mudhen
-
Posts
1954 -
Joined
-
Last visited
Posts posted by mudhen
-
-
I would guess just pull them up with a knife blade. Maybe cut around the plug first with an Exacto knife so you don't pull up the film?
Yes, the camo finish is applied over the top of the plugs.
Maybe ask Benelli CS?
mudhen - CA
-
26" bbl., Kicks GT .660 (but a Rhino .660 is on the way), and Win HV #6's.
The property was vewy, vewy, pwivate land in northern Cali.......
mudhen - CA
-
Still trying to figger out the 40 yard pattern on the SBE II, but the 19 yard pattern seems ok:
mudhen - CA
-
I can buy a NIB black SBE for $950 in my area. Comes with a 5 year warranty. They are starting to run out though.
24" bbl is usually the lowest priced SBE.
I'd buy a black SBE II for $1159 before I'd buy a 4 y.o. for $800, but that's just my take...
mudhen - CA
-
My new SBE II shot dead on right from the box.
If I had to adjust it, I would have to set up some sort of test pattern experiment where I could shoot fast and see what was going on.
One of my friends has a great system. He buys a big roll of packing paper - the cheap white paper - and he runs it along a fence on his ranch. He then draws as many 30" circles as he can with a black dot in the middle. He steps back to whatever distance he wants, and takes snap shots as if he was hunting. He gets an idea real quick if there is a problem. His method is much quicker than setting up one pattern board at a time.
Good luck,
mudhen - CA
-
The Nova pump did appear to have a very brief run of bad barrels around 2001, or 2002, I think.
I saw several photos of Nova barrels that split open, well down from the muzzle. By several, I mean 2-3.
From what I recall, Benelli took care of each one promptly.
Whatever happened, it was short lived, and probably the result of a supplier's quality control.
I know many guys with thousands of rounds through them with no problems.
For some unknown reason, some 'salesmen' think it's cool to bash a brand, even one they sell. I have never been able to figure that out, unless it is just a result of pure stupidity and/or some form of jealousy.....
mudhen - CA
-
I heard Briley will be shipping them sometime in late April or May at the earliest.
Don't hold me to that though - just what I heard.
mudhen - CA
-
I have 6 slings with 4 brands of swivels on my various Benellis. Each one has a different application.
Maybe Benelli should enclose several varieties with each sling?
I know what you mean - it's just not practical given all the potential preferences and uses.
mudhen - CA
-
No doubt - the SBE & SBE II are hard to tune for turkeys at 40 yards - so are most shotguns.
I rarely take that shot, but I need the gun to do it on occasion.
Some brands just seem to have the 40 yard turkey pattern figured out.
My Browning Gold 3.5 sucks at 40 yards.
From what I read at www.nwtf.org, only Mossberg & Remington really have perfected the better long range patterns.
While the SBE II is my main gun for the most part, I may have to look into something new for turks in the future....
mudhen - CA
-
Kicks .655 patterned fine, but actually a bit less dense than the Kicks .660. Both acceptable and can put 50% of the pellets in the 10" circle area.
I'll test a Terror .655 next week and report the results.
mudhen - CA
-
Talked to Jeff today.
He does indeed hate the Optima/Crio choke system just from a choke maker's standpoint. I guess the variations in specs make it hard for him to guarantee results with his products.
His only real big issue is when folks try to use very large steel shot in his .655 tubes. BB is about as large as one should go with Terror .655.
Sounds like the Terror Crio tube is just fine for all other uses though.
mudhen - CA
-
FYI - most slings do not come with swivels. Some do, most do not.
The sling maker has no idea what kind of swivels you may want to use. Why provide swivels that might be wasted?
I like plastic ones as they do not gouge the cap & stock as much and are much less squeaky. Metal ones rust and break easily.
But, Benelli is prolly just trying to screw you out of some free swivels.....
mudhen - CA
-
I have been shooting SBE's for 15 years.
I reluctantly bought a new SBE II in camo for $1190. Would not have paid one dime more. The US dollar is basically toilet paper to the rest of the world right now, so don't expect Italy to cry a river of tears for us.
Love everything about it. Finish is good. Gel pad is great. Love the modern updates. POA is dead on for me. It patterns well. Nice fit and finish.
Ok, now on to the 3-post cheesehead with the chip on his shoulder:
The Super X2 3.5" camo NIB can be had for around $875. Not a bad gun. I own a BGH 3.5" and I like it very much. I have to clean it frequently to keep the gas system operational. It requires constant oiling to funtion properly. It malfunctions in very cold weather. It is not softer with 3.5" than my SBE's or SBE II, which are both much easier to clean, do not require constant oil, and do not malfuntion as much in the cold. Note, SX2's cannot be given away in my area even at 10% over distributor list.
The only 391 in 3.5" is the Xtrema series. The new Xtrema II MSRP's at $1300, and is retailing at around $1200 right now, certain to come down soon. The original Xtrema was plagued with defects and is discontinued. It can be had for $800 - if you want a disco'ed gun.
Ditto to all of Tucker's points.
