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I’m not a wealthy man, but I have a weakness for expensive firearms. Especially the kind of guns that our Armed Intelligentsia insist aren’t worth the premium. So let’s get this out of the way. The review gun is a 28″ barrel Benelli Super Black Eagle II in Realtree Max 5 Camo. It comes complete with a sturdy case that holds everything you need in perfect safety and comfort. Chokes? You’ve got five. Barrels? Crio System treated for accuracy and longevity. All yours for . . .
$1,899 MSRP. The Super Black Eagle II (SBE II) is the second most expensive SBE II in the lineup, eclipsed by the rifled slug and left-handed versions of the same. Here’s what you get for your money . . .
Sights
The SBE II ships with a bright fiber optic at the muzzle with a steel bead about halfway back. Lining-up the steel bead over the fiber optic was intuitive and natural. When lined-up properly, there’s just the faintest hint of color around the steel bead to let you know that everything is even. Being even slightly off of this is immediately apparent and can be corrected quickly. Rapid strings of fire will result in some mirage, but it doesn’t mess with the sight picture enough to become unusable.
Adjustability
The SBE II ships with a shim kit to adjust for cast-off and drop. Out of the box, I found the drop to be a bit high. Ten minutes later, I’d dropped it a few millimeters. A firm cheek weld rewarded me with a solid sight picture.
You can adjust the length of pull by up to a half-inch in either direction by purchasing a different Recoil Pad. I found the stock pad, at 14-3/8″ to be just right. If that’s not the case for you, you can plunk down an eye-watering $90 for either a thinner or thicker chunk of rubber.
Sling Attachment Points
The SBE II’s front sling attachment point sits recessed below the level of the magazine tube cap. The design prevented me from using my favorite and saltwater resistant UltraFlex sling. As you can see, I fashion a high-speed, low-drag Paracord doohicky to connect it. I felt a little ashamed in the mangroves running an $1800 gun held together with a few cents worth of rope. But I got over it.
Weight and Balance
Normally, when I weigh a gun on my trusty $13 scale, it’s off by a few ounces here or there. My scale agreed with Benelli’s number exactly: 7.3 pounds on the nose. The Super Black Eagle II’s weight didn’t seem very surprising given that it has some 28″ of barrel hanging out there and the action operates on an inertia-driven (i.e. heavy) system.
The weight’s perfectly acceptable in the field. The Super Black Eagle II’s a loooong gun; maneuverability is not the name of the game. Balance and handling are, and they’re nothing short of superb. Once you get the SBE II shouldered, those seven pounds feel like . . . nothing. The shotgun’s forend grip ensures it won’t slip loose. The recoil pad sticks with your shirt or jacket like velcro. Point and shoot.
Doing so isn’t a physical burden. Benelli’s Inertia Driven System and thick recoil pad tame even the stoutest 3 – 1/2″ loads – for a while. While I wouldn’t recommend shooting those shells all day long, the SBE II does a better job of shoulder protection than most other shotguns you can buy – at any price.
Don’t Crio for me Argentina
Benelli touts their Crio System for treating barrels and chokes, claiming increased accuracy. The SBE II delivered even patterns that put more shot on target with tighter chokes. I don’t know what I don’t know, but the shot patterns were even and delivered thorough coverage of the plate at distances approximating most bird hunting engagements.
In the field
Spend a touch over 1.6 times the national average for a mortgage payment and then immediately expose the SBE II to [sometimes salty] water, mud, blood and dirty ammo. No wonder they say duck hunters are crazy. Crazy like a fox? That depends on the shotgun’s performance, of course. In the interests of establishing the Super Black Eagle II’s value, I did not baby this gun.
I treated the Benelli less like a Bentley, more like a rented Ford Focus. Though I did oil the Eagle once, I never cleaned it. On several occasions, I brought the Super Black Eagle II to the range and ran it with whatever shells I could find. I fired strings of five to 75 rounds to replicate high-volume bird shooting. I lost count of the number of rounds I put through the gun; I’d ballpark it around 500 or so, mostly 3-inch steel shot.
Rust
I couldn’t bring myself to completely submerge the SBE II in saltwater. But I let it get wet and didn’t wash it. I just stuck it in my safe and didn’t talk to it for a month. What you see below: the rust that formed during that period. It’s minimal and didn’t affect the function of the gun, but there it is.
All of the Super Black Eagle II’s internals remained rust-free. I removed the surface rust shown here with some KG1 and a brass brush. I reckon $1800 guns should have robust rust protection; I was disappointed to see moderate salt spray damage the finish of one of the nicer guns I’ve been privileged enough to hold.
