SBE II

[AXL78]

I just wanted to see who else shoots this and what is your opinion on the recoil. I have had mine for several years, and I have to say it is awful. I haven't shot anybody else's, but next time I'm around somebody who has one I might just ask to shoot it to test it against mine. I don't know if it's just my gun, or if every gun is this way. I know it is going to kick hard due to it's inertia recoil, and I've read about them, but mine kicks so hard I wonder if it is exceptionally brutal even for an inertia gun. It almost negates the use of 3.5" shells. I've had to shoot a couple of birds left handed before and had it jump up and polish my face. It's brutal. Every year I stand there looking at the shells debating on whether or not 3.5" is worth it. I've let other people shoot it and they wince at the thought of another shot. lol

 

[TheLBLman]

The SBE II is a fairly light-weight gun, and I suspect much of your felt recoil is mainly a result of the gun simply not being heavy enough to greatly off-set the recoil of those 3 1/2-inch loads.

Exactly what 3 1/2-in loads are you using? Some are "brutal" no matter what your gun.

Not shooting an SBE II, but I did noticeably reduce felt recoil when I went to a 3 1/2" shell with only 1 7/8 oz shot.
Generally speaking, 1 7/8 oz of TSS will have a greater effective range than 2 1/4 oz of lead.

 

[ADR]

It definitely lets you know it went off. I don't love shooting mine for patterning purposes but hate what it does to my right middle finger while duck hunting. Repeatedly getting hammered by the trigger guard makes me want to leave it at home.

You'll never feel the recoil when a turkey is in your sights!

 

[AXL78]

Heavyweight 7's. They'll knock your fillings loose. I just can't imagine much more kick.

 

[WORM82]

Once you find the right choke/load for your gun you shouldn't have to shoot it again till there is a turkey within range. I haven't shot my 835 at anything but a turkey in a couple years.

 

[TheLBLman]

Generally, weight of the gun vs. weight of the payload is the #1 factor effecting felt recoil.

 

[timberghost35]

I had one last year paired with a Patternmaster Anaconda and 3 1/2 inch MagBlends. It would knock the living crap out of me and I'm a good sized guy and have never had trouble with recoil. I had always shot Brownings but swapped to the SBE11 last year. As soon as duck season ended, I went and swapped it for a new A5 in Bottomland.

 

[scn]

I guess I've never understood the need to shoot a 3.5" shell for turkeys. For decades they were killed with high brass 2 3/4" inch shells with no problems. I'm guessing many of those old hunters would consider a 3" shell as overkill. I have zero desire to shoot a heavy 3.5" load out of a light shotgun as it is just not needed.

I've killed several birds with my 3" shells at 50+ yds that were DRT. If they are much further than that, it is just a day that the gobbler wins and I lose.For me, the fun is in the game and not in the kill.

 

[TheLBLman]

For decades they were killed with high brass 2 3/4" inch shells with no problems. . . . . I have zero desire to shoot a heavy 3.5" load out of a light shotgun as it is just not needed.

. . . . . the fun is in the game and not in the kill.

Agree.
Has become mostly an issue of needs vs. wants vs. marketing.

Most of the turkeys I've killed have been with 2 3/4" shells, although in my very heavy dedicated 12ga turkey gun, I am commonly using a 1 7/8 oz load in a 3 1/2" shell, which is little different than the payload most are shooting in a 3" shell (even less than some 3" loads). But more of my turkey hunting is now being done with a 20 gauge, where both the gun and the recoil is very light compared to even that heavy 12 ga gun.

 

[AXL78]

I'm starting to agree that I think it is needless punishment. I think people get caught up in having limited time to hunt, and want to make the absolute most of their time, or capitalize on every opportunity. If you only get to go 5-6 times a year, and call one up to borderline range, you would pay whatever the cost at that moment to be able to confidently take that shot. Basically, have your equipment's ability to not be a limiting factor. The older I get though, and the less important a kill is, the more I value not punishing myself and just enjoying it. But at the same time, I know that when/if the opportunity presents itself I'll be kicking myself if I see one fly off after a shot, and whether it's or true or not, in the back of my head I'll think a 3.5 might have made the difference.

 

[TheLBLman]

The older I get though, and the less important a kill is, the more I value not punishing myself and just enjoying it.

x 2

I get much more enjoyment in killing (as well as getting to watch longer, greater adrenaline rush, etc.) an old Tom under 20 yards vs. over 40. I'm also finding more enjoyment in carrying a very light 20 gauge (with little recoil).

I look forward to every hunt being a successfully enjoyable outing, regardless of whether anything gets killed.
For me, there are multiple measures, and any particular hunt is often just a successful "step" closer to killing a particular turkey (or deer), which I prefer to kill in a manner I enjoy most, up close & personal.

