leid

I thought there would be a somewhat wider application of aftermarket Ti bolt handles on different model Benelli shotguns. I have verified Dave's steel handle to fit the Benelli SBE/SBEII/M1/M2/M4 bolts, but it may also fit other models such as the M3. It freely rotates 360 degrees on the M4 but will only rotate about 30 degrees on the other models. The small flat ground on the Dave's handle dictates the vertical position allowing it to fit the SBE/SBEII/M1/M2 but the flat is not necessary for it to fit the M4. The white marking indicates the vertical position of the OEM M4 and Dave's handles. I would think that a higher quality Ti bolt handle with wider application over the different Benelli models would be very well received. Top-Bottom: Benelli OEM M2, Dave's steel, Benelli OEM M4

Welcome aboard Anna. In all fairness to Benelli, they have been very helpful in solving several other problems encountered in over 2 decades of using their shotguns. On the other hand, they had a hand in creating some of those very problems. No matter. I shoot/collect/hunt with handguns, rifles, shotguns, M1 Garands, Thompson Submachine Guns, M1918 BARs, MP38/MP40s, M14s, M16s, & silencers. And I have sucked down more than a few in London town in my 58 years. There is a world of goodies available for your Benelli M1 shotgun. CHEERS! Carey Leidenheimer (leid) The WW1 COLT M1918 Browning Machine Rifle pictured spent WW2 in England as Lend-Lease equipment, most probably in the hands of the British Home Guard, and was kindly returned to the U.S. in 1958.

Kip, SUREFIRE is not the only one who has lied to leid about Benelli shotguns. In 1991, HK/Benelli swore up and down that their factory extension tube would not fit the then-new HK imported SBE I had picked up. Several years later, I finally bought one for dove/duck/goose hunting in old Mexico. It fit the early SBE and that same tube is pictured on the SBEII pictured above. Wish Benelli and other companies would simply just tell the truth as in "we have not tried it" or "we don't know". Given time, I will eventually find out. For many years, HK/BENELLI also swore up and down that the M1 pistol grip stock would not fit the early HK/Benelli SBE. I bolted one on days before last year's turkey season:

When I asked SUREFIRE if their M1/M2 weapons light forend fit the SBE/SBEII, they said no. Apparently, they have never tried to install their products on a SBE/SBEII. This SUREFIRE 617 LM fits the SBEII even better than it fits on the M2 Tactical.

The 24" SBE 2 pattern showed 98.4% at 40yds. with a Rob Roberts Final Strut non-ported 0.640" turkey choke firing the Federal 3.5" 1 7/8oz. #7 HeavyWeight 1300FPS load. The center of the pattern is EXTREMELY dense with 190 of 428 pellets in 10" circle at 40yds (see below). Will have to get some data on patterns with larger shot in both Heavyweight & lead. I only achieved 90% pattern density firing Federal 3 1/2" 2 1/4 oz. #6 lead in my early '91 H&K/Benelli SBE I and the barrel was "worked": Pro-Ported, lengthened force cone by Briley, and the MAD 0.650 ported choke tube. NOTE: FEDERAL says not to use their Heavy loads with Flitecontrol wads with a ported choke tube. Not quite sure of the reason yet. Best info I have is the FEDERAL FLITECONTROL® wad is not compatible with at least some choke tube porting designs but apparently works fine with barrel porting. Edit: Rob Roberts recommended their non-ported T3 choke tube for use with #2 shot thru 00 buckshot for 4 or 2 legged predators. I will have a lot of test shot results when I get back from turkey season in Mississippi. Will be chasing the birds around for about a month. 20" Pellets: 371 of 428 10" Pellets: 190 of 428 with 0.640 FINAL STRUT Choke firing FED PREM Heavy Weight 3 1/2" 1 7/8 oz. #7

Waterfowler, I tried the H&K/Benelli, Primos, MAD, Briley, TRUGLO, and a few other turkey chokes in my '91 model SBE and settled on the MAD same as you. But I have a new SBE2 on the way now:http://www.benelliusa.com/shotguns/benelli_performance_shop_super_black_eagle_II_turkey_gun.php. It has a Rob Roberts Final Strut non-ported 0.640" turkey choke tube so I will need to shoot some patterns with it. But the MAD "GOBLER MAX" 0.665" (MD-1235) looks interesting if the Rob Roberts choke doesn't pattern well enough. The MAD "DOG POUNDER" 0.710" (MD-1275) for goose loads &/or buckshot may also be of interest. It can get expensive finding what works best. Keep us posted on what works for you and I will do the same. Turkey season is now right around the corner down here in Mississippi. Thanks! Carey Edit: Starting to consider Indian Creek choke tubes since they actually manufacture the MAD choke tubes; less expensive to buy and same basic design/ID.