Jams and Failures
The Super Black Eagle II failed in the field only once. The problem occurred when a Redhead swooped low into our decoy area, thought better of it, and frantically attempted to gain altitude. I took the ensuing overhead shot leaning backwards. The SBE II was not in the pocket of my shoulder when I broke the shot. While the duck ended-up falling back to Earth, the gun choked-up in the process.
In an attempt to replicate the failure, I brought it to my local range and let ‘er rip. After a dozen or so rounds, I found that soft shooting 2-3/4″ dove loads “limp wristed” would cause the aforementioned failure. Three-inch duck loads would only fail if the gun was allowed to truly free recoil, or if it was held ejection port up and allowed to freely recoil. Any resistance on my part was enough to complete the cycle. I had no trouble cycling 3-1/2″ goose loads, but managed to tenderize my shoulder very nicely.
The only other type of failure I was able to record was the one above. I’m not exactly sure what happened here; I was never able to replicate it. The Super Black Eagle II seemed to hang a bit on loading the next shell this time. I racked the bolt and it was back to business as usual.
Cleaning and Maintenance
Given that I didn’t clean this gun at all and the only failures weren’t sludge-induced, I’d say that you can probably use and abuse this gun to your heart’s content. Keep throwing oil at it if it makes you feel better, but for the most part, the SBE II seems to run and run and run. If you find yourself needing to take the gun down for maintenance, you’ll be pleased at the relative simplicity of the whole affair.
Breaking the gun down into its four major components, barrel, receiver, bolt carrier, and forend can be accomplished in less than a minute. Most people can stop at this point. Run a couple patches down the tube, blow the crud out of the trigger group, and wipe off the bolt. Reassemble and keep shooting.
Should you choose to go further, the bolt carrier can be disassembled without tools and the firing pin can be used to push out the pin that holds the trigger group in place. This will give you more access to brush and blow out the trigger group, and will allow you to detail strip the bolt carrier. The barrel and receiver don’t have any nooks or crannies that a stiff brush and some cotton swabs can’t address and thus require only a few minutes of attention.
The Guts
The bolt assembly which makes up the heart of Benelli’s Inertia Driven System, can be broken down in less than a minute to the major components. Using a set of brushes, the operator can have the whole thing cleaned up in just a few short minutes. I’m no mechanical engineer, so my understanding of the ID System will be on the same level as my grasp on how Posi-Trac does what it does. What is apparent is that the bolt itself is backed by a stiff, fat little spring. Also apparent is that that lightweight 2-3/4″ loads and heavy-duty 3-1/2″ loads cycle without any input from the operator. Thus, the system is self-regulating.
Benelli’s video didn’t clear it up for me, but I do know that if you have the gun shouldered correctly, it will cycle anything you throw at it. Case closed. And now, the money shot:
I took the Benelli Super Black Eagle II on a duck hunt for a weekend as part of my efforts to take a mental holiday from the aforementioned mortgage payment issue. I’m a mediocre wing shooter, but I couldn’t miss. If a duck came in range, I hit it. I limited out quickly both days and came home with a cooler full of quackers. What more could a duck hunter want?
Specifications: Benelli Super Black Eagle II – Realtree Max-5®, ComforTech®
- Magazine Capacity: 3+1
- Chokes: Crio® C, Crio® IC, Crio® M, Crio® IM, Crio® F
- Type of Sights: Red-Bar Front and Metal Bead Mid-Sight
- Length of Pull: 14-3/8″
- Drop at Heel: 2″
- Drop at Comb: 1-3/8″
- Minimum Recommended Load: 3-dram, 1-1/8 oz. loads
- MSRP – $1899
- Street Price – $1699
Where To Buy
Ratings (out of five stars):
Accuracy * * * * *
At 40 yards, the gun hit where I aimed, especially when tuned with the right choke. The proof is in the pudding; it pulled ducks from the sky almost as if it were designed to do it.
Reliability * * * *
Assuming you shoulder the gun correctly, you will find yourself attached to a very reliable gun. If you manage to not get the gun comfortably seated and use light loads, you very well may see some failures to eject. Otherwise, this is an utterly reliable gun.
Fit, Finish, Build Quality * * *
Everything fits together smoothly with no rattles or creaks. The gun runs like a well-oiled machine whether you choose to oil it well or not. Two stars deducted for the surface rust.
