Benelli $$$$$$

[Dominic06]

Is the benelli SBE3 worth the $1,800 price tag? Can this shotgun be abused? Weak points?


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[Desk Jockey]

Welcome.

most serious shot gunners will tell you that you need to shoot a bunch of guns and see what points naturally for you and that is true. You also need to adjust that guns fit if possible to enhance that natural alignment. So the best thing to do is somehow shoot a representative sample of guns and pick the one that best suits you. Unfortunately, shotguns are not like bow shops where they can take you to the range downstairs and let you do the pepsi challenge. Outside of some REALLY big and expensive shooting operations, I have absolutely zero clue how to practically make that happen and I have never heard a good answer to that question either. Maybe hang out in a place with a lot of shot gunners or something. I don’t know. Like most, I upgraded from my 20 ga sxs I got as a kid to a borrowed 1100 and then I got enough $ to buy a nice shotgun, I just took a chance. I went benelli M2 because it looked cool and I read a lot of good things about it.

Ole Ben has been my go to for over 15 years, starting to push 20. i am not a heavy shotgunner. He gets out 1-2x a year some years, a dozen or more, others. He has 1000s of rounds Down the tune and It’s very, very rare he doesn’t feed shells or go boom. Can’t say I have seen that level of reliability in any other brand used by my hunting partners over the years but that is just my own anecdotal experience. I hunt birds in Kansas once a year and the owner of the guide outfit shares my opinion on benelli. He probably sees 200-300 hunters year come through his operation and all kind of guns.

SBEs are top of the game for water fowl hunters, but you pay up for the name. If you are a serious shotgunner, there are other options in that price range but you could do a lot worse IMO. My experience with ole Ben has been solid enough that I doubt I would really look to change at this point. If you want to save a little $$ look at the M2. Same basic gun but no 3.5 inch shells.

I used to tell people that if they did t want to spend the $ on a ~$1500 gun to go get a used reminton 1100 or 1187 but remmy QC has been choppy for so long, you don’t know if you have a lemon or not and nice older ones go for over a $1000 anyway.

good luck.

 

[nettereo16]

Not worth it to me… Get a used sbe2 or go handle as many guns as possible and see what you like. It largely comes down to what fits YOU the best. There are many autoloaders out there that are all well built and extremely reliable.

What fits me best is a Win SX3 that I bought used for $600

 

[granite7]

Many SBE3s shoot higher than poa. Some people are just fine with it.

Do you really need a 3 1/2” chamber? I don’t. So, I went with the M2 and saved hundreds.

 

[MO-CHSPKE]

What is your intended use for the gun?

Can you abuse it….within reason, it will take more of a pounding and keep on shucking shells than other guns.

Weak point….it’s inertia driven which equals more felt recoil than a gas gun.

Is it worth it?…..only you can ultimately decide that.

There are a few “sister” guns that are inertia driven that will give similar reliability and same felt recoil for much less.

 

[KurtR]

It’s hard to say if it’s worth it for some one else. After pulling a bunch up the franchi affinity 3 is what I went with. Same inertia system and only 3 inch chamber as I never use 3.5 inch. I would say they take abuse not like a good ol 870 wing master but for autos they are a reliable gun.

 

[clwg97]

I have 2 11-87's one super mag with a 24" barrel set up for turkey and 1 super mag XCS set up for duck hunting. I also have Benelli Super Vinci. I love my remingtons and grew up shooting 870's so it was natural I like my 11-87's. It took me a few rounds to get used to the super vinci, but I love it now. I also got a steal of a deal so I can't complain about it. One thing I learned quick is there definitely is a difference in recoil and you need to make sure you mount a Benelli solid or it will want to fight to cycle.

 

[T28w]

I’d say let’s start off with how much experience do u have with shotguns?

Very few people have regretted buying a benelli. People were reporting poi issues early on, haven’t heard much on it lately.

As far as abuse, don’t know of any gun that will do better in harsh conditions but then again there are other recoil driven systems that are very good.

Assuming u understand they diff between gas and recoil/interia

 

[kuhn4]

I've had my SBE for 20 years and after the initial break-in period, it has been 100% reliable even with 7/8 oz light loads. I've shot it a lot and really like the gun. My father bought his SBE the same day and would say the same thing I just did. A year ago, I helped my nephew research his first shotgun purchase. We looked at many models and it came down to the Franchi 3.5 and SBE3. There is a big price difference between the two and I could not believe it was only because of the name. As I understand, the SBE3 has stainless steel internal components and few other improvements over the Franchi. This info was hard to find. He bought an SBE3.
Personal fit should be one of the most important aspects when you make your decision.
We've never abused ours, but have also never done a full break-down and cleaning either. I can't think of any weak points.

 

[S.Clancy]

In my opinion, no. Years ago I bought a Franchi Affinity for 550$ or 600$ and I shoot it lights out

 

[T28w]

As other have said and will say, go pick up as many as u can and see how they shoulder and point. I just like the way a browning a5 feels. Don’t mind a benelli and don’t care for a beretta at all. It’s all just my preference. I have not picked up many of the newer retay and others that are less expensive to comment on them.

Comparing the dependability of a Beretta, browning, benelli is akin to moa arguments with rifles, other than the rare lemon.

As to the is it worth it? Is a new f250 worth it? Is a full custom rifle worth it? No one can answer those questions but the person buying it.

 

[Nick87]

I've got 2 sbe2's love em. That said my cousin just bought a franchi affinity. Man I love that gun for the money. If your not on a budget go benelli if you are go franchi or possibly m2 which is in the middle you will NOT be disappointed with any of them.

