How to jam an SBE II

[Reel Knotty]

Hunting with Ogrejager this morning and my SBE II jammed as I was trying to hit a nice rooster. I got off two shots, then the third round jammed while feeding to the chamber. Good thing Ogrejager can shoot

Anyway, he thought the fact that my very expensive autoloader jamming was quite funny. When I got home, I broke it down to figure out why (it had never once jammed on me before) and found out just how you can jam one of these things.....



I found this behind the bolt twisted around the mechanism. I did shoot again later in the day with no jam...so I am quite impressed with my expensive autoloader

The blackberries are on my list for yet another reason....

[bp97211]

Between the jam and getting home, were you able to fire the gun? Was this something that you would not want to try and fix in the field, or just were heading home anyway?

I was looking at buying one of these guns, but got talked out of it by a gun shop owner who is not a big fan (read: hates) the benellis. I'm not completely foreclosed to getting one of these SBE II's, but reading your post leaves me somewhat ambivalent still. I've heard of others who shoot