Benelli SBE II V.S BerettaExtrema 2

Huntemup Chuck · Post by **Huntemup Chuck** » Sat Jan 26, 2008 6:11 pm

I am going to buy a Benelli or a Beretta what do you think? I do waterfowling and want a 3 1/2" I heard mixed review when it comes to the Benilli having a harder time with lighter loads? I also hunt dove as well and want an overall great shotgun. To be honest I like both guns for different reasons. I like the weight of the benelli and the overall feel when I swing the gun and I also understand that it's easier to clean? I like beretta because they have the kick off system, aqua tech and handle lighter loads more efficently. I know both shotguns are great but what would guys suggest?

bird · Post by **bird** » Sat Jan 26, 2008 8:33 pm

IANative · Post by **IANative** » Sun Jan 27, 2008 8:10 am

"I like beretta because they... handle lighter loads more efficently."

Hmmm, my experience has been that gas auto's have more trouble w/ lighter loads. Not enough exhaust gas pressure to drive the piston, for lack of a better explanation. My SBE will cycle cheap, 1 ounce dove and sporting loads all day long. Just to see if it'd do it, I've loaded a mix of 1 oz, 3" and 3.5" mags and pulled the trigger till she was empty- no problems.

I've owned 3 gas auto's- a Charles Daly, and Beretta 390 and a Winchester Super X2. The 390 was the only one that would cycle 1 ounce loads, although I've heard that said of all 390's.

hoosier · Post by **hoosier** » Sun Jan 27, 2008 4:20 pm

I have a Remington 1187 that won't handle light loads. Bought a Super Black Eagle 3 years ago and won't buy anything but Benelli. Matter of fact I just got my M2 last week. I'm sold on Benelli.

dudley · Post by **dudley** » Sun Jan 27, 2008 8:21 pm

I have a beretta 390 ans it will cycle cheap light winchester loads with no problems go both are good guns and it all comes down to which u feel the most comfortable with

LowKey · Post by **LowKey** » Tue Jan 29, 2008 8:17 am

I have fired both guns before buying the Extrema 2 with the KO.

Deciding factors
Less Felt Recoil form the Xtrema2
X2 cycles whatever load you want it to (after break-in)
No up-kick form the Extrema (SBE2 is bad for this)
Personally, I felt X2 shouldered and felt better.

I love using 3.5" 2,1 and bb for geese. The Beretta X2KO is by far the best gun for taking on those shells.

I am not brand bios in any way.

omega58 · Post by **omega58** » Tue Jan 29, 2008 10:18 am

I would go with whatever fits you best. Some people up here were having problems with the Benellis in the late season. . .I would be upset to have a $1500 single shot. They are not sure what the problem is, but it was a more than one person problem.

Also, on overhead shots, the inertia system can fail to cycle as well. Benelli system is a really good system, but either system can fail at times. A well cared for semi-auto, Beretta, Benelli, Browning, Mossberg, Remington, etc. should be good for many years.

Also, a $30 Limbsaver recoil pad or other recoil pad on any semi auto will make a world of difference.

Huntemup Chuck · Post by **Huntemup Chuck** » Tue Jan 29, 2008 10:42 am

Thanks guys I am going to go for the Exterma With K/O. I also heard that the SBE II butt pad is problematic and is known for falling off

see for youself.

http://www.nodakoutdoors.com/forums/vie ... hp?t=47914

LowKey · Post by **LowKey** » Tue Jan 29, 2008 1:57 pm

Huntemup Chuck wrote:Thanks guys I am going to go for the Exterma With K/O. I also heard that the SBE II butt pad is problematic and is known for falling off see for youself.

http://www.nodakoutdoors.com/forums/vie ... hp?t=47914

Good choice!

Dont be affraid to use 3.5" No2's for geese. The 1660fps Kents do a nice job upto 35yds.

JakeDD · Post by **JakeDD** » Tue Jan 29, 2008 3:55 pm

omega58 wrote:I would go with whatever fits you best. Some people up here were having problems with the Benellis in the late season. . .I would be upset to have a $1500 single shot. They are not sure what the problem is, but it was a more than one person problem.

Also, on overhead shots, the inertia system can fail to cycle as well. Benelli system is a really good system, but either system can fail at times. A well cared for semi-auto, Beretta, Benelli, Browning, Mossberg, Remington, etc. should be good for many years.

Also, a $30 Limbsaver recoil pad or other recoil pad on any semi auto will make a world of difference.

Agreed on every point - well said.

tmanker · Post by **tmanker** » Mon Feb 18, 2008 8:09 pm

All things considered, a gas gun will cycle lighter loads better than an inertia gun. I didn't even know this was debatable. As you can imagine I chose the Xtrema 2. I shoot clay pigeons all the time with this gun. 1 oz loads have never been a problem for me. I am very happy with this gun. I would probably take a SX3 before a SBE II. My personal opinion.

gonehunting4days · Post by **gonehunting4days** » Mon Feb 18, 2008 8:23 pm

I also shoot the Xtrema 2 and it is a really great gun. My two other hunting budies shoot SBE II and have had more problems than I have has with my Xtrema 2. Their SBE II Had more problems cycling when the weather got down to that 5-10 degrees.

