The Benelli Performance Shop SuperSport 12 Gauge Shotgun: The Ultimate Edge for Competitive Clay Target Shooting

For serious competitive shooters, the quest for the ultimate shotgun is an ongoing journey. Whether you're a seasoned professional aiming for a trap championship, a dedicated amateur refining your skeet scores, or a sporting clays enthusiast looking to conquer complex presentations, your equipment can make all the difference. The Benelli Performance Shop SuperSport in 12 gauge isn't just another shotgun; it's a meticulously engineered competition instrument, designed and optimized by Benelli's renowned Performance Shop to deliver unparalleled reliability, comfort, and performance on the range.

This shotgun is specifically crafted for those who demand peak performance from their firearm in the demanding world of clay target sports. It addresses the common challenges faced by high-volume shooters: managing recoil fatigue over long tournaments, ensuring absolute reliability under pressure, achieving consistent shot patterns, and having the custom features that provide a true competitive advantage. If you're asking, "What's the best shotgun for competitive trap, skeet, or sporting clays?" or "How can I reduce recoil for more comfortable, consistent shooting?", the Performance Shop SuperSport is engineered to be your definitive answer.

Unrivaled Performance: The Core Technologies

At the heart of the SuperSport's exceptional performance lies Benelli's iconic and proven technologies, enhanced by the specialized touches of the Performance Shop.

The Ultra-Reliable Inertia Driven® System

One of the most defining characteristics of any Benelli shotgun is its Inertia Driven® operating system. This is a crucial feature for competitive shooters who cannot afford a malfunction, especially during a crucial string or station. Unlike gas-operated systems that can become fouled with powder residue and require more frequent cleaning, the Inertia Driven system operates with minimal moving parts. It harnesses the kinetic energy of the fired shell to cycle the action, resulting in:

• Exceptional Reliability: Fewer parts mean fewer points of failure. This system is renowned for its ability to function flawlessly even under adverse conditions or with a wide range of ammunition loads, from light target loads to heavier competition shells. This is paramount when every target counts.
• Cleaner Operation: Since combustion gases are not diverted into the action, the Inertia Driven system runs significantly cleaner. This translates to less time spent cleaning and more time shooting, a major benefit for high-volume practice and long tournament days.
• Simplicity and Durability: The design inherently offers superior long-term durability, making the SuperSport a reliable partner for thousands upon thousands of rounds without significant wear or degradation of performance.

ComforTech® Recoil Reduction System: Shoot More, Feel Less

For competitive shooters, managing recoil is not just about comfort; it's about maintaining focus, reducing flinching, and enabling quicker follow-up shots. The ComforTech® recoil reduction system is Benelli's innovative answer to this challenge, making the SuperSport remarkably pleasant to shoot, even through extended sessions.

This patented system incorporates a series of chevrons and a specialized recoil pad within the stock that work in conjunction to absorb and dissipate recoil energy before it reaches the shooter's shoulder. The result is a significant reduction in felt recoil, often by as much as 48%, and a substantial decrease in muzzle climb.

How does ComforTech® benefit you on the range?

• Reduced Fatigue: Less felt recoil means less physical strain over hundreds of shots, allowing you to maintain your form and concentration throughout an entire competition day. This directly impacts your ability to perform consistently from the first station to the last.
• Faster Target Acquisition: With less muzzle rise, the shotgun returns to target more quickly for follow-up shots on doubles or report pairs, a critical advantage in skeet and sporting clays.
• Enhanced Confidence: Knowing your shotgun won't punish you with heavy recoil allows you to focus purely on the target, improving your mental game and overall shooting experience. This is especially beneficial for new shooters or those sensitive to recoil, helping them build confidence and break more clays.

The Performance Shop Advantage: Precision Enhancements

What truly sets the Benelli Performance Shop SuperSport apart is the array of custom features and meticulous attention to detail applied by Benelli's expert gunsmiths. These aren't just cosmetic upgrades; they are functional enhancements designed to optimize every aspect of the shotgun's performance for clay target disciplines.

Ported Crio® Barrel with Extended Crio® Chokes

The 30-inch barrel of the SuperSport is a masterpiece of precision engineering, featuring Benelli's proprietary Crio® treatment. Cryogenic treatment involves freezing the barrel to extremely low temperatures, which refines the steel's molecular structure. This process results in:

• Superior Pattern Consistency: A Crio-treated barrel exhibits more uniform constriction and less internal stress, leading to denser, more consistent shot patterns. This is vital for breaking targets cleanly, whether they're rising, falling, or crossing.
• Enhanced Durability and Longevity: The cryogenic treatment hardens the steel, making the barrel more resistant to wear and tear, especially important for the high round counts of competitive shooting.
• Porting for Muzzle Control: The barrel is ported, featuring small holes near the muzzle that vent gas upwards and sideways. This significantly reduces muzzle jump, allowing for quicker recovery and more precise follow-up shots.

