Benelli SBE2 Pattern Testing and Results

[AviD]

CDR, could indeed be the SBE2 just isn't meant for what I want...although I find it hard to believe guys are knocking geese down at 60 yards with theirs but I can't get a good pattern out of BB, T, or buckshot. It has to be capable of it, and trust me I've done my researching and Googling to try to find other SBE2 owners who have a proven choke/shot combo but most aren't as fanatical or extreme as I am. Most don't pattern at 40 yards or beyond even, a lot pattern at 25-30 yards, get an acceptable pattern and call it day...which is just fine if they limit their shooting to the distances they patterned at...but I want more than 40 yards out of any 12 gauge I own.

I spoke with a member from another forum a week or so ago and he has done a lot of SBE2 patterning for turkey and buckshot (not predator though) and said hands down the .660 Jellyhead had performed best out of two SBE2s that he's patterned. One he claims (and he is a very frequent and respected posted on the forum) is a legitimate 70 yard buckshot gun. His other he is very confident in the 50-60 yard range with buckshot. Turkeys I believe he was killing in the 50-60 range confidently too. Needless to say, I am looking forward to trying that .660 Jellyhead, have it in my possession and it will be part of my next patterning session.

Right now, my SBE2 is a heck of a turkey gun, selling it for 1/4 of what I've purchased and put into it would make me pretty sick...I'd probably just keep it for turkeys.

Going to another gun is an option, but not one I'm willing to venture on just yet. But I do want to get my 11-87 restocked (for a better fit and sight picture) and I might dip the barrel and convert it to a camo model. It's a heck of a buckshot gun, and I could do some predator patterning out of it to start. That will be my next to-do whether I get this SBE figured out or not.

Why is a 10 gauge so much easier to pattern?

 

[CDR]

I'm not certain. Perhaps it because the shot transitions the lesser constriction with less disruption. Why does using one hull seem to produce better patterns than a different brand? I gave up trying to figure out why, and just accept that it happens.

All the patterns below were fired through a .705 Terror choke, which was designed for steelshot and used a 2 oz. handload, which was nothing special, just picked out of the load manual. The Hevishot load was a Remington 2 oz. factory load.

40 yard patterns with 4 buckshot.

Lead BB's

 

[richards]

The only buckshot that will pattern better than the remington 00 buck is dixie slugs triball 2 loads, it will give you an honest 5" pattern at 40 yds(but you better put a red dot on it) three .63 caliber lead balls. They are a big deer killer down here. In my findings nitro's 00 buck didn't pattern any better than the remington.

 

[AviD]

Very nice CDR, and those are from the SBE2?

I did come across a few guys that swear by Terror chokes, but primarily in the .675 range I believe. Yours at .705 if it's an SBE2 would put you .10 above full which I think is around .695.

EDIT: Nevermind I see the BP10 /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/smile.gif


richards, are you talking the 3.5" Remington 00? That's the best I've seen out of my SBE2 thus far, but with a .660 choke. I'll take a pic next time I hit the range as I don't think I have one.

 

[richards]

try it in the .685, yes the remington 3-1/2, its really good buckshot.

 

[GC]

AviD,
If your gun feeds and functions reliably and hits to point of aim, then somewhere there is a combination that will shoot well enough for 50 yard coyote hunting. If you are expecting 70+ yards, then your expectations are too high.

 

[AviD]

GC,

I don't need 70...but I want 50 as a minimum maximum /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/laugh.gif
60 would be awesome.
70 would be mind blowing.

richards,

I shot the Remington 3.5" 00 out of the .685 Buck Kicker and .685 Primos Dead Deer. The patterns are included in my 02/01/09 report pictures (all the way at the bottom). Not too impressive at 40 yards unfortunately but not horrible either.

 

[CDR]

Thought I had included the Remington #2 Hevishot pattern, but apparently did not. This was shot by 10GAGENUT's Browning Gold 10, not from my BPS10. Center circle is 15" in diameter.

 

[AviD]

CDR,

You should start a 10 gauge thread to capture these results and help other 10 gauge shooters. Definitely some solid patterns there and worth adding to make it easy for them to find! (They probably won't look here for it /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/laugh.gif)

Good stuff!

