mudhen

My 1991 SBE immediately started to show some minor cosmetic wear where the brass was rubbing against the receiver as the shell was being ejected. I called Benelli CS and they told me that it would not get any worse. Sixteen years later and Benelli CS still seems to be correct as the wear never got any worse after that first year.

Whatever happens to be in the car when I go hunting I've put so many types through them, I can hardly keep track. They all seem to pattern fine. Matrix 5's, Hevishot 4's & 6's, Federal Ultra & Speed Shok BB's, 2's & 3's, Winchester HV BB's, 2's & 3's.

I don't think the Silver/Gold is a great trap/skeet/SC gun unless you keep a bottle of oil handy. All of mine need to be run wet in order to shoot many shells at one event. I do like the Silver/Gold very much, and will probably always own and shoot them at times. But all of my Benellis are the real workhorses and will get the tough assignments.

1) Not yet. Benelli swears the new C is the old D, but it has not worked that way for me. 2) I used an A because I use the B for turkeys. I sanded down the bottom to almost paper thin leaving the drop section at top. I use it with the C for more drop. It looks a little messy, but it seems to work for me. 3) The shims need to match the plate, so I don't know what you mean.

I would not own and shoot an M2000 if they were free If I entered BPS and they announced I had won an M2000 for being the 1,000,000th customer through the door, I'd walk backwards out the door

Actually, there have been many replies from folks that hunt with Jeff Foiles. They report that he has been holding a 4th shell in his right hand for most of his life. I think there was enough reasonable doubt so that most folks just dropped it. Also, apparently he has done this in videos before. The owner of 'The Refuge Forums' removed all the posts about this issue. This whole thing is probably a big hullabaloo about nothing But I bet he stops doing this on his videos

Some of you have answered your own question. The demand is just not there. If it were, the aftermarket guys would be all over it. My local gunshop has a few spare Remington barrels that have been collecting dust for over ten years. Browning semi-auto barrels are scarce and $400-$500. Beretta barrels are equally scarce and in the $400-$550 range. Sure, it sucks for those few who want a new barrel, but it is what it is, not many folks buy extra barrels. Benelli should stock barrels at their office and sell directly to the public via MC/Visa or money order. This would take care of the issue completely. I run a US division of an Italian manufacturing company. Parts are one of the toughest things to stock. 99% of the parts we stock just sit here collecting dust. They are expensive because individual parts get market up as any regular item would. An item made up of parts is market up after it is fully assembled. Parts have to be individually packaged, cased, and accounted for as an additional sku. But, barrels are not really the same thing are a small part. It's well known that folks want slug barrels to go with their longer barrels and vice versa. Come on Benelli, get with the program

The best way? Probably using a pair of ring pliers. My way? Pry it out with a flat screwdriver and hope the mag spring and plug don't put my eye out

Ok, prove it. I've got several of both. They all run .719-.723, +- a .001 or two, totally normal for Benelli barrels. There was no change in barrel ID with the SBE II.

Well I own and shoot both. The Silver is less than one year old. So far it has not held up well. The bolt handle broke in half after a few boxes of shells. They sent me a new one, but I bought three extra anyway. The Dura Touch film has peeled off about 25% of the gun (Browning CS told me to pound sand). The gun will not cycle with a Hi Viz X-Coil pad, so I had to put the hard factory pad back on. On the other hand, my SBE II has had zero problems in the three years I have been shooting it. I do like that the Browning shoots lower than the SBE II (even with handmade D shim I use in the SBE II), but I shoot fine with the SBE II. I plan to mess around with the shims a bit more to try to match the drop of the Silver. Also, the Silver tends to pattern steel better than the SBE II. The SBE II loves Matrix, HS, and lead. This could be an issue for me as other non-toxs are now $40-$50 per 10/pk, but I can shoot more steel #3's and/or Hevi Steel in the SBE II. I'd say no contest for the SBE II over the Silver, especially for long term use.

I'll add a much larger polymer trigger guard, a feature that I really like as it fits my hand better. Tuck mentions the CT stock. I really like the gel pad that comes with that stock. It allows you to change LOP with different pads. Also, the shim adjustment kit now comes with cast to got along with the drop.

Nope, just longer choke tubes.

I like both of the HS loads you mention. For decoys, I use up to 1500 in the flooded rice. Lots of different patterns depending on the blind location, but little changing during the season. For small hunts, I'll go with 24-48 dekes, put out mostly in pairs by species.

