My personal opinion would be to stay away from the SBE3. I see more of them on used gun racks at the gun stores I frequent than any other model. Way too many reports of them patterning 100% high. However, I’m also biased. I’m recoil sensitive, so I stay away from all inertia guns lol.

I have Berettas and am a fan. The A400 XP is a great waterfowl shotgun. However, it weighs 8lbs. Substantially more than your inertia gun. The fore end is much wider than your Benelli as well. It will mount and swing much differently. The stock is adjustable,it has oversized controls, a magazine cutoff (useless accessory IMO), a widened loading port, and a mid stock kickoff. Some don’t like the kickoff, because it can cause “cheek slap”. I’ve never experienced the slap with either the mid stock or butt pad kickoff. The operating system in an A400 can go over 1000 rounds between cleanings, and when it is required, it’s very easy compared to most other gas guns. The return spring is part of the bolt assembly. There are no action parts in the stock.

I also have SX series guns. Including a 20 gauge SX4 and a 3” SX4. I’ve also got experience with the 3.5” SX4. It is a very good autoloader as well. Fast cycling, and fairly soft shooting. It has a high raised rib, oversized controls, but No widened loading port. The SX4 will likely feel more similar to your Benelli. The fore end is slender compared to the A400, the 3.5” model only weighs a little over 7 lbs. The 3” model with a 26” barrel weighs 6lbs 15oz. Where it will feel different is when you mount tue gun and swing it. The weight of the SX4 is more towards the front of the gun. The SX4 will have to be cleaned every 700 rounds or so, but it isn’t difficult to do.

Mount the guns you’re looking at before purchasing, and go with the one you like best.

 

My personal opinion would be to stay away from the SBE3. I see more of them on used gun racks at the gun stores I frequent than any other model. Way too many reports of them patterning 100% high. However, I’m also biased. I’m recoil sensitive, so I stay away from all inertia guns lol.

I have Berettas and am a fan. The A400 XP is a great waterfowl shotgun. However, it weighs 8lbs. Substantially more than your inertia gun. The fore end is much wider than your Benelli as well. It will mount and swing much differently. The stock is adjustable,it has oversized controls, a magazine cutoff (useless accessory IMO), a widened loading port, and a mid stock kickoff. Some don’t like the kickoff, because it can cause “cheek slap”. I’ve never experienced the slap with either the mid stock or butt pad kickoff. The operating system in an A400 can go over 1000 rounds between cleanings, and when it is required, it’s very easy compared to most other gas guns. The return spring is part of the bolt assembly. There are no action parts in the stock.

I also have SX series guns. Including a 20 gauge SX4 and a 3” SX4. I’ve also got experience with the 3.5” SX4. It is a very good autoloader as well. Fast cycling, and fairly soft shooting. It has a high raised rib, oversized controls, but No widened loading port. The SX4 will likely feel more similar to your Benelli. The fore end is slender compared to the A400, the 3.5” model only weighs a little over 7 lbs. The 3” model with a 26” barrel weighs 6lbs 15oz. Where it will feel different is when you mount tue gun and swing it. The weight of the SX4 is more towards the front of the gun. The SX4 will have to be cleaned every 700 rounds or so, but it isn’t difficult to do.

Mount the guns you’re looking at before purchasing, and go with the one you like best.

Thanks for the reply, honestly the SX4 seems like a really decent gun for the money. I currently have a 12 gauge Tristar Viper G2. Overall it's been a pretty decent shotgun, but does require frequent cleaning. I am looking at an upgrade for it. I consider the viper g2 to be pretty soft shooting as well. The m2 kicks harder with a 3" duck load in my opinion, even though it's a 20. I've read the SX4s are pretty soft shooting. Recoil really doesn't bother me much, so not a deal breaker either way. The SX4 also has the benefit of being cheaper, so I won't feel the need to baby it. Being mainly a waterfowl gun, it will get abused to some extent.
On the A400, I really dislike the looks of the kick off system. If I could buy the gun without I would be more inclined. I also question the longevity of the rubber. 20 years from now I wonder about dry rot. It may be a non issue, but to me it seems to be another thing to go wrong. I can get the black SX4 for 900 or so. The A400 around 1800, and the SBE 3 closer to 2000. It's a shame about the SBE 3. I love the way they break down for cleaning, and I love my M2. I'm just not willing to risk buying a 2000 dollar shotgun that shoots 90/10 or worse. It it wasn't for the POI issue, the SBE3 would be it.

