Guest TennesseeTurkey Posted December 20, 2008 Report Share Posted December 20, 2008 I am looking to buy a new duck gun. I used to have an 870 express super-mag but I want to go to a semi-auto. Which is the best to buy? I'm looking at a Remington 11-87 Super-Mag Waterfowler gun, Winchester Super X3 Waterfowl, and a Benelli SBE2. The Remington and Winchester models come in Mossy Oak Duck Blind what I love that pattern although I've always been a Realtree guy, and the Benelli comes in Advantage Max-4. Which of these guns would be the best to buy?.....I posted the same thread in the Shotgun forum because I didnt know which one would get me more resluts...... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
hutchies Posted December 21, 2008 Report Share Posted December 21, 2008 All are great guns...........Pick them up and see which fits you best. If you can and a buddy has one of these guns go shoot it and see how you like it. My next will be the Mossberg 935 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dogdoc Posted December 21, 2008 Report Share Posted December 21, 2008 I think it would hard to go wrong with any gun you mentioned. I shoot a MB935 and it has been a great gun. Never misses a beat. However, lately I've been taking my O/U. I just enjoy shooting the O/U. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
oldreloader Posted December 28, 2008 Report Share Posted December 28, 2008 I was trying to make the same decision last spring and wound up with one I didn't start out with on my list. A Beretta Xtrema, and so far I love it.It fit me better than the others and seems to have less recoil with the 3 1/2" shells. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bluelund79 Posted December 29, 2008 Report Share Posted December 29, 2008 I had the 935, could not say a bad thing about it. Traded it for an 1187, and the best thing is that I have alot of the chokes from my 870, interchangablity between the 2 was a no brainer. Looking for another 870 right now, just absolutely love those guns....But the statement was made about shouldering the guns to find the best fit-Can't say anything more than to make sure you wear your hutning coat to, just to make absolute sure of the fit-That is why I use the Remingtons so much, that is and has been the best fitting gun for me since I was 12....Good luck in your search, Eric Wish it was still waterfowl season here, that is for sure Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest TennesseeTurkey Posted December 29, 2008 Report Share Posted December 29, 2008 I haven't got a chance to get to the Bass Pro shop in Sevierville TN (about an hour and a half away) they have the Winchester Remington and Browning's there but there was a local shop that had a Benelli and it felt awesome I couldn't believe how extremely light it was. I just haven't been around many semi-autos and I was just shocked. Also was shocked that the guy wanted $1600 for it......yeah right Ill buy another 870 pump before I spend 1600 on a Benelli (I'm sure that there's someobdy out there a whole lot cheaper anyway) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
duckslayer Posted December 29, 2008 Report Share Posted December 29, 2008 I definitely would recommend the Benelli SBE2 as an auto shotgun, but not benelli if you want a pump. I prefer a pump and I shoot Winchester. Good luck with whatever course you decide to take! To KentuckyTurkey: A benelli is a very expensive shotgun, no matter where you buy one. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest TennesseeTurkey Posted December 30, 2008 Report Share Posted December 30, 2008 I definitely would recommend the Benelli SBE2 as an auto shotgun, but not benelli if you want a pump. I prefer a pump and I shoot Winchester. Good luck with whatever course you decide to take! To KentuckyTurkey: A benelli is a very expensive shotgun, no matter where you buy one. I guess they have gone up tremendously about a year ago I saw one at 1100 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
duckslayer Posted December 31, 2008 Report Share Posted December 31, 2008 I guess they have gone up tremendously about a year ago I saw one at 1100 or either the new model has more accesories etc. from what I know, the SBE2 runs from $1400-1600 give or take a little. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rbreedi1 Posted January 9, 2009 Report Share Posted January 9, 2009 (edited) Take a look at the Benelli M2 if you can swing the cash..I bought one several months ago and love this thing to death. Similar to the super black eagle but chambered in 3". Nice and smooth action. Havent had any problems with it at all. I bought a brand new one of a guy for $800 Edited January 9, 2009 by rbreedi1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sniper80 Posted January 9, 2009 Report Share Posted January 9, 2009 i love the remington 870. its a great all around gun ive knocked a turkey down out at 50 yards and its does a number on ducks its just a great all around gun. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
