Pre-buyers remorse?
 

Hey everyone,
Hope hunting has gone well for all. Wondering if I can get some feedback here. Been fixated on buying the Benelli SBE II, but am having second thoughts because of the pricetag. Without bringing up a seperate argument, I feel that this autoloader is top notch in the following areas-longevity, reliability, versatility (2.75"-3.5" loads), you get the idea or heard the stories.

So I am wondering given the price tag if anyone can comment on the following from personal experience (Remington 11's are out sorry, heard too much bad stuff from owners).

Winchester SX2
Mossberg 930 or 935 Ulti-Mag (shot the 930 before)
Browning Silver Stalker
Beretta 391

If there's another autoloader I am forgetting or that runs all shells, I am open. Looking for a gun that I can pass down to my son, and can take a bit of abuse.

Thanks.
Tim

RE: Pre-buyers remorse?
 

In my experience, if you dont buy the one that your heart is set on, and settle on something different, you will end up going back to what you wanted in the first place eventually anyhow. I have settled on something else time and time again and am finally starting to learn to just bite the bullet and drop the cash on what I want in the first place. Usually trying to save money on firearms related items ends up costing me more money in the long run. Case in point, buying a Remington 710 lol.

RE: Pre-buyers remorse?
 

The last part about handing down made me think you should go with your gut.

Tom

RE: Pre-buyers remorse?
 

I agree too. Get the one your gut says is right. My last gun purchase I almost talked myself into getting a different gun than the one I wanted. I'm very grateful that I went ahead and got the one that "spoke to me". Get the one that makes you say. Mmmmmmmmm. Then pass it on as your favorite gun. Not just the gun that you could afford or settled on.

RE: Pre-buyers remorse?
 

You can quit your worrying as of last month!!! I had always wondered what the big deal was about benellis. The fact that I have NEVER gotten the first one in shop for repair in 26+ years as gunsmith orta say something!! Anyway,I got a benelli legacy and that thing shoots so good,it's almost boring as it seems a person cannot miss,also mentioning recoil-I say WHAT recoil? I ain't ever been much on shotguns for any huntin except flying birds. You know anybody interested in my legacy with all fancy wood/engraving?

RE: Pre-buyers remorse?
 

I was going to say you left out this one:

http://www.remington.com/products/fi...camo_specs.asp

But, then noticed you had ruled out the Remington. I'm curious as to what problems you've heard of that made you rule it out. I've got an 11-87(standard model) that I used for years shooting sporting clays, and never had so much as a hiccup using it.

RE: Pre-buyers remorse?
 

Think you guys hit the nail on the head. I have already done that with my elk rifle, and still kick myself from time to time. When you're looking at a gun that is comparable to a house payment, you thinklong and hard about it.

As far asRemingtonis concerned on the auto's, I just keep hearing internals fail. Hear the lifespan is 20-30,000 rounds, and that the benelli is many multiples of that.

RE: Pre-buyers remorse?
 

tbrunson,
I was looking at purchasing a SBE II last winter. I wanted to buy an all around/multiple purpose shotgun. I wanted 3.5 inch for turkeys, butsomething that would cycle 2.75 inch for trap, skeet and sporting clays. I recieved many warnings that all brands of 3.5 inch autoloaders have potential troublecycling lighter 2.75 inch loads from time to time. Not sure what your intent for the gun will be, but just wanted to bring that to your attention since you mentioned versatility of shooting 2.75 to 3.5 inch loads. (Although, I did have some replies that stated they never had issues shootingtwo and three quarter loads.)

I ended up with a Browning BPS duratouch camo and have been very pleased. It will be great to pass ontomy lefthanded son since it ejects shells out the bottom and has a thumb safety on the top.

RE: Pre-buyers remorse?
 

All I know is a act of congress can't make my benelli malfunction.:D

RE: Pre-buyers remorse?
 

another option would be the SBE I, about $3-400 less than the II.

RE: Pre-buyers remorse?
 

This is so very true!

I had this experience when I wanted a Ruger .17HMR. But instead bought a Marlin 22WMR. About a year later I sold the Marlin and bought the Ruger having spent a year wishing I spent the extra money in the first place.

Go with your heart even if it means you have to wait a little longer to save up for it. Neither you or your son will regret it.

~Robert

RE: Pre-buyers remorse?
 

stalkingbear, great comment. I could say that for my nova pump too. The SBE I would definitely be a worthy second. Everyone just seems to be high on the comfortech in the SBE II's. Maybe for good reason. Maybe not. Wonder if someone has published the difference in felt recoil for both systems. That's what the the comfortech is supposed to do, reduce FELT recoil.

5 years ago, I didn't understand why hunter's had to have the latest and greatest (map and compass vs. GPS) and am now doing it myself. Guess the real question is, doyou pay the $300-400 more for what could be marginal change? Sure I will, or I will be wondering what might have been. Ugh.

This is one of the best hobbies/passions invented, but it sure is expensive!

RE: Pre-buyers remorse?
 

I've owned 3 of the guns you mentioned. The 391, SX2, and the SBE II. The winchester sucked. I had a lot of problems with that gun. If it looked at a piece of dirt, it jammed. My buddy went through the same thing I did at the same time, with the exact same gun. My advice would be to not buy the SX2.The 391 and the SBE II, are the best two semi-auto shotguns I've ever shot. What I really liked the bestwas the perfection in cycling and never jamming at all. The 391 was a much better looking gun, but was a little harder to clean. The SBE II, had a recoil system built into the stock that made it hard to beat. I do not think you could go wrong with the SBE II, Or the Beretta 391, both are great guns!!! Good Luck!