OldFlick

Brownells or a local gunsmith. Get plug screws, they tighten by having a slight head. A set screw will not tighten and might work down and hit bolt. The only place I have seen the plastic plug is on SBE's.

In Delaware it is two bucks and four does w/lic. You can kill all the does you want for $10 for each tag. All deer get tagged, the game wardens are great. I have had 10 deer in a pickup, stopped for gas and game warden pulled up and asked where we were hunting and left w/o getting out of truck.

I have owned both, they are both good guns. I only have SBE's now and the reasons are, easier to clean, less moving parts, feels better and they make a left hand gun(least important). I must also say that the SBE action is a work of art to me.

I did not mention that the farmer needs about 10 deer a year. After his he has about 5 seniors that take deer. Usually I have about a 5 does to 1 buck ratio. Makes me feel like I am doing my part(Plus) of management. The last time I took a buck under 8 pts. was to win a pool, felt bad but the money was good.

I got my first SBE when I was 40, now I am 59. Have had 4 SBE's in that time and all have shot every time perfectly. Could not begin to guess how many shots. I agree older Remingtons are better than newer ones. Only trouble is 3 1/2" Remingtons fall under the newer heading.

I only deer hunt and love every time I go(50+ a year). My outlook is, if at end of year, I have killed a buck most hunters would mount I have had a great year. I also want to take a many does as bucks.

I like my burger cooked a little more.

I just played w/ UPS and a 15 lb. package from Anchorage to New Jersey is $71(do not know where you are, but Md should be dest.). I do not know if US Postal Service accepts weapons but they are cheaper yet.

The handle, when new, is stiff. Wrap a string around it with a loop on loose end and jerk on string. You can also pry it out but risk marring finish. It does get easier w/time.

I will consider myself lucky.

I have two LH guns, 1999 SBE & a 2005 SBE II they both work perfect.

Four. one SBE I LH, one SBE II LH, one Browning Gold Hunter, one Browning BPS(sold Remington & Beretta)

My point is that this thread is not for me, nothing more. I know this is America, I am a Army DAV since 1969.

The question is "Is this good humor?" My opinon is the thread rating.

I have used Patternmaster on three SBE's. One showed great improvement and two were no better. You can return them for refund if not happy. It seems they are great chokes in about 50% of weapons. Had 50%(2 for 4)improvement in Browning Gold Hunter also.

With the Lightfields(100yrds) a 5 shot group is very seldom over 2 1/2", usually around 2". I have not shot Lighfields over that at range but have shot deer to 160yrds. After 125 the drop is hard to adjust for in a hurry. The Barnes bullets are usually l00 yrds, 5 shots under 2" with more flyers than Lightfield. My range does not allow slug shooting over 100 yrds. I have had good hits on about five deer 150 to 200 yrs w/Barnes. I shoot the Barnes zeroed @170, aim low to 125 and aim direct to 200. I have not played w/guns you mentioned but the 1 in 28" twist is a must in my opinion. My SBE slug barrels are E R Shaw which are thicker than the modern Benelli barrel but I have shot new barrels w/good results. I had E R Shaw make mine in left hand and they do not have rifle sights to get in the way is why I have them.

I have two slug barrels and two SBE's. I can mix any barrel with any shotgun and not change POI.

I have the Burris fast fire on my bow and handgun and the work great. I have not put a speed bead on my SBE because I change from slug barrels to buckshot and it would be in the way of scope. I think it is a good item, BUT make sure you are correct eye dominant or it will set you in fits.

My SBE II is a triangle and finish is matte.

That was me.

I do not think it is worth upgrading. I bought a used SBE(lefty) and a new SBE II(also lefty). The larger trigger guard is nice and the II looks better. I have a slug and shot barrel for deer hunting and mix them and really do not have a preference which gun I use.

The rigid assembly question is a hard one. It is impossible to know(from experience) that it is better. That being stated E R Shaw(custon barrels) will not make a slug barrel that is not rigid. Tar-Hunt custom guns are bolt action(rigid). I think it is better but not from real world, it just makes sense. The benifit of SBE is you get rigid in a auto and can still have a shot barrel. The Benelli's have the 1 in 28" twist which I have found to be best.

I have owned about 5 SBE slug barrels and all have shot better than any other gun at the range. They have a 1 in 28" twist which is accepted as the best for modern,high speed slugs(I THINK the 11-87 is a slower 1 in 34). They also seem to have alot less "flyers". If you are shooting less than 125 yds try Lightflield slugs, if longer I have had great success with Federal/Barnes slugs out to 200 yds. All my SBE slug guns like to be dirty, I only clean the barrel when accuracy falls off or end of season.

If you check ballastics at Federal, Whinchester, etc. you can compare 12 vrs. 20 performance. You will see(at longer range) that a 12 is a better choice. If buying a 12 ga. a 28" twist rate is what you want for modern sabots. I never went the 20ga. route but the twist rate will be different. TarHunt web site might give you insight to best twist rates. I hunt a 4,000 ft.(arrow straight) drainage ditch in Del. and often shoot 150 to 200 yrds w/great results. Just killed a 150 lb. 8pt @147 yrds, perfrect hit, went

My deer hunting buddy is a Ocean City policeman, lives near WaWa at bottom of Rt 50.