Benelli’s Ethos line got its start as a clays and competition semi-auto, but one version of it is built for the marsh and the dove field. American Hunter put the Benelli Ethos Cordoba A.I. BE.S.T. in front of its readers this past weekend in an October 18 #SundayGunday video feature. With duck seasons opening across the Southeast over the next several weeks, it’s a good time to look at what this shotgun offers and what to ask before you spend premium-shotgun money on it.
What American Hunter highlighted
The Cordoba runs on Benelli’s Inertia Driven System, the recoil-operated action the company is known for. As American Hunter described it, the system cycles everything from light target loads to heavy waterfowl magnums, and it comes apart into three main pieces for cleaning. A locking bolt system is designed to close the action firmly after every shot.
The barrel is Benelli’s Advanced Impact (A.I.) design, which the company built mainly with steel shot in mind. Benelli claims the design gives up to 50 percent better downrange velocity and penetration. American Hunter wrote that its own testing and field use backed that up. GUN Crusade has not tested the claim, and shooters should treat any percentage like that as a product of specific loads and conditions.
Other features American Hunter listed:
- A 28-inch barrel with Benelli’s BE.S.T. surface treatment, meant to stand up to rust and wear in wet weather.
- A threaded muzzle for Benelli’s AI Extended Crio chokes, with a full set included.
- A red fiber-optic front sight on a carbon-fiber rib.
- An anodized black aluminum receiver with oversized controls and a larger trigger guard, which helps when you’re wearing gloves.
- Availability in 12, 20 and 28 gauge.
American Hunter did not list a price, so check Benelli’s site or your local dealer for current pricing.
The stock is the big story
The feature people tend to notice first is Benelli’s Comfort Tech 3 stock. The buttstock is split on a diagonal, and flexible chevrons along that line soak up recoil before it reaches your shoulder. A soft comb insert helps protect your cheekbone. American Hunter called it one of the softest-shooting 12-gauges around, and noted that you see this stock in a lot of duck blinds.
That matters more than it might sound. A long morning of shooting 3-inch steel can leave you sore and flinching by the last flight. A gun that hits you less hard is easier to shoot well, and that means cleaner kills and fewer cripples.
Who should look at it, and what to check first
GUN Crusade’s take: The Cordoba makes the most sense for a hunter who shoots a lot of shells each season, waterfowl in particular, and wants one well-finished semi-auto that can also handle dove fields and some clays in the summer. The 20 and 28 gauge versions may appeal to smaller-framed shooters and to anyone who wants a lighter upland gun. Hunters on a tighter budget may be better served by the many proven, less expensive semi-autos.
Before you buy, a few practical steps:
- Shoulder it in the store. A premium gun doesn’t help if it doesn’t fit you. Wear the coat you hunt in when you try it.
- Try your loads. American Hunter says the action handles light target loads, but any semi-auto should prove itself with the exact shells you’ll buy. If you plan to shoot budget clays loads, run a box or two through it.
- Pattern it. Barrel and choke claims aren’t a substitute for shooting your own steel or bismuth loads at a pattern board at the distances you actually shoot ducks.
- Know your regulations. Waterfowl requires nontoxic shot and a plugged magazine under federal rules, so check your state’s season dates and bag limits too.
You can watch the full video review at American Hunter. As always, the best shotgun is the one you’ll practice with before opening day.