 

[richards]

The bps is a machine. do they pattern big buckshot like 00 pretty well? It's a shame I don't hand load. Nice patterns cdr.

 

[acorn]

AviD
I have patterned 3 differnet guns with about 15 different loads, my results show some definate rules.

Browning guns have factory lenghtened forcing cones and invector plus bore dia. is .740
Gave the most even and densest patterns I've shot

Benelli M-2 with 3" lenghtened forcing cone gave lots better patterns than the factory forcing cone.

old sears Aya S/S choked mod & Full--- MOD bbl. gives better patterns than FULL choke bbl at 40 yards, note this gun also has lenghtened forcing cone.

Other rules of thumb I follow, no loads over 1 5/8 oz.
no loads over 1300 fps----what I have found when I step over these self imposed rules my patterns are blown, which I think is following general rules of shotgunning.

Remeber shell manufactures are selling shells and with the cost today not very many people do intensive patterning just go hunting

 

[CDR]

Quote:
The bps is a machine. do they pattern big buckshot like 00 pretty well? It's a shame I don't hand load. Nice patterns cdr.



I tried some 0 buckshot loads I made from casting .311" lead balls from a Lee mold, using wheelweights and dropping them straight into a bucket of water. That makes them harden over the course of about 3 weeks. I didn't do much work with them, since I thought the 4 buck was a better choice for coyotes, due to the patterns I was getting and pellet count. 0 buck tore the heck out of the wads though, much harder on wads than large steel shot, such as BBB's and T's.

It's been so long ago, I can't really remember how well they did, except that I thought 4 buck was a better choice due to the size of the animal (coyote).

 

[hawken11]

AVID,
My SBE also shoots high with the factory chokes. I can flat out miss a turkey or pheasant at 30 yds if I don't think to am a bit low. I think it is common. Maybe something to do with the extra tall rib for trap shooters or bird hunters that shoot rising birds?? I wish my POI was centered where I aim.

thanks for the research.

 

[AviD]

hawken,

Yes, Benelli has told me personally that the SBE2 is designed with a high POI for exactly what you are saying, shooting under targets (bird or clay/skeet).

Unfortunately they do not give you the shims to truly lower it enough. The C shim is the lowest and I still pattern 6-9" high with many loads.

I've heard of guys making custom shims or using washers to achieve it, but not sure how well it works. Would be nice if someone offered a custom plastic or machined shim, but I don't know of any. Anyone here know of anyone? Or know of a way to shim a lower POI in some other consistent/reliable way?

 

[richards]

The burris speedbead is now made for the older sbe I, it solves all the poi issues. Although you maybe able to find a benelli d shim to make the poi lower than the c shim.
Brownells may have them!

 

[hawken11]

This is a fun thread. I can't get away from it.

Avid,
You have a would have killed ton of coyotes with your test patterns at 40yds. Shoot for the bottom third of the yote and sharpen up your skinnin knife.

My longest dead coyote shot this year was 52 yards with SBE and a factory full. I try and keep it at 50 yds max. Had 6 pellets in the chest (amoung others in the neck) and had a perfect DRT.

I know for sure my 60 yd targets are out of the question.

Thanks for your research.

 

[AviD]

Weather looks good for tomorrow, going patterning again.

Primary chokes for tomorrow's testing:
.660 Primos Jelly Head Choke Tube (Ported)
.685 HS Undertaker (Ported)
.695 HS Undertaker Hevi-shot (Ported)
.695 Cabela's Choke Tubes for Hevi-shot Full (Non Ported)

I also want to shoot with the better choke of the initial patterns, which I think is the .675 Cabela's Choke Tubes for Hevi-Shot Turkey Extra Full (Non Ported).

Adding 3" DC T, 3" WM HD T, and 3" WM HD BB.
Probably post a report on Monday with pics.

If I add another choke for another session later down the road, based on my reviewing this week, it will likely be the .675 Terror.

Although I don't know which to go with:

Quote:

SKU: BRTF-TCW


This choke fits all 12 gauge Beretta shotguns with Optima Plus or Optima Field choked barrels and all Benelli shotguns with CRIO choked barrels. It is designed for general long range hunting / trap shooting situations. It is tighter than most factory full chokes and delivers a pattern with high center density. The center density offers waterfowl hunters the option to shoot high velocity shotshells with smaller shot sizes and lighter payloads with deadly results.





