Remy

MOFOWLER, I had a similar experience about 18 years ago. I was coming home from a dove hunting trip in eastern Oregon. My buddy was asleep in the passenger seat and his dog was asleep in the rear seat. I noticed that I was getting drowsy and I promised myself I would get some coffee at a cafe that was only a couple miles up the road. Well, the next thing I knew I was going over a steep bank and heading for a bunch of trees. After everything came to a stop and I crawled out of my car (the door was jambed shut) I luckily found that my buddy, myself and the dog were basically OK with only a few bloody scrapes and cuts. My car, on the other hand, was totaled. I made a promise to myself that I would ALWAYS pull over and sleep or stretch if I got sleepy while driving in the future. I have kept that promise all these years since that fateful day. I figure that God was giving me a warning that day and I don't plan to push my luck again!

I am left-handed and use a right-hand original SBE or SBE I. Look around for a nice used SBE I right-hand if you can't afford a new SBE II. A right hand SBE I will work fine for you------ my two cents!

I like Breakfree. I usually buy the liquid squeeze bottle because you get more for your money and it won't prematurely stop spraying like an aerosol type spray can somtimes does.

Good looking strap full of birds, mudhen!!

Very simple answer to you question----------don't get either one of the lengths you mentioned. Get a 26" and you will be set up! Remember you have a long sighting plane with the length of the receiver. You will like the 26"!!

Nate, I have shot both redheads and cans on big water areas in Eastern Oregon. They are not real common, though.

I must say that owning and using guns IS supremely important to me. If a politician does not support the "individual right" interpretation of the U.S. Constitution, then he does not support the right of citizens to protect their lives and their family's lives. If a politician does not support my right to own a firearm, then he probably will vote to restrict my rights in other areas of my life. Look at states such as Massachusetts and New Jersey-----very restrictive on firearms and they are also restrictive in many other areas------unless you are a homosexual-------then you are supercool and given rights up the wazoo. No, in my mind it is critical for a politico to support gun rights or they don't get my vote.

I am not sure that the camo is covered, but since it is a new gun I would hope it is. My SBE is a matte synthetic, so I don't have anything to peel off. I would call customer service and let them know what's going on.

Hey red willie---------were you hunting on the Columbia? West or East side of the mountains? I have not been out yet because the fall weather has been so sunny here in Oregon. Have you talked to anyone who hunted Summer Lake this year?

snow gooser, Hope your hunting trip is a lot of fun and good luck with the 1100-----I have had two of them and had excellent service from them. The guys here at the forum will be thinking of you while you recover from your medical procedure. Get back with us when you get a chance. Ted

MyBoyElroy, Yea, your are right----Mexico sucks----and so do all the illegal scumbags that sneak into our country from Mexico!!!

I thought I would post this for all of us who appreciate a true gentleman and firearms expert. I met Jeff at an NRA convention several years ago and had the opportunity to speak with him for a bit. What a great man. " Cooper, firearms expert, dead at 86. Instrumental in firearms training to thousands World-renowned firearms expert Jeff Cooper, founder of the Gunsite firearms training center in Paulden, died Monday afternoon at his home near the training center. Cooper, 86, had been battling several health problems in recent years. The family plans a private burial ceremony and will announce a memorial ceremony at the National Rifle Association Whittington Center in New Mexico in the near future. Cooper had been a member of the NRA Board of Directors. Born on May 20, 1920, in Los Angeles, as John Dean Cooper, Cooper who always went by "Jeff," earned a master's degree in history and taught history. He served in the U.S. Marine Corps during World War II as well as in Southeast Asia and Korea. In the 1960s, he organized a group called the Bear Valley Gunslingers and the Southwest Combat League. During the organizations' shooting competitions at Big Bear, he formulated the Modern Technique of combat handgun shooting which incorporates a large-caliber semi-automatic pistol, a two handed Weaver stance, breath control and a surprise trigger break. In 1976, he founded the American Pistol Institute, or Gunsite, at Paulden to teach those pistol techniques and later added a full curriculum on pistols, rifles and shotguns. Since then, more than 18,000 students, including celebrities like Tom Selleck, law enforcement officers, military members from many nations and many civilians have graduated from courses there. Cooper sold the operation in 1992 and dissociated himself from the new owners but continued to live on the land in a home he called The Sconce. He became involved with the center again in 1999 when it changed ownership. He was a frequent sight on the grounds clad in green military fatigues and riding around the sprawling property on a three-wheeled all-terrain vehicle. Known in firearms circles as "The Gunner's Guru," Cooper taught about firearms in Mexico, Guatemala, El Salvador, Honduras, Costa Rica, the Philippines, Germany, Belgium, Sweden, South Africa and Rhodesia. Many have called him the world's foremost expert on small arms (rifles, pistols and shotguns). He was editor at large of Guns & Ammo Magazine and a prolific writer on firearms. His books include "The Art of the Rifle," "Another Country," Sports Car Annual," "Fireworks," "To Ride, Shoot Straight and Speak the Truth," "C Stories" and "Gunsite Gossip," Volumes I and II as well as the many articles he wrote for Guns & Ammo Magazine. He also produced "Cooper's Commentaries," a series of monthly essays on the Internet. In his writings, Cooper coined the term "hoplophobia" to denote the irrational fear of weapons. He hunted big game all over the world and especially loved Africa. He also was an avid sports car enthusiast. Cooper received the American Handgunner Award in 1995 and the St. Gabriel Possenti Award. St. Gabriel is the patron saint of shooters. Surviving are his widow, Janelle Cooper; three daughters, Christy, Mrs. Chick Hastings of Prescott, Parry, Mrs. Bruce Health of Denver, Colo., and Lindy, Mrs. Joe Wisdom of Tempe, as well as five grandchildren and five great-grandchildren."

