I can’t get logged onto hunting side? So I will ask here, Looking at upgrading to Benelli M2 from my Browning BPS, any comments on the Benelli everything I found so far is positive. I stopped and looked at them, the sales guy pulled it apart WOW simple!
Use it mainly for upland game, I see they have barrel lengths of 24, 26 , 28. Any thoughts on barrel lengths? I have a 28 with chokes now.
The Benelli M2 is a great upland game gun. I use my brother’s 20 ga M2 when I hunt grouse or game farm birds. I haven’t had a problem yet and we aren’t the type of people that clean our guns very often. 
A 12 ga M2 is next on my “to buy” list. When I worked at a sporting goods store, most people bought the 26″ barrell unless they hunted alot of waterfowl and then they went with a 28″ barrell. I would get the 26 inch barrell.
I have a M1 that I have had for about 15 years now and to be honest it is one of the best guns around (i.e. easy to take apart, light, very positive functioning gun, etc.). The only thing I have had to do with my M1 was change to a different stock shim right away when I got it.
I have a 26″ barrel that gets used 90% of the time in a duck boat, but I do also hunt roosters with it. If I was you I would stay with the 28″ if you upland hunt. For the 2 extra inches it will help you get on the target faster and you really will not notice that little bit of extra weight.
Not sure if I helped out, but that is my 2 cents.
P.S. Keep it clean and you will be good to go. Good luck! 
Depends on you, how does the gun swing? How does it fit and balance? I have a 26″, but others I hunt with out west(pheasants) all use 28″ with the tubes today, it doesn’t matter 26 or 28. It’s all in the swing and fit.
good luck.
go get yourself a Beretta Urika 2, they shoot softer, more reliable, and with them being clearanced out for the upcoming new models, they are at a smoking price.
you can get a synthetic model with kick-off for like 800 at cabelas right now.
My M2 has worked flawlessly for years. I cant remember one jam.
I have had the m2 in 20 for about 8 years. My favorite upland gun. Only issue that is with all Benelli’s is if you bump the bolt it can move slightly out of battery and it wont fire. The bolt has to slam shut when loading and you will be fine. I have since gotten rid of my 11/87 as the M2 is a great gun for upland.
Mwal
Alright I’ll be the odd man out. There is no way in H3LL I would by an M2. atleast not one in the past 2-3 years. I was in the market for a new gun last year. All my buddies have Benellis. So of course the pressure was being put on me. of course 3 out of the 4 have them because they are lefties so no company is more user friendly for them. The other righty had just bought an M2 the previous year. That thing has been returned to Benelli more times than I can literally count. It’s been repaired replaced Still Wont work properly. So now it’s just a pretty looking gun that sits in the safe. Same with one of the lefties His M2 Gets used for Pheasant and Pheasant only. Because he can never get more than two round through it with out having jams, that one is about 3 -4 years old. Other Guys ar running SBEII MUCH better gun in my opinion. Worth the extra $$. Sure they still have issues, but they also run a couple thousand rounds through there gun every year. But it’s never anything a new spring, or cleaning can’t fix.
Needless to say from my rave review here I didn’t go the M2 route, I went with a Winchester SX3 May never buy anything else.
Sweet,
I am curious as to why you would spend the extra cash and by a SBEII? Also, what types of issues are the M2 guys having?
I have to politely and respectfully disagree if you don’t intend to shoot 3 1/2″ shells. The SBE is a bit heavier as the receiver is larger to handle the longer, higher pressure 3.5″ shell which is not appreciated if you carry the gun for long. I have also witnessed SBE and SBEII shotguns not cycle one ounce target loads and have even seen them fail to cycle 1 1/8 oz, 2 3/4 dram/1145 fps loads on occasion which are common loads that are often used for quail and ruffed grouse very effectively. I do understand that Benelli clearly states these guns problems may occur if too light of loads are shot, but should that really be the case? Like I said before, just curious your reason as I am also looking to purchase a new automatic for my son and have pretty much been set on the M2 as my M1 has been nothing but good to me.
P.S. I think you went a good route with the X3.
It is spelled Beretta! Not Benelli.
I would say the most important feature of any shotgun is how it fits you.
I have owned an M2 for 2 seasons, and I love it. It fits me great, is the lightest out there in its class. I have yet to have a problem with it but as was pointed out, you need to make sure the receiver slams shut.
I was shooting an 1187, it now feels like a club compared to the benelli. The weight balance is awesome, at least for me.
