There are more differences than just the recoil system. Check out the Benelli website and compare the details. The SBE II does have less recoil. The new recoil system really does work. I always had a problem shooting 3.5″ with the trigger guard on the regular SBE. It wrenched my middle finger when shooting a lot. The new SBE II however, has a larger trigger guard opening for glove use, but that also solved my finger wrenching problem. (I know another guy who had the same “finger” problem with the SBE, so it was not just me!) The new one also has a cryogenic(sp) treated barrel and tubes too. The treatment is supposed to be better, etc.??
My opinion: I took brand new SBE out of the box and shot 2 rounds of trap with it. 24 and 24. Later I took it to Manitoba and hunted hard with it for 2 weeks. It was a great gun. Then a year later, I got a brand new SBE II, I did the same thing. Trap right out of the box: 24 and 23. Then back to Manitoba for 2 weeks. I really did not notice a lot of difference, but I will admit, I really like the reduced recoil of the SBE II when pluggin’ 3.5″ shells. I also like the larger trigger guard. I now own the SBE II and love it. I also have/own a Benelli 12G Montefeltro. I’ve put a ton of shells through that gun too. ….Also a very nice autoloader.
With the Benelli inertia system, the only important thing to remember is to clean the spring/tube in the stock of the gun once in a while. (Most people don’t do this during a “regular” gun cleaning.) If you get a lot of dirt in there, it will fall short of dumping out shells. I had this happen on a goose hunt in a very dry wheat field. I got a lot of dust/dirt in the magazine while laying in the field and learned the hard way. Otherwise they are great guns. Spray out the tube once in a while and you’ll never have a problem. No other problems to mention for me. Check out Benelli’s website forum board and read other owners’ opinions. Then make your choice.
Splitshot