Thanks for the clarification, Shane. Sounds like you guys had an awesome weeked. I guess I am a little jealous.

If you and your buddy got your daily limits for three days-------wouldn't that be 48 ducks, not 83? Or did you mean that you and several buddies were out hunting. Anyway, I am not trying to throw cold water on your opening weekend hunting trip. It sounds like you had a great hunt and that is cool.

Two of you guys got 83 ducks in three days. What are the daily limits on ducks in Manitoba?

Total heart-felt agreement with you Darby. This is a date we Americans must never forget. Ted

My perennial two cents on this subject-----26 inch.

Check it out!!! No Avian Flu Found After Thousands of Alaskan Birds Tested August 31, 2006 9:27 AM Maddy Sauer Reports: The expected avian flu outbreaks in North American birds have yet to show up. After testing over 13,000 migratory birds in Alaska this summer, no positive results for the avian flu virus, H5N1, have been detected. Now other states have begun preparations for the fall migration. "Although no high-path H5N1 virus has yet been detected," said Interior Secretary Dirk Kempthorne, who is in Alaska this week, "we must remain vigilant and thorough in this important detection and early warning program." Scientists believe Alaska would be one of the first locations where infected birds may be found in the U.S. because many birds migrating from the influenza hot zones in Asia migrate there in the summer. There the Asian birds co-mingle with many birds from the lower 48 states who also migrate to Alaska in the summer months. While scientists can't do much to stop avian flu from coming to the U.S., they do hope that early diagnosis would enable the government to take any necessary precautions. Now that fall is approaching, both state and federal biologists in the lower 48 states and Hawaii have begun capturing and sampling various migratory birds as they begin their southern migration. This year's sampling program includes the goal of testing up to 100,000 migratory birds across the country. I also posted this on Benelli Waterfowling. Sorry for the double post.

Check it out!!! No Avian Flu Found After Thousands of Alaskan Birds Tested August 31, 2006 9:27 AM Maddy Sauer Reports: The expected avian flu outbreaks in North American birds have yet to show up. After testing over 13,000 migratory birds in Alaska this summer, no positive results for the avian flu virus, H5N1, have been detected. Now other states have begun preparations for the fall migration. "Although no high-path H5N1 virus has yet been detected," said Interior Secretary Dirk Kempthorne, who is in Alaska this week, "we must remain vigilant and thorough in this important detection and early warning program." Scientists believe Alaska would be one of the first locations where infected birds may be found in the U.S. because many birds migrating from the influenza hot zones in Asia migrate there in the summer. There the Asian birds co-mingle with many birds from the lower 48 states who also migrate to Alaska in the summer months. While scientists can't do much to stop avian flu from coming to the U.S., they do hope that early diagnosis would enable the government to take any necessary precautions. Now that fall is approaching, both state and federal biologists in the lower 48 states and Hawaii have begun capturing and sampling various migratory birds as they begin their southern migration. This year's sampling program includes the goal of testing up to 100,000 migratory birds across the country.

I thought the issue is with the barrel hanger (where the barrel attaches to the receiver top). It is larger in diameter on an SBE II (and on a slug barrel) than it is on an SBE 1. To accomodate the larger diameter of the barrel hanger on the SBE II, the forend opening is somewhat larger at the rear of the forearm where it encircles the hanger. I didn't think the diameter of the barrel itself had anything to do with it. Does anyone else have any comments on this issue to clarify what is correct.

It is my understanding that the forend for the SBE II will work with the slug barrel. The SBE 1, on the other hand, needs either a different forend or a modified forend to use the slug barrel.

ollie, It sounds to me that you have been spending too much time on the "Duck Hunting Chat Forum". There are some serious Benelli haters at that site. If you are so paranoid about Benelli's, I agree with some of the other guys-------buy a Remington or a Mossberg. Then there will be one more Benelli out there to buy when I am ready to get my next one.

WASHINGTON Jul 24, 2006 (AP)— The popular "duck stamp" program, which has generated some $700 million for wildlife habitat preservation since its inception in 1934, will go electronic on a trial basis under legislation approved by Congress Monday. The measure passed by the House would set up a three-year pilot program in 15 states enabling hunters, conservationists and stamp collectors to purchase their duck stamps over the phone or Internet. The vote was 358-4. "Hunters will be able to spend more time enjoying nature rather than waiting in lines to purchase their duck stamp," Sen. Mike Crapo, R-Idaho, said in an earlier statement. The bill has already cleared the Senate. Under the 1934 law, all migratory waterfowl hunters 16 years of age or older must buy a federal migratory bird hunting and conservation stamp annually. Revenue from the stamps, different from hunting licenses, have been used to preserve some 5.2 million acres of migratory waterfowl habitat. Rep. Greg Walden, R-Ore., said 122 million stamps have been sold. He said that if the three-year pilot program proves successful, Congress could act to make the electronic sales permanent. The bill is S. 1496

BigJim, A lot of people in my area shoot a 26" when using an autoloader------the majority I would say.

Does that mean they are going to quit selling ammo at those stores?