New gun?

D

David Allen

Active member
I find myself wanting to go back to one shot gun for all my shooting. Years ago I had a Browning gold in 3 1/2 inch and it did a fine job, but began to wear out. At that time I was shooting 75 to 100 rounds each Sunday, plus my hunting useage. After a few years wear began to show and reliability came into question. I retired the gun to waterfowl only and used a berretta OU for all my skeet, sporting and upland hunting. I am now looking to go back to one gun.

I have narrowed down my choices to a Browning Cynergy OU in 3 1/2 inch or a Bennelli Super Black Eagle II. What are your thoughts on these guns? I am particularly interested in anyone that has owned both.

Thanks
 
The recoil on an OU with heavy loads would become a pain in my opinion. I'd go with the auto loader.
 
I have an SBE II and would highly recommend it. The whole reason I got mine was because at the time it was one of the few autos that would shoot everything from light target loads to 3 1/2" magnums reliably. My gun's had thousands and thousands rounds through it from target to goose, and it's literally only jammed once or twice.
Another thing to consider is that it's still a light gun and great for clays, and comes with a shim kit so you can fit it properly for you. I have a Browning Citori that I hardly ever use because my SBE shoots so much better. I've only ever shot the 3 1/2" OU Browning that you're asking about a few times, and it's much heavier than your standard 12 ga O/U. To me you loose some of the strong points of shooting an O/U by going to that heavy gun.
Just my .02!
 
Personally, I feel if you can find, and they are out there, a lightly used SBE I you will have not only a great gun but a little more money in your wallet at the end of the day. I have owned 2 Benelli's (an M1 and an SBE I) for the last 14 years and with regular maintenance I think that in my SBE alone I have fired over 12,000 rounds with nothing more than an upgrade to a sure cycle system. A few years ago I bought an SBE II and while it was a good gun, I had an infinite amount of trouble getting it to cycle light 2 3/4" guns, as did a good friend of mine that shoots skeet regularly. Both went back to Benelli and were returned wit the A-OK only to have the same problem time after time. I also was not a fan of the comfortech option, but that comes down to a personal preference. You can find an SBE I typically for around $8-900 and if you look hard enough find one that is nearly brand new. Alot of people seem to have the money to spend to buy a gun and then never use it. I bought mine used and it had been fred about 25 times by someone that thought they needed it to goose hunt once a year. A win for me!
 
I have owned both. Went to a cynergy four seasons ago and like it better than the auto. Always work's and no need for the third shot there out there.
 
I had the O/U for a short time. I liked the gun but will never again shoot 3 1/2" shells from an O/U. It was punishing compared to the SBEII. Saying that, I should add that I haven't shot 3 1/2" shells in the last couple of years from any gun and may never do so again.
 
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