Benelli SBE/M2 question

L

logstove

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I am thinking of buying my son a Benelli, either a SBE or M2. I am thinking I should get the 2 3/4" / 3" chamber because honestly the 3 1/2" is probably overkill for him. My son has grew out of his 870 Youth 20 ga pump.

Here is what I want to ask you guys who are familiar with these Benelli or any shotgun. If I was to get him 3" shells to go predator hunting will this work fine in a 3 1/2" chamber? I have read that some shotguns that have the 3 1/2" will not function reliably with 3" chambers.

To make matters worse, my local Cabelas has the SBE on sale but I hardly see M2's on sale. I suspect we will shoot the 3" for predator hunting and the 2 3/4 on clays.

What would you buy? I have had 870's all my life but this is going to be a multi-purpose shotgun and I want the 26".
 

I have 2 Benelli shotguns, a 12g Montefeltro and a 12g M2. I have used both for quail, ducks, geese, pheasants, and coyotes. They both have 3" chambers. I have never felt the need for 3 1/2" shells and normally use 2 3/4" shells for everything. I have no experience with the SBE. I have not heard of reliability issues with 3 1/2" chambered guns firing 3" shells, or 2 3/4" shells for that matter. If I were buying a new 12g, I would buy the M2, unless I could get a sweet deal on the SBE. Both are great guns and you'll be happy with either.
 
Originally Posted By: logstoveHere is what I want to ask you guys who are familiar with these Benelli or any shotgun. If I was to get him 3" shells to go predator hunting will this work fine in a 3 1/2" chamber? I have read that some shotguns that have the 3 1/2" will not function reliably with 3" chambers.




if a 3 1/2 chambered shotgun is made worth a crap there is no problem interchanging shell lengths. the benelli is a well made shotgun and there should be no problem.

personally i would just get the 3" chambered m2 and call it good.
 
I have an OLD benelli m1. stamped H&K. Also an SBE and a super vinci. I have shot, but don't like, 3.5" shells on duck's, coyotes, geese. My M1 is my favorite of the three. The 3" shells shoot fine in all the guns but I still prefer the handling characteristics of my M1. So my advice is to find an M1 or m2.
 
I have a Beneli sbe2 but have never shot 3.5” shells in my opinion they are not needed the new 3” steel is good for any ducks and geese you may need and 3.5” shells are not needed in lead. It’s just my opinion but I would rather shoot a 10 gauge if I need to shoot 3.5” stuff.
 
Well I have a 12ga M2 and a SBE2.Bought the M2 new and got a smoking deal on the used SBE2.
I think I would buy him the M2 because just a tad shorter and I
HATE shooting 31/2" shells. Use the M2 for clays to turkeys and it never misses a beat. Gonna put a pistol grip stock on the SBE2
for a designated turkey gun. Couple pals have SBE2's and they shoot skeet,trap, and everything else no problems.
Buy once cry once.
 
There was wise man that said he would rather shoot 3 1/2 inch shells in a 10 gauge. Ten bore guns generally weight 10 pounds thereabout and the old standard loads were 2 ounces of shot at 1330 fps.
Now we have 12 gauge loads that approach that and I think my SBE might only weigh 7 1/2 pounds. Might kick more than the 10 don't you think??????????

Maybe people are more impervious to recoil now that they were 50 years ago, but I know that I am not. You don't have to do the biggest loads.

I would pattern a few and see what was best.
I have shot all length 12 gauge shells in my SBE ll and it works perfectly with all of them.
 
I have the M2 21" for 3 Gun and my Brother has the SBE 26" he uses for 3 Gun and Coyote hunting. I much prefer the M2. He prefers the SBE. I don't think you can go wrong with either.
 
I have a SBE2 , I got it to shoot 3.5" for geese and 3.5" Dead Coyote T shot. I've also fed it plenty of 2.75 and 3" stuff . It eats them all equally well and asks for seconds.

If I was never going to shoot 3.5 I'd get a M2 . I do like how the SBE2s break down for cleaning however. Both are a very good shotgun !
 
Cant go wrong with either one. I have the sbe2 and a super sport. I like them both, but I started shooting 3 1/2s at everything that I used the sbe on. Nothing wrong with more pellets. Franchi makes an exact copy of the m2 for less money.
 
When I bought my M2 this spring, I'd been planning it for awhile. But the SBE was never even on my list. More expensive and I had no intentions of ever using 3-1/2" loads, so it was M2 all the way for me and not even a decision to be made.

- DAA
 
I've owned a pair of H&K imported Benelli M1S90 shotguns for 20+ years and have yet to have an issue of any sort. Most of the Benelli problems that I'm aware of come from the SBE platform. Tom Knapp put over 450,000 registered rounds through an M1 with no parts breakages. Unless I planned on gunning for geese on a regular basis I'd go M2 and never look back.
 
I didn't know 3" was an option in SBE, I thought they were all 3.5" models. I have a SBE 3.5 and love it. But I use it for waterfowl. The only time I shoot 3.5's is for geese, but it will run 2.75 and 3" just fine also. The 2.75" have to be 3+ dram to cycle. The only thing the SBE 3.5 would add for you in this case is resale value, they hold fantastic resale value.
 
Spend the $ and get a 3.5" SBE3.( in Stika camo )
Better to have it and not need it than to need it and not have it!
I have an SBE2 , and shoot everything out of it without a hiccup!
Every shotgun kicks bad to different degrees, when patterning them. But the fact is I have never seen anyone who just shot and killed a trophy animal say " [beeep] my shoulder hurts "
 
I have 2 M2s, no need for 3.5” chamber or shells. I like shorter barrels too, 26” or shorter, of course that depends on what the primary use is.

The Montefeltro gets good reviews too, along similar lines.

When one needs every bit of performance(predator hunting), just use the best 3” shells available.
 
I have an older H&K marked M1 S90 and a new M2. I haven't shot the M2 much yet but the M1 has been a superb performer. Never a hiccup.
 
I too have a sbe2 and shoot mostly 3" for everything except turkey loads. For turkey I use 3.5" hevishot because they pattern best in my shotgun. The nice thing about the 3.5" chamber is the versatility.
 
In 20+ years the only thing I've replaced on my m1 is the recoil spring. I'm sure using it as a canoe paddle a bunch didn't help it any.
 


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