I bought A SBE II (synthetic version) 5 years ago and use it for about everything. I bought it mostly to use for waterfowl, but I've shot 4 turkeys in the past 5 seasons with it and its been to South Dakota pheasant hunting 3 seasons. It's an awesome waterfowl gun, but it works just fine for everything else. It's an awesome gun, and I haven't had a problem with it. To be honest I don't think very many people that actually have the gun and use it will have much negative to say about it. I'm not recoil sensitive, but I guess that could be an issue for some people. I would say it has more recoil than a gas operated system, but less than a pump gun like a Browning BPS. If it fits you right and pulls up nice for you I wouldn't worry about your purchase. The gun is about bullet prove, and its easy to take apart and clean. I'd rather clean my Benelli 5 times than clean another auto once.