I'm thinking of buying a new shotgun to do some skeet and trap shooting, and of course to hunt the bunnies. ;D I was curious if any of you fellas had a Benelli? I here some great things about them but was wondering if they are really worth the money? I've got a Remington 1187 now and it's just too dang heavy, I'm looking for something lighter and shorter. <br><br>So what do you guys think of them?<br><br>DB

 

I have heard nothing but good about the entire Benelli line. Got a chance to shoot one at a local indoor gun range and they are slick. Range owner is a dealer so he was more than happy to let me cycle a few rounds through one when I expressed an interest.<br><br>Are they worth the money? I would suspect they are, but then the $150 Remington 1100 I bought new in 1977 at age 12 has never let me down, either.<br><br>I don't remember if it was a Super 90 or Super Black Eagle but I do know I went at the price. Would be nice to have if money were no object.<br><br>Speaking of which I just went to the Benelli site - I don't want to even know what the &quot;Ego&quot; engraved model will set you back

 

Weight question intrigued me - Benelli Super 90 states 3300 grams, approximately 7 1/4 lbs. Remington states average weight for 11-87 as approximately 8 lbs.<br><br>As many hours as I have with an 1100 in my hands I can tell you that a sling comes in handy. Of course, sitting in a tree stand it usually stays in my lap, but in a bird field that extra 3/4 pound would become noticable over the course of an afternoon.<br><br>Looking up gun specs and drooling sure beats working

 

Go find some nice ranges and talk to the folks who shoot lots of skeet/trap/clays. Its also a good sign if the range office rents Benelli's. They'll be happy to share any reliability experiences they've had. For infrequent shooting, I'm sure they're fine, but if you've ever done any 400 bird days, some shotguns start acting up.

I prefer my O/U Brownings (both Belguim and Japanese); but still like to break out the old JC Higgins Pump and the .410 Rem 870 just to keep me honest. But I don't think anything has better balance than an O/U.

For all around shooting, I always thought an O/U set up for Skeet (28&quot; barrels - which is still a short gun) was the best compromise over a field gun or Trap gun.

 

I have a Browning Gold Stalker 12ga. with a 28&quot; barrel and invector choke. A bit on the heavy side, but it is a good all around shotgun, field or sporting clays. I've run plenty of rounds through it on dove hunts (150+/day between cleanings) and never had it hang up.<br><br>The guys I know that are serious about sporting clays use a 20ga. 26&quot; Ruger Red-label over/under. They also work well shooting dove. A bit pricey for me (~$1,400.00 buck).

 

Benelli's are great guns. I've got a Browning Gold Series 12ga 3&quot; Semi-auto. I love that gun. It is a tad bit heavy but it has absolutely no kick what so ever. Even with 3&quot; Magnum T-shot.

 

I shoot the SBE dove, teal, ducks, geese, turkeys. Can't say enough good about it. I put about 1500 rounds through it a year. In three years it has jammed three times, its an auto it will eventually happen!. I don't think it has much recoil until I load the 3.5&quot; turkey loads then LOOK OUT . I like the adjustable stock shims so it can be fitted to your shooting style. I can tear the action down in the field. I have a Browning auto 5, and Remington 1100. I pick the SBE up when I go out the door. Of the guys I hunt with six have bought a Bennelli since I bought mine.

 

Benelli's are awesome! I have a Super Black Eagle, all Camo. It is the most reliable and tough shotgun, I have ever owned. My others just set in the display case and look clean. I use this gun for everything from Water fowling, upland game to Competition Sporting Clays. I’ll have to admit that I get some crazy stares when I show up to the range with a camo gun against other competitors with their Citories (SP?) and other over/unders. Especially when I shot against the Olympic Trap team down in Lamar, Colorado. Yeah they won, but my team came in second just 3 clays behind. But, I have so much confidence in the gun, and can change barrel lengths in no time flat. It breaks down for cleaning with only a few pieces and goes back together like a dream. The dual gas slide ejection is IMHO is far superior to any over Simi- auto on the market. Load your own shells or pattern out different shell makes and for each type of hunting on sporting event and you can’t go wrong.<br>Short story = 2 yrs ago, I dropped it in a the Icy North Platte River during duck hunting, waded back to the blind (2 degrees outside.) It froze to my glove . I held it over a Mr. Heater, warmed it up, Quick spray of gun oil, and finished the day with a limit of Green Heads. It is still flawless in operation to date! Good Cleaning Habits help!<br><br>Sorry so long of a post, just like the gun a ton!

 

Snowman - like your avatar<br><br>Duck hunters sure are a determined breed. A friend of mine has gotten into ducks recently. I thought I was a rabid deer hunter but, compared to most of the duck hunters I have known, I reckon I am soft.<br><br>Any gun that can take a dunking, freeze up, get cleaned out in the field, and go back to work is worth keeping. I have wanted a SBE for several years, just can't find the spare jack to scratch the itch with.

 

[quote author=redramnc link=board=10;threadid=15010;start=0#141032 date=1053630480]<br>I have wanted a SBE for several years, just can't find the spare jack to scratch the itch with.<br>[/quote]<br><br>I hear ya there. Heck, I'd mortage the house to keep the pickup smokin and go hunting. Your right waterfowl hunters are nuts, but so are the [glow=red, 2, 300]Redneck[/glow] Big Games Hunters (which I also classify my self as.)<br><br>proudtobearedneckKyle

 

I hunt doves with my Glock 30. ;D

 

Benelli's.....I believe are made in France....I'll stick with my Remington 870 pump. I also take two birds with one shot to make it competitive with an auto.. ;D

 

<br><br>I think I would have a better chance throwing the Glock at them then shooting them with it.<br><br>I work with a guy who has his FFL and sells guns on the side. He sells a lot of Benellis and the guys who buy them really like 'em and wouldn't buy anthing else. I have a Rem 1187 Super Mag. Why, because I didn't know jack when I bought it. I use it for trap and sporting clays about 90% of the time and hunting about 10% of the time. It is a poor choice for shotgun sports. You have to put a pretty heavy load in it to get it to cycle, target loads won't do it. This gets expensive when you are as bad a shot as I am. Oh well, that just means I need to practice more.

 

Thanks guys, You just backed up everything I've herd about them. <br><br>This is the gun I'm going to buy Benelli Montefeltro. A good freind here at work is going talk with a freind of his that is a benelli dealer and see if the 2 of us buy guns if we can get a good deal on a pair. I'm going with a 28&quot; barrel, and of course they come with all the choke tubes. 8)<br><br>Thanks again.<br><br>DB

 

Hey Darrell!<br><br> When you get that new lead slinger let me know. We will have to go bunny bustin' next season. I got a little beagle dog that ain't much, but he runs them a little <br><br>Joe