As to living up to SBE II owner's expectations, I believe that is up to the owners of the gun to decide not some 3-post internet troll......
mudhen - CA
-
I do much more open field shooting here in Cali and places like Kansas.
Gotta have a little more distance sometimes.....
mudhen - CA
-
200 is just a standard 'really good' turkey pattern with lead #6's.
My pattern with #6's Win HV & factory mod @ 40 yards is about 45 inches wide and would only serve to sting and annoy most toms!
I have never heard of anyone using factory mod for turkeys besides some real close up shots.
I'm sure it would kill some birds - but I even more sure it would cripple some.
Just wondering what you were talking about.
mudhen - CA
-
I was surprised to read this on 'another' website today - they guy had just bought a Terror .655 and didn't like the patterns:
"I just talked to Jeff at SRM and his words are for the Opitma and Plus and CRIO chokes are JUNK..They are to thin and the shot bulges the chokes out and can not get them to pattern at all..Says he is thinking about not making them for Optima or crio threads anymore..He said when the bent barrel was the problem of the Xtrema he could get them to pattern great but since then Beretta has changed again..His words JUNK..Looks like there may be a XTREMA for sell"
So it sounds like Jeff Hajjar is pretty much condemning the new "Crio Choke" as junk that will eventually fail and damage the shotgun.
Interesting.....
Maybe Benelli Girl has some input - she seems to monitor my posts pretty well.....
Note - I honestly have not had much luck patterning my SBE's or my new SBE II for turkeys. I get adequate patterns, but not much else.
mudhen - CA
-
Hey Tucker,
You can put 200 pellets in a 10" circle with the factory modified at 40 yards?
I'm impressed!
I have had decent success with longer turkey chokes like MAD or Kicks in the SBE. Something in the .660 range with Win HV #6's or #5's.
My SBE's have all hated Federal & Remington turkey loads and they tolertate the Win HV loads but ONLY in the newer faster 2 oz loads - not the 2.25 oz loads of the past.
I got crappy patterns with anything larger than a .665 or much below .655.
mudhen - CA
-
I don't know - I don't live in Misery anymore (did my 15 years - I miss it but Cali has much better hunting). Maybe the BPS in St. Louie? Do you have a Gaylan's nearby? Denny Dennis' in Fenton? Look around!
3" BPS Hunter is $399 everywhere I go here in Cali - $419 at Sports Authority, not on sale.
3.5" Hunter BPS is closer to $500 - camo is more.
Watch for those rebate deals - I think one just expired though.
I see the 3" 2000 for $399 pretty regularly, so I used that as a price range.
I think new Novas are still around $350 in camo.
I see used Nova for $150 all over the place - pretty beat up though.
mudhen - CA
-
Kicks .660 or CNC .660 would be my first choice.
I'm testing a new Kicks .655 & Terror .655 next week.
I'd bet the Kicks .660 would be good.
I too am certain that 3.5 patterns differently than 3.
mudhen - CA
-
Not nice Tucker - but I did it too!
I'd go with the Nova I guess - kinda rattly for me - hard to pattern for super tight turkey shooting - but a super duck blind & goose field gun.
The 2000 just does nothing for me - Benelli bought Stoeger for legal reasons, not because they were envious of their quality.
At that price range, I'd buy a BPS before either of those guns if turkeys were involved - if just to knock around and shoot dux & gez, then I'd buy the Nova.
mudhen - CA
-
That's seems like a good price.
But, I can buy that gun NIB with a 5-year warranty for $899 almost anywhere.
IMHO - it's the popularity of the SBE II that has driven the used SBE prices down.
I must admit, the SBE II is pretty darn cool - I want another one already.....
mudhen - CA
-
I'm going to guess that very little has changed with choke tubes and most parts.
The barrel could be hard to find and prolly in the $400 range if you can even find one.
mudhen - CA
-
My 1991 SBE started to wear right there almost immediately.
I checked with Benelli and they said it was normal and would not get much worse after the initial wear.
Now in 2005, the wear spot looks pretty much the same as it did in 1991 and that's with about 15,000 rounds through that SBE.
mudhen - CA
-
The last I recall of the BE being in a US catalog was around 1991 or 1992. It was in the 1st catalog that featured the SBE. I still have that HK cat somewhere - I'll look for it. I don't ever recall it being called the Super 90 BE in any US catalog. The Monte and M1 were called Super 90 though.
The BE is alive and very well in Europe - has been since the 80's I think - play around on www.benelli.it and see if that's your gun.
Raffaello Black Eagle
The combination of the dark matt receiver - with its unmistakably classic and essential design - and the polished finish of the wooden parts creates the subtle contrast of light and shade that is the distinctive feature of the Black Eagle. Versatility, reliability and hardwearing characteristics mean that year after year, this shotgun remains one of a kind.
If it's the old US version in mint condition, it could be worth a few $$$.
Very little has changed, I'm sure Benelli USA can help, also Benelli IT appears to have downloadable catalogs in English.
Good luck,
mudhen - CA
Removing the tap plugs?
in Benelli
Posted
FYI - just got the new choke tube wrench for my SBE II - took about 10 days.
It's the good one with the thread cleaner!
The boycott is now over.....
mudhen - CA