 

[Jesse Jaymes]

More of an FYI…..they are NOT infallible. I’ve had my buddy’s SBE2 completely broken down for cleaning in a shitty motel room in BFE Montana after it failed to fire and feed multiple times on a weekend hunt. Was almost tossed and left on the prairie.
My experience hunting along side is that they are NOT the Glock of the shotgun world.
I’m a die-hard Waterfowler. But I’m a lefty. The LH version has been my Grail Gun. I was too cheap so I bought the LH VersaMax gun. I have zero complaints. I adjusted the stock a bit with the included shims and my hits went up substantially. Added a spendy choke tube and hit even more. And it goes BANG every time. Unless I dunk it and it freezes. But I don’t expect any gun to function at that point.
Lastly…I HAD to have 3.5” capability. And….I NEVER use it. After years of waterfowling…birds are generally too far. If you are crushing them and hitting them hard….they fold. If there don’t…they were too far anyway and 3 vs 3.5” wouldn’t have changed it

 

[WRM]

Get what fits you in a quality gun. I picked up a Benelli M1 Super 90 20+ years ago and never put it down (move up from a Rem 1100). Bought a spare receiver on Gunbroker to set up a dedicated turkey optics receiver. Went with a lighter recoil tube spring from Taran and it now will cycle the lightest crap load you can buy at the Mart.

It is my understanding the M2 is very similar to the M1. Some of the parts are interchangeable.

I personally have never felt like I needed a 3.5 inch chamber. To each his own, tho.

 

[Dominic06]

What is your intended use for the gun?

Can you abuse it….within reason, it will take more of a pounding and keep on shucking shells than other guns.

Weak point….it’s inertia driven which equals more felt recoil than a gas gun.

Is it worth it?…..only you can ultimately decide that.

There are a few “sister” guns that are inertia driven that will give similar reliability and same felt recoil for much less.

I went to sportsman’s warehouse and was looking for a nice turkey gun I was looking at the cheaper shotguns like 500-900 and when I felt the benelli sbe3 there was no going back, I also felt the Retay shotguns which are also amazing, but just not as nice as the benelli in my opinion, I also felt high end Winchesters and berettas, and also the brownings, but the one that stood out to me the most was Benelli. This gun also will not be abused, I just am looking at it for Turkey, and eventually other birds, but I take real nice care of my guns.


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[Dominic06]

Many SBE3s shoot higher than poa. Some people are just fine with it.

Do you really need a 3 1/2” chamber? I don’t. So, I went with the M2 and saved hundreds.

I’ve also read about the Benelli shooting high, but it’s designed like that, it’s called t European aiming or something like that. A lot of people say they prefer it because you can see your target that your aiming at.


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[granite7]

I’ve also read about the Benelli shooting high, but it’s designed like that, it’s called t European aiming or something like that. A lot of people say they prefer it because you can see your target that your aiming at.


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I’m trying to be kind to my fellow Benelli shooters, but there is shorting a high pattern (60/40) and SBE3 high (90/10). I like to float the bird, too. From what I read, the SBE3 is especially high.

My M2 is slightly higher than POA and it gives a perfect mount and perfect shot picture for ME. You owe it to yourself to try them both for YOU before spending that. I would recommend getting your hands on an SBE3 and trying it out before you buy it. Maybe even a Rockslider near you has one you can try.

Since you asked about weaknesses, some people make a big deal about the “Benelli click”. There’s a sports writer in Illinois that makes a lot of noise about that as he shills for Retay. I personally think it is over rated, and I have never experienced the problem in either of my Montefeltros or my M2.

 

[hodgeman]

Only you can decide if it's worth it, but after owning my M2 for 17 years, that's the next shotgun I'll buy.

My M2 has been used and abused every season and keeps coming back for more. I clean it once per year out of pure guilt.

I also own a Stoeger 3500, and while it's a good gun...the fit and finish isn't nearly the same.

 

[Reburn]

I’m trying to be kind to my fellow Benelli shooters, but there is shorting a high pattern (60/40) and SBE3 high (90/10). I like to float the bird, too. From what I read, the SBE3 is especially high.

My M2 is slightly higher than POA and it gives a perfect mount and perfect shot picture for ME. You owe it to yourself to try them both for YOU before spending that. I would recommend getting your hands on an SBE3 and trying it out before you buy it. Maybe even a Rockslider near you has one you can try.

Since you asked about weaknesses, some people make a big deal about the “Benelli click”. There’s a sports writer in Illinois that makes a lot of noise about that as he shills for Retay. I personally think it is over rated, and I have never experienced the problem in either of my Montefeltros or my M2.

Benelli SBE3 comes with a cast and drop shim system. If you don't use it to adjust the gun to you by patterning it thats on you. I shoot 60/40 to 70/30 by choice, standard trap and skeet patterns. Life has never been better then when I actually paper patterned my shotguns and adjusted them to do where I shot best. Now I can pick up any of my shotguns and hit with them. Most guys think they want 50/50 but hit better closer to 70/30.

Understand Your Shotgun's Point of Impact to Hit More Birds

Most of us pick up a new shotgun and assume it hits in the same place as every other shotgun. But that's just plain wrong.

www.outdoorlife.com

 

[MO-CHSPKE]

A note regarding the 3.5” guns. My philosophy is it is better to have and not need than need and not have.

I very rarely shoot 3.5” shells, BUT……after being in Canada having a lights out week of shooting ducks and geese and using up all my shells, I was relegated to whatever I could find. It is nice to be able find any 12 ga shell on the shelf and get back to hunting. If all you could find is 3.5” and your gun is 3”…..you could be a spectator for the remainder of the trip.