$1,000+ for a Shotgun...Benelli... Really?

[amprecon]

Not that I'm in the market for a new shotgun as I already own the ubiquitous 870 which is fully capable of handling most situations requiring a shotgun. But I have recently caught the semi-auto shotugn curiosity bug and have been researching the different models available. The two that have especially caught my eye have been the Benelli M2 and the Winchester SX3. I saw the Benelli at Scheel's for about $1,050 and the SX3 for $999. They are both quite light, slender and attractive. Now I've seen the videos of the two models on their websites with Tom Knapp with the Benelli and Patrick Flanigan with the SX3 and they are impressive indeed. I'm trying to learn the strengths and weaknesses of the two different designs and it appears that the gas system used on the SX3 seems to be more tolerable and reliable than most other gas gun designs. The "inertia" (short recoil) system appears to be a very, very reliable, simple and clean system but does depend on the proper "inertia" to function properly. I read that if a short-recoil system is fired from a stationary platform such as from a rest or from a rigid backing the system won't function properly. Also the ammunition has to be of a certain velocity value for proper functioning, I don't know if the gas systems have these attributes.
How much different is the SX3 gas system from most other gas system designs that supposedly make it cleaner and more reliable? I also read where it's a self-regulating system that automatically adjusts to the different loads.
Either way, $1,000 is alot of money for a shotgun, especially as I paid about $250 for my brand new 870 from K-Mart way back in 1989 or 1990. For those of you that have spent around $1K for a shotgun, has it really been worth it to you? Do you believe that you could probably get by with a pump gun?

 

[Whitman31]

I spent just under $1000 on my Beretta 391 and like it better than any Benelli I've ever shot, less recoil and it just feels "smoother". Never shot the Winchester's. I own a couple of 870's. They are safe queens, the Beretta is the only thing I take out anymore.

 

[vicdotcom]

I think "worth" depends on what you need the gun for.

 

[amprecon]

I tell you what, seeing those guys shooting those guns as fast as they do is very impressive. That is alot of lead flying in a very short period of time. Wasn't it Patrick Flanigan that fired off 12 shells in 1.44 seconds from the SX3? Amazing!

 

[amprecon]

Of the different gas gun designs how do they differ say from the 391 to the SX3 to the 1100 or 11-87 or the Benelli M4's system for that matter? Is there a particular gas design stands out better than the rest?

 

[jmr40]

The 870 is the gun I want if the world as we know it ends tomorrow. But I have come to appreciate the advantages of autos and mostly hunt now with them. The Beretta 390/391 are great guns but I slightly prefer the Benelli. I purchased the M-1 used from a guy who had to have the newer M-2 right after they came out. I only paid $650 for mine, but have liked it enough that I would pay $1000 for a new one if mine were stolen.

So far mine has been just as reliable as any of my 870's. They are simple and easy to disassemble and clean just like the 870.

$1000 seems insanely high to me because I can remember buying a new Remington 1100 new for $199 when I was in high school. But when I consider how much everything else has gone up I guess that is not unreasonable for a quality gun. Just for perspective when I bought my first car gas was $.49/gal and minimum wage was $1.90

 

[Snarlingiron]

$1000 seems insanely high to me because I can remember buying a new Remington 1100 new for $199 when I was in high school.

I remember paying $.20 for a gallon of gas, but no more, my friend.

The Benelli is nice. The SX is a great gas gun. They would both serve you very well. The SX from what I hear regulates very well and will work with a very wide variety of loads. So will the Benelli if it isn't the 3 1/2" model.

The SX will be "softer" to shoot than the Benelli.

My question is this: Is the nicely polished and blued steel worth a lot of money to you?

Here's the deal. I bought a Stoeger M2000. Inertia driven. Great shotgun. Built on the same patent as the Benelli. Reliable, light weight, cheap. I paid $399.00 for mine at Dicks.

I then bought a very nice Beretta A390, used, for $450.00. So, for about what you would pay for the SX, I bought both types of guns. Both have been super reliable, and add to that the fact that the SX's finish is comparable to the Stoeger M2000, and hey, I'm ahead of the game.

In my opinion, and the opinion of many others the A390 is just about as good as it gets in the gas operated shotgun world. The finish and fit on the Stoeger won't compare to the Benelli, but I would put it up for reliability.

I also have 3 870's, and you can't go wrong there, but I develop a very painful elbow when I shoot very many rounds from the 870, so I had to go to autoloaders. (gettin' old ain't for sissies)

Just my opinion, you'll get lots of others.

 

[Leaky Waders]

Hmm...if my pictures upload...yes, paying more than 1k for a shotgun is worth it.

Yes, an 870 (even a lame express) can do everything I can with my shotguns...just don't tell the wife.

 

[HKGuns]

Yep and I'd do it all over again. This is the ultimate shotgun.

 

[Howaido]

I owned one of the Benelli tactical guns years ago. I eventually traded it in. I wouldn't pay 1000- for one.

I have an 870 with a tritium front sight and specops stock now. Running it is more work and it is not quite as fast, but I trust it 100% to go boom every time. I couldn't say that of the Benelli.

 

[PJR]

For those of you that have spent around $1K for a shotgun, has it really been worth it to you? Do you believe that you could probably get by with a pump gun?

Yes to both questions. I've spent $10,000 on a shotgun and it has definitely been worth it to me. But I could get by with a pump and do for HD and some hunting.

The $10,000 gun is worth it because I shoot it at least once a week and like shooting it. On a per use basis I am getting more value from this gun than the $2,000 rifle and scope that might get out once or twice a year.