Accompanying the Crio® barrel are extended Crio® chokes. These chokes are also cryogenically treated and extend beyond the muzzle, making them easy to change and identify. Their extended length allows for a smoother transition of the shot charge, contributing to even better pattern formation.

Briley Spectrum Extended Chokes (LM, SK)

Beyond the standard Benelli Crio® chokes, the Performance Shop SuperSport includes additional Briley Spectrum extended chokes, specifically a Light Modified (LM) and a Skeet (SK). Briley Manufacturing is renowned in the competitive shooting world for its high-quality chokes, and their inclusion underscores the SuperSport's dedication to competition. These chokes provide:

• Versatility for Different Disciplines: The Skeet choke is perfect for the close-range targets of skeet shooting, while the Light Modified provides a versatile mid-range constriction ideal for many sporting clays presentations or even closer trap shots.
• Precision and Consistency: Briley chokes are known for their exacting tolerances and ability to deliver extremely consistent patterns.

Unique Carbon Fiber Finish

The SuperSport features a distinctive carbon fiber finish, which is not just aesthetically striking but also functional. This finish provides:

• Lightweight Durability: Carbon fiber is known for its excellent strength-to-weight ratio, contributing to the overall balanced feel of the shotgun without adding unnecessary bulk.
• Modern Aesthetics: The unique look sets the SuperSport apart on the range, reflecting its advanced engineering and competitive spirit.

Lengthened Forcing Cone

The forcing cone is the tapered section inside the barrel where the shot charge transitions from the shell into the main bore. The Performance Shop SuperSport features a lengthened forcing cone, a critical enhancement that:

• Reduces Pellet Deformation: A longer, more gradual taper reduces the abrupt compression of the shot charge as it enters the bore. This minimizes pellet deformation, meaning more perfectly round pellets maintain their shape and fly truer, leading to denser and more effective patterns.
• Decreases Felt Recoil: The smoother transition of the shot charge also contributes to a further reduction in felt recoil, enhancing shooting comfort.

Back-Bored to .733 (12-Gauge Only)

The 12-gauge SuperSport's barrel is back-bored to a diameter of .733 inches. Back-boring increases the internal diameter of the barrel slightly beyond standard specifications. This seemingly small change has significant benefits for competitive performance:

• Reduced Friction and Increased Velocity: A wider bore reduces the friction between the shot charge and the barrel walls, allowing the pellets to move more freely. This can result in slightly higher velocities and improved pattern efficiency.
• Further Recoil Reduction: By reducing friction, back-boring also contributes to a marginal decrease in felt recoil, making the shooting experience even more comfortable.
• Optimized Pattern Density: While counterintuitive, a slightly larger bore can actually improve pattern uniformity by allowing the shot column to travel more consistently before it reaches the choke.

Briley EZ Bolt Release and Enlarged Bolt Handle

The Benelli Performance Shop collaborates with top aftermarket manufacturers like Briley to integrate user-focused enhancements. The inclusion of a Briley EZ bolt release and an enlarged bolt handle directly addresses the needs of competitive shooters:

• Faster Reloads and Action Cycling: The enlarged bolt handle provides a larger, easier-to-grasp surface, allowing for rapid and positive manipulation of the bolt, even with gloves on or under pressure. The EZ bolt release makes chambering the first shell or clearing the action quick and intuitive.
• Ergonomic Advantage: These components are designed for speed and comfort, reducing fumbling and ensuring smooth operation, which is critical in fast-paced competition scenarios like sporting clays or 3-gun.

Polished Actions

The internal action components of the SuperSport are polished by hand in the Benelli Performance Shop. This meticulous process provides:

• Smoother Operation: Polished surfaces reduce friction between moving parts, resulting in an incredibly smooth and fluid action cycle. This contributes to the shotgun's overall reliability and pleasurable shooting experience.
• Enhanced Durability: Reduced friction also means less wear on internal components, contributing to the long-term durability of the firearm.

The 30" Barrel Advantage

The SuperSport comes equipped with a 30-inch barrel, a preferred length for many competitive clay target shooters. This length offers several advantages:

• Improved Sight Plane: A longer barrel provides a longer sight radius, which can aid in precise aiming and tracking of fast-moving targets.
• Smoother Swing: The increased length and forward weight distribution contribute to a smoother, more controlled swing, particularly beneficial for following targets through their trajectory in sporting clays and skeet.
• Optimized Velocity and Pattern: The 30-inch barrel allows for optimal burning of powder, maximizing shot velocity and allowing patterns to fully develop, ensuring maximum effectiveness downrange.

