bambihunter

For most uses the ghost rings don't really help much (but argueably they do look cool). Worse case scenario, order a new barrel with them and sell your old one. I've seen used barrels go for upwards of 80% of the cost of a new barrel. Considering what a 'smith will charge this might actually be cheaper. Good luck, and you got a heckuva deal!

The only ammo my SBE won't cycle 100% is el-cheapo 7/8 oz. light load 2 3/4" shells. On these it'll eject the empty, but it doesn't release a shell from the magazine. That's ok, for pennies more a box I get the 1 1/8 oz loads (for quail, dove, and skeet/trap). Mine has worked flawlessly for 10 years now and should continue for the foreseeable future. It really sounds like you got one of the few bad Benelli's I've ever heard of.

Have you tried ordering one from Mustang Gun and Pawn? Call 'em, if they don't have it in stock they can get it. Either them, or Outdoor America on MacArthur. Read my other post about the offer to shoot mine (I'm here in OKC too)...

The above info is good but let me recite the old addage: Tis better to have (the capability) and not to need, then to need and not to have... I have quite a few guns and as God as my witness, the Super Black Eagle would be my very last one to get rid of. It can simply be used to do too many things from waterfowl, to deer, to even home defense... The M1 would do these too, but if you shoot steel you'd be better off with 3 1/2" SBE. However, if you shoot lead-alternative shot for waterfowl, then the M1 should suit you fine. In my experience I've not found a good 3 1/2" turkey load that patterns very well (I get about the same number of pellets in the killzone whether I'm shooting 3's or 3.5's...

Yep, as remarkable stated, the choke is common between all Benelli 12's that I know of, as well as current Beretta offerings.

popapi, your info says you're from OKC... Me too... I've got a 28" SBE if you'd like to go shoot sometime then you can see what you think of that length. Some other points to consider is the longer barrel helps reduce muzzle jump slightly, a plus when shooting magnum loads. However, it makes it too barrel heavy for my wife to shoot it. She used to shoot my Ithaca that had a 26" barrel. However, to be fair, the whole gun was 1/2 pound lighter than the relatively light SBE.

A guy I know bought his in Denmark and he said he got a plastic case with his, but he didn't know if that was "dealer incentive" or part of the deal direct from Benelli... The best part of what you get in the box from Benelli is the gun! You won't be sorry with the SBE... Oh, there also should be a thread cleaner/choke remover in there too, as well as plastic choke tube holders.

I originally had an E.R. Shaw barrel for mine but sold it without ever firing it because they didn't have open sights and my 'smith didn't recommend putting them on that thin barrel. I don't want a scope on mine right now for the close-in whitetail hunting I intend to do with it. When the slug barrel comes in I've got a few suggestions to try out. Thanks again!

I didn't know they changed 'em... I bought mine in '94.

Yeah, I've had the SBE since '94 and for a while it would ONLY cycle quality heavy loads (like Winchester AA's), but now I can shoot cheap heavy loads too and it functions nearly 100%. If I drop in 7/8 oz loads, the cycle rate drops to probably maybe 60%. As quick as these are to change I'd be interested in it just for skeet use. I'll check out the different suggested loads when i get the slug barrel and forearm in. I'll be using the open sights on mine. That suprises me that a 2 3/4" load would have better specs than the 3" load. I just wanted an idea of what to try first when I head to the range when I get it. Any ideas on the dates of when they switched from the small round safety to the oversized version? Thanks!

I'd be first in line to get one though (hint, hint Benelli engineeers). Of course I'd expect it to shoot both 2 1/2" and 3" shells interchangably... Willey, if you're sincerely wanting one, then I guess the closest thing out there is probably the 1100LW Remington.

In my opinion, a inertia-recoil Benelli would not make the best home defense gun. I've tried shooting my SBE "free-hand" (not against my shoulder, just holding it) and an alarming number of times it ejects the empty but doesn't come back far enough to release a shell into the chamber. If I were you, I'd get a SBE for all hunting uses and then, depending on your finances get a purpose-built defense shotgun like the M3 or if you're on a budget after the SBE, get a Rem. 870 police, Moss. 500, Win 1300 defender, etc.

I recently ordered a slug barrel and modified forearm for my SBE. I know I'll need to try some to find out what shoots best in it, but does anyone have any recommendations for a 3" factory load (or several) for these? Also, when (what year) did they start putting the big oversized safety on the SBE? I was just wanting to get an idea on the years so when I was looking I'd know. One last thing, a friend that lives in Denmark says he bought a light load spring kit for his SBE to shoot 7/8 oz light loads and even showed me the link to the foriegn (language) website that mentioned it. Is this available in the U.S.? Thanks