A couple questions for you educated shotgun guys

[blackops]

I notice some Benelli's and the Beretta Extrema's have a swiveling bolt-head. What is the purpose of this design?

I notice the Benelli forends are slimmer (which I like especially how it curves to accept your hand), I assume because they have no gas operating system to hide. How does this system work and compare to a gas operated system? Is it a faster operating system? More reliable? More/less recoil?

I heard one of the new Winchester shotguns has a one piece operating mechanism. The action bar welded to the bolt or something similiar. I was told it's a faster operating system and more reliable due to this design.

I know....a lot of questions. Let me here it fellas. Trying to educate myself in the shotgun world.

 

[Laserslug]

The inventions which are included in sophisticated guns are sometimes described in great detail at this website: http://www.freepatentsonline.com/
Spending an hour searching patents that are assigned to certain companies would help you to become educated beyond my level of expertise in guns.

Search for assignee = Beretta

 

[Snarlingiron]

I notice some Benelli's and the Beretta Extrema's have a swiveling bolt-head. What is the purpose of this design?

This is the locking mechanism. All shotguns have some sort of system to lock the bolt to the chamber. The Berettas have a locking lug arrangement instead of the rotating bolt head.

I notice the Benelli forends are slimmer (which I like especially how it curves to accept your hand), I assume because they have no gas operating system to hide.

There are gas operated shotguns with slim fore ends, such as the Beretta 391. Not everyone prefers the slimmer fore end. I prefer a bit beefier fore end.

How does this system work and compare to a gas operated system?

Some like it better, some don't. The gas operated guns have less perceived recoil than the inertia guns.

Is it a faster operating system?

Debatable. They will all operate faster than you can.

More reliable?

The fans will say it is. Some will say it isn't. They are good shotguns, no doubt.

More/less recoil?

If you do a search, you will find that most folks perceive greater recoil from these than they do from gas operated guns. Recoil is recoil, but gas guns due to the gas operating system tend to spread the impulse out into several pulse peaks that feel less onerous than guns that give it to you all in one whack. Brister's book has an excellent write up on this.

I heard one of the new Winchester shotguns has a one piece operating mechanism. The action bar welded to the bolt or something similiar. I was told it's a faster operating system and more reliable due to this design.

Forget not that shotgun manufacturers have marketing departments too. Every gun will be faster, more reliable, a better value, last longer, shoot farther, work in more adverse conditions, function as a boat paddle, yadda, yadda, yadda, ad infinitum.

 

[oneounceload]

Gas guns will tend to have lower actual and felt recoil than inertia guns. Lower actual because they tend to weigh more due to the gas operating system. Lower felt, because as mentioned above, the gas gun tends to spread the recoil pulse over a slightly longer period of time making it seem softer