The Performance Shop ETHOS SuperSport A.I. is Benelli's competition flagship: the SuperSport platform sent through Benelli's Performance Shop and fitted with Briley components chosen to make a fast gun faster. A 30" ported Advanced Impact barrel, a carbon-fiber-finished ComforTech 3 stock, a nickel-plated receiver, and red anodized Briley bolt handle, bolt release, and 6-ounce weighted forend cap make it unmistakable on a sporting clays station. Benelli item number 12616, UPC 650350126167.

Advanced Impact: Engineered Ballistic Contours

Advanced Impact is not a coating or a choke gimmick — it's revolutionary new ballistic contours machined within the barrel's bore, working as a system with matched A.I. Crio choke tubes. Benelli's published performance claims for A.I. are up to 50% more penetration on target — more energy meaning more dusted clays — and improved pellet density, with A.I. barrels producing a more uniform and tighter shot string. On a 30" competition barrel, that translates into more forgiving breaks at distance.

Briley Performance Shop Components

• Red anodized Briley EZ bolt release and enlarged bolt handle — faster, more certain manipulation between stations, and instantly visible on the gun.
• Briley 6-ounce weighted forend cap — shifts balance forward for a smoother, more deliberate swing and better follow-through on long crossers.
• Briley Spectrum extended A.I. choke tubes in SK and LM — color-coded for at-a-glance identification — supplementing the standard extended Crio set.
• Ported barrel — mitigates recoil and muzzle jump so the gun returns to the target line faster on true and report pairs.

ComforTech 3 and Carbon Fiber

ComforTech 3 was the first recoil-reduction system of its kind and remains the most efficient design of its type: the stock is split diagonally and fitted with shock-absorbing chevrons, effectively turning the entire stock into a recoil pad. Chevron size and placement are optimized on ComforTech 3, and Benelli's Combtech cheek-comb pad greatly reduces facial impact and vibration. The carbon fiber finish gives the gun its competition look without the weight of a heavier stock.

Inertia Driven and Crio

Underneath the competition dress is the Inertia Driven System — clean, adjustment-free, and famously durable, with Inertia Driven Benellis known to fire 500,000+ rounds and keep functioning. The Crio System cryogenically treats barrel and chokes to -300°F, relieving stress in the steel for a slicker bore, less fouling, and denser patterns.

Benelli Performance Shop ETHOS SuperSport A.I. 12616 Specifications

Who This Shotgun Is For

This is a dedicated sporting clays and competition gun for shooters who have outgrown a stock autoloader and would otherwise be sending one to a gunsmith for exactly these upgrades. The 30" A.I. barrel, forward balance from the weighted cap, and Briley controls are aimed squarely at registered sporting clays, FITASC, and high-volume practice — and it is equally capable in a dove field.

What's in the Box

• Benelli Performance Shop ETHOS SuperSport A.I. shotgun, 30" ported A.I. barrel
• Extended Crio choke tubes C, IC, M, IM, F and wrench
• Briley Spectrum extended A.I. choke tubes, SK and LM
• Briley 6-oz weighted forend cap
• Stock drop and cast shim kit
• Standard hard case and owner's manual

Frequently Asked Questions

What does the "Performance Shop" designation actually add?

Benelli's Performance Shop guns are factory-tuned and fitted with upgraded components — on this model, the Briley bolt handle, EZ bolt release, weighted forend cap, and Briley Spectrum extended chokes, plus a ported barrel. It is the configuration many competitors build aftermarket, done at the factory.

How is this different from the standard Ethos SuperSport A.I.?

The standard SuperSport A.I. (SKU 12615, 12 GA / 30") shares the A.I. barrel, ComforTech 3, and carbon fiber finish but does not carry the Performance Shop Briley package or the additional Spectrum choke tubes.

Is the barrel ported?

Yes — porting is part of the Performance Shop specification, to mitigate recoil and muzzle jump.