Ergonomics * * * * *
Thanks to the relatively light weight, shim adjustment system, and excellent balance, the SBE II is a shooter’s gun. It find birds, clays and cans thrown into the air with clinical precision.
Overall Rating * * * *
For the serious bird hunter, the Benelli Super Black Eagle is worth every penny.
Good review, of a great shotgun. I have a couple of M2s, and they are outstanding. The only reason I didn’t buy SBEs, is my ZERO desire to beat the s**t out of myself with 3.5″ shells. 😀
You’re right about that! I don’t hunt but used it at five stand shoots for several weeks. Even with target loads, the recoil system produced pain in my left forearm. The compensate mechanism transfers recoil to the gun and the forearm. I have never experienced trouble with my left arm with any firearm. It also created a vision problem, causing the vitreous fluid in my aging eyes to tear away from the walls of the retina. That recoil has to be absorbed by something, and the support arm transfers force to the rest of the body. Your shoulder may not feel as beat up but the rest of you may. I went back to an old Remington and the problems stopped! In all, an overpriced techno gun with minimal advantage over others.
“Spend a touch over 1.6 times the national average for a mortgage payment…”
Must be nice. Welcome to the Bay Area CA…where you can buy two or three SBE’s with the average monthly mortgage payment.
Anyhow, I’ve been considering one myself. Your review likely pushed me over the edge. Not fond of the easy rusting either though. Sure seems like a gun at this level should not rust like that.
“Two stars deducted for the surface rust.”
I gotta bust your chops on this. You took it saltwater duck hunting, and didn’t clean it properly afterwards. What did you expect from blued steel? Lack of proper maintenance shouldn’t effect the rating of ANY firearm.
Yup. A once-over with an oiled rag and this would’ve been a non-issue.
Egg Zachary!
That inertial system looks like the guts of my Beretta Pintail. I never said the Benelli wasn’t worth the money. What I said was the Benelli 8 times better than the mossberg 500 I hunt with. I put my beater mossberg away damp and the only rust I got on it was the metal bit that the plastic forearm attaches to. And who cares? It’s a beater mossberg. Not a high priced Benelli.
I feel the same way, I can buy several 870 expresses or mossbergs for that price to lay in the bottom of the boat ” sorry officer all my guns were lost in a terrible boating accident”
I will never sell my Binelli. It’s the finest auto loader in the safe.
It’ll be turkey hunting in a month.
Head shots this time, Tom, head shots. 😉
Man, I’m so ready for another Tom turkey hunting story.
Flechettes!
Are you turkey hunting or just really pissed off at turkeys?
My Benelli M3 was purchased for three gun matches and now used for competition and depredation, . It has about 6k round count now and still works perfectly. It is the “orphan” for Benelli as no one makes many after market products for it. Fortunately, mine came with a “mandatory escape Krazyfornia” pistol grip, extended mag and tritium ghost ring sights.
Remarkable gun which I also, will never part with.
Look, Cletus. I dun told you. No gun reviews on TTAG.
Naow git!
I’ll never buy one, but these are reported to be super turkey guns as well.
I bought one of the units at my local pawn store for 600 bucks. Camo, hard case and 5 chokes.
Super-duper shotgun for what I paid for it!
“I’m not a wealthy man, but I have a weakness for expensive firearms.”
Well, I have a weakness for barely-legal redhead supermodels and turbine-powered aircraft.
On my income, that just isn’t gonna be happening…
“I couldn’t bring myself to completely submerge the SBE II in saltwater. But I let it get wet and didn’t wash it. I just stuck it in my safe and didn’t talk to it for a month.”
Inexcusable, Tyler.
That’s nothing short of gross abuse.
Already notified FPS.
…FPS?
“Firearm Protective Services”?
Might want to look at a Franchi Affinity for less $.
Its the next step in a multi-step process.
http://picturearchive.gunauction.com/573/10802498/img_4844.jpg_thumbnail0.jpg
For the lazy duck hunter 😀
JWM got it right with his “beater” Mossberg. Why waste a bunch of money on a gun that’s going to do sludge bucket duty in a muddy duck bog. If it has to be a Benelli, get the SuperNova pump and save $1000.
Can’t figure out your choking-up problem. With the Benelli inertia system, the LOOSER you hold the gun, the more reliable it is. The tighter (or harder against a firm shoulder) it’s held, the less it likes light loads. The whole gun has to move in recoil for it to work. Practically, it’s sort of backwards from what’s required of most autos. If you limp-wrist a pistol, it chokes. If you clamp down on a Benelli with light loads, it chokes. But hold it in your hands with the butt not touching anything, and you can’t make it stop. Put it tight to your shoulder with your back against a tree, and it stops (and hurts).
