Matt D

Upland These hunts were on private land in Soth Dakota, they had a great hatch, rian in August to provide great cover. The number of pheasant are insane. One day (you can't start hunting until 10:00 AM) we had 10 guys and rooster number 30 hit the ground at 1:20. If you love to hunt pheasant, South Dakota is the place to go.

I own both the LH M2 and LH SBE2, use the M2 when blocking for pheasant and use it for a waterfowl backup gun. Both are great guns and perform flawlessly in ever condition I have encountered. As for differences, aside from 3” vs 3.5” loads, they way they breakdown and the trigger guard and in my mind are very minimal. If I were to have to choose one it would be the SBE2 for the versatility of shooting pheasant loads and waterfowl loads. As for the Frachi I-12, if go with the best you can afford. Again, SBE2. Good luck

This year I used a new Winchester Traditional Elegance O/U 26” that I got on clearance this spring. It is light and is great as a carry gun, but use the M2 with the limiter removed when blocking. In two trips this year, 8 – 10 (depending on the day) or use got 80 pheasant in three days. The second trip 5 of use got 24 pheasant and 4 partridges in 4 days.

One of the hunters we hunt with bought some last year. We cut one open and found that the shot size varied widely, some of the shot were mis-shapped and they stuck to the steel knife blade, showing some type of magnetic charge. I didn’t change, stuck with Kent Faststeel and Black Clouds this year.

According to THe South Dakota Hunting & Trapping Handbook. "The use of nontoxic shot for samll game hunting is required on most public lands, but not all. GF&P encourages hunters to use nontoxic shot for all hunting ...." We use in just non toxic to save the hassle and have had good success with Kent Impact Tunsten. But got some 3" Black Cloud on clearence for $14, I will give those a try this weekend.

I agree with the 2.75" offering, that would be nice for pheasant in some of the public hunting arears in South Dakota. That require non toxic shot.

Used them for the first time this weekend. Got 2 clean kills at 45-50 yards with 3.5" #4. I was very pleased, but don't know if I am pleased enough to spend $22.00 a box.

T Reed, When this happens can you pull back on the bolt handle a little (moving the bolt back a little) and press the relesae button. Will the bolt relase forward?

Haydel DR85 Double reed for ducks Haydel SP-04 for Speks and Snows, don't do much Canada goose hunting.

Have you checked Carlson or Trulock? I have bought tubes from Trulock and found thier customer service and products to be outstanding.

I was in 2 gun shops on Saturday (one in a real small town) and they both had 6 or so SBEII's.

I just talked with a friend in Alabama that saw a new Ultra Light 20 ga, that weighs in a under 5 lbs. The store owner told him that the store was shipped 1 for display purposes and they are taking orders. Anyone seen this gun out in the market?

Ditto what Tucker said. And if they came out with a left handed 20 ga I would buy one of those too.

I own both the SBE II and M2, aside from the physical differences described by Tucker and Full Bore there are not a whole lot of differences to me. As for shouldering, swing and operation there is very little difference. If I were given the choice to only have one, it would be the SBE II.

Excited about a 10 ga, you must be a dentist. A 7 lb 10 ga would knockout your fillings.

I keep two pair as well. Waist high 3 mm and Lacrosse 5mm chest highs, have bought both pairs at Mack’s Prairie Wing. They usually have a pre-season sale.

I know in Oklahoma they require a special state permit and your Federal Stamp. Two years ago a couple guys in center Kansas mistaked Wooping Cranes to Sand Hills. They got hefty fines and had to pay the vet bill to rehab one of the birds a KSU vet school.

Congrats on the Sand Hill crane. We have killed them on our bird lease in North Central Okalhoma. The locals call them the "Ribeye of the sky" they are real good tasting birds.

This is great for dove and quail breast: Take a whole green jalapeño put it in the cavity created by the breast bone Lightly season with Canadian Steak seasoning, wrap whole thing lean bacon, use tooth picks to hold the bacon on and to pierce the jalapeño. Put it on the grill. The jalapeño flavor will steam up into the bird. Check The Sporting Chef (has a web sight) for some great water fowl recipes. He has cooked at the DU booth at the SHOT Show for the past few years. The past two years our companies booth has been within smell distance of the DU booth.

My daughter is 5’2” 100-105 pounds. She shoots trap and skeet at college (I know guns at a college is a touchy subject) with a Beretta Urika 391 youth. The gun fits her, that said. What ever gun best fits, is the best gun.

Teal are very good but if you ever get the chance. Sand Hill Crane, ribeye of the sky.

Makes you think Darwin knew what he was talking about some 150 years ago.

Take Teal breasts, soak them in salt water for 3-4 hours. Drain and rinse, soak in 1/2 and 1/2 mixture of Allegro Teriyaki and Hot/Spicy. Put a mixture of cream cheese and chives between the 2 breast halfs, wrap with center cut lean bacon grill until the cream cheese starts to melt.

Thanks folks, needed a good laugh to start the week.

I own both a SBE II and a M2, they are both very reliable guns and simple to clean, the recoil has never been an issue to me. But it is up to the individual and their sensitivity to recoil. As for differences, other then the shell length they come apart a little different, but the basics are the same. I too would suggest trying to find one to shoot before buying and might suggest looking at and try shooting the M2 20ga. I think this would be an awesome gun for dove.