Here are respective groups from an accurized M16 rifle with a 18" full-heavy fluted Krieger SS barrel with CLE 5.56MM MATCH chamber firing a factory MK 262 MOD 0 type 77gr. SIERRA MATCHKING loading. 5 shot groups are the norm with a few shooters going to 10 shot groups when testing/developing loads. But light "pencil barrel" hunting rifles, especially magnums, heat up quickly so 3 shot groups give a good indication of hunting accuracy. 500yd. & 100yd. groups: 3.27" & 0.51" Here is a 77gr. SMK handload group at 750yds: 5.47"

More realistically priced: http://www.gunbroker.com/Auction/ViewItem.aspx?Item=190368770 And Brownell's usually has the Benelli OEM barrel clamp if you need one.

Here is one on GB still NIB. I have no financial interest in this part: http://www.gunbroker.com/Auction/ViewItem.aspx?Item=186948865

Read these to gain a better understanding: http://www.ar15.com/content/page.html?id=176 http://www.firearmstactical.com/briefs10.htm

I bolted a Benelli M1 tactical pistol grip stock on this early '91 model SBE last hunting season along with the larger bolt handle from Brownells (Dave's IIRC). Both were worthwhile upgrades IMO.

Benelli shotguns have a PROOF mark stamped on the receiver which will appear as Roman numerals thru 1974 or 2 letters in a square box since with "CD" being the code for 2009. Call Bachman for info on availability/price.

Bachman Pawn & Gun (Dallas, TX) had 2009 "CD" PROOF mark NIB black Benelli M4 model 11707s for $1199.95 + tax with all factory rebates taken at a Houston, TX gun show May 22 & 23. I would think they sold them all by now at that price but their PH # is 214-351-3628.

I received a NIB Benelli M4 "C" stock a few minutes ago. It took less than 3 days from "Sell me one for $585 shipped" to unwrapping the package. Service by "needncash" can not get any better. Thanks, Carey

Sell me one for $585 shipped. IM sent. Thanks, Carey

Very good information. Order placed thru your website. Thanks, Carey

I just returned from a week of turkey hunting and long range rifle practice. Ran out of the original Permanone with Permethrin, WalMart was sold out of the newer REPEL/Permanone with Permethrin, so had to resort to using REPEL with 40% DEET on freshly washed camos. The 40% DEET did not appear to work nearly as well as Permanone with Permethin as I just pulled yet another tick out of my hide. Check real close every night then check again as cleefurd is spot-on with his 24 hour window. And I drank a little Merlot every night with dinner: no luck here unfortunately. But Lyme is not wide-spread down here in the south.

I speak M14 as well as Benelli SBE/M1; they go together well. Did not realize this forum was bilingual.

IIRC, my SBE will hold 8 + 1 (9 total) 2 3/4" shells with the extension installed. This factory Benelli extension is referred to as the "+4 extension". Benelli supplied it with a 13" aluminum limiter which looks very much like the one used in the Benelli M4s with the full length magazine tubes sold outside the U.S. When installed in the SBE with the +4 extension, the limiter brings the total capacity of 2 3/4 thru 3 1/2 shells down to the U.S maximum of 3 for hunting migratory waterfowl.

I have been using Permanone with Permethrin for almost a decade now with excellent results. And when the mosquitoes get extra bad, I will spray 100% DEET on top of that. A long-time friend & a co-worker both caught Lyme Disease, West Nile, and Spinal Meningitis all at the same time. I don't want any.

The OEM spring furnished with the factory Benelli 9 3/4" OAL M1/M2/SBE magazine extension measures 28.75" and has worked fine on my SBE. Take into consideration that this spring length may represents "set" length as it has been very lightly used for shooting in Mexico. But it has never been stored fully-loaded so spring set will be minimal. The spring wire itself is 0.042" in diameter. HTH

I have purchased original Benelli parts for the SBE from Brownells. But if your SBE is worn enough to require an armorer's attention, I would first consider shipping it back to Benelli. The number listed on a spare HK/Benelli SBE recoil spring I purchased in '91 is T000363. But that is an HK p/n which has probably been replaced with a Benelli p/n .02

Long ago grainy pic of the first bird with the '91 SBE before the wood stock shattered. Dropped him dead as a stone at just under 50yds. Just one of those fond hunting memories along with the bird deep fried in peanut oil.

Recoil of a light 3.5" 12ga is sharp especially when shooting 2.25 OZ lead loads. The original wood stock on my early 3.5" SBE went to pieces upon firing the first year I had it. HK/Benelli quickly sent me a new plastic stock set as a replacement. The stock I wanted to use was the M1 pistol grip stock but HK/Benelli had told me repeatedly thru the years that it would not fit the SBE. After finding out the M1 pistol grip stock will in fact fit the early HK/Benelli SBE, I put one on for this turkey season (below). Feels very good and has a natural pointing ability. Will do some run & gun turkey hunting with it next week. After Briley lengthened the force cone and experimenting with several different turkey choke tubes, it patterns right at 90% at 40 yds. with 2.25 OZ #6 loads. The 26" barrel was Pro-Ported to keep recoil under control.

The BPS 10 will suit him well then as it is Big and it is Heavy. Makes the SBE look & feel like a toy. And I am the first to admit, that 10 was capable of killing geese that were WAY out there. But by the time you got your supernova, I had already been married to this SBE for quite a few hunting seasons.