Home Forums Birds & Dogs Shotguns Benelli SBE 3 vs SBE II

I can get a NIB Super Black Eagle II camo for $1299 or buy the latest and greatest SBE 3 camo for $1650....So My question for the Benelli crew is, ..IN your opinion is the SBE 3 worth the extra $350 more than the SBE II?......Thanks Hb

No.

Neither are worth the price and I would pick an early model used H&K over any of the rest. The shims on the later models are nice but the standard stock is close enough except for length and I can add a recoil pad to make up the difference. If I shop carefully I can do all that for well under $1000.

I got the II, couple features of the 3 that weren't for me, also over on SG world there were many posts about POI issues of the 3. Not sure if that's a resolved issue or not.

Yes, I have also heard the 3's have had issues with significant high POI due to the flex of the Comfort Tech stock during recoil. The rest of the gun seems to be fairly solid, but would hold off until they get the POI issue resolved. The guys I know who have th 2's love them. The reason I dont use one is because the SBE I have has always worked well, and I never saw any advantage to the 2 that justified me spending the money to upgrade.

Never had the 2, got the 3.
I love it, lightweight and shoots nice and smooth.
As far as the poi issue mine does fine.
I’ve killed more geese and ducks this year with it than the last 3 yrs combined.
It seems as whatever I point it at it kills, don’t know if it’s me or the gun but in my case I think it’s worth it.

The SBE3 pistol grip/wrist is really strange and uncomfortable. I’m not sure what they were shooting for, but the ergos are the most peculiar of any shotgun I’ve handled.

Yeah i heard Benelli changed the pistol grip to a little more closed design, I might like this but I need to handle them side by side to tell.....Hb

It’s sort of more open and longer. You’ve got to choke up your grip to find the trigger.

I actually find that part ugly and thought I wouldn’t like it but I really like how it comformes to my hand.
Everybody is built differently so I guess what fits for me may not fit for someone else.

Very true.....Hb

For sure.

If the 2 actually cost more, I'd buy that anyway.

I wouldn't touch a 3.

The changes in "ergos" were pretty drastic, and shotgun fit is what matters. The 3 didn't upgrade anything.

I'd buy a 2, well before I bought a 3, or a "1"

I got a chance to handle a new SBE 3 and I liked it but no better than the SBE II and certainly not $450 better so I bought a NIB SBE II APG 24" from Reeds for $1199 shipped (Reeds recently bought out the remaining SBE II's and are selling them at an an excellent price, IMO).......Hb