Benelli Super Vinci vs SBE II vs Beretta a400

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Huntolive

Huntolive

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Hello Friends.
I have done some research and am struggling to decide btwn The Benelli Super Vinci, Benelli Super Black Eagle 2, and the Beretta a 400.:banghead: I am also somewhat still considering the Winchester SX3. I shouldered each at gun shop today.
I currently have a Benelli Super Nova pump and have great success w/ it, but almost never use 3.5" shells in it due to recoil. And really what need do I have of 3.5" shells to get the job done anyway?:confused:

I am an avid Turkey hunter, and sometimes duck, goose and dove hunter as well as deer (I usually use a Savage 220 for deer though, but might use the 12 G as well especially for fast and elusive Sika deer). I could see the 3.5 " #4 buck coming in handy for Sika deer in close quarters and on drives.

So this is 75% for Turkey and Water foul. 25% deer and doves and small game such as rabbits & the odd unlucky squirrel. Strictly hunting, I almost never shoot trap.

As I have a Benelli, and all of those have the middle brass sight bead as well as the red front bead sight, they felt simpatico to me, and the Super Vinci feels great and well balanced. I am trying not to just fall in love though, and be rational. The SX3 seemed fine, as did the Beretta, but they just have the front bead and no middle brass bead (pin) and seemed like might take some getting used to. It seems having two sights to line up would give a better straighter line for accuracy. Any advantage to trying to get used to the 1 sight system on the Beretta and Winchester?

I am admittedly not big on shotgun maintenance, so I guess I'd give the edge to Benelli there as I presume the inertia system is more forgiving. Does the a400 always come with the "Kick off" reduced recoil system? How does breakdown and clean up hastle compare? How much neglect can I get away with on the various models relatively before i cause damage or risk missing a bird? (Go ahead and hate me, I'm just keepin it real)

I did appreciate the fine machining of the Beretta and super smooth bolt and inner receiver, and I have heard they are very smooth and very light recoil. so I am willing to give Beretta a fair chance, but am leaning Super Vinci.

Please offer advice, and also data on what advantages a 3.5" gives if any.

Thanks:)
 
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What about barrel length?

Hello, the looks are secondary to function, but i have no problem with the benelli looks at all.

I am wondering if I should give the SBE 2 a closer look though, as it does come in a 24" barrel version.
While 26" brl seems great compromise for turkey and water fowl, I'd really prefer 24" for turkey.
I will hunt in ORDER of frequency with whichever gun i get: Turkey, ducks/geese, deer, rabbits/squirrels, doves.

Do I really lose anything by going with a 24" barrel? I like a shorter brl. for easy of runnin & gunnin and concealment for Turkey and deer getting through brush.
with the 3.5" shell capability and a good choke, will I be fine w/ 24" for ducks/geese?
How/when would the 26" compromise be better? I also do not believe the Super Vinci or the Beretta a 400 come in a 24" brl, while the SBE 2 does.

Also, IF (and that's a big IF) 3.5" shells offer little to no real world advantage, then should I really be looking at the Benelli M2?
 
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When it comes to barrel length I say get what you are most comfortable with. The length will have no significant negative ballistic effect. 3-1/2" does have it's uses for goose hunting with a 12 gauge with big steel shot.
There is nothing wrong with any of the guns you mention; they should all work for the intended uses. I would definitely go with the gas operated Beretta, but you're buying it for you, not me.
 
Thanks, do you know if the Beretta comes in a 24" brl?

Thanks,
why the gas beretta? Because of less recoil? Would you rec. the "kick off" system? and which model would you suggest?
The Xtrema? Does the Beretta come in a 24" Barrel?

The benelli's are nice too.
 
I just prefer gas guns, and I don't like any kind or recoil stuff in the stock. I don't do plastic either. I shoot tungsten alloy or tungsten matrix so I don't need 3-1/2" loads, so the Unico Action would be my choice of the three you listed. It is available with 24" barrel, but the 3-1/2" Unico isn't. The Unico Synthetic might suit you okay if you decide you can live with a 26" barrel.
 
I've had great luck with the SBE II in terms of reliability and handling. My SBE II is used mostly for waterfowl and pheasants-though I did take it grouse and woodcock hunting for a week last year in Michigan with good success-even with the 28" long barrel (a length which I much prefer for hunting ducks and geese).

Very subjective and utterly irrelevant in terms of how well a gun shoots but I can't stand the goofy, contrived looks most Benelli guns come with (and, yes, I also have a Nova pump gun :eek:). Though I have a hard time looking at Benelli guns (I really abhor the looks of the Super Vinci :barf:), I shoot them because they work in extreme conditions and have demonstrated proven reliability when the weather is bad that will always trump one's sense of aesthetics.
 
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I think the Super Vinci looks awesome. Definitely not Classic like the Beretta, but very cool, and it fit me and my 11 yr. old daughter very well.

But what I care about is function: RELIABILITY and ease of maintenance and ability to harvest game, and be able to tolerate occasionally being rode hard and put to bed wet. I have never once cleaned any of my Benelli pumps, and they work 100%, and I sold my first for what I paid for it after 8 years of hard field use and neglect, and it was as reliable as the day i bought it.
I doubt the semi autos will be that tolerant of my laziness, but imagine they will be more tolerant than the SX3 or the A400:confused:

BUT I can get a like-new SX3 for $800 or less today. Beretta a400 new $1400 plus tax and either 3.5 Benelli for $1700 So that's a HUGE price difference.
 
