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I own a SBE and it has been the best INVESTMENT i have ever made. It is a great looking gun, shoots great, and I can haul it around all day and pop it up out of the layout blinds. The only thing my benelli doesn't hunt is deer and as soon as i can justify a 400 dollar slug barrel, it will make the transfer. But still some will say this gun is a waste of money, get a hold of one and shoot one, you'll know if it is for you or not. Take in mind that the SBE II is a nice upgrade, the new features are really nice. I have had one problem with my benelli, that problem is that i dont even want to look at other shotguns, i dont think i could ever trade this gun off because i love it so much.

But seriously the only problem i had was early on was with the light 7 1/2 2 3/4" shells. But as long as i shot federal i was ok. Now after the gazzillion shells that i have put through that gun, it doesn't matter what i shoot. I love my gun and i know a lot of people that love there benellis too. My dad, brother, and myself all own one in our family, and i don't see us owning anything different.

Andrew Shae

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If you can't handle the recoil of 3.5" shells this isn't the gun for you. A gas operated gun like the Extrema 2 is a little easier on the shoulder. I was going through the same decision and went with the SBE II, I have no regrets it's a great gun. Easy gun for cleaning and very light weight.

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I personally have never liked the fit or feel of benelli's. I shoot Beretta which is a gas operated but also Italian gun (They are parts of the same company actually I think). I don't think the 3.5" is worth the money you will spend to get into the Extrema or SBE either. I'd stick with a good 3" gun that fits you well and shoots good. My Beretta has shot upwards of 7000 shells too, so don't let people tell you that the Benelli is the only good gun made like some people tend to claim...

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Well it is not the SBE, but I purchased a Benelli Nova on Friday. I just like pumps over semi's and I cant see paying that much for a SBE.

Anyway, I hunted crows with it this weekend and was very very happy. The gun cycles so fast that I could spit out shells in my opinion almost as fast as a semi. It shoulders great for me, and just feels great. I know some cut on it because it is the glass polymer and not metal, but it is such a simple design, I cant see what can go wrong with it. (knock on wood) I would recommend one! The only downfall I can find is that it is a bit heavy, but for waterfowl, it is no issue.

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If you are going to shoot geese, spend the money on the 3.5, for the people to say that a 3.5 doesn't help, thats a gigantic lie by a person who doesn't shoot many geese. The benelli is worth the money, but but a gun for the fit, not the name. If all you shoot is local ducks and dont shoot the tough northern mallards then a 3 inch would be fine, but i have shot 3.5 for 5 years now, and unless i am going to shoot perfectly decoyed ducks, i will shoot 3.5, the kill ratio is much better and I dont get cripples like my friends that shoot the 3 inch. I shot the beretta and all those semi autos and the benelli FIT me better. It was the best INVESTMENT i have ever made.

Andrew Shae

P.S. Dont take into account the people that bash the benelli, because benelli has earned the right to be talked well about. They have a name of guns not being broke down, at all, i like to shoot my guns unlike my friends berettas, which end up in the shop every year. Maybe thats why benelli owners talk up there guns.

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Quote:

P.S. Dont take into account the people that bash the benelli, because benelli has earned the right to be talked well about. They have a name of guns not being broke down, at all, i like to shoot my guns unlike my friends berettas, which end up in the shop every year. Maybe thats why benelli owners talk up there guns.


This is exactly the kind of talk I would encourage you to ignore. I don't know what it is with the arrogence in regards to these Benelli guns but go beat your chest somewhere else and leave the idiotic comments out. My Berettas (all of them and I have 3 right now that I shoot counting the handgun) are EXCELLENT guns and have never given me problems. Your above comment ads nothing to the discussion!

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oh mine doesnt i believe you said something of the same in your post but it doesn't matter, this is this guys decision to buy the gun. I have nothing against the beretta other then i didn't like them but lawdog had so say something about benelli so i thought i was my duty to say something back. I feel like i have done a lot for this post allready by applying my knowledge. And i have shot the new guns, i am 19 years old, i know the new technology and I shoot A LOT. Now i am done bickering and everybody knows how i feel about the benelli shot guns. I believe they are the best. Thats my .02 cents.

Andrew Shae

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Either way the Extrema and SBE II are the two best semi auto 3.5 inch shotguns on the market today. They each have their advantages over one another. It comes down to going and shooting them and seeing which you prefer. They do both have a different feel because the elbow angle.

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Me, my kids and everyone I hunt with shoots Benelli's and we are all very happy with them. A couple have autos and my kids and I and brothers have Nova's Never had a problem with any of them. Good luck with your purchase. I don't think you can go wrong with a Benelli if it fits you.

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One more thing, Lawdog posts here alot and seems to really know his stuff, but I have to diagree(respectfully) with the 3.5" shells. I have better kill ratio with them. I am not saying I can shoot farther, but when I hit something it's down for the count. I rarely get cripples. For big northern ducks and geese 3.5" are the clear ticket.

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seems to me that a lot of you guys are still stuck in the "look at my gun" phase...at some point you will realize that when it comes to hunting, a gun is just a tool that puts the birds feet up in the water/dirt. My 870 has performed flawlessly for the last 9 years and I have never felt the urge to get a newer or "better" gun since it suits my needs perfectly.

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Sartel, the Nova is reasonable priced at $350 for the camo model in 3.5". I do agree on the flawless 870, I have several of them. I just like having a camo gun that shoots 3.5" shells.

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Quote:

One more thing, Lawdog posts here alot and seems to really know his stuff, but I have to diagree(respectfully) with the 3.5" shells. I have better kill ratio with them. I am not saying I can shoot farther, but when I hit something it's down for the count. I rarely get cripples. For big northern ducks and geese 3.5" are the clear ticket.


