well, I never posted any gun porn so here ya go. I'll also copy the other thread to help out a fellow fire eater.
I love this gun, so far. Got some carlsons extended chokes for it (mid range-mod and long range-full) and I got good with it real fast. Made some real impressive shots last year.
(----I got an I-12 last year after my 870 quit on me. I love it. I did alot of research on it, though.
Break in-Either take it to the range and shoot some high brass loads (at least 100). Or, when you get it home, take it completely apart, clean it, and manually cycle the bolt about 200 times. I mean, pull the bolt handle all the way back and let it slam home at least 200 times. This will start smoothing out the edges and get the parts used to working with each other.
Buy another bolt handle ASAP. If you lose it during the season you will go a few wks without one.
You're bolt cycling problem is common, even with the SBEII (a few cases I have heard of). Your 1 oz loads arent strong enough to cycle the bolt back. This is the only thing I dont like about mine. Well, sort of. I always shot high brass loads at dove anyway b/c I hate the cheap-o low brass shurshots and winchesters. If you buy MINIMUM 1 1/8 oz loads you will not have this problem. It is an inertia gun and needs at least that much power to cycle properly.
I wonder if there is a lighter inertia/action spring you can get?----)
A few pics, didnt take to many of myself last year (ill miss the beard this year):