 

I had an A400 Xtreme Plus a few years ago. It was a great, reliable duck gun and I regret selling it. But it is a big gun, everything just feels oversized on it compared to the profile of a Benelli. Yet I didn't think it felt all that heavy, it balances nicely. The Benelli is a much racier gun that is lighter and more lively in the hands, but I question its reliability. Think of the Benelli like the girl you took home from the bar, she might be fun for a night or two but you don't want to marry her.

 

Why do you question the reliability? I've had nothing but good luck with my m2. Out of the box it cycled even the lightest loads fine. Is the SBE 3 prone to cycling issues? Thanks for the reply. Sounds like the Beretta is the chubby girl. Lol.

 

Go buy one of those used SBE 3s that shoot high for cheap and fix it. Its an easy fix if you have a heat gun or propane torch

 

I've got an A400 extreme plus left-handed model. It was my first left-handed shotgun but won't be my last. I'm not entirely sure why I waited so long to try one. It's big and heavy but so am I. I've never owned Benelli's but I do have a friend that's recently gone through the high patterning issues. Even with all of the shim adjustments dialed in, it had to go back to Benelli, but they were able to get it mostly right.

I own an SX4 in 20ga and it's a nice gun, but the A400's action is, in my opinion, simpler/faster. It's definitely easier to take the a400 down and clean it, which is a plus for me because I'm not one to clean as often as I probably should. That said, the A400 has been flawless, even with target loads. I've shot down to 1oz 1200 with no issues. I've not tried going lower, but suspect I could.

The a400 has turned out to be a really solid clay shooting gun. I've shot practice rounds with it and a few charity shoots and scored pretty well. I'm taking it out to shoot ducks in January and I expect it will perform far better than I will.

 

Hunting waterfowl for 20 years in cold, wet, snow and my SBE3 has never failed me. I owned a Maxus, Beretta sold them all and just kept the Benelli. Easy to clean and very lively which is perfect for duck. 3.5 kicks in the SBE3 so i stick with a heavy 3 inch shot and Canada's drop from the sky. Shoots high you are correct.... i would pattern it to make you are aware of its POI. Stock chokes in M are phenomenal patterns... You, in my opinion should see the target when shooting and not have it covered.

Our group and guides up here we hunt with all shoot SBE3. Fantastic gun!

 

Hunting waterfowl for 20 years in cold, wet, snow and my SBE3 has never failed me. I owned a Maxus, Beretta sold them all and just kept the Benelli. Easy to clean and very lively which is perfect for duck. 3.5 kicks in the SBE3 so i stick with a heavy 3 inch shot and Canada's drop from the sky. Shoots high you are correct.... i would pattern it to make you are aware of its POI. Stock chokes in M are phenomenal patterns... You, in my opinion should see the target when shooting and not have it covered.

Our group and guides up here we hunt with all shoot SBE3. Fantastic gun!

I'm curious, was there anything specific you didn't like about the Beretta or found lacking compared to the Benelli?

 

I'm thinking if the shimming helps fit the gun it should help with proper alignment.

I have seen the shooting too high issues with the SBE - i think it's a bit of a European sight, not proper shooting, and wrong fit.

I'm guesstimating here... but, how many SBE3's have they sold since the start? If only 10% are saying they have issues with cycling a load or it shoots to high - that is a lot of users.... the 90% of us don't say a thing and happily shoot our SBE3.

 

I'm thinking if the shimming helps fit the gun it should help with proper alignment.

I have seen the shooting too high issues with the SBE - i think it's a bit of a European sight, not proper shooting, and wrong fit.

I'm guesstimating here... but, how many SBE3's have they sold since the start? If only 10% are saying they have issues with cycling a load or it shoots to high - that is a lot of users.... the 90% of us don't say a thing and happily shoot our SBE3.

Where are you getting your numbers from? How do you know only 10% have issues?…

 

Complete guess.... The group I shoot with, there are eight of us, plus speaking with other hunters none have any issues so that sets the average high in terms of percentage of shooters who have no issues with POI.

However, would love to know how many SBE3's were sold in total from the start....

Don't believe in luck, if mine is fine chances are most should be fine as well.

 

Complete guess.... The group I shoot with, there are eight of us, plus speaking with other hunters none have any issues so that sets the average high in terms of percentage of shooters who have no issues with POI.

However, would love to know how many SBE3's were sold in total from the start....

Don't believe in luck, if mine is fine chances are most should be fine as well.