I Purchased a Benelli SBE II in 2012 (new) because my 1100 special field purchased in 1987 (new out of undergraduate school) did not have the reach in sporting clays and definitely a reach for goose hunting. The SBE II is a great 60 yard gun (with 3.5 BB) and will also cycle the light loads in sporting clays and 5-stand with no problem. I have only had one cycle failure with light loads and it was a low brass white box. mine is all black and I like to call it my $1,600 canoe paddle (plastic gun but a great shooter).
My new Sporting clays/5-stand gun (cousin to the Benelli) is an unfired Beretta 687 Silver Pigeon III 12ga 30″ with optima ported chokes is arriving this week. Will see which ends up in the blind or at the gun club but the Italian’s manufacture some excellent firearms, and yes, they command a price.
Enjoy what you have if the production and satisfaction is meeting your expectations.
I have a Benelli SBE 11 that when using 3 inch heavy metal rounds jams after firing. The magazine lets both rounds slide into the mechanism.
Hi Clyde , do you have this problem many time ? do you contact Benelli ?
I also have a SBEII and I have the same problem with the Hevi Metal and Hevi Steel, the magazine lets both rounds slide into the mechanism..I didn’t know if it was a Benelli or Hevi Metal issue….
Martin
I have hunted for 30 years. Duck, Geese, Pheasant, and jack rabbits in the California deserts. I have used Remington’s, Berettas, and Brownings. I will never hunt with anything else but a Benelli it is the Ferrari of shotguns period!!!!!! I have submerged it in water and have hunted with it in 110 degrees it is flawless. One tip if you are using 3 inch mags or 3.5 turkey loads you must put the first shell in the chamber and then load the magazine. You get what you pay for boy’s and this is the finest shotgun in the world–Period!!!!!!!! I don’t give a shit what any one say’s- This is a Ferrari
I don’t agree
Great discription jerry I agree
I use mine in salt water conditions for duck hunting in Nova Scotia Canada. ( North Atlantic conditions)
I hunt with guys that have all purchased different cheaper guns
And the proof is in the puddin . They don’t hit as many birds as me.
Iam not a better shot I just spent more on the gun and you get what you pay fore
Both of my inertial Benellis work better with light loads if you hold them loosely. If you use a very light load and shoulder it firmly, it chokes because it can’t move enough for the inertial recoil system to work. The whole gun, locked to the bolt head, must move in order to compress the internal bolt spring. If you let it move, it works. It’s the opposite of a pistol, which requires a firm grip for the slide to recoil against. Heavy loads aren’t a problem.
Already had an SBE 1 and took my oldest son to get him a SBE 2 to replace his 1187 that he never could hit the inside of a barn with. Of course he chose the camo’d version. We got home and I shouldered the new piece several times and the next day I was back at Greentop buying the black version for myself. The first year shooting it, I almost never pulled the trigger that a duck or goose didn’t fall out of the air. Anyone what would take one of these guns into the marshes and not wipe it down the day they got home would probably also beat his wife. Goose hunting in the field, maybe not unless it rains.. Must admit that I no longer shoot 3.5″ shells, as for some reason they started hurting my shoulder. One shoot, I dropped two geese, one that hit, dead, 96 yards from where I shot, the second at 75 yards, the only two times I pulled the trigger that day. Have found that the improved cylinder choke is best with Federal 3 and 3.5″ shells as the modified choke shoots almost like a rifle. 3 of us hunt together regularly and this is true in all three of our SBE’s.
I own several shotguns and the SBE II in Mossy Oak Duck Blind camo is my favorite by far. (and the most costly) When it comes to hunting there is nothing better, I like mine so much I’m thinking about their M4 tactical. Now if I can just convince the wife that we need one.
I own 2 SBE11 both camo and am very pleased with there proformance I hunt turkey, dove, deer, pheasant , and of course duck. I have to say in all my years about 25 hunting with SBE of which I bought one of the 1st SBE1 when they came out have had at the most a couple shells jam up , I have used 2 3/4″ 3″ and 3 1/2 ” no problem in shooting any loads. My SBE 11 has been hunted in some of the worse conditions rain, snow and very cold 3 degrees weather on the river duck hunting no problems. Yes you need to clean them after each season and they will treat you right , I have no rust on my guns.