double_drop Posted January 9, 2009 Report Share Posted January 9, 2009 after hunting with a buddy that has a SBE2 I would never recommend one to anyone. I have an xtrema and wouldn't trade it for the world. My buddy is going to be getting rid of his SBE2 soon. All this year most of the time it was either a single shot or a double shot. It wouldn't cycle no matter what shells he put in it. He cleaned it to specks even took it in twice to get it fixed. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
duckslayer Posted January 27, 2009 Report Share Posted January 27, 2009 wow...that's very surprising to me...ive never heard a report like that on a Benelli! after hunting with a buddy that has a SBE2 I would never recommend one to anyone. I have an xtrema and wouldn't trade it for the world. My buddy is going to be getting rid of his SBE2 soon. All this year most of the time it was either a single shot or a double shot. It wouldn't cycle no matter what shells he put in it. He cleaned it to specks even took it in twice to get it fixed. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jm23494 Posted January 27, 2009 Report Share Posted January 27, 2009 after hunting with a buddy that has a SBE2 I would never recommend one to anyone. I have an xtrema and wouldn't trade it for the world. My buddy is going to be getting rid of his SBE2 soon. All this year most of the time it was either a single shot or a double shot. It wouldn't cycle no matter what shells he put in it. He cleaned it to specks even took it in twice to get it fixed. What kind of shells was he using? I was out last week goose hunting with some buddies and all three of them had their pumps (Rem 870's and Moss. 500) jamb up on them while using Black Cloud shells. It was the first time they had shot Black Cloud shells and was pretty ironic that three different guns jambed on the same ammo when they have never had problems before. I would highly recommend an M2. They are light, smooth and a breeze to clean when you are done. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
duckslayer Posted January 27, 2009 Report Share Posted January 27, 2009 I shoot and would recommend black cloud....i have never had a problem like this...wow! maybe different factories make different products? i don't really know! but i shoot black cloud mainly and have never had a jam. i did however see a benelli SBE2 jam once before in my life and it was on a 3 inch hevi shot. What kind of shells was he using? I was out last week goose hunting with some buddies and all three of them had their pumps (Rem 870's and Moss. 500) jamb up on them while using Black Cloud shells. It was the first time they had shot Black Cloud shells and was pretty ironic that three different guns jambed on the same ammo when they have never had problems before. I would highly recommend an M2. They are light, smooth and a breeze to clean when you are done. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Leo Posted January 28, 2009 Report Share Posted January 28, 2009 after hunting with a buddy that has a SBE2 I would never recommend one to anyone. I have an xtrema and wouldn't trade it for the world. My buddy is going to be getting rid of his SBE2 soon. All this year most of the time it was either a single shot or a double shot. It wouldn't cycle no matter what shells he put in it. He cleaned it to specks even took it in twice to get it fixed. I'll go on record right now and say I believe your story. No semi-autos are perfect. The Benelli's are not immune to clunky behavior, even though popular "word of mouth" wisdom might lead you to believe otherwise. I hunt with a lot of folks that shoot Benelli's. I've used them myself. They absolutely will jam or just go "click" with no boom sometimes. A bad shell will jam any semi-auto. Poor conditions, ie. cold, ice or extreme shooting, will cause erratic behavior as well. There are a pile of reasons poor performance can happen with ANY Semi-Auto. Semi-Autos are in fact complex machines. Even the deceptively simple "inertia driven" system on the Benelli's can have complex problems. Oddly because it's so simple it can make it even harder to diagnose. I helped a buddy whose Benelli was doing exactly what you described. Everything looked clean, bolt, action spring, receiver slides... it was a real head scratcher. It turned out to be the magazine tube and spring. The spring and magazine follower were very sticky. The tube itself was full of junk. This was preventing the gun from supplying the next shell with enough force to chamber it properly. It wasn't anything you'd notice loading the gun but it was just enough junk to cause a little hesitation during the cycle. That's all it took to make this gun fail consistently. I'm not bashing Benelli but if you think getting that gun will get you a "worry free", "never fail" auto, I promise, you will eventually be disappointed. Pick which gun fits you best. Learn how to degrease it with a synthetic safe gun scrubber and re-lube with a drying lube like Rem Oil or Breakfree CLP (I prefer Breakfree). In fact do that before you ever shoot your new gun to remove any "shipping grease" and it will act a lot better from day one. