- My Forums
- Tiger Rant
- LSU Recruiting
- SEC Rant
- Saints Talk
- Pelicans Talk
- More Sports Board
- Fantasy Sports
- Golf Board
- Soccer Board
- O-T Lounge
- Tech Board
- Home/Garden Board
- Outdoor Board
- Health/Fitness Board
- Movie/TV Board
- Book Board
- Music Board
- Political Talk
- Money Talk
- Fark Board
- Gaming Board
- Travel Board
- Food/Drink Board
- Ticket Exchange
- TD Help Board
Customize My Forums- View All Forums
- Show Left Links
- Topic Sort Options
- Trending Topics
- Recent Topics
- Active Topics
Started By
Message
Franchi/Benelli/Beretta...shotgun thread
Posted on 9/8/15 at 9:20 am
Posted on 9/8/15 at 9:20 am
I've been hunting with a Remington 1187 and I want to get a lighter, well balanced shotgun. I have shot a SBE II in the past, really liked the gun. Also like the Beretta A400 and the kick off system they have. I guess the SBE II vs A400 is splitting hairs but what is the difference between the Benelli SBE II and the Franchi Intensity? I know they are both made by Benelli and the Franchi is a little lighter. What would I be paying the extra $800 for with the SBE II? TIA
8
Posted on 9/8/15 at 9:44 am to Tigah Jr
I know a few guys that have bought the Franchis and they look nice but I feel like it would kick the piss out of you and the thought of where cost was cut makes me want to go towards Benelli over Franchi.
Posted on 9/8/15 at 9:45 am to fisherbm1112
quote:Why is that?
but I feel like it would kick the piss out of you
Posted on 9/8/15 at 9:55 am to Tigah Jr
Can't go wrong with any of them IMHO, but I think the Beretta is gas operated where the other two are Inertia. Recoil shouldn't be much of a problem with the gas auto paired with the kickoff however I have heard guys say the kickoff stock fills with water if it get submerged. Comfortech may do same thing, I'm not sure.
This post was edited on 9/8/15 at 9:58 am
Posted on 9/8/15 at 9:58 am to Tigah Jr
quote:
I want to get a lighter, well balanced shotgun.
toss the a400 out the window
Franchi Intensity and an SBEII are the same gun save for a few things: SBEII has a crio treated barrel, comfortech stock for recoil reduction, and the obvious aesthetic and ergonomic differences. the internals are almost exactly the same
Are those extra features on teh benelli worth the extra 700 for you? If not, go Intensity.
quote:
I guess the SBE II vs A400 is splitting hairs
not quite. intertia vs gas, back-heavy vs front end heavy, ergonomic forearm vs chunky forearm. Kickoff is better than Comfortech, though. Beretta will also cycle lighter loads more reliably
take all this into account. Go SBEII IMO
Posted on 9/8/15 at 10:01 am to Tigah Jr
i've got an SBE (not SBE 2) that i've had since 1997 and it has been a GREAT gun. only problem i had with it was the extractor broke about 5 yrs ago (+/-$50 to get it fixed). it is rugged as hell very reliable. i'd buy it again.
i bought mack jr #1 a franchi intensity a little over a year ago (20ga). it has been a very good gun as well w/o any trouble. it is lighter and kicks more than the gas operated semi autos. i haven't been able to tell a difference between the fit and finish of either.
the SBE's come with a shim kit to adjust LOP, comb drop, and cast. it also has 5 chokes vs 3 with the franchi. also, the SBE chokes are more true to point of impact vs the franchi. we had to make some very small modifications to the franchi chokes (separate topic).
hope this helps and maybe wick will chime in
edit: carson, good points
i bought mack jr #1 a franchi intensity a little over a year ago (20ga). it has been a very good gun as well w/o any trouble. it is lighter and kicks more than the gas operated semi autos. i haven't been able to tell a difference between the fit and finish of either.
the SBE's come with a shim kit to adjust LOP, comb drop, and cast. it also has 5 chokes vs 3 with the franchi. also, the SBE chokes are more true to point of impact vs the franchi. we had to make some very small modifications to the franchi chokes (separate topic).
hope this helps and maybe wick will chime in
edit: carson, good points
This post was edited on 9/8/15 at 10:03 am
Posted on 9/8/15 at 10:03 am to Carson123987
quote:isn't the Franchi return spring around the magazine tube rather than in the stock like the benelli's
the internals are almost exactly the same
Posted on 9/8/15 at 10:06 am to 007mag
quote:
isn't the Franchi return spring around the magazine tube rather than in the stock like the benelli's
yep
Posted on 9/8/15 at 10:14 am to mack the knife
Thanks thought I'd picked up that little nugget of trivia somewhere.
