Benelli SBE kick

[JonB]

OK So I have been doing a lot of reading lately on different auto loader shotguns. I personally like Benelli's and am leaning toward a SBE2 or M2 (depending on if I *need* 3.5" capabilities).

I see a lot of threads here and elsewhere that state the Benelli's kick harder than other gas operated autos. But I currently shoot a Benelli Nova pump that doesn't absorb ANY recoil. Am I completely off base thinking the SBE has to have less felt recoil than the Nova?

I shoot 3" #2 or #1 steel for ducks, 3" turkey loads, etc from the Nova and don't feel the recoil is all that hard. Sure, the turkey loads get your attention (similar to a 3.5" BB load), but not enough that I care.

So what's the story - are people just comparing recoil in the inertia system to recoil in a gas system? How's either compare to a pump?

 

[hags]

I've shot Benelli recoil or as they call it "inertia" action semi-autos. I have thought at the time I was shooting them that they had more punch than my 870s.
??????
Personally if it's a gun you're going to get to shoot, I would opt for a gas system. That's just me and that's just because I enjoy and like to enjoy shooting.

 

[juk]

I've got a Nova (not super nova) that has the mercury recoil reducer in the stock and a limbsaver recoil pad. It's crazy how much softer the nova shoots than my moss 500 with just a limbsaver. The Inertia system in the SBEs is supposed to be nice and I have found that Barettas semi auto is excellent. Although, those high brass 3s and 3.5s will always kick!

 

[rbernie]

A shotgun with an auto-repeating system will shoot 'softer' than a fixed-breech (pump, bolt, single, double), assuming that the fit is appropriate on all of them and they're all in similar configuration (same recoil pad, etc.). If they don't fit you, then all bets are off.

Gas guns are credited with shooting softest, but mechanical repeaters are not far behind. Certainly, my Auto5s shoot a lot softer than my 870s and are about on par with my 1100s.

 

[kentucky_smith]

My Auto5s shoot a lot softer than my 870s.

Mine too.

If you can run dozens of rounds at a time through a pump or break action, I don't see why anyone can't run same through an inertia gun. Fit, recoil pad and type of load have much more to do with recoil. My dad's 1100 with plastic buttplate kicks me worse than my inertia Beretta 1200 with the same type loads.

 

[earlthegoat2]

Mine 3,

Maybe many already know this but Benelli has really muddied the waters enough calling themselves Inertia action instead of recoil action.

Threads come up on Benellis somewhat often and I always tend towards the advice of if you are going to get a Benelli you best be getting a 20 gauge. And if you are going to shoot 3.5 inch suckers you better get the heaviest gun possible and have it in gas operated fashion. So that means stay away from Benellis at all costs. Speaking of costs, you can save a bit of money staying away from Benellis too and buying a Beretta or a Browning.

 

[orphanedcowboy]

For about 5 or 6 years, prior to my A5 addiction, the only gun I ever shot was a Benelli. I went to them from 1100's and Mossberg 9200's.

I shot several 1000's a year thru them and never noticed the kick to be anymore than that of a gas gun.

I can also tell you, that the spaghetti guns I owned, 14 at one time, didn't like small fast steel loads. They patterned the 1425 - 1470 fps steel loads the best. I chased ducks hard with a SBE II for the last 4 years, up until last November, when I switched entirely to A5's.

If I was looking at a new Benelli, it would be the M2, and I would shoot nothing but the 1 1/4 oz Kent's or the 1 1/8 oz Fiocchi's thru it.

Keep it clean, lightly lubed, put a little Shooter's Choice synthetic grease on the bolt lugs and shoot the snot out of it.

Just my .02 worth.

 

[Virginian]

I was thinking of buying an original Super Black Eagle some years ago. I like wood. I liked the looks and the feel. Less than 10 3.5" shots from a buddy's gun convinced me I did not have enough masochist in me to enjoy one. I swear it kicked worse than a Mossberg pump. I know it kicked worse tham my 870 with the absolute max 3" fodder, and harder than my specially lightened Browning 10 gauge BPS with maximum 10 gauge loads.
From everything I have seen they are reliable, especially with heavy loads.
They did not develop that funky recoil reducing stock you see on the SBEII for nothing. I do not know if it works or not. Try it, and if you like it, it doesn't matter what anyone else thinks, get it.

 

[throdgrain]

I own an M2, there is no way it kicks as hard as my 870, or my Mossberg. Having said that, I find the recoil on all of them to be perfectly manageble.

 

[Leaky Waders]

If the gun fits then it shouldn't have a noticeably kick unless you are shooting really maxxed out loads, or a really light gun or a combination of both, or at some weird angle thus changing your 'fit'...like when someone's skybusting.

You'll only need 3.5" if someone if your blind if shooting 3.5 "...basically so you can share boxes of shells in a pinch if needed. I use 3" and 3.5" because we usually share cases of shells.

I have a stock SBE in darth vader black. It's served very well for several duck seasons (the one's I get to hunt when I'm not deployed every other season).

I also have a beretta 390, several citoris in various gauges, a wingmaster (28 gauge), a montefeltro (20 gauge), and a bps (28 gauge). None of them or the sbe kicks 'like a mule'. I have a brand new 16 gauge bps grade 3 waiting for me when I get home - my wife is awesome! Hopefully it shoots just as well as the others.

Oh, and if you're getting a gun for duck hunting...then you may want to try it for fit in the store with your duck hunting jacket and waders on...I know it sounds like a geek thing to do. But, unless you've shot someone elses with your gear on then your gun may fit totally different depending upon how much you're bundled up when you hear those whistling wings.

Oh yeah...another thing. I used to have a nova. I liked it, and used it as a loaner for people visiting when we duck hunted. But, one of my brother in laws took a liking to it so I gave it to him. He still has it and likes it alot.

- wow, long reply...ok good luck.

 

[JonB]

Threads come up on Benellis somewhat often and I always tend towards the advice of if you are going to get a Benelli you best be getting a 20 gauge.

Huh? makes no sense. Unless you are so recoil sensitive that you can't shoot a 12ga no matter the make/model.

And if you are going to shoot 3.5 inch suckers you better get the heaviest gun possible and have it in gas operated fashion. So that means stay away from Benellis at all costs.

Again, makes no sense to me. I shoot 3" and 3.5" and magnum turkey loads out of a Nova pump and don't see the big deal. Sure the 3.5's have a stout kick, but to recommend staying away from Benelli altogether??

Why don't you just come out and say you don't like Benelli's?

I guess I'm not recoil sensitive when it comes to a shotgun so maybe I'll not worry about it and go with whatever I like - which probably means a SBE2. I may consider a Beretta as well, but have read they may not be the best for very cold weather hunting.

 

[rcmodel]

My Auto-5 continues to kick far less then the SBE I bought for a turkey gun.

And then sold, because it kicked so dang hard with turkey loads it would give me a recoil headache after a few patterning rounds.

But my A-5 kicks harder then a gas operated gun.

May be the new Comfortec stock would make a SBI kick less, but I'm not going to spend another 1500 bucks to find out.

rc

 

[RoboDuck]

I have shot a M1 for the last 8 years. The kick is a little more than a gas operated gun. I can get by without the 3 1/2 inch.