OR


Quote:

SKU: BRTS-TCW

This choke fits all 12 gauge Beretta Optima Sporting choked shotguns and Benelli Extended Crio choked shotguns. It is designed for general long range hunting / trap shooting situations. It is tighter than most factory full chokes and delivers a pattern with high center density. The center density offers waterfowl hunters the option to shoot high velocity shotshells with smaller shot sizes and lighter payloads with deadly results.
The BRTS series of "Terror" choke tubes fit the following shotguns:
Beretta: DT10 Trident, 682 Gold E, 687 Silver Pigeon II Sporting, 687 EL Gold Pigeon II Sporting and 687 EELL Diamond Pigeon Sporting models
Benelli: Sport II, Super Sport, Legacy Sport and Cordoba models





Anyone know the difference? The description looks...near identical? /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/confused1.gif

 

[AviD]

02/07/2009 - SBE2 Patterning Results with Pics

Well, here is the breakdown from my most recent patterning.


Conditions:
-----------
Temperature 50-55F
Clear, sunny skies
Light variable winds 0-10mph


Shooting Details:
-----------------
Benelli SBE2/SBEII with C shim installed for lowest POI possible with stock shims.
Gun barrel and previously used chokes cleaned and buffed with a power drill, copper brush, and solvent. Action cleaned and lightly oiled.
Bore snake with light solvent run through the gun between every single shot. Visually verified no debris or buildup in the barrel between shots. If seen, additional runs of the bore snake until clean.

All shots taken from a Caldwell LeadSled off a table.
Patterning sheets are roughly 3'x3'
3" targets put on center of all patterning paper sheets.
All shot alignment was overlaying the center bead, front bed, and 3" target in 3 concentric circles with a flush view to the rear sight shelf of the barrel, i.e. the target is essentially covered by the beads.



Shotshells:
-----------
Hevi-Shot Dead Coyote 12 3 1/2" T
Remington Wingmaster HD RW1235VT 12 3 1/2" 1350 1 5/8 T
Remington Wingmaster HD RW1235MB 12 3 1/2" 1300 1 3/4 BB
Hevi-Shot Dead Coyote 12 3" T
Remington Wingmaster HD RW12VT 12 3" 1300 1 1/2 T
Remington Wingmaster HD RW12HMB 12 3" 1300 1 1/2 BB



New Chokes Tested:
------------------
.660 Primos Jelly Head Choke Tube (Ported)
.675 Cabela's Choke Tubes for Hevi-Shot Turkey Extra Full (Non Ported)
.685 HS Undertaker (Ported)
.695 HS Undertaker Hevi-shot (Ported)
.695 Cabela's Choke Tubes for Hevi-shot Full (Non Ported)
.695 Kicks Ind Buck Kicker Light-Full (Ported)
.??? Carlson CRIO PLUS Dead Coyote Choke (Non Ported)


Existing Chokes, New Tests:
---------------------------
.660 Rhino 2" Extended (Ported)
.685 Kicks Ind Buck Kicker Full (Ported)
.685 Primos Dead Deer (Ported)




Predator Shot Results:
----------------------


.660 Rhino Choke 2" Extended (Ported)
3" Remington Wingmaster HD T
40 yards
Notes: Pretty gappy and a little left heavy, nothing that caught my eye.

.660 Rhino Choke 2" Extended (Ported)
3" Remington Wingmaster HD BB
40 yards
Notes: Clearly left heavy and more vertically distributed.

.660 Primos Jelly Head (Ported)
3.5" Dead Coyote T
40 yards
Notes: Left heavy but reasonable if I'd shift my POA over to the primary POI for this load. Still a bit gappy.

.660 Primos Jelly Head (Ported)
3.5" Remington Wingmaster HD T
40 yards
Notes: "WOW" is what I said when I saw the paper. In retrospect, this pattern is SO bad, I probably should have shot it again to see if maybe a Fiocchi shell got mixed in with the box! Haha

.660 Primos Jelly Head (Ported)
3.5" Remington Wingmaster HD BB
40 yards
Notes: Not a horrible pattern, again clearly left heavy (you'll see that a lot with this gun) with some gaps.

