Does anyone shoot a Bernelli ? I am thinking about buying one and wondering if anyone has any experience with them . I have been shooting a 1187 for years and don't really have a problem with it but like a new toy every now and then.

Have a SBE with a 24" barrel. Nice gun and shoots quite well with Winchester HV 3.5" size 5. Has accounted for several birds. However, I am currently shooting a 1187 3.5" (actually with 3" Hevi-13) and it shoots better IMO and it's made in America.

The good points about the SBE is it is as tough as it comes and very reliable. Bad points are it shot about 6" low at 40 yards when I got it and it needed to be sent to Benelli USA to make it right.

No real complaints about the SBE and I'd have no problem taking it out for a hunt.

All the above said, I'm in the process of switching to a .870 in 20 gauge. I've already got the gun, however it doesn't shoot quite as well as I want it to. I plan to send it out to get the forcing cone lengthened and barrel polished and will try once again to make it shoot right. Have no doubt it would account for a turkey at 35 yards with a Pure Gold .570 choke tube and Hevi-13 in size 6. However, I'd like a 40 yard gun just in case it is necessary. I now have about seven choke tubes and 8 kinds of ammo to try. However, that will need to be delayed until after the barrel is worked on.

Have almost no doubt the only gun I'll use in Va next year will be the 870 20 gauge (at least in the mountains). I may still use the 1187 for field birds as they may require a bit more range then the 20 gauge will give me.

tut-I bought a Stoeger (owned by Benelli) and had a similar peoblem except it was 5" low and left at 25 yards! I hope to have it back next week or so. So much for a new turkey gun this year

I have a friend that has one, and he loves his, and claims it doesn't have a lot of recoil.

I'll stick to my 12 gauge 870.....i've dropped it in creeks, had the barrell wedged down in the ground, dropped it across the railroad tracks beam, and it still works great. After all that abuse and I can still kill deer and turkeys at 60 yards easily (if i want to), I'll stick with my 870. It ain't pretty, but it's a killing machine. Longest kill with that gun.....7 point buck, 148 lbs, 97 yards, one shot and it dropped

band teacher

I've used a Benelli M-1 for the last three years. I've found it to be a very reliable gun - no complaints at all. I had it drilled and tapped and mounted a Bushnell Trophy Red Dot scope. Choke is a CNC .658. I shot the Winchester Hi-velocity #5's out of it the first couple of years but this year went to the Winchester X-tended Range #5's. Not much difference in the patterns until you get to the 35-40 yard range, then the X-tended Ranges shined (for the price, they should). Anyway, I like the gun and setup alot and plan on sticking with it. Nine turkeys died in order to write this review. I guess they don't like it nearly as well as I do.

Owned a Benelli Nova and really liked it. It was black and I wanted a camo gun. Sold it planning on buying a camo version and ended up buying a Stoeger 2000 instead. I really like it also. 100% reliable with the ammo I have put through it i.e., Numerous 3" turkey loads, Numerous 3" waterfowl loads (both steel and hevi-shot), 3" "000" buckshot, 2 3/4" reduced recoil "00" buckshot, dove loads and handicapped skeet loads.