Favorite Chokes SBE3?

[Gavin]

Any favorites? Turkey, waterfowl? Extended choke preferred.

[jdmidwest]

Buy a handful and see how it patterns....

Have you shot it yet with factory chokes yet?  Turkey full, waterfowl far, modified, waterfowl close, improved modified or improved.

[Gavin]

No...have not shot it yet, picked it up yesterday...Headed to a friends farm/lake property in KS over labor day. Will give it a workout then to break in. Might shoot some doves if any are around. Expensive in KS though...No short term hunting permits.

 

 

[jdmidwest]

I would check it with factory chokes first.  Benelli knows a little about shot loads and chokes.

[nomolites]

Depends on what you are hunting and the amount/type of shot you are feeding it.  Like JD said you need to experiment and pattern it.  My experience is many(including me) try too tight of tubes for the application, particularly with heavy shot charges or plated or steel shot - the standard chokes should do fine.  If you go to meat shoots or want to hunt turkey with 2 3/4 loads would be the time I’d think about an XFull or custom tube.

Mike 

[Gavin]

Does not come with a steel rated full choke, but does OK with 3" steel at 40 with the factory  extended steel rated IC an M chokes. Bought a couple Patternmaster Code Black's to pass shoot (sky blast) and shoot a turkey with. Have not shot them yet. The extended range sky blaster is a 1" extension, and rated to 60y with steel, Turkey choke is a 1.5 extension tube .665 diameter but not steel rated, they say 70y. Did have to shim it to drop the stock..Saw to much rib with what came from the factory. Cycles every round you toss in it. Trash low velocity shells, no problem.

 

 

[nomolites]

Sounds like a nice shotgun.  Interesting on the ratings for steel on the extended tubes; I would think shot size needs to be “yuge” to be effective at those distances and honestly I don’t think you can make clean kills out that far with steel - especially when you need to be swinging a half mile in front of the bird.  I’d be interested to hear if they live up to their hype.

Mike

 

[Gavin]

The extended range will be interesting. Need to go shoot an appliance box at 60y a couple times to see what happens. Have nothing bigger than #2 steel in the house, will shoot that....Need to get some lead for the  turkey choke ,on second thought... think will return that choke. I don't want to shoot lead.

 

 

[nomolites]

I like that you are opting out on lead!  To keep enough energy downrange over 40 yds with steel you need large shot, like BBB if you are hoping to drop a goose.  For Turkey I would consider paying the big bucks for tungsten as one box will last you a few years and you will have much better and higher energy patterns at longer ranges with smaller shot than steel.

I had trouble learning to shoot steel when it was introduced as I grew up with lead, but it is just as effective as long as you follow the guidelines on shot sizes and adjust wingshooting leads depending on range.  It will also be much easier to dial in if all your wingshooting is done with steel.

Mike