BigShooter · Post by **BigShooter** » Tue Feb 19, 2008 7:28 pm

I love my Berettas because they fit me well. I thought the SBE II had a raised rib, whereas the Berettas ( at least the 303s, 390s & 391s) have the vent rib that is flat with the receiver. I can't believe they come up the same. I know I hit well with my Beretta but don't hit well with my brother's Benelli. Too bad you can't try one of each at a skeet or sporting clays field. They are both great guns.

IANative · Post by **IANative** » Tue Feb 19, 2008 7:42 pm

tmanker wrote:All things considered, a gas gun will cycle lighter loads better than an inertia gun. I didn't even know this was debatable. As you can imagine I chose the Xtrema 2. I shoot clay pigeons all the time with this gun. 1 oz loads have never been a problem for me. I am very happy with this gun. I would probably take a SX3 before a SBE II. My personal opinion.

All things considered, what do you base this claim on?

BANG-BANG · Post by **BANG-BANG** » Thu Feb 21, 2008 3:57 pm

Good choice going with the X2. I tested both guns before settle with the X2 also; however, I did like the look of the SBE much better. I do think that the X2 is an ugly gun though. I got the camo version and has been smooth and shoots all kinds of load. I let a friend tried it at the field once and he went and bought the same gun the following week. I never regret it. Comes with all kinds of chokes also.... GL.

thunderhead · Post by **thunderhead** » Sat Feb 23, 2008 4:57 pm

Xtrema 2, nuff said.

gwgdog66 · Post by **gwgdog66** » Sun Feb 24, 2008 10:21 am

I looked at both when I was in the market. The Benelli SBE-II fit me better. I haven't had a problem with the lighter loads. I did break it in using 3 1/2" during a goose hunt.

tmanker · Post by **tmanker** » Wed Feb 27, 2008 10:26 pm

IANative wrote:
tmanker wrote:All things considered, a gas gun will cycle lighter loads better than an inertia gun. I didn't even know this was debatable. As you can imagine I chose the Xtrema 2. I shoot clay pigeons all the time with this gun. 1 oz loads have never been a problem for me. I am very happy with this gun. I would probably take a SX3 before a SBE II. My personal opinion.
All things considered, what do you base this claim on?

I base this claim on experience and more importantly physics. Inertia guns require energy from the load to eject and chamber the next round. 7/8 oz or 1 oz loads just dont provide this unless they are around 1250 fps. Gas operated guns will cycle the same round much easier and more efficiently. I am still amazed that this is debatable. There is a reason why everyone says you need to break in the benelli's with heavier game loads. Do you ever hear anyone saying that when buying a 1187 or beretta 390?

IANative · Post by **IANative** » Thu Feb 28, 2008 8:57 am

Frankly, I amazed that you think this is a non-debatable topic. However, since this forum is home to many friendly debates, I'll politely debate the topic. Like you, tmanker, I'll base my arguement largely on experience, since I'm not a physics major. However, I'll start w/ the physics first, as I understand them.

ANY semi-shotty, loaded with a light enough load, will not cycle. My SBE, which has cycled thousands of 1 oz, 1200 fps reloads, will not cycle the "low-noise, low-recoil, urban" rounds that I buy for my lady to shoot. While you somewhat addressed the physics behind the operation of the inertia guns, you didn't touch on the the physics of gas-operated guns at all.

Gas guns rely on the ability to siphon a sufficient quantity of the exhaust gasses from the exploding powder load to "drive" the gas piston. Too light of a powder charge= not enough exhaust gasses bled off to cycle the piston. This is why most of the older gas-operated guns (and some of the current ones) had/have O-ring adjustments/options that had/have to be changed when changing from "heavy" loads to "light" loads... that adjustment allows for the lighter recoil of light load shells to still drive the piston.

Now, I'll gladly stand corrected by any physicist or gunsmith on my amateur physics explanation above. However, on to experience... First of all, my SBE never required a "heavy load break-in period." I bought it at a large clays range in Texas, and put about 200 rounds of 1 oz 7 1/2's and 8's through it that same day. It has reliably ate everything I've ever fed it, with the exception of the urban loads I mentioned above.

For the purpose of this dicussion, my experience w/ gas semi's will be limited to the three that I've owned- a Charles Daly 3" semi, a Beretta 390 and a Winchester Super X2. Like I mentioned in an earlier post, the 390 is the only one that would reliably cycle 1 oz loads. That gun was too short for me, or I'd still have it. It was the softest-shooting, out-of-the-box 12 gauge I've ever owned. However, neither the Daly or the SX2 would shoot 1 oz. loads at all. Period. Both were fine with 1 1/8 @ 1300fps, but dropping down to 1 oz @ 1200fps turned them both into single shots.

So, tmanker, I hope you can see- mostly from the summary of my own experience; secondarily from my limited understanding of the physics behind the operation of each recoil system- that I can't help but debate this topic with you.

Regards,
BT

tmanker · Post by **tmanker** » Thu Feb 28, 2008 7:24 pm

Heres a thread I started on shotgun world asking just that question.

http://www.shotgunworld.com/bbs/viewtop ... 47#1100647