 

[sbarkowski]

I purchasted an SX3 not very long ago because it met my budget for a quality autoloader. Had a bit of buyers remorse untill I first used it. Worth every bit. Wasnt willing to spend the money on a Benelli, but they are very nice as well. The sx3 is very light, points naturally, very well balanced, well made and is very reliable. I have no regrets. I came to the conclusion that for what I was looking for, that is the price I would have to pay. Thats just how it is. $1000+ dollars is a lot to spend on any gun IMO, but its the only one I'll ever buy until I have to replace it. Came with a 6 year warranty i think, so $1000 bux over 6 years doesnt seem as bad as long as you actually use it and it just doesnt sit in the cabinet collecting dust.

 

[Badger Arms]

The "inertia" (short recoil) system appears to be a very, very reliable, simple and clean system but does depend on the proper "inertia" to function properly. I read that if a short-recoil system is fired from a stationary platform such as from a rest or from a rigid backing the system won't function properly.

Fingernails on a chalkboard don't hurt this much. The Benelli operates under then "Inertia" system, not "short recoil". With short recoil, the barrel and bolt travel together, independant of the receiver, stock, etc., for a short distance prior to the barrel stopping. The Benelli has a fixed barrel and the entire firearm travels rearward, the bolt travels FORWARD relative to the firearm. You can weld the receiver of a Benelli to a vice and it won't function. Do the same with a short-recoil firearm and it will function more positively.

Just semantics, but there are KEY differences. You'd have to have a concrete shoulder for the Benelli not to function properly.

 

[gunsandreligion]

I like benelis alot more than other shotguns becouse of the ultra thin forearm and extremly reliable action but I'd rather buy the stoeger m2000 because the price

 

[UnclePete]

Yes it's worth it.

If you can afford the things you want then do it, because it's too late when you're dead.

 

[The Deer Hunter]

I have a Benelli M1 Super 90. Got it for $600 with hard case, choke tubes, shim kit, used in basically perfect condition.

Honestly, it's hard to beat. Are they worth it? In my opinion, yes. But your 870 will do anything a $1000 Benelli can do (with the exception of 3 1/2" magnums).

If you are looking for an affordable, semi auto, shotgun look into the Remington 1100 or 1187, the Remington Spartan (AKA Baikal) semi autos. They are both great shotguns that work very well and are relatively inexpensive.

 

[earlthegoat2]

1000 for a Benelli, not worth it.

5000 for a custom fit gun, worth it.

 

[RyanM]

If $1000 for a Benelli seems bad, try pricing some of the real big-ticket shotguns, like Perazzi.

http://www.higradeshooters.com/perazzi-trap-new.asp

 

[earlthegoat2]

Or a 200,000 dollar H&H or Purdey.

 

[goose2]

I do not think the Extrema ii is the ultimate gun. I owned two of them and they both would not eject some dove loads. They would eject a few then not on a couple. My second extrema lasted long enough for me to get to town to trade it off. Not going that rout again. I am not so sure you wouldn't have better luck with a Mossberg.

 

[Zundfolge]

1000 for a Benelli, not worth it.

Obviously none of y'all shoot any 3-gun.

Benelli M2s DOMINATE 3-gun competition.


Talk to Justin, he'll tell you how many times his $600 Franchi has cost him standing so he's biting the bullet and ordering up an M2.

 

[JImbothefiveth]

I think you can get the mossberg autoloader or the remington 11-87 for less than $1000, maybe around $800 or or less, though I'm not sure. (Might have been as little as $400 or $500) Remington 11-87's have a reputation for being a little bit high maintnence from what I've read, and I've never read much about the mossbergs.

 

[Jack2427]

As this seems to be an autoloader v pump thread, and the theme seems to be defense/cost, I have an issue to raise about the tactical use of either. Since SHTF scenarios seem to be in favor, and everyone wants to be prepared to stand a point defense against God knows who under the hairest possible circumstances; Think about this; you are firing from concealment, not necessarily cover, the noise that your pump makes cycling just might give your position away to the BGs. The semi autos noise is usually lost in the boom which is much harder to pinpoint. Of course the quietest action would be a double with extractors. AND the double will cost a lot less that either of the others, cheap and quiet, hmmmmmmm

 

[Virginian]

With the right/stout enough loads, you will not get a more reliable semi auto shotgun than an "inertia" operated Benelli, in my opinion. I tried one, and decided if I was going to pay that much for something to hurt me, she would be wearing high heel boots and carrying a whip.
A gas operated semi, to me, is much softer shooting, and will digest a wider variety of shells without malfunctioning. They will all require cleaning at some point, probably sooner than an "inertia" gun, and some more often than others. I clean my guns regularly anyway, so another non-issue to me.
Any good pump should be more reliable than anything else, as long as the operator is still functioning.
I am a jaded, biased, and completely satisfied Remington 1100 and 870 shooter for 45 years. I believe I have at least tried everything else too, except some of the many Beretta models, and some things I consider too hideous to even be seen with. Nothing wrong with plenty of them.
I do think Benelli deserves some kind of Madison Avenue award for convincing the entire world, it would seem, that their simpler, easier to manufacture, but still mass produced shotgun is worth more money, nay, it is a status symbol no less.
Oh, and if you think Tom Knapp's guns are all completely "stock", I have a real deal for you on some land...
Decide how much you can spend and get whichever gun pleases you. $200 spent on a gun you don't love is a far less satisfying arrangement than $2000 spent on one you do.

 

[DeepSouth]

I spent over a grand on a Beretta Xtrema. I figured it will probably be the last shotgun I will ever buy, for myself anyway, so I didn't mind the big bill.