Nova, I don't disagree that its a better shell, that wasn't what I was trying to say, I just don't personally feel I need more than a 3" 12 ga for 95% of the duck hunting I do and therefore I don't feel the large cost difference is necessarily justified. When its really evil out late in the season and the big Northerns are down, or when I'm after great big greater Canadians, I will take my 10 out which I've always thought was a much better shell than the 3.5" 12. I had that gun for a long time and when I got it I was shooting a lot of geese. I wouldn't even bother buying it now to be honest with you, it just doesn't get used enough.

Also, the costs to go to the 3.5" auto loaders to me is too extreme for the limited times I'd need it. Your Nova on the other hand is a different story its not way overpriced. Regardless, in all honesty, the vast majority of the ducks I kill are with 2 3/4" shells, I don't even use the 3" that often. I guess what I'm saying is if he wants a 3.5" more power to him, but I hope he isn't thinking that you absolutely need to spend for that 3.5" auto or you just don't have enough gun.

Whatever, its all good.

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Well back to the subject at hand if you are interested in the Benelli and don't wnat to crack out $1,000.00 plus look at their other guns, the M1, M2, Franchi AL48, 612, 712, 912 if ya want the 3.5" option, the stoeger 2000, or Montefeltro any of these guns get the job done. Find one that fits you the best not just the most popular out there.

As far as 3.5 or 3 it is matter of personal choice. I for instance always used to shoot 3.5 now I have backed off to 3. And I do hunt late season birds in the ice and geese. If your experiancing poor late season shot performance withyour regular season loads example move your shot size up to BBB or even BB for better penetration. The cold does affect shot performance.

Good luck with whatever you decide that works for you. A name is just a name.

big drift

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I agree the Nova is an overpriced gun, but you can find good deals with them. But if i was going to buy a pump i would look at the nova and the Remington 870 Super Magnum, which i also own. I also agree that you might not need a 3.5 for ducks, just threw personal experiance i prefer to shoot 3.5, and when shooting late season birds i will use a 3.5 BB for ducks even but for those geese i shoot 3.5 inch Ts all year. People ask why, there arent many pellets and I say all i have to do is hit the bird and that bird is falling to the ground, but thats just me, i have been with people who shoot 3.5 inch 2s all year long and they do seem to kill birds. All i want is to not have that soarer that makes it over a next section or into the swamp somewhere where no matter how long you look you can never seem to find.

Andrew Shae

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I have tried shooting the Nova and did not like it at all because it didn't feel right for me. I am only 5'8" so I have short arms. The pump on the Nova was too far out for me so I had trouble ejecting shells smoothly.

As far as a 3.5" leaving less cripples, I tend to disagree. I leave a lot less cripples than my buddy with a 3.5" because he tries to take shots at birds 70 yards away while I try to shoot at birds 50 yards or closer.

Its the person behind the gun, not the gun itself that causes cripples.

With the guns people have mentioned, you really can't go wrong and its all personaly preference. Buy the gun that feels right on your shoulder and also allows a nice, smooth swing.

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Pick up different guns , and see how they fit you , if the fit and feel is right it does'nt matter what brand it is. If you are comfortable you will shoot better. I have a Bennelli M1 and just bought a m2, they fit me well so that is what i buy. As far as the pump vs semi auto goes, if your good with a pump you can shoot faster than a semi.

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Here's my take, the Nova has become a popular gun because it is:

A: Cheap

B: 3 1/2 inch

C: Made by a repected gun maker

D: Trustyworthy

If a Nova fits you well and you shoot it good thats all there is to it, it's a good gun then, but if it doesn't fit you or you don't like it that doesn't mean it still isn't a good gun, I own one, but it doesn't fit me worth a dump and I don't shoot it very well unless I'm in a t-shirt, the length of pull is a tad to long and the pump is to far out for me. I still think it is a good quality gun for the price they are often availible at, even with its slight flaws of the stock rattling or feeling cheap.

Many birds were killed before the introduction of the 3 1/2 in shell, I use 3 1/2's for geese, only to get more pellets on the target, but you still need to hit them, and they still need to be in range. In the right hands the 3 1/2 in shell can aid in reducing cripples, if the bird is in range of a 3 in shell, you make a good shot, most of the time it is DOA. The problem and misconceptiong with a 3 1/2 in shell is that it dramatically extends your range, some peole think that they can shoot 20 yards further, not the case. 5-10 yards more is tops to be effective at killing, at that distance either load will be traveling about the same speed and have the same energy, but there are still more pellets on target with a 3 1/2 in shell.

I don't really ever see a situation that buying a gun soley for the 3 1/2 in load will be a benifit, unless the gun fits you well and you can shoot it well. With a 3 in gun if you feel that you are under-gunned late in the year hunting for geese or mallards, buy a box of Hevi-shot, it will increase effective range and deliever alot more energy on target. Really at least from my understand a 3 1/2 in shell doesn't have more power, it just delievers more pellets to the target.

Also just upgrading a shell or a shot size or material won't increase your killing range unless you have the ability to shoot farther, there is no substitute for practice and marksmanship, any bird hit in the fringe of a pattern could result in a lost bird, so shooting past YOUR effective range, not the equipments, can be a bigger problem than not having the right load or gun to get the job done.

All the Benelli's that I have been around have been good guns, the SBE seris is a great auto, but very spendy, they seem to shoulder well for me, buy I don't have the cash to drop on one. The best advice I have ever gotten for buying guns and fishing rods is to get your hands on as many as you can, one will feel right and then just work from there.

Just my opinion.

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One of the best gun that I have ever got was the 3 1-2 " Nova. For every weekend from the start of the metro goose opener to the end of spring snows the Nova I think is one of the best guns you can invest on.

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