click to expand...

REN we are on the same wavelength I believe the Franchi is not the same as the M2 not even close... IMO the M2 is the sweetest auto field gun on the market. A buddy went through the same process last year and ended up with the M2 customized by RR and it's unreal... Truly a forever turkey gun, BUT I am trying to drill in my head that this is only a turkey gun which sees a few rounds a year. My duck gun M2 has all the Rob Roberts extras and I love it but it sees 500 plus rounds a year not 5-10 like my turkey gun.

However I do subscribe to the buy the best cry once philosophy but it's just so much more money... We're looking at 2k if I added red dot...

Just called a dealer and they have the Retay Gordion in stock with camo and rail. Would be about 1k cheaper than built M2 when all said and done....

Also forgot to mention I considered buying a 21" barrel for my M2 12 For turkey season but they run $460 and Cerakote and I could have another gun for that price...?

I put my name on that Retay... We shall see. Decisions, decisions...


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Re: Help me decide! Retay vs Benelli vs Franchi 20 or 12 gau

Roost 1":2pitrpub said:

Shoot the 870 and wait on Retay

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This is the smart money play right here in this current situation... But when I get an itch...

We shall see how it patterns? I just ordered a Carlson .570 because I don't trust my shooting with a .555.. I have missed 3 birds in the last 2 seasons because they got too close..

Re: Help me decide! Retay vs Benelli vs Franchi 20 or 12 gau

The 20 gauge Relay was announced at the 2020 shot show

Re: Help me decide! Retay vs Benelli vs Franchi 20 or 12 gau

Uncle Jesse":z684a1co said:

The 20 gauge Relay was announced at the 2020 shot show

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Indeed it was BUT its "not available until later this year"....

Re: Help me decide! Retay vs Benelli vs Franchi 20 or 12 gau

Ah, I didn't read everything. I thought I wanted a 20 gauge Retay until I picked up a 12 gauge Retay at Franklin gun. I'm out

Re: Help me decide! Retay vs Benelli vs Franchi 20 or 12 gau

Btw, I've got a Tristar G2 410 and an Escort 20 gauge auto and really like them both. I've shot Beretta and Benelli since 1998 with 2 SX3's thrown in the mix. Now I have 4 shotguns that are all made in Turkey

Re: Help me decide! Retay vs Benelli vs Franchi 20 or 12 gau

Uncle Jesse":1ozxknh4 said:

Ah, I didn't read everything. I thought I wanted a 20 gauge Retay until I picked up a 12 gauge Retay at Franklin gun. I'm out

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What do you mean?