QUOTE: "...BUT I can get a like-new SX3 for $800 or less today. Beretta a400 new $1400 plus tax and either 3.5 Benelli for $1700 So that's a HUGE price difference..."

I'm not sure how they get away with it but, imo, Benelli semi-auto shotguns are way over-priced when compared to the competition. That said, as previously reported, I'm one who will pay almost any price in exchange for a gun that works when the snow and sleet hit the fan.
 
The biggest problem with semis are the owners. I have used my 1100 down to minus 11 degrees F with no issues, even when my buddy's Auto 5 wouldn't work because it was encased in ice. I am not saying an 1100 is THE most reliable, but in my hands it is as good as any. I have seen many of them being cursed in the field, too. Benelli has the world's best marketing, hands down. THAT is why they can get what they charge.
 
QUOTE: "... Benelli has the world's best marketing, hands down. THAT is why they can get what they charge..."

They also make a very good, if ugly (I know, "beauty is in the eye of the beholder"), shotgun. And that is part of the reason they can get away with what they charge (I do agree with the "best marketing" factor as another part of the reason).
I've had a Beretta Model 390 and a Remington Model 1100 fail on me in the same kind of nasty weather conditions that my Benelli SE II sailed right through-which isn't to say that others haven't endured the opposite experience. I'm just reporting on my individual experience-which keeps me buying inertia systems as opposed to gas systems when it comes to waterfowl shotguns.

QUOTE: "... I think the Super Vinci looks awesome. Definitely not Classic like the Beretta, but very cool..."

When people describe a modern shotgun as looking "awesome" and "very cool", it's probably a shotgun that looks contrived and ugly to my "old school" eyes. I've never seen a more ugly looking shotgun than the Benelli "Super Vinci". Definitely "not classic" for sure.
 
I will be in the market for a mostly pheasant shotgun this year.

I have looked at the two Benelli's. The Super Vinci fits me fine, but I have heard some complaints around not enough room in the trigger guard. One guy in my pheasant hunting group likes his Super Vinci a lot with no complaints. My neighbor has the SBE II for pheasants and loves it. I have a Silver Pigeon I for shooting Clays so I have been looking at the Beretta BERETTA A400 ACTION 12/28 KO BL/WD 3-INCH. It uses the same chokes. For pheasant, I prefer a 26" barrel for a faster swing. I am sure the 28" would also be ok and good for waterfowl. Of the shotguns listed, I assume this is the one with the lightest recoil. I doubt it will kick out light target loads when getting ready for the fall hunting season by shooting some sporting clays or five stand.

If choosing between the Benelli's , I like the looks of the SBE II , I do wonder about the price.

Swanee
 
My understanding is that some plus sides of SBE II vs Super Vinci is the ability to change barrels (though barrels are expensive), the safety location (rear of trigger guard vs front for SV), and the slimmer foregrip if you like it better. Since the SV barrel is also the serialized receiver, you cannot change barrels easily. Buying a barrel = buying a gun.

The plus side of SV vs SBE II is modular takedown with nothing in the buttstock and more ergonomic foregrip if you like it better. Can change buttstocks easily if you want. The grip angle is slightly different, which could be a pro or con depending on how it fits you.
 
My brother had a SBE. We loved it. Later our group who had guns from Remington 870s to Remington 11-87s all went to Benelli SBE IIs and loved them. Never had a malfunction and that's 6 shotguns.

Looked at the Vinci and couldn't reach the safety (I have small hands), why would they move the safety so far away from the normal spot?

I think the SBE II is the best autoloading shotgun ever made. A lot of people would say the same thing.
 
QUOTE: "...My understanding is that some plus sides of SBE II vs Super Vinci is the ability to change barrels (though barrels are expensive), the safety location (rear of trigger guard vs front for SV)..."

Personal preferences for sure, but I much prefer a safety located on the front of the trigger guard as opposed to one situated on the rear of the trigger guard (much more "natural" to move the trigger finger from front to rear as it is to move it from rear to front, imo) and I will argue that a tang-mounted safety is the most "ergonomic" of all-with the possible exception of where the safety on a Browning Double-Auto shotgun is located, behind the trigger guard.
 
SwampWolf said:
I will argue that a tang-mounted safety is the most "ergonomic" of all
Click to expand...

I tend to agree. I like the safety location of the Mossberg 500.
 
QUOTE: And yall of course have documented bonafides in the field of ergonomics. Outstanding.

I guess you missed the preface to my post, "Personal preferences for sure..."
 
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I went a bit crazy and got...

Both the $750 virtually new SX3 26" in full duck camo AND a lightly used SBE II :D:evil::D
Just don't tell my wife :eek:

Got the Benelli 24" in full turkey camo w/ full set of chokes and a new Hevi Shot turkey choke plus ammo for $1200.

Sold my lightly used Linberta semi for $350.

Test shot the SBE II to pattern in for turkey and it shot straighter than my Super Nova ever did. Gobblers BEWARE:cool:

FYI it also cycled mixed ammo from low brass dove shot to buch shot w/o a hitch.

Happy Camper!!!
 
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