I have been in the gun industry for over 15 years and have had the opportunity to own and shoot most of the semi auto shotguns on the market. I own a M1 20ga 26″, a SBE I in 26″, and a SBE II in 26″. I feel that most of the major manufacturers are making very good guns and like trucks you have to pick what fits you the best. I have friends that shoot Browning, Winchester, Beretta, Franchi, and Stoeger and all have their plus’s and minus’s. Benelli has been running the same action for over 20 years now and are one of the most popular shotguns for a reason! Simplicity!!! There has been no shotgun that allows the user to tear down so completely that they can take care of most problems before they occur. You see alot of the manufacturers making their guns simpler to tear down and clean as well as fewer moving parts for a reason. Yes, like anything maechanical, you can have malfunctions, but I have seen fewer problems with Benelli than any other brand and we sell more Benelli’s than any other brand. I feel barrel lenght is up to the shooter, but remember that the main reason for the longer barrels of yesteryear is the fact that the barrels were responsible for your pattern. Now your pattern is configured in the final 2-3 inches of your barrel by your choke tube. Also, Benelli’s have longer receivers than most guns and if you hold a 28″ M2 up to a Browning or Beretta you will see the Benelli is longer overall. I hope this helps some and if you have any questions send me a PM or respond and I will answer anything I can.
Good Luck! 
Cory
Quote:
I have been in the gun industry for over 15 years and have had the opportunity to own and shoot most of the semi auto shotguns on the market. I own a M1 20ga 26″, a SBE I in 26″, and a SBE II in 26″. I feel that most of the major manufacturers are making very good guns and like trucks you have to pick what fits you the best. I have friends that shoot Browning, Winchester, Beretta, Franchi, and Stoeger and all have their plus’s and minus’s. Benelli has been running the same action for over 20 years now and are one of the most popular shotguns for a reason! Simplicity!!! There has been no shotgun that allows the user to tear down so completely that they can take care of most problems before they occur. You see alot of the manufacturers making their guns simpler to tear down and clean as well as fewer moving parts for a reason. Yes, like anything maechanical, you can have malfunctions, but I have seen fewer problems with Benelli than any other brand and we sell more Benelli’s than any other brand. I feel barrel lenght is up to the shooter, but remember that the main reason for the longer barrels of yesteryear is the fact that the barrels were responsible for your pattern. Now your pattern is configured in the final 2-3 inches of your barrel by your choke tube. Also, Benelli’s have longer receivers than most guns and if you hold a 28″ M2 up to a Browning or Beretta you will see the Benelli is longer overall. I hope this helps some and if you have any questions send me a PM or respoind and I will answer anything I can.
Good Luck!
Cory
Actually, besides a Vinci, nothing tears down as easily as the Xtrema and Xtreme. Those beretta models actually have the recoil spring in the forend of the gun, versus in the stock, which is a huge issue with the SBE.
There is a reason Beretta keeps certain systems in the Beretta lineup and doesn’t spread it down to the other lines they own, such as Benelli.
I have 2. 1 12 ga. with 26″ Barrel and 1 20 ga with 24″ Barrel.
LOVE EM BOTH !!! ~ 1000 rounds through the 12 ga (all hunting) no issues. Had a SBE and sold it. Too heavy and did not need 3-1/2″.
I really enjoy the lighter gun and MUCH less recoil.
Thanks all! Decisions decisions now 
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Quote:
I have been in the gun industry for over 15 years and have had the opportunity to own and shoot most of the semi auto shotguns on the market. I own a M1 20ga 26″, a SBE I in 26″, and a SBE II in 26″. I feel that most of the major manufacturers are making very good guns and like trucks you have to pick what fits you the best. I have friends that shoot Browning, Winchester, Beretta, Franchi, and Stoeger and all have their plus’s and minus’s. Benelli has been running the same action for over 20 years now and are one of the most popular shotguns for a reason! Simplicity!!! There has been no shotgun that allows the user to tear down so completely that they can take care of most problems before they occur. You see alot of the manufacturers making their guns simpler to tear down and clean as well as fewer moving parts for a reason. Yes, like anything maechanical, you can have malfunctions, but I have seen fewer problems with Benelli than any other brand and we sell more Benelli’s than any other brand. I feel barrel lenght is up to the shooter, but remember that the main reason for the longer barrels of yesteryear is the fact that the barrels were responsible for your pattern. Now your pattern is configured in the final 2-3 inches of your barrel by your choke tube. Also, Benelli’s have longer receivers than most guns and if you hold a 28″ M2 up to a Browning or Beretta you will see the Benelli is longer overall. I hope this helps some and if you have any questions send me a PM or respoind and I will answer anything I can.
Good Luck!
Cory
Actually, besides a Vinci, nothing tears down as easily as the Xtrema and Xtreme. Those beretta models actually have the recoil spring in the forend of the gun, versus in the stock, which is a huge issue with the SBE.
There is a reason Beretta keeps certain systems in the Beretta lineup and doesn’t spread it down to the other lines they own, such as Benelli.
So Benelli is owned by Beretta?
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