Randy wakeman is a "know it all idiot". Thinks he's Gods gift to shotguns Like I showed above, its more the shooter than the gun 99% of the time.

This is all I needed to know about the III, I ain't blowing $1500+ when my $1000 SBE II Classic is basically the same gun and hits where I point

I no longer feel the need for 3.5 inch shells. Even with cranes, if I can't kill them with 3 inchers. its my fault. We have all switched to M2's, lighter, faster, balance better... Benelli customer service has always been top notch, the 2-3 times we've needed something in 32 years in this business. Can't say the same for others.

Yes, nobody trust the “know it all idiot” who provided several owner testimonies as well as some actual evidence and analysis. Definitely trust the guy who is not a “know it all” at all and posted a picture of a gun with some doves next to it. Obviously, one picture of some dead doves with an SBE III in the background proves that Randy Wakeman and all the other haters just can’t shoot and are blaming it on the gun. All those people quoted in the article are just “know it alls,” so listen to Buzzsaw because he actually knows it all.

I do think Randy put "some" effort into it but not enough. His hypothesis is that it is all the stock. Unfortunately, he failed to do actual testing to determine if his hypothesis is correct or not. Why not put a SBEII stock on it? Why not put it in a vice? Why not do something to see if you're right or not.

I don't think dead birds show whether it works or not, but I also do not think that something that has to be consistent, like a flawed structural design (i.e. rigidity of the stock), would show inconsistent results like what we are seeing and has been alluded to in this thread.

Don't listen to me though, my advice is only worth what you paid for it

Are people still guzzling the Randy Wakeman love juice over on ShotgunWorld?

No!

David said his repeatedly shot high even after going back to Benelli. He wasn't the only one, numerous shooters on various forums reported that after going to the III from the II. Shims were of no help and the majority reported it was the design of the stock, some going as far as to swap stocks and report the problem went away.

A couple of years ago we bought 5 of the SBE II classics, without the Comfortec stock and I quit shooting my Comfortec version altogether. For a $1060 it was a superb buy. I recently bought a M2 Classic from Cabela's after they offered to match Dunn's price of $699, they can keep the IIIs, IVs and whatever else they come up with. Unless it is an Auto-5, I am
done buying SA shotguns.

OK, so here's a challenge. A lot of speculation here. So many people viewing. Why doesn't someone give us an actual test?
There must be somebody on here with an SBE III living in the country. Why not go out back, nail up butcher paper with a bullseye, aim, shoot three times, and tell us where you gun shoots?
I'd do it but I don't have a III. I did it with my Vinci, and it shot dead center. A Yildiz OU not so much. But that's a different story.

I will when I get a chance. I have a bunch of patterning targets I may only get access to 25 yards.

What choke do ya'll want me to put in? I will shoot premium AA's Super Sport 8's.

The fullest/tightest choke you have.

Thanks Judd, I'll try to get this done ASAP. I patterned it at 30 yards at Elm fork and patterns were perfect of center hold. I was standing so, not rock steady. I think I can shoot it again at The Frisco Gun Clubs indoor range off a solid rest.

When I say perfect, Most pellets were on top of center with some under. I had no trouble on birds if I did my part But this doesn't satisfy the wakeman following, I did well in a down pour rain storm during a sporting clays tournament but this doesn't matter either.

I think some people commenting here do more reading than shooting but I'll do the drill, he77, I've been wrong before.

i'll report back with pictures asap.

Just because yours hits where you are aiming doesn't mean every single III does. I have seen numerous threads on the subject from various posters, on various forums and the result was the same, they returned it to Benelli and Benelli said there was nothing wrong with the gun. I am quite certain that DUKFVR knows how to pattern a gun and his gun shot high regardless of what he did and what Benelli said.

Why spend $1500 - $1700 on the chance yours is going to be POI/POA?

So tell me more about this. You said the stock design was the issue. If it was a stock design issue, then why doesn’t every single IIi have a POI/POA problem?

If you would have said it’s a bad quality rate on barrels, then I wouldn’t be so adamant. By the way, can you point me in the direction of the posts/articles where people tried other stocks on it? No sarcasm when I say I truly am interested in reading what they tried and the results.

You guys know it's fit that determines where the pattern hits the target, if you have a low mount the pattern hits high. Some people just don't like some brands of firearms, I'm not a fan of Browning A-5s

I've read all the stories, same with the Dan Wesson 1911's "they all shoot high" BS. I've owned two Dan Wesson Specialist a .45ACP and a .9mm both shot POA.

Barny is correct above. Beretta makes great gas operated shotguns BUT to me the rear comb is too high, I see WAY to much rib, yes it could be adjusted but the Benelli just fits me great. I've owned SBE I, SBE II and now III. I read all the articles and as long as the gun fit me, I knew I could shoot it.

Operator Error

Now, if there was a problem , I will never say yes, did Benelli fix it before I bought mine this time last year. I don't know.

I will still pattern mine again just to make a few of you happy. Frisco Gun Club said no because the pellets damaged their target carriers, so wjhen I can get to Garland, I'll pattern again

Google SBE III shoots high:

I counted 7 different forums with post regarding them shooting high

Ask DUKFVR, his shot high, sent it to Benelli, they returned it saying it was within spec. I trust David 100% with his diagnosis. If every shotgun shot POI/POA for everyone, they wouldn't have shims. But for a company to return a shotgun saying it was in spec when the shooter couldn't regulate it is BS.

Anywhere you can go and shoot one before buying?

I’m just going to grab my popcorn and take a back seat. I’m getting too frustrated with people not keeping their stories straight, and I could be significantly more entertained at some of the ignorance and politician-in-training tendencies rather than having educated discussions.

Topic is Benelli autoloaders shoot like cross eyed Uncle Jim Bob. Talk amongst yourselves

I contacted benelli, they said I have the only one which shoots straight


jeeeeez

Finally, here are pictures of todays patterning. I hope they turned out ok. As far as I can see this SBE III shoots right where it should.

I put the full choke in, measured 30 yards and took 3 shots at each target. I used Winchester AA Super Sport loads 3-1 1/8, #8's, and Clever Mirage 28gr, T2 Competition LITE, 1200FPS, #8's.

I aimed right at the "clay"

looks like a broken clay to me...

Looks a little high to me.