Trapshooter1

I use my pocket knife to just pop it out because I always have it with me, a flat head screwdriver works great to. It can be pulled out by hand if you pull on it hard.

+1 My M2 has fed everything i put through it but i haven't put less than 1 oz loads, but i have put a lot of loads through it. Another way to break it in, is to actually wipe all the oil off of the bolt and cycle it by hand MANY times and you should see paint worn of in the areas that rub, and then oil it like Vinci shooter said it should cycle great. The vinci I shot cycled 100 cheapy 1 oz loads without a problem.

Good catch, I would like to see a slug in slow mo to see if thats true.

Actually it says that sabot slugs do not spin in a smooth bores, and rifled slugs do.

The only thing I can answer is about changing it to SX if you do so it will shoot even more to the left.

The M2 is semi auto, it uses the inertia from the recoil to cycle the action. If you plan on putting more than just a couple accessories that add weight to your M2 you may have problems with the M2. Those problems being you may have the gun jam often. The M3 is basically an M2 that you can select to be either semi auto or pump action. The M4 is semi auto like the M2, but it is gas operated meaning you can weigh it down with all the accessories you want and it will cycle reliably.

it should read "DX" if you are right handed.

Or you could shut your left eye

Sounds like you are right handed and looking with your left eye, try shutting your left eye and only opening your right eye. I had the same problem, its called cross dominance. Its where you are right handed and your left eye is either just as dominant as the right, or the dominant eye is your left eye.

Cylinder is pretty light for a fixed choke, like the older fixed choke field guns were fixed full even though they would rarely need to be that tight. But I guess you know more than me about that particular barrel.

I am pretty sure you have a modified choke restriction. Modified is like the middle of the choke constriction spectrum and will work good for just about everything, the short barrel will be very whippy, swing slow on moving targets.

The choke is the most important factor in the legal barrel length range, what is the constriction and what will you be hunting.

That is if you shoot at everything as far away as possible Tucker. A lot of shots you could get away with a 3" or even a 2 3/4.

Congrats on the new benelli, where in AR did you buy your M4?

Basically what "agm65ccip" said. The main difference between the SBE and the M2 is chamber length. As I hope you know the M2 has a 3" chamber and the SBE has a 3.5" chamber. You can do all you need with a 3" shell, in the same way you can do all you need with a .410 single shot shotgun. If you are planing on hunting the big birds which are turkey and geese I strongly recommend you go for the SBE. There are other differences between the 2 guns beside that. Probably the next biggest difference is the receiver. The M2 barrel locks into the receiver, where as the part of the barrel that connects it to the gun actually is part of the receiver on the SBE. The advantage to the SBE's barrel is ease of cleaning. It is hard to clean out all the nooks and crannies of the M2 receiver, but since the top half of the receiver is connected to the barrel on the SBE, the receiver is literally cut in half with the barrel off, making for much more Thorough and much easier cleaning. It doesn't end their, another big factor is reliability. The bolt has to travel another half inch to cycle, and if I am correct the bolt assembly ways more on the SBE. So if you want to shoot 1 oz loads or lighter a lot I strongly recommend the M2. Based on what I have heard and seen you can shoot 1 1/8 oz 3 dram light loads with a SBE reliably as long as you make sure to break it in properly, keep clean, and keep it oiled. The last factor I can think of is the trigger guard. The M2 has a smaller trigger guard than the SBE, not that I am saying it is particularly small, I am saying the SBE has a particularly big trigger guard. The SBE has more space in the trigger guard allowing for heavy insulated gloves. A few years ago that would have been a big factor. Now I use trigger finger gloves that have a black index finger that is narrower and allows for use in the tightest trigger guards. I hope this helps.

I don't know because I have not tried it myself with a 3" chamber out of an otherwise identical gun.

Did you have a spelling error? You can tell much difference?

Yes a mod choke is ok, I got decent results with my 870 w/ 3.5" chamber so I don't think there is any big affects as far as chamber length, not that I am saying they are non existent.

You would be safe shooting your slugs through a full, I can't say for sure you will get the same patterns with a mod but they should be pretty close, and give you a good idea of how an IC would work.

I noticed no difference between my M2 with comfortech, and an M2 American which doesn't have the comfort tech. There is probably a slight difference, but not easily noticeable. I do think it makes a difference with heavier loads but I don't know for sure because I didn't shoot heavy loads through the american, but the heavy loads kick lighter than I think they should.

Benelli for sure uses quality wood. I haven't been looking at SBE2s with a wood stock, but you can look up the SBE with a wood stock on gunbroker.com and you will get a good idea what a fair price is. I hear lots of good things about the Maxus, but unfortunately, I have no experience with that gun.

Your mod choke would work, but for a flush choke, not much: http://www.ableammo.com/catalog/product_info.php?products_id=6706

Yes the SBE2 as well as the Vinci is made in Italy, Wood is fine, but the blue finish of the barrel is more rust prone than camo. I don't have a whole lot of experience with wood stocks, but as long as they aren't abused they should last longer than you. I have seen a couple low grade wood stocks broke, but they were abused badly. Wood stocks can also crack much easier than synthetic.

I can't answer that with your barrel and loads you may try that are different, but I got better results in a smooth bore with rifled slugs than a rifled choke and sabot slugs. I am being completely straight with you, no lie. If you find out the rifled slugs are better, don't beat yourself up about it, you can always get some of your money back by selling it if that is the case.

That would be a hard decision, but right now the Vinci is to new, the SBE's recoil could be just as light with a limbsaver recoil pad, The Vinci isn't proven. I would pick the SBE, because it is a proven durable design, and many aftermarket parts and accessories are available for it, and none are available for the Vinci. The Vinci isn't available in 3.5" and may never be, so.....