"I hear" is a great way to select a firearm All of my 3.5" turkey guns thrown denser patterns with 3.5" loads than 3" loads if the 3.5" is carrying more shot. You just have to find the right combination of choke and shell for your gun. I think the SBE II is a much better gun than the M2. Tucker has covered the 'why' issues already.

Why do you release the second shell after chambering the first shell? Just curious. I doubt your Benelli is 'broken'. You might have a bent magazine tube, weak magazine spring, dirt or grit in the magazine tube that is binding the follower, a damaged follower, etc. I tried the magazine kit from Sure Cycle, but it caused too many problems, so I went back to the factory parts. I would take the gun apart and try dropping the follower down the mag tube to see if it gets stuck anywhere. If the mag tube is bent, you may want to order a new tube or send back to Benelli for repair. With the bird hunting seasons just a few days away, don't expect Benelli to work on your gun right away and get it back to your quickly.

Great report for me because I use 5" plates of steel while hunting I have used Breakfree CLP to clean and protect guns for many years with no rust problems. But everyone should feel free to smear their guns with cosmoline and/or the 40th verison of some guy's water displacer....

Breakfree CLP.

This has happened to me with several pumps. I take a bore brush, wrap in steel wool, use some jewler's rouge, attach to a drill, and polish out the chamber a bit. It may need repeating over time as the chamber gets dirty. I had the worst problem with Hevi Steel and Kent Matrix.

Yes, because the kit shown does not fit any SBE I that I have owned or worked on. I presume it's a typo. http://www.brownells.com/aspx/ns/schematics/schemmfg.aspx?schemid=570&m=1&mn=Benelli+U.S.A.%c2%ae&model=Super+Black+Eagle+ Look at part #27 & the shims that are used with it. The plate is a totally different shape as are the shims. I cannot see how they can interchange. My newest SBE is a 2002 version and it uses the older drop kit. Unless Benelli changed between 2002 and the CT stock, the E-Gunparts listing is incorrect.

No cast kit on the SBE I, just drop. I use the D shim on all my older SBE's. Gunsmith can work on the stock though. As to the nut, tighten until just before the plate bends

PM me with your address - I've got several to spare at no charge.

With no minimum age to hunt in Cali (just pass hunter safety), I know lots of kids that have outgrown youth model guns or cut down stocks. I hunt with a guy that has two daughters that hunt. One started when she was six or seven. She now hunts with the youth Monte, but it's looking like she may outgrow that gun as she is heading towards 6' like her mom. I've seen 40-50 pound kids at hunter safety classes. Lots of them just sell the youth gun or buy new stocks. I can see a difference if a kid does not start hunting until they are a bit older.

Although I am very happy for the high ducks numbers, these numbers have almost no impact on my hunting success. Weather controls in the rice fields where I hunt. On calm days, the birds just sit on the refuges. But with a possible bag limit this year of up to 13 birds a day for 80-100 days, I'll make do somehow

No problem. I will say that you will likely not benefit much from someone else's time and experience, but you probably will eventually figure that out on your own. Bases are a snap - the SBE II takes the Weaver 93 base. Pick any strong Weaver type rings. You can get QR Weaver rings and still be able to use the open sights. I killed a moving buck at 120 yards with the open sights, so it might be nice to be able to use them. Lots of good scopes for this set-up: Nikon Slug Hunter BDC200 (ballistic reticle) 3-9x40 - around $275 +- Nikon Prostaff Shotgun Hunter 2-7x32 - around $180 +- I know lots of guys that just use normal rifle scopes and they just learn where their gun shoots. All my Benelli slug guns seem to prefer Winchester Platinum Tips. Good luck!

I suspect it is mainly financial practicality. Youth models from most manufacturers are very slow selling items. Few gun makers can make everyone happy all of the time. Benelli does offer youth models of the Monte, Nova, and Super Nova. A youth M2 is not that unreasonable, but I'm not sure most folks would think of spending $1000-$1200 for a youth gun that can be outgrown with relative ease. It would make more sense for Benelli to offer a package deal the allowed the youth to purchase an adult stock at some later point. Isn't there are super-short pad for the M2? I've worked in and around guns shops for many years, and I can say that parents buying youth models are some of the most price conscious customers that ever enter a gun shop. The vast majority seem to agonize over buying a gun for their youth. The 870 Express seems to be the favorite of these budget minded shoppers. I'm sure there are exceptions. You sound like one of them. While it might be nice for Benelli to cater to all exceptions, I would imagine they primary try to fit the needs of the majority of their customers.