re: Browning A5 vs Benelli SBE3

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One who used to post here hunted with me a couple times this season. It became unusable after the second hunt. Multiple issues but the last straw was safety would not move.

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This is a new A5 you're talking about?

I just went down this rabbit hole and read this thread a few times. Funny how that happened. I wanted the A5 but everywhere was out in what I wanted, and I had heard some hit or miss things with them. Got the SBE3 but haven't shot it yet. I'm expecting it to shoot high like my dad's/my SBE2. However, I've been trying to check the serial number on it so I can see when it was manufactured bc supposedly Benelli fixed the high shooting to a more reasonable degree from the early SBE3's but I am not sure when mine was made. (I'm hoping post 2019).

I still want to get an a5 in a 20 gauge or the sweet 16 as I have seen local ammo shelves full of 20 gauge and 16 gauge steel shot all season.

ETA: just got my new one and haven't shot it yet, potentially getting another deer rifle soon, seasons are over and I am already looking at semi 20/16 gauges. I have a problem.

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You don’t need the serial number to get the manufacturing date of the gun. It’s stamped on the bottom of the receiver usually.

If it was manufactured before May 2020, you will see a letter code. After that, you will see the actual numerical manufacturing date stamped.

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You can tell I am new to Benelli's. Thanks for the info, I hadn't gotten around to googling it and I have had to track down many a Remington manufacture date but that makes perfect sense. Thanks baw.

I went with the SBE3, and it’s a fine gun, zero problems, but feel the A5 shouldered and pointed better for me. I did go against the grain of feel and fit, but getting used to the SBE 3 more and more. Had mine for 4 years and zero jams, cycles everything I’ve thrown at it…

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Yea I’m with you. I shoot an SBE3 with Kicks high flyer chokes. Now I did shim the Gun like it is designed for. I know there was one guy saying you shouldn’t have to shim it but I had to also shim the Browning Maxus I had so…..
SBE3 is awesome! I have hunted with it for 4 season now and I love it.Eats every shell I put in it including low brass. Looking at getting and SBE3 in 20gauge also.

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I will eventually shim mine when I get time, but basically every gun comes with shims now. I was hunting with an old timer who was using a newer Versamax that day and was saying how it was shooting high af and the gun shop told him they put a larger drop on it. So I guess those probably come with shims too.

@DuckMan, Idk where you are at but, as for the 20 gauge SBE3, Spotted Dog has a Rob's Performance one in 28" barrel. I think it was max5 or bottomlands (idr) looked nice, but I wanted the 12. Around $2200 IIRC.

How are the kick's high flyers? I probably need to pick up a full one at least.

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I’m buying the SBE3 in 28 as soon as I can find i

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Simmons and TP outdoors have them on their website and you can FFL it to a local shop if you are far.

ETA: oh sorry 28 gauge. I didn't check for it there. I thought you meant a 28" barrel. They may have them though.

I'm split on my next shotgun being a 20 gauge or a 16. Looks like the new A5 is the main 16 gauge around and I don't think it shoots 3". Probably will just end up with another 20 gauge in a different model/brand to change it up a bit.

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BACONisMEATcandy

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Yeah, sorry I misread your post and thought you meant 28" barrel not 28 gauge. For some reason I thought that was already in production the whole time. Good luck on getting it and report back.

love my Benelli.