 

[Setterman]

My Sbe with the pistol grip kicks worse then any gun I've ever shot. Unfortunately it patterns the 3.5" loads better then 3" loads or id gladly drop down

Like others I'm not after max range and the thrill is getting them close not sniping one at 50 yards

 

[String Music]

It's pretty brutal. I also have the pistol grip and it is punishing. I switched to 3 inch shells because I was tired of having concussions after each shot. I'll eventually have a 20 ga turkey gun due to this.

 

[TheLBLman]

Ideally, most of us "avid" turkey hunters probably "need" at least two very different dedicated turkey shotguns. :D

This is what I have:

1) A VERY heavy 12 gauge autoloader. It's made about another pound heavier by the 1.5-4.5 scope & mounts.
This becomes my gun of choice when it's more likely for a longer shot, and if particularly, I plan to be walking less ---- often the case in early season when the woods are so much more open.
Typically, I am loading with 3 1/2" shells, but some with only a 1 7/8 oz payload.
Even with this gun, there is a huge difference in the felt recoil of these shells vs. some 2 1/4 oz loads I've patterned, which are absolutely brutal.

2) A VERY light 20 gauge autoloader. It's topped with a Burris Fastfire sight which barely weighs over an ounce.
This becomes my gun of choice for much if not most the season, and if particularly, I plan to do lots of walking. Also, once the spring green-up gets well under way, typically around mid-April, the kind of set-ups I typically choose, these usually only enable me to even see a turkey under 40 yards. Often, my first view of an old Tom is his red head bobbing up like a periscope, just over the horizon, but only 40 yards away.

The next view may be when he steps out from behind a large oak, some 20 yards away. At this moment, a wide field-of-view optical sight becomes an advantage, as does NOT having such a super-tight choke. Am typically loading that 20 ga with #7 Federal Heavyweights, which, even with their 1 1/2 oz payload, don't "kick" me half as hard as that heavy 12 with only 1 7/8 oz loads.

Practically speaking, I believe the 12 gauge is only providing me about 5 extra yards of high-probability range, basically 45 yards with the 20 ga vs. 50 yards with the 12.

So why punish myself when most birds are killed well under 35 yards?

I'm sure many who hunt mainly large fields and have little woods to hunt will disagree, but for me, even doing quite a bit of my hunting around some good-sized fields, hunting with the 20 gauge just keeps getting more "enjoyable" than unnecessarily carrying around that piece of 12 gauge artillery.

 

[Roost 1]

For those that don't like the SBE 2 recoil, sell me your gun.

 

[TNTomtaker01]

I'll take 3.5 shells out of my sbe2 any day over a 3" shell out of a mossberg!

 

[FARMTOFIELD]

I don't think mine is bad at all

 

[REN]

I stopped shooting 3.5 shells a few years ago. Having said that I don't find the recoil in mine bad and even compared to my buddies browsing and beretta 391 it feels the same to me. 3.5 shells punish you no matter the gun


Joshua 24:15
"But as for me and my household, we will serve the Lord."


Sent from my phone sucka

 

[AXL78]

I think I may start using 3" myself. The only reason I got the gun was 3.5" capability. I don't think you need that for ducks myself, so I really just got it for turkey. Somewhat bothers me to shoot 3's, but I think it has persuaded me over the years. Somebody mentioned their 835 earlier, and it does have a notorious reputation for recoil, but I have shot my buddies 835 and mine is right there with it. I have shot a lot of guns and this one probably takes the cake. Could be its just in my head at this point. I even feel it when I shoot a bird now. I've shot and not worried about the bird, got up and made sure I was O.K.-lol. On different occasions I've had that thing go across the bridge of my nose, swell my eye, bust my lip, and once it rolled me down a hill when I was in a weird position. It's just wicked.

 

[TheLBLman]

Could be its just in my head at this point. I even feel it when I shoot a bird now. . . . . . It's just wicked.

Based on everything you've stated, yes, I really do believe SOME of it is, but JUSTIFIABLY.
I suspect you have done lots of shooting at targets without any padding between your gun & your shoulder?
But keep in mind, most 3 1/2-inch loads are "wicked" on one's shoulder, no matter what the gun.

To turn this around, two key things:

1) Don't shoot that gun at targets WITHOUT some serious high-density padding, I mean something like a boat cushion. NOTE: If you're using a scope, you do NOT want to use "loose" or low-density padding, or it will put that scope cutting a gash right above your eye!
For patterning, I use a lead sled, and all but eliminate the felt recoil.

2) For hunting, go to a load designed for light recoil, but still for turkey.

Consider these . . . . . .

http://www.cabelas.com/product/shooting ... type%3DGNU

I doubt going to these particular shells would cost you any more than about 5 yards in extreme range, so if you otherwise had a 50-yard turkey gun, isn't 45 at least "OK" with you?

IMO, "needing" a few extra yards is also mostly "just in our heads". :)
Me, I have a greater need just to be able to hit them under 30, and that's not "just in my head" as I value my optical sights more than what's being loaded in my turkey guns.

 

[Gravey]

I bought a SBE2 back in January and have not shot 3 1/2's through it but is it worse than the same through an 835? I shot one of those for a while and now shoot an 870 but hard to believe it could be worse than that.

 

[REN]

A 3" hevi load will kill just as good as a 3.5. If you are a bigger guy or don't mind the punishment then shoot as big as you can for sure. At 6"3 168lbs 3.5 shells suck to shoot lol


Joshua 24:15
"But as for me and my household, we will serve the Lord."


Sent from my phone sucka

 

[REN]

I bought a SBE2 back in January and have not shot 3 1/2's through it but is it worse than the same through an 835? I shot one of those for a while and now shoot an 870 but hard to believe it could be worse than that.

To me no it's not even close to an 835 or even 870. Again that's just my opinion and I shot 3.5 for a few years before going back to 3 inch rounds. Besides the punishment I wanted to save money at the same time.


Joshua 24:15
"But as for me and my household, we will serve the Lord."


Sent from my phone sucka

 

[TNReb]

A 3" hevi load will kill just as good as a 3.5. If you are a bigger guy or don't mind the punishment then shoot as big as you can for sure. At 6"3 168lbs 3.5 shells suck to shoot lol


Joshua 24:15
"But as for me and my household, we will serve the Lord."


Sent from my phone sucka

Sissy.
[emoji26]

 

[AXL78]

LBLMan, I haven't seen those, but I may look into them. I think over the years the recoil has caught up to me and a couple of years ago cost me a turkey. I had one come across a field hammering. I waited until I thought he was inside what I thought was about 40 and raised the gun to shoot. As I was getting ready to shoot, he went into strut. So waited for him to strut for a second until he popped his head up. When he popped his head up I was still ready and hurried up and yanked the trigger. I felt a jolt go up my spine and rattled like I had a minor seizure. First thing I noticed was I had bitten my tongue a little bit, then I started hearing a little bit of putting. When I opened my eyes he was still standing right in front of me wondering what just happened. I took the safety off this time and was able to hurry up and miss. I think that was my first clean miss, I have had another since. I hadn't ever done that before I don't think. I've had to run a few down, but clean misses due to anticipated recoil I guess.

 

[FARMTOFIELD]

LBLMan, I haven't seen those, but I may look into them. I think over the years the recoil has caught up to me and a couple of years ago cost me a turkey. I had one come across a field hammering. I waited until I thought he was inside what I thought was about 40 and raised the gun to shoot. As I was getting ready to shoot, he went into strut. So waited for him to strut for a second until he popped his head up. When he popped his head up I was still ready and hurried up and yanked the trigger. I felt a jolt go up my spine and rattled like I had a minor seizure. First thing I noticed was I had bitten my tongue a little bit, then I started hearing a little bit of putting. When I opened my eyes he was still standing right in front of me wondering what just happened. I took the safety off this time and was able to hurry up and miss. I think that was my first clean miss, I have had another since. I hadn't ever done that before I don't think. I've had to run a few down, but clean misses due to anticipated recoil I guess.

Man, you think to much. I shoot my guns alot, but when I have a turkey in front of me I get tunnel vision. I don't even realize what's going on almost to the point of hyperventilating. My gun shoots to the right so I make myself line the beads up and squeeze the trigger

 

[AXL78]

Rockhound, I think your right. I do a lot better when I just point and shoot. I really think the little bit of time I had to wait on that turkey strutting allowed me enough time to start anticipating the recoil and dreading it. In my mind at that time he was done. The hunt was over, all I had to do was go get him and I guess I started thinking about the shot too much.

 

[REN]

Man if it's that bad you should switch to 3" for sure and see how that helps. Like I said a 3.5 shell will kick in any gun no matter the maker. I think the last numbers I saw where a 3.5 magnum load had something like 70lbs of recoil. As a comparison a 7mm has Something like 30lbs of recoil energy.


Joshua 24:15
"But as for me and my household, we will serve the Lord."


Sent from my phone sucka

 

[arkwaterfowler]

I have shot a 2000 model SBE with 3.5 inch turkey loads since I got it new. I also shot thousands of 3.5 inch duck loads with no big kick noticed although I have grown up and downsized to 3-inch. My 870 in 3-inch kicks harder. Generally the recoil is as follows:

Hardest Pumps, break action singles and doubles
middle inertia operated autos
Least gas operated autos.

I think most of it is in your head because once a gun gets in your head you are always thinking about it.

 

[Roost 1]

Just sell this hard kicker to me..