Accokeek, MD – With shotgun technology and advancement spanning centuries and leading to today’s ultra-sophisticated designs, it is easy to believe that shotgun performance has already reached its zenith. Benelli says, “Not so fast!”
For 2025, Benelli introduces a revolutionary new technology to the shotgun world — one that raises the bar by improving the terminal performance of the smooth-bore platform. Called the Benelli Advanced Impact (A.I.) technology, this new approach to shotgun ballistics delivers the shot payload harder, faster, and with greater downrange pellet density than traditional shotgun barrels.
The key to Benelli A.I. technology is a new ballistic contour integrated into the barrel bore. This contour design combines with Benelli’s new Advanced Impact Crio® chokes to provide enhanced shot column velocity and, subsequently, more energy at the point of impact when compared to conventional shotgun barrel designs.
For example, exhaustive ballistic testing has shown a 4% increase in velocity and 6% increase in energy at one meter past the muzzle compared to a standard shotgun barrel. The terminal result is up to 50% penetration increase over payloads delivered by standard shotgun barrels. Whether the intent is to bust clays or bring down waterfowl and upland birds, such an increase is a game-changer for both hunters and sport shooters.
But the benefits of Benelli A.I. technology do not stop there. By combining the A.I. barrel with A.I. Crio® chokes, testing reveals tighter and more uniform shot columns across a load’s effective ballistic range. That means more pellets on target and hitting with greater force and penetration than what is found with conventional shotgun barrels.
The A.I. system is offered on several Benelli shotguns for the 2025 model year, including the SBE3 A.I. BE.S.T., SBE3 A.I. Cerakote, Ethos Upland A.I., Performance Shop Ethos SuperSport A.I., Performance Shop Ethos Sport A.I., and the Performance Shop Ethos Cordoba A.I. BE.S.T.
For more information on Benelli USA’s full line of premium shotguns and centerfire hunting rifles, visit BenelliUSA.com.
About Benelli
Benelli, headquartered in Accokeek, Maryland, offers the largest selection of semi-automatic shotguns in the world, as well as a variety of rifles. Since the company’s inception, Benelli has led the world in innovative firearm technology, including the ground-breaking Benelli Inertia Driven system, effective Comfort Tech recoil-reduction systems, and the BE.S.T. anti-corrosion coatings. Because of this commitment to innovation, they are recognized as the world’s leading manufacturer of premium firearms for competitive shooters, hunters, and defense professionals.