I’d say well over 10% of the members of this forum have experienced the SBE3 shooting high…

As I mentioned before, every time I walk into a gun store in my area, I see several used SBE3s on the rack. Much more than any other autoloader. It’s a well documented issue. IMO, consumers purchase them because of the status of Benelli as a waterfowl gun.

 

Get the M2. No need for a 3.5-inch gun with modern shotshells and it is a joy to carry if you are hunting pheasants or other big upland game. With regard to reliability, pretty much every high-volume dove outfitter in Argentina, Uruguay and Bolivia use them as their lodge guns in 12- and 20-gauge. These are guns that average more shells through them in a month than most people shoot in a lifetime. They don't make any money if a gun is broken and can't be rented, so...

 

I have an SBE II Mississippi edition. I’m not a Hugh Benelil fan
Shot it in So Dak. 6 shots=6 pheasants. Hard to complain about that!😀

 

I find cleaning the inertia guns to be much more pleasant than the gas guns that I've cleaned. That said, I've never owned/cleaned an A400, so can't comment specifically. I do own a Benelli Montefeltro and a Franchi Intensity (now just the 3.5" Affinity) as well as three Beretta 390/1 variations, and used to own/shoot Remington 1100s. I don't think that I'll ever go back to a gas gun unless cleaning has gotten a whole lot easier.

FWIW, the Franchi is significantly less than the other options that you've mentioned and is a great gun

 

I have an SBE3 in 20 ga. It's a 60/40 gun. My Supersports in 12, 20 and 28ga are all 60/40 guns.

I've probably sold 15-20 of them and no one, as in not a single customer, has come back and complained about one shooting high.

 

Find a way to try them all and buy the one for you that fits/feels and you hit the best with. inertia/gas/easy to clean/runs dirty longer/recoil....all points to talk about but the proof is in the shooting. I had a LH SBEII for 11 years, shot it OK. Bought a LH Beretta A400 and punched into master class beating a hundred other folks with it at the World English FITASC. Love the gun and for me, I shoot it way better than the SBEII. You may be different. Try not to worry too much about the cost of the gun. The gun, if you shoot much, is the least of the expense.

 

Well I went to the local store and was able to reshoulder all 3 shotguns. The SBE 3 just feels right. I have an M2 20 gauge already, and while different, the SBE 3 shares many of the features that make me like the M2.
As stated, I will probably hardly ever shoot 3.5 inch shells, but I do want the option, as who knows when I won't be able to purchase shells again or they become scarce. Also , like someone else mentioned, I often share a blind with guys shooting 3.5 inch shells. The SBE honestly feels quality. The A400 does too, but she's a big girl, and not particularly my favorite. I really hate the looks of the kick off, and it just seems like something else to go wrong.
I hate to say it but after shooting the m2 for a while, the SX4 felt cheap, and the LOP seemed really short. I'm sure it's a decent gun, but doesn't feel like much of an upgrade to my tristar viper g2. That SBE 3 fit me like a glove. I'm getting the 26 inch barrel and the gun in black. I really like that it's drilled and tapped already as well. Should make a decent turkey gun, if I don't run the 20 gauge m2.
Thanks for all the feed back guys, appreciate. I'm taking a risk, but if I get 60/40 no big deal. Same as the m2. If it's excessive it seems like it's possible to have Benelli sort it out, or a gunsmith.
Ultimately, the SBE 3 is the one I want, and I'll wish I would have bought it if choose something else.
Thanks, Matt

 

Well, I got the chance to actually shoot an A400 extreme plus. My choice has changed yet again. I've never shot such a smooth shotgun. Recoil is minimal with the loads I shot, and it points where I'm looking. She's chubby, but honestly for me, the actual shooting feels superior to the SBE 3. I can get over the looks of the kick off. It does work. The extra weight makes the gun swing really nice. Thank again.

 

You made the correct choice.

 

The A400's are great shooters, I went with the Xplor model for it's slimmer profile. She's not so chubby.

 

I had both the Beretta and Benelli. They are very different, for sure. For me, I just didn’t like the light, “whippy” feeling of the SBEIII. Also, the A400 includes an additional spacer to change the LOP, whereas the SBEIII does not. I’m 6’3 and 215, so the higher recoil of the SBEIII didn’t make much difference to me, but the shorter LOP with my long mongo arms definitely did. Trap shooting several times a week with a K80, and then using a SBEIII was a transition that I found to be unsat. Just me, though.

So, the A400. The SBEIII was a fine gun, but life is full of choices.