.660 Primos Jelly Head (Ported)
3" Dead Coyote T
40 yards
Notes: A little strange of a pattern, but with some good center strikes, I still want better.

.660 Primos Jelly Head (Ported)
3" Remington Wingmaster HD T
40 yards
Notes: Good centering just a smidge high, and a little right heavy...but 20%+ of the pattern is lost high and out. Overall, not bad though.

.660 Primos Jelly Head (Ported)
3" Remington Wingmaster HD BB
40 yards
Notes: Fair to the left and a bit high, good clustering there, but some noticeable gaps at POA high and directly left.

 

[AviD]

.675 Cabela's Choke Tubes for Hevi-Shot Turkey Extra Full (Non Ported)
3" Dead Coyote T
40 yards
Notes: Again, pretty good cluster high and left but gaps high and right

.675 Cabela's Choke Tubes for Hevi-Shot Turkey Extra Full (Non Ported)
3" Remington Wingmaster HD T
40 yards
Notes: Inverse of above with gaps to the left now, but decent clustering just high. Still looking for better than that.

.675 Cabela's Choke Tubes for Hevi-Shot Turkey Extra Full (Non Ported)
3" Remington Wingmaster HD BB
40 yards
Notes: High cluster, but very gappy

.685 Kicks Ind Buck Kicker Full (Ported)
3" Dead Coyote T #1
40 yards
Notes: I thought this was a real nice cluster, just 9" left and 6" high

.685 Kicks Ind Buck Kicker Full (Ported)
3" Dead Coyote T #2
40 yards
Notes: Shot it again, and saw majority of the load was now 4-5" left and 9" high

.685 Kicks Ind Buck Kicker Full (Ported)
3" Remington Wingmaster HD T
40 yards
Notes: Gappy and high

.685 Kicks Ind Buck Kicker Full (Ported)
3" Remington Wingmaster HD BB
40 yards
Notes: Uneven, distributed too much, and gappy

.685 Primos Dead Deer (Ported)
3" Remington Wingmaster HD T
40 yards
Notes: Little tighter, but still gappy and overly distributed

.685 Primos Dead Deer (Ported)
3" Remington Wingmaster HD BB
40 yards
Notes: Not a bad vertical cluster high, but variable and gappy.

 

[AviD]

.685 HS Undertaker (Ported)
3.5" Dead Coyote T
40 yards
Notes: Now we reach some better patterns. Core of the load is high and left heavy, but clustered pretty well with some gaps high, but that left cluster is very doable.

.685 HS Undertaker (Ported)
3.5" Remington Wingmaster HD T
40 yards
Notes: Similar as to the above, more vertically distributed but not a bad cluster. Some gaps, but not horrible.

.685 HS Undertaker (Ported)
3.5" Remington Wingmaster HD BB
40 yards
Notes: Mostly high here, with some gaps, but this HS has been showing holding the core of the load much closer to the middle.

.685 HS Undertaker (Ported)
3" Dead Coyote T
40 yards
Notes: Not really great here, high and left with a few gaps.

.685 HS Undertaker (Ported)
3" Remington Wingmaster HD T
40 yards
Notes: Mostly left with good high/low distribution but far too many gaps

.685 HS Undertaker (Ported)
3" Remington Wingmaster HD BB
40 yards
Notes: Really nice core of the pattern clustered just high. If you removed the sticker, you'd see about two 3" circles could fit in the gaps there. But overall, not too bad.

.695 HS Undertaker Hevi-shot (Ported)
3.5" Dead Coyote T
40 yards
Notes: The next step up in the HS chokes (this one made for hevi-shot). High and left, with some fair gaps in the center of the highest density pattern.

.695 HS Undertaker Hevi-shot (Ported)
3.5" Remington Wingmaster HD T
40 yards
Notes: Fair, but too much of the load is lost very high.

.695 HS Undertaker Hevi-shot (Ported)
3.5" Remington Wingmaster HD BB
40 yards
Notes: Pretty decent, but it could be the BB perception due to more strikes. Pretty solid cluster to the left though.

.695 HS Undertaker Hevi-shot (Ported)
3" Dead Coyote T
40 yards
Notes: Very distributed and gappy.