The standard finish is black, but the new Vinci can also be had in Realtree APG (shown) and Mossy Oak Max-4 HD camo finishes.

Another feature I really like about the Vinci: When loading the chamber of some autoloaders, their bolts must be allowed to slam forward with a great deal of speed, and if eased forward on a chambered round--as a hunter might do when trying to be as quiet as possible--the bolt will fail to lock into battery, and the gun will refuse to fire when the trigger is squeezed. No doubt, this single characteristic can be credited with saving the lives of quite a few deer each year.

The Vinci autoloaders I hunted with would fully lock up even when their bolts were eased forward. That feature came in especially handy one morning before daylight when--during a turkey hunt--I forgot to chamber a round before sneaking in and setting up about 60 yards from of a flock of roosting birds.

The hammer-forged barrel is available in 26- or 28-inch lengths and is cryogenically treated, the primary benefit being a smoother bore surface for minimal fouling buildup.

The gun is designed to function with all ammunition ranging from 2¾-inch target loads to the heaviest 3-inch loads. Up top, a steel ventilated rib wears two sights--a red bar at the muzzle and a gold bead in the middle. It comes with five screw-in chokes, ranging from Cylinder to Full, all designed to withstand the ravages of steel shot. Another great idea is a really good choke wrench, one end of which was designed for removing propellant fouling and other gunk from the choke threads of the barrel.

Everything comes in a plastic carrying case, and like the Vinci, inside it looks like nothing else you have seen. Tucked away inside the case is a supply of lubricant, and considering the small amount required by the gun I shot in Argentina, I'd say that little bottle of oil will last you just short of forever.

For now, the Vinci is available only in 12 gauge, in black or either Mossy Oak Max-4 HD or Realtree APG camo. Nominal weight is an ounce or two shy of 7 pounds.

As a traditionalist at heart and a lover of figured walnut and blued steel, I'll have to admit that "homely" was the first word that came to my mind when I first saw the Vinci. Then I shot it, and the more I shot it, the prettier it became. The fact that I shot it darned well did not hurt anything either. By the time our dove shoot was over, the ugly duckling had somehow transformed itself into a work of art that its Italian namesake, Leonardo Da Vinci, would likely be proud to claim if he were still with us.

And how did my shoulder feel after being subjected to the recoil of those 6,375 shells I mentioned at the beginning of this report? Well, I did fudge a bit by wearing a thin, strap-on PAST recoil pad, but I'd used it before, and while it does help, it does not totally prevent bruising if enough rounds are fired, even when using a 20-gauge gun. After three solid days of shooting the new 12-gauge Benelli, the edge of the PAST pad had lightly abraded my shoulder, but there was no bruising whatsoever. Other than a slight tenderness in my right cheek, I suffered no ill effects.

But don't try shooting so many rounds in so short a time unless you own a Vinci--or you have a chiropractor in your immediate family.

I'll close by saying that various models of Benelli shotguns are favored by many outfitters in Argentina who rent shotguns to their clients. They are popular because of their durability and their ability to withstand the punishment of a tremendous amount of shooting with minimal parts breakage and maintenance. It is quite common to hear an Argentinian outfitter speak with awe about a particular Benelli in his rental battery that has been fired thousands upon thousands of rounds over the years and is still going strong. I expect to see the Vinci carry on that tradition for decades to come.