Great review but personally would rate an all-around 5 star. I clean both of my SBE II’s after every outing and have never had any issues after five years of average use. My primary focus is on Canada geese and use only 3 1/2″. Not gonna tell you that I bang all day long, but the recoil is of no significance to me with the Comfortech system in place…
The SBE is truly a fine firearm. Mine however had many over looked quality issues.
The loading port had some razor sharp edges that I discovered on the initial cleaning.
Looking closely there after I found many parts in need of stoning and polishing. Corrosion on the bolt, on a gun right out of the box, left me wondering if this gun was truly worth the money. I spent half the day correcting what their QC missed. I was so upset at this point that I put the gun away for a week. When I come back to it and finished deburring the last part I found I had one great shotgun. My finger healed from the cut I received on the loading gate . I took it out shooting. Fantastic gun. If your looking at one in a gun shop, press in the loading gate but watch for extremely sharp edges. If you never worked on precision mechanical instruments you may want to consider another gun. If you do buy one you may have to take it to a gunsmith
or return it to Benelli to have them finish it properly. Such a beautiful gun but poor QC.
It is now one of my prized possessions.
I purchased my SBE II second hand and soon found out why the previous owner got rid of it. The gun would stove pipe and jam on the second round no matter what size of shell or load that was being fired. It was a rare occasion when the gun would cycle properly through all three rounds. I’ve had it for a couple of years in my safe with the intention of sending it to Benelli for repair but never did get around to it. However, I brought the gun out to go goose hunting and the same shit happened all over again. I figured that it was a worn ejector plate and ordered two replacements from Brownell’s. Guess what I found when I compared the old to the new ejector plate. The original ejector plate had been stamped backwards; literally, it was the reverse of the new ejector plate. I will be contacting legal counsel and possibly starting a class action lawsuit for a serious manufacturer’s defect.
Exactly how do you stamp something out backwards, turn the die upside down? I’ll bet your truck rides better with the shocks upside down too, and you want to sue over it. How did that go with Eastwing when you hit your head. Stop sniffing the Hoppes. I have 3 sx 4s and 2 sx3 and one used and one never even fired maxis in my shop right now that have the chokes in the barrel so cockeyed that if they don’t blow up you would still shoot the guy next to you. Benelli has the best semi auto on the market today. May not last like an good old A5 but NOTHING will. Buy the way, stop holding it sidways and it won’t stove pipe
I bought a new Black Eagle 2 years ago and it never would shoot the El Cheapo LED shop during dove season here in eastern North Carolina in fact I had missed out on a hunt because of it I ended up going back to the Old Faithful A5 made in Belgium Browning it shot anyting that I could shove in it but it’s heavy and slap Happy however it works fine duck hunting in the salt water but I have to use high brass loads I will try not holding it so tight to my shoulder as I read in the other post I was wondering do I need the 28-inch barrel can I change it to 26 since the chokes or what they say makes the pattern also is it a cryo Barrel I love my Benelli it’s like issues great I bought it back when they were $1,200 that was big money back then for long range shooting I have an old Spanish double barrel 10 gauge all the boys with the 2 and 3/4 2 3 & a half inch just have to leave there’s in the corner that 10-gauge double-barrel reach out there and get them at 80 yards no need to pick up the 12 gauge but boy does it put a hurting on your shoulder
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I RECENTLY PURCHASED MY FIRST BENELLI SBE II PREOWNED FOR $600 WITH A CASE OF 3-1/2″ (I KNOW, WHAT A LUCKY DAY)…IT IS IN THE ODD BOTTOM LAND CAMO.. WHEN SHOOTING THIS SHOTGUN I FIND THE BOTTOM EDGE OF THE GRIP, CLOSEST TO THE FRAME, HAS SHARP EDGES WHERE IT MAKES CONTACT WITH THE BODY OF THE GUN…I ENJOY SHOOTING BARE HANDED, AND I FIND THESE SHARP EDGES ARE UNCOMFORTABLE AND QUITE DISTRACTING…. MY BUDDY HAS A BENELLI AND IT DOES NOT HAVE THAT SHARP EDGE WHERE THE FURNITURE MEETS THE METAL…ANYONE ELSE NOTICED THIS OR AM I JUST, THAT PICKIE…? BEEN SHOOTING BERETTA, ITHACA, BROWNING, JUST GOT MY FIRST SUPER BLACK EAGLE THIS YEAR…(AS I ALREADY HAVE SEVERAL BENELLI SUPER NOVA’S, AS WELL AS SEVERAL OF THE RIOT PUMP VERSIONS)
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