Real-World Applications and Solving Shooter Problems

The Benelli Performance Shop SuperSport isn't just a collection of features; it's a solution tailored for specific competitive challenges.

For the Trap Shooter:

• Problem: The need for consistent, dense patterns on rising targets, minimal recoil for high-volume shooting, and unwavering reliability for championship pressure.
• SuperSport Solution: The back-bored, Crio-treated, ported 30-inch barrel with extended chokes ensures optimal patterns. The ComforTech® system drastically reduces felt recoil, allowing shooters to stay fresh through hundreds of rounds. The Inertia Driven® system provides unmatched reliability.

For the Skeet Shooter:

• Problem: Fast target acquisition on crossing and outgoing targets, quick follow-up shots for doubles, and smooth handling.
• SuperSport Solution: The ComforTech® system minimizes muzzle rise for rapid second shots. The balanced feel of the 30-inch barrel and ergonomic Briley enhancements allow for fluid swings and quick target transitions. The included Briley Skeet choke is specifically designed for these close-range engagements.

For the Sporting Clays Shooter:

• Problem: Variable target presentations requiring versatility in chokes, consistent patterns at various distances, and a shotgun that can handle a full day of varied shooting without fatigue.
• SuperSport Solution: The array of Crio and Briley extended chokes (including Light Modified) offers the versatility needed for different stations. The lengthened forcing cone and back-boring ensure excellent patterns at diverse ranges. The combination of ComforTech® and the Inertia Driven® system provides the comfort and reliability required for a demanding course.

Why Choose the Performance Shop SuperSport?

When investing in a competition shotgun, shooters often weigh factors like cost, brand reputation, reliability, and customizability. The Benelli Performance Shop SuperSport addresses all these points with authority:

• Proven Pedigree: Benelli shotguns are trusted by champions worldwide for their innovation and reliability. The "Performance Shop" designation signifies that this model has been taken to the next level by factory experts.
• Investment in Performance: While a premium firearm, the features packed into the SuperSport translate directly into measurable performance advantages and an improved shooting experience, justifying its value for serious competitors.
• Turn-Key Competition Ready: Unlike standard models that may require aftermarket upgrades for competitive use, the SuperSport comes from the factory with the most sought-after enhancements already integrated, saving you time and money.
• Durability and Longevity: Built to withstand the rigors of competitive shooting, this shotgun is designed for a lifetime of high-volume use.

If you're looking to elevate your game, reduce fatigue, and rely on a shotgun that performs flawlessly when it matters most, the Benelli Performance Shop SuperSport 12 gauge is an exceptional choice. It represents the pinnacle of semi-automatic shotgun design for clay target sports, offering a blend of cutting-edge technology and precision craftsmanship. This ultimate competition gun is available for discerning shooters through trusted firearms retailers like DEGuns.com, where expertise meets exceptional service to help you find the perfect tool for your competitive aspirations.

Key Specifications & Features Overview

Feature	Description	Benefit for the Shooter
Inertia Driven System	Ultra-reliable, simple, clean operation	Unmatched dependability, less cleaning, superior durability
ComforTech System	Recoil reduction, muzzle climb mitigation	Reduced fatigue, faster follow-up shots, improved focus
Ported Crio Barrel	Cryogenically treated, ported	Superior pattern consistency, less muzzle jump, durability
Extended Crio Chokes	Easy to change, optimized shot patterns	Versatility, enhanced pattern performance
Briley Spectrum Chokes	Light Modified (LM), Skeet (SK) included	Expanded versatility for various clay target presentations
Carbon Fiber Finish	Unique aesthetic, lightweight	Distinctive look, contributes to balanced feel
Lengthened Forcing Cone	Smooth transition from chamber to bore	Reduced pellet deformation, improved patterns, less recoil
Back-Bored to .733	Wider bore diameter (12-gauge only)	Reduced friction, increased velocity, subtle recoil reduction
Briley EZ Bolt Release	Enlarged, easy-to-use button	Faster, more positive action cycling
Briley Enlarged Bolt Handle	Easier to grasp, enhanced manipulation	Quicker reloads, improved ergonomics under pressure
Polished Actions	Hand-polished internal components	Incredibly smooth operation, enhanced longevity
Barrel Length	30 inches	Optimal sight plane, smooth swing, maximized pattern performance
UPC	650350106343	Product identification for acquisition via DEGuns.com
SKU	10634	Manufacturer's internal tracking for the specific model