BTW to OP I also have a SBE1 I bought in early 90's that is still going strong and I just recently bought the SBE2 classic because I had the itch for a synthetic cerakoted duck gun. Honestly I walked into Simmon's to buy a Franchi but when they offered me the Bennelli for only $200 more I flip flopped. SBE2 Classic doesn't have comfortech stock and only 3 choke tubes but mine had the crio barrel.
BTW to OP I also have a SBE1 I bought in early 90's that is still going strong and I just recently bought the SBE2 classic because I had the itch for a synthetic cerakoted duck gun. Honestly I walked into Simmon's to buy a Franchi but when they offered me the Bennelli for only $200 more I flip flopped. SBE2 Classic doesn't have comfortech stock and only 3 choke tubes but mine had the crio barrel.
Posted on 9/8/15 at 10:19 am to 007mag
quote:
isn't the Franchi return spring around the magazine tube rather than in the stock like the benelli's
Correct. i was talking more along the line of component construction and the like. Same bolt body etc
This post was edited on 9/8/15 at 10:23 am
Posted on 9/8/15 at 10:28 am to Tigah Jr
quote:
Benelli SBE II and the Franchi Intensity?
The Franchi Intensity is the poor man's SBE. The Intensity (and Affinity) are very good shotguns that are relatively inexpensive.
Posted on 9/8/15 at 10:52 am to AlxTgr
They are unbelievably light for 3 1/2 shells. One of my guys that works for me has one and the idea of shooting 3 1/2s out of that gun is scary. I'm not saying that it wouldn't be okay for it but I wouldn't want to saddle up to that gun for anything but low shooting hunts.
Posted on 9/8/15 at 11:06 am to Tigah Jr
Save your money and get the Franchi
Posted on 9/8/15 at 11:31 am to fisherbm1112
quote:Ah, I did not look up the specs.
They are unbelievably light for 3 1/2 shells.
Posted on 9/8/15 at 12:01 pm to Tigah Jr
Why not the Beretta A300 Outlander? It doesn't shoot 3.5", but otherwise is an outstanding shotgun in the sub-$1k market.
Posted on 9/8/15 at 1:00 pm to The Last Coco
Here’s my 2c on the issue – if you shoot a 1187 now congrats on the decision to upgrade you are moving into a quality firearm .... no comment on the 1187. Back in teh day I shot an 1187 and when it came time to upgrade I was going SBE or beretta 391 (pre a400 and 300). When I put gun up to shoulder the beretta fit the same as an 1187 but the SBE was slightly longer in the stock and didn’t fit me well. I have shot a400s and 300s, they fit the same as 1187. All the guns are good choices find the one that fits you and go w/ it, if you are going to shoot it I wouldn’t worry too much about cost you will have the gun for decades.
Posted on 9/8/15 at 1:25 pm to OntarioTiger
quote:
All the guns are good choices find the one that fits you and go w/ it
Best advice thus far. The fanciest gun in the world won't shoot like you want it if it doesn't fit well.
Posted on 9/8/15 at 2:56 pm to Tigah Jr
I am pro Beretta but I would counsel to stay away from the a400 unico line. Many issues there that are not being resolved by Beretta.
Th A400 Xplor line of beretta shotguns is just fine and a quality piece of hardware. I would avoid the kickoff system in that line..if you get water standing in your blind. The water will get into the kickoff system.
All that said, I would go find a used 391 / silver malard.
Th A400 Xplor line of beretta shotguns is just fine and a quality piece of hardware. I would avoid the kickoff system in that line..if you get water standing in your blind. The water will get into the kickoff system.
All that said, I would go find a used 391 / silver malard.
Posted on 9/8/15 at 3:32 pm to nelatf
I have a Stoeger m3500 that I love. It's inertia driven like Benelli and shoots 3.5's. Its another cheap alternative and has never malfunctioned on me.
Posted on 9/8/15 at 3:56 pm to nelatf
I shoot a Beretta AL391 Teknys in 20g. I know I've put 25,000 + rounds through it, skeet, hunting etc. No mechanical issues. The Silver Mallard is the same gun in 12G. They don't quit. Find yourself a used AL391, put the mercury filled coil absorber on it and it's awesome.
Page 1 of 2
Popular
Back to top
Follow TigerDroppings for LSU Football News