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RTF Posted January 29, 2009 Report Share Posted January 29, 2009 i love the remington 870. its a great all around gun I have been using mine for 29 years straight now. It's all I use, except for deer hunting recently, but it has killed a lot of deer too. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dakota Posted January 29, 2009 Report Share Posted January 29, 2009 I'd recommend the Winchester SX3, I shot one at the Professional Outdoor Media Association national conference field day and had a blast...literally! :D:D I tried out several different shotguns and fell in love with two; the Win. SX3 in 12 ga. and the Rem. 1100 in 20 ga. I was outshooting several of the pros with both of them (at one point, Bill Miller, the Executive Director of the North American Hunting Club, asked if I wanted to trade guns because I was outshooting him with the semi. We traded and I whooped him again with the Browning Citori he had been using previously! :D:D And here Mr. Whitetail Larry Weishuhn is laughing watching the two of us from the corporate partner pavilion. :D:D). Anyways, both guns are slick shooting and cycled flawlessly. Never heard a bad thing about either one of them while working behind the gun counter at Sportsman's Warehouse. In fact, double drop, I'm a little stunned about the SBEII you're talking about. Never heard of one having a problem like that! Dakota Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
duckslayer Posted January 29, 2009 Report Share Posted January 29, 2009 I have no doubt this is true...it's just surprising to me, because i know so many people who pay top dollar just to get a semi auto that won't jam. so this is surprising, and I do not think i like Benelli if they sell their waterfowler guns for so much and can't even guarantee they won't jam. Very disappointing. I'll go on record right now and say I believe your story. No semi-autos are perfect. The Benelli's are not immune to clunky behavior, even though popular "word of mouth" wisdom might lead you to believe otherwise. I hunt with a lot of folks that shoot Benelli's. I've used them myself. They absolutely will jam or just go "click" with no boom sometimes. A bad shell will jam any semi-auto. Poor conditions, ie. cold, ice or extreme shooting, will cause erratic behavior as well. There are a pile of reasons poor performance can happen with ANY Semi-Auto. Semi-Autos are in fact complex machines. Even the deceptively simple "inertia driven" system on the Benelli's can have complex problems. Oddly because it's so simple it can make it even harder to diagnose. I helped a buddy whose Benelli was doing exactly what you described. Everything looked clean, bolt, action spring, receiver slides... it was a real head scratcher. It turned out to be the magazine tube and spring. The spring and magazine follower were very sticky. The tube itself was full of junk. This was preventing the gun from supplying the next shell with enough force to chamber it properly. It wasn't anything you'd notice loading the gun but it was just enough junk to cause a little hesitation during the cycle. That's all it took to make this gun fail consistently. I'm not bashing Benelli but if you think getting that gun will get you a "worry free", "never fail" auto, I promise, you will eventually be disappointed. Pick which gun fits you best. Learn how to degrease it with a synthetic safe gun scrubber and re-lube with a drying lube like Rem Oil or Breakfree CLP (I prefer Breakfree). In fact do that before you ever shoot your new gun to remove any "shipping grease" and it will act a lot better from day one. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Leo Posted January 30, 2009 Report Share Posted January 30, 2009 Don't get me wrong the Benelli's are great tough guns that can take a lot of abuse. But I think that reputation is starting to hurt them a little because folks believe these guns are infallible. They are buying them because they believe they can neglect them and they'll still work flawlessly. It's a big let down when folks find out that's not reality. They are still great guns but they've created an image for themselves that's hard to live up to. The point I was trying to drive home is ALL semi-auto guns can be a problem if they are subject to certain conditions. If someone bashes a certain brand of semi-auto shotgun take it with a grain of salt. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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