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My SBE1 shoots when I pull the trigger and my Beretta Extrema2 has hung up since day one. I don't care for anything Beretta makes and would not want to trust my life to one of their guns.

JimAire wrote:My SBE1 shoots when I pull the trigger and my Beretta Extrema2 has hung up since day one. I don't care for anything Beretta makes and would not want to trust my life to one of their guns.

i have heard "mixed" reviews on the E2 and there are A LOT on the second-hand market for guns...on another note, there are VERY few E1s that are for re-sale....supposedly, the only difference between the two is the "special" waterproof/weather resitant coating that is available on the E2. Ive shot both and i can def tell a difference but i cant really say what that difference is....maybe its just in my head?

either way, i think the AL390 is the best all around gun that beretta has manufactored. The xtrema line is very "marketable" and fits "todays" profile as far as demand goes.

JimAire wrote:My SBE1 shoots when I pull the trigger and my Beretta Extrema2 has hung up since day one. I don't care for anything Beretta makes and would not want to trust my life to one of their guns.

I've had an Extrema 2 since they came out and have had no problems after thousands of rounds. They're purtier too.

Colbyshuntindrake wrote:Ive shot both and i can def tell a difference but i cant really say what that difference is....maybe its just in my head?

The stock is a "little" different on the Xtrema2. I say little because LOP has been reduced slightly and is now adjustable (can be adjusted back to the length of the X1). Also, the grip diameter feels like it was slenderized a tad bit, but I don't have the before and after measurements to know for sure. The new version is also a few ounces lighters.

It's not just in your head, the two guns do feel different.

Wildfowler wrote:

Colbyshuntindrake wrote:Ive shot both and i can def tell a difference but i cant really say what that difference is....maybe its just in my head?

The stock is a "little" different on the Xtrema2. I say little because LOP has been reduced slightly and is now adjustable (can be adjusted back to the length of the X1). Also, the grip diameter feels like it was slenderized a tad bit, but I don't have the before and after measurements to know for sure. The new version is also a few ounces lighters.

It's not just in your head, the two guns do feel different.

thanks for clarifying. The grips are placed in different positions on the E2 vs E1... They are by far one of the heaviest guns

I personally will only shoot a SBE, H&K preferably.

I've got all 3. SBE2, Vinci, and E2. The extrema with "kick off" is softer to me than the SBE2 but doesnt fit me as well. The vinci fits really well and is the softest shooting gun I've ever fired, and I seem to be more accurate with it, but it wont shoot the 3 1/2s. The SBE2 is probably the best overall, but my plan is to shoot the vinci in the timber and the SBE2 in the rice fields (if I can pry it loose from my son's hands) where I want more range and bigger shot loads for geese. The E2 will stay as a backup in either case. We also have a stoeger m2000 that my son started with that honestly hasnt given us a lick of trouble. Those however can be very hit or miss in regards to quality and reliability, I guess we just happened to get a good one. The best advice I could give would be to shoot all of them a bunch if you can and buy whichever feels best to you.

Ive got a Benelli M2, and it is a sweet little shooter. Havent had a problem with it in 2 years.

SBE original... don't like the new stuff on the stock. If I ever find another NIB SBE at a good price I will buy it


I can recall a few times last year when it got really cold and there where only two shooting guns in the hole. Mine and a M2
Brands represented where benelli, browning, beretta, remington

Duck-hunt somebody must have a lemon of a Beretta, kinda like (and there are some out there, Jim Aire, as there are SBE's)...in my not so limited experience either gun will get it done when the rubber hits the road...I have put my Xtrema2 through as much hell as you can during two full duck seasons (shooting all 3.5's), clays and snow goose hunting...generally clean it once a year, after duck season and before turkey season.... it may start screwing up tomorrow, but it's given me no problems with reliability...it is pretty heavy though....

I also have a couple of M2s now, and I really like the way the gun feels, it is quicker and lighter than the Beretta, but hasn't failed yet (and I don't expect it to).... it's all what feel you like and which fits you the best (and both can be adjusted a bit, which is nice).....

nothing mechanical is perfect, but these two (Benelli and Beretta) are probably as good as they come right now....

GordonGekko wrote:Duck-hunt somebody must have a lemon of a Beretta, kinda like (and there are some out there, Jim Aire, as there are SBE's)...in my not so limited experience either gun will get it done when the rubber hits the road...I have put my Xtrema2 through as much hell as you can during two full duck seasons (shooting all 3.5's), clays and snow goose hunting...generally clean it once a year, after duck season and before turkey season.... it may start screwing up tomorrow, but it's given me no problems with reliability...it is pretty heavy though....

I also have a couple of M2s now, and I really like the way the gun feels, it is quicker and lighter than the Beretta, but hasn't failed yet (and I don't expect it to).... it's all what feel you like and which fits you the best (and both can be adjusted a bit, which is nice).....

nothing mechanical is perfect, but these two (Benelli and Beretta) are probably as good as they come right now....

I agree... the beretta was on old one not taken care of I'm sure. Both really good guns

My group has both. The E2 does shoot soft,but when it gets a real good cold morning the E2's in the bunch start to hang up or will not fire SBE never misses a lick

I can't afford either, my favorite is a remington 870. I recently got a Hatsan Arms Encore $399 works fine so far.

I'm a Benelli guy, but last year when we were hunting, my buddy was shooting an E2 and I was shooting a SBE 1, both guns did an outstanding job and neither jammed. IMO pick which ever one fits you best and that you can shoot best. Both are great guns.

If its not too late go with the Beretta. I am naturally a Benelli guy with my original SBE, but I have shot the Vinci and do not like it what so ever. Actually the only good thing the Vinci has going for it it the reduced recoil and easy assembly. The sad thing is that I own one of those Vinci's b/c my dad and are impulse buyers when it comes to new guns. I do not like it. However, "to each his own" I believe that if you shoot it long enough you will become accustomed to it and love it and nothing else.