RE: 11-87 or Benelli SBE II????
 

Mustard,
Ihave shot over 2000 2-3/4" shells thru my SBE II and have never had one jam. I have done nothing to my gun but apply a little grease to the bolt.

RE: 11-87 or Benelli SBE II????
 

I'll make a wager..go up to 100 11-87 owners and offer to trade them a SBE for their shotgun. I am betting 99.0% take you up on it.

RE: 11-87 or Benelli SBE II????
 

:D:D:D:D:D:D:D:D

RE: 11-87 or Benelli SBE II????
 

I'll take the Benelli in trade for my Browning Gold. Then I'll sell it and buy 2 3" Golds. See below. I copied this from my response to the same question in the waterfowl section. Seems this is where the action is. IMPORTANT: This is how I feel about it. I know and respect the fact that there are countless others that feel exactly opposite and there is no way I could discredit that.

I've had them both. The Benelli is absolutely a dream to clean. That is the best thing about the gun IMO. I had an older SBE. I did not like the fact that it jammed so frequently. It is the shotgun of preference in my area and most people love them. To me, it cost too much for the performance or lack there of. I have been around others that jam also. Prior to the Benelli I had an 11-87. In was a great gun, but a piece broke in the receiver and I had it fixed by my local gunsmith. I sold it because I wanted a Benelli. That was quite a few years ago and over that time, the part that broke off in the 11-87 was the only such instance my gunsmith said he has seen.

Having said that, I have had a Browning Gold 3 1/2" Stalker for the last several years and I wouldn't trade it for any other. My brother also has the exact gun except with MOSG camo. I bought my son a 3" Gold Stalker for this last Christmas/B'day. These guns have performed flawless. I bought my son's brand new Gold off Gunbroker for $680. $50 for shipping/handling/ffl and at the time a $100 rebate for a final price of $630. That is an awesome gun for the money. I know you have to wade through a ton of overpriced stuff on GB, but if you are patient and lucky you can make a good deal.

RE: 11-87 or Benelli SBE II????
 

I own my own SBE and wouldn't trade it for anything. I also use a Benelli Super 90 ( basically the same gun, just not the hunting version )at work and can't even guess how many rounds of slug and buckshot I've put through it. I've also shot lots of light hunting loads through my personalone and never had a problem withextraction of the shell. The only round the work gun doesn't like to extract are bean bag rounds or CS gas roundsbecause the low recoil won't operate the inertia system properly; so you just have to do it manually which is no big deal. Keep that thing oiled and it will shoot forever!

RE: 11-87 or Benelli SBE II????
 

the ability to cycle 2 and 3/4 shells is very important to me.. I just wanted to make sure that the SBE II will do that. I love the remington but the benelli just points better and is much lighter w/less recoil. I love the balance of the SBE II and would prefer to own one but the price is becoming an obstacle and if it doesn't cycle the low brass shells then I would be happy to go w/ a gas operated gun such as the 11-87 or the browning gold. In your experience i know the SBE I won't cycle low brass but i have heard the SBE II will. Just curious for your input

THANKS<
CHASELTON

RE: 11-87 or Benelli SBE II????
 

Chaselton,

What are you seeing as a price point? I've only spoken to one gun shop, but looked at gunbroker.com as well. I'm seeing in the $ 1,300 - $ 1,450 range (adv hd camo model).

Also, do you think there is a significant difference between a 26" and 28" barrel for duck, canada and snow goose hunting?

Cheers,

RE: 11-87 or Benelli SBE II????
 

Not sure where your buying your golds from but I see them in the high 800 to mid 900 range. In Fact my local Gander mountain has some SBE's that are priced right at that price range(last years model) and recently I was offered brand new camo versions at 850(marks outdoors,birmingham alabama this years model). Not taking anything away from the Gold but the SBE is a better shotgun..has IMHO much better handling and is easier to clean. Proof of the pudding is the dove operations in Argentina pretty much the only semi seen and what the owners use and recommendare SBE's because they can take the beating.

RE: 11-87 or Benelli SBE II????
 

I actually did the switch from 28" to 26" and then to 24" barrels. I use my M1 Super 90, and my M2 with just as good if not better success on high flyers than my buddies shooting 3 1/2" SBEs with 28" barrels.

RE: 11-87 or Benelli SBE II????
 

Whoever is having cycling problems with an SBE or SBE 2 is not cleaning their weapon properly. I have cleaned many SBEs for my hunters that were "single shots" and once I got done with them, they never malfunctioned again. The problem I see with them not cycling low brass shells is due to people oiling the crap out of them when they clean them. Run the gun dry or just a drop of oil, and it will not screw up.