Talk me out of a SBE II

[ScottyLee]

looked at gettin SBE2. got the super vinci. instead. after 16 boxes of shells through my super vinci, i'm glad i got instead of SBE2. it fits me better and feels more natural in the shoulder position than did sBE2. shot the extrema 2 a bunch also and absolutely loved it.

[jdbuckshot]

I got an SBE1, never had any issues, and i don't really see how the barrel could fall off unless it was assembled wrong.

i shot 2 boxes and 1 1/8oz low brass through mine on saturday. how ever, these are magnum shot guns designed for heavy loads, and shoot them much better.

If you are a serious duck hunter, the SBE is a great gun, its not gas operated like a browning or berretta, and hardly ever needs cleaning. it rarely ever jams.

during the 2005 season i shot 3 cases of steel shot through mine and hardly ever had a jam, all i ever did was squirt the action with a little oil when it felt sticky.

i clean my shot gun before turkey season, and thats the only time. its hands down the most dependable gun in my safe.

[Drakeshead]

I have had my SBE II since January '06 and have had no issues with it. Left out that morning to purchase an Extrema II, but the SBE II fit me better.

[Bonecollecter1111]

i have an SBE, i love the gun, only complaint is it hates hard freezing temps. a sure cycle system is a must. i do keep mine clean, and i mean really clean, as in after each hunt it gets the barrel off, and it gets cleaned in and out along with the action. i'll clean the inertia system when it needs it. i simply don't understand people that will spend that kind of money on a gun and not take the time to clean it and then biotch because it isn't "reliable". by this mindset, the US armed forces should be shooting the AK instead of the M-4 because the AK is more reliable.

just my .02

if you really wanna know about the SBE, ask the waterfowler, DR2, or arduckslayer. those 3 have probably put more rounds though that gun than anyone i know.

[deltadukman]

[quote="Bonecollecter1111"]i simply don't understand people that will spend that kind of money on a gun and then spend another $150 on a part to make it "reliable".quote]


Sure cycle....the part made to make them work. I used to have a Beretta Pintail, pretty much the same gun as the original Benellis. Loved the gun....unless it was below 40 degrees. I bought a sure cyle and even then it didnt act right. I also cleaned everything the proper way and didnt use alot of oil. I bought a Browning Maxus and couldnt be happier

[PegMan]

I have had my SBE II for several years now and have not had any problems with it.

[greenheadgrimreaper]

Go handle them all and then see. I will pay 200$ extra dollars for a gun if it fits me better.

One thing to take note of: if you buy a quality made product like Benelli, Beretta, Browning there is a small possibility you will get a lemon. However you shouldn't have to worry too much. I know a lot of folks who give the line of "well so and so has one and it seems to me like..." or "my buddy has one and he said". Until YOU own a product you cannot give a believable recommendation/disapproval of said product. Well, I guess you can, but a person is crazy if they listen. You should know from the get-go that if they don't own/never owned said product they are already partial, one way or the other.

Benelli makes a fine product. If it fits you better than all others, go for it. Even if it does cost a couple hundred more dollars than the gun you're "iffy" about.

[Sandy Creek]

I got a total different suggestion that I'm sure some guys on here will chime in and possibly agree, I like the SBEII but I suggest dropping a little more, finding a O/U that fits you well and you will probably never go back to semi auto or pump....or at least I won't. Citori, Cynergy, Beretta 686, Winchester 101, SKB, all of these are quality guns that won't disappoint.

[aweyerman]

SBEII is hands down the finest pointing shotgun ever produced right in front of the Browning Gold and followed closely by the Browning Silver. Beretta makes a fine shotgun BUT imo it isn't fitted to suit a true waterfowl gun.

[Blackduck]

And why is that?

[fieldt76]

I'm with Bonecollector on this one. In my opinion, you can't beat a benelli. After every couple of hunts, break it down, clean it out, a couple drops of oil and that bad boy will cycle like a dream. Take care of your weapon and it will take care of you.

btw... I have NEVER heard of a barrell falling off of a shotgun. Must be some jack leg who didn't put his gun back together correctly. Knock on wood, mine will probably fall off this weekend

[quack fiend]

The "barrel falling off" issue was pretty widespread with SBE 1's, along with bad ejector plates; ask any gunsmith. The weld that held the barrel ring to the barrel would fail, causing the barrel to do a pirouette into the swamp muck.

[Bonecollecter1111]

i bought mine used, it was in rough shape, even with the $90 for my sure cycle, it was a good deal on it. for mine to act up it has to be in the teens. i like mine, and i shoot it well. but when the weather is real nasty, i will take my 870 even though i don't shoot it nearly as well. i am fortunate enough to have a very nice collection of shotguns to pick from for most any situation that i find myself in. however my go to gun is my SBE. i sold my SuperX 2, and my Browning Maxxus. never owned a berretta auto, even though i think they are fine guns and have had opportunity to shoot several, i just haven't found a deal on one yet that made me jump.

[GordonGekko]

I'm partial to the 3" Benellis myself, nothing wrong with the SBE though, after I started using hevi-shot I hardly ever use a 3.5" anymore....
I love my Beretta Xtrema2, but started getting light hammer strikes with it last year. That gun was beat to hell and back, carried to Alaska hunted sea ducks for 3 days without cleaning (I usually clean it once a year) and never missed a lick until the light hammer strikes. Both guns have been great and I wouldn't hesitate to buy another one...I can't say the same for Browning/Winchester...I do wish Benelli would offer the "Aqua" coating though, cause they do rust a bit....

[Greenhead22]

Beretta makes a fine shotgun BUT imo it isn't fitted to suit a true waterfowl gun.

Now the albanian is showing.