Benelli & Beretta?

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What are the differences between the Benelli SBE I and the SBE II? Is there anything that makes the SBE II significantly better than the SBE I? Just ergonomics and stock differences? Are there any differences in felt recoil between the two assuming that you are using the same load between them?

Also what are the differences between the Beretta A391 Xtremna and the A391 Xtremna2? Is there anything that makes the Xtremna2 significantly better than the Xtremna? Just ergonomics and stock differences? Are there any differences in felt recoil between the two assuming that you are using the same load between them? I’m guessing that the Xtremna2 has an option for a recoil reducer in the butt stock.

Also can you add tube magazine extensions to either the Benelli or the Beretta?

So between the Benelli and the Beretta which one has less felt recoil when using full 3.5 inch loads? I would think that it would be the Beretta as it’s a gas gun, where as the Benelli inertia recoil.

And for those of you that have had the chance to handle and use both the Benelli and the Beretta, which one would you chose to be your primary field gun? Reasons?

So my questions are:

1. Differences between SBE I and SBE II? Pros & Cons
2. Differences between Xtremna and Xtremna2? Pros & Cons
3. Magazine extensions for the Benelli or Beretta?

Questions for those that have handled both:

1. Recoil differences between Benelli and Beretta?
2. Which would you choose and why? Reasons?
 
Benelli.. inertia rather than gas: from their site whats new...
"The new ComforTech™ system reduces recoil up to 48% over the competition, without adding any moving parts or weight. Compared to competing brands the Benelli weighs 13 to 15% less — on average, that’s more than a pound less! The ComforTech™ system also reduces muzzle climb by 15%. For fast follow-up shots, this allows the shooter to get back on target up to 69% faster than the competition.

The cryogenically treated barrel is frozen to –300° F which relieves stresses left over from hammer-forging. The result? The barrel flexes consistently, shot after shot. It also produces a smoother bore that stays cleaner and offers less resistance to the wad and shot producing denser, more uniform shot patterns.

A new buttpad made of a shock-absorbing gel, originally developed for the medical industry, works with the ComforTech™ system to soak up recoil. Benelli engineers used extensive computer modeling to create an ergonomic design so refined that left- and right-handers have entirely different recoil pads.

A new corrosion resistant recoil spring and guide remain free of rust and ride in a new recoil tube that is easily cleaned by removing the quick-detachable recoil pad."

Beretta....gas rather than inertia: from their site whats new......
"EXCLUSIVE AQUA TEK PROTECTION
Aqua Technology is the name given to the exclusive special surface and protective treatments that are applied to the metal parts of the new Beretta A391 Xtrema2 shotgun.
The steel barrel is chrome-plated inside to withstand the rigors of steel shot. The external surface of the barrel is first blued and then covered that an exclusive protective coating which remarkably increases its resistance to corrosion. The receiver is made of black anodized aluminum alloy and also boasts the same protective coating. All the internal parts are either nickel or chrome plated, or they are protected by a special process based on a ionic deposition which impregnates the surfaces with ceramic compounds and metals (e.g. Titanium, Chrome) guaranteeing a great resistance to wear and corrosion.

Recoil Reduction System. A spring-mass recoil-reduction system, located inside the stock, counteracts the rearward forces generated by shooting and greatly reduces felt recoil.

Bolt Travel Recoil Absorber. Manufactured from an advanced elastomer, it reduces the vibrations transmitted to the shooter and contributes to the shotgun’s reliability and durability.

Adjustable Length of Pull. Thanks to the two stock spacers (one assembled) the length of pull of the Xtrema2 Standard model can be adjusted to all shooters.Quick detachable sling swivels

New Kick Off® Recoil Absorber
The new Beretta patented Kick Off® system (present on the A391 Xtrema2 Kick Off® models) has been conceived to further reduce felt recoil when shooting. Thanks to the Kick Off® device, the recoil energy is gradually dissipated by two hydraulic absorbers (oil-operated) inserted into the stock. The result is superior comfort for the shooter. At the same time, the vibrations and the muzzle jump when shooting are strongly reduced."





Looks like that's about it....newer is better (or at least different)


buy the Beretta if waterfowl is the major use and the Benelli if it isn't....

I don't own either one of these guns and had the same questions....this is what I found fwiw. The opinion on which one is always predicated on what one fits you better and which gets you the better deal...

Personally I will likely buy a Beretta eventually.



(BTW ... the Beretta has a magazine extension tube available...don't know about the Benelli SBE II....but not sure this is relevant.... these are bird guns .... not breaching shotguns......if you are looking for a something to fend off pirates ... there are better choices)
 
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ive handeled the original models of both and enjoy shooting them equally when hunting the recoil is usually not felt till the day after.I'm 17 and about 140 lbs and after shooting 3 boxes of 3.5 inchers felt zero tenderness. The next day there was very little pain no bruising or discoloration only hurt when poked. this was out of the SBE 1
 
I own a SBE-II 24 inch and a SBE-I 26 inch and spent a whole day at the range recently with an Extrema II with kick off. I shot an Extrema I out of the duck blind last year twice.
The Extrema II is heavier and needs more maintenance.. it will digest the lightest of trap loads with ease.
The SBE-1 is much lighter but recoils more.... The SBE II is extremely light has less recoil than the SBE-1 but slightly more than the Extrema II.
The SBE-II is the fastest back on target of the three when shooting migratory birds and is the easiest to maintain.
If your recoil sensitive or a trap shooter the Extema-II might be your best choice.
If your a serious hunter get the Super Black Eagle II... no contest.
 
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BIGREDD said:
If your recoil sensitive or a trap shooter the Extema-II might be your best choice.
If your a serious hunter get the Super Black Eagle II... no contest.
Click to expand...
That sums it up perfectly. I chose a Beretta because I'm primarily a target shooter and only an occasional waterfowler and my gas gun has to back up my o/u.

But if I got serious about waterfowling I'd definitely have a Benelli. What convinced me was the first time I watched a Benelli being taken apart. Compared to a gas gun, Beretta or otherwise, the Benelli design is simple and robust. Far fewer parts and fewer things to go wrong.
 
I have to put some water on some of the BS here. Yes the Benelli is simpler and it won't shoot light target loads. But is does recoil much more than a gas gun! It is lighter and has a mechanical action. The Beretta is heavier (absobs recoil better, a law of physics). It is also a gas gun than reduces the recoil pulse. The Extrema has long forcing cones and long tapered chokes that have been adapted to the Optima clay barrels (reduces some recoil, improves patterns). Any light gun will recoil substantially more than a heavy gun, again the laws of physics!

Maintenance:
Here is my 391 Gold Optima Sporting that has not been cleaned in several years:
http://i37.photobucket.com/albums/e82/hnachaj/GUNS/IMG_8100b.jpg

As for working in the wet, here is this weeks WET goose hunt:
http://i37.photobucket.com/albums/e82/hnachaj/Hunting 2006/Day4goose.jpg
There are 35 Canadas and 3 Mallards on the gorund. It rained so hard, that you could see the shot hit the birds. We hit 23 Canadas in 2 flights "on the fly" and not as they landed! It pays to shoot tough clay targets!

The guns used were:
391 Gold Optima Sporting
390 Gold Super Sporting
303 Hunter
Win FX2
Nova
390 Hunter
None were camouflaged or recently cleanned! They were all coated liberaly with Beak-Free.

As for speed of the action, one is not into "action shooting"! We are hunting! A millisecond does not make a difference on the clay range or the hunting range!

So far, Scotch has retreived 200 birds! The Beretta 391 Gold Optima Sporting has shown its worth!

Best regards,
Henry;)
 
Henry... I am under the impression that the Extrema may be even easier to maintain in the field than the 391 as the Extrema apparently has the recoil spring mounted up front near the magazine tube instead contained in a recoil tube buried in the butt ... like my 1100, the 391 and the Benelli's...

Like I said I don't own the Extrema or the SBE but sure know the problems that dropping a shotgun off a beaver dam can cause...and not having the tools to disassemble a recoil spring hidden in the butt...until it was remembered 10 months later....on the other hand there is this annoying buddy of mine who keeps saying "what is it with you and your interest in these 'Dago' guns"
 
:D As Beretta purchased the remains of Franchi, they experimented with the forward return spring. A spring (to last) is made of regular steel and not s/s! Therefore, most failures to feed in Berettas are caused by an accumulation of poop and rust on the return spring in the butstock!:mad: A liberal dose of BreakFree reduces this problem. Having a very visual spring on the mag tube, it helps remind Joe-numbnut to keep it lubed and cleanned. Since the Extreema is a gun of the 21st century and not of a design from the 50s, it functions better with less recoil than any other 3 1/2 stove pipe out there. As Beretta has a very large engineering group, the gun (as the 300 series) will evolve over the years to something better sans a major redesign as the other manufacturers!:dancingbanana: It is a continuous evolution of the best product out there!:runaway:

Best regards,
Henry;)
PS: It will be way below freezing tomorow AM, as a farmer needs to get rid of some 10K geese. :runaway: Pics to follow!
 
Juat wondering about the mag extension on the beretta??? I've seen the vid with the exhibition shooter having a 12 round tube but can't see how it would be a simple swap out, I assumed it was a custom gun just for him and exhibitions. With the gas system in front of the mag tub rather than around it would you need a complete replacement sytem and new barrel???
 
Osborne ... from the drawings I have seen the gas assembly still encircles the magazine tube on the Beretta Extrema which allows for the extension to be screwed onto the end of the standard mag tube...I could be wrong .. but there doesn't appear to be any issue in that regard..
 
My son own and shoots both regularly. If you want an all around hunting gun that will handle 1oz of #6's for Rabbits up to 2 1/4 oz for Turkeys and do it comfortably the Beretta is the way to go. If you want a no muss or fuss shotgun that wont let you down no matter how hardcore your waterfowling gets the the Benelli is the way to. If the phrase "I shot alot of 2 3/4 inch shells" is in part of your vocabulary then the Benelli isn't the gun for you. I'm not saying is wont shoot light shells but the Beretta does it alot better. The Beretta is also ALOT softer shooting, some people say there isnt much of a difference but jam a bunch of 3.5" 1 3/8oz BB's down the barrel and you will soon see (feel) it. Both are top quality guns and you can't really go wrong with either.

Tim
 
Have had a SBE1 for three years and shoot mostly 2 3/4 1ounce and 7/8ths loads through it --probably 1000 shells a season. Have never had a problem with feeding the next shell. Have put mix and match shells (3.5 inch magnum, followed by 2 3/4 target load and 3 inch high velocity etc.) through it with no misfires. Recoil may be more than the Beretta but is not uncomfortable at all even with the big 3.5 inch cigars. The lightness is a real asset in my mind as I find it much quicker to change directions pull off the second act of a double on flaring ducks or geese.

I love the ease of care with it. I can have it appart cleaned and back together before my buddy can get his Winchester X2 apart. It's taken real abuse and has often gone three or four dirty water hunts between cleanings.

Having never shot the SBE2 I can't comment on it but I can't see how it would have any significant improvements that would justify the 700 dollar price difference.
 
beretta or benelli

Went to the 'TOY STORE' today and looked over both ,the guy behind the counter has one of each,hmm, so decided on the berretta just because it has some more options .Also the beretta feels bigger than the benelli and the benelli being shockingly lighter.Now its a matter of camo or black and is the reciol abs. in the stock worth the extra bucks?:confused: :confused:
 
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