[viking499]

I am looking for a light-lighter 12 guage semi-auto and have been fond of the benelli's that I have held. I hunt small game(rabbits) with 6 shot 1 oz. loads. Will also use other loads to hunt birds and other critters with.

Will the Benelli's shoot these light loads? Is there a semi that will handle them better?

If others, not interested in remingtons(too heavy) or Mossbergs(just not a fan of them)

[kentucky_smith]

My SBE I ran 1 oz loads easy, I don't think the regular 3" guns would have a problem.

[viking499]

What about M2's and the others?

[kentucky_smith]

You won't have any problems with an m2 and light loads.

[Robert Hairless]

No problem with light loads in the M1 or other Benellis I've used. Some like it if you run several full power loads to break them in first. The only way I know to determine whether it's needed in any of them is to give the light loads a try. And the only way I know to determine whether that Benelli has been broken in is to give it another try. No big deal as far as I'm concerned.

[ArmedBear]

Cordobas and Montefeltros are made for small game and birds, aren't they?

AFAIK they work great with lighter loads.

One thing that steers me away from them is that, for the price, I'd rather have 2 different chokes than 3 shots. We have to plug our shotguns for all types of hunting most places here in the West. And I like the overall operation of an O/U.

[Shell Shucker]

My M-1 was reliable with HOT 1oz loads (1290 fps). My SBE1 required 3 dram 1 1/8 loads (1200 fps) to be reliable.

[viking499]

Maybe I just need to forget the semi-auto idea and stick with my old reliable pumps.......

Or look at a different brand.......

Anything out there that likes light loads?

[BridgeWalker]

My Montefeltro works great with 1 oz. loads. :)

[EHCRain10]

ive got a Stoeger 2000 that eats all the light loads i give it, its the newer version with the fiber optic sight, plus its cheaper than a Benelli with the same internals

[Robert Hairless]

Maybe I just need to forget the semi-auto idea and stick with my old reliable pumps.......

Or look at a different brand.......

Anything out there that likes light loads?

Yes, you might want to consider a Benelli. I've just read several messages here that say they like light loads. Somebody just asked about that very point. :)

[Powder_Burn]

I have a Super Black Eagle (3.5") and it runs great on 2 3/4 shells so long as they are high velocity. Right now I shoot AA Super Handicap 8's and have had good luck when hunting doves. On the other side of the coin, grab bag 2 3/4"s don't cycle reliably at all so a 3" M1 might fit your needs better if you shoot light loads exclusively ...

[45crittergitter]

My SBE works with 1 oz. loads sometimes. Remember with the Benelli the more resistance you give the gun, the less reliable it's operation. The gun has to move (against your shoulder) in recoil to work. The "looser" you hold it, the lighter loads it will digest.

[1/4MOA]

you cant go wrong with a benelli M1 or M2. if you are going to be using the gun for rabbit hunting and beating the bush dont buy a much more expensive montrfeltro. I own a benelli M1super90 as well as a Stoeger 2000. actually the stoeger cycles light loads better but if clean the benelli everytime you shoot it, you'll never have a problem. but as it is with any auto shotgun, if you shoot a couple boxes of shells and let the gun sit up for a while with out cleaning it, itll gunk up and start to hang up.

[throdgrain]

M2 will cycle 28gr no. 8 loads all day long, I should know, mine does :)

I believe they cycle 24gr loads aas well, though Ive never tried it.

[Defensory]

Posted by 1/4MOA
you cant go wrong with a benelli M1 or M2.

Agreed!

[waterhouse]

You list Benelli, but it might help if you picked a model. The SBE line will take up to 3.5" shells and was designed as a duck/goose gun. There are reports (and the owner's manual points out) that light loads will not reliably cycle in these guns. I used to own one, and had no issues with 1 oz. loads, but there might be issues in one of these. I sold it because I couldn't remember the last time I bought 3.5" shells.

The M1/M2/montefeltro/cordoba (I'm sure I'm missing others) lines can only take 2.75 or 3" shells. I own an M1 and it eats light loads just fine, and the general consensus from other owners seems to be that M1s and M2s handle light loads well.

If you get a 3" gun, you shouldn't have any issues.

[627PCFan]

My SBE II digests everything down to 7/8 oz loads, including signal flares of the 12 ga variety ;)

My guns weakness is the recoil tube that extends into the stock of the gun. You have to heat the bolt up with a heatgun because its loctited in. Then you can clean the tube assembly, usually very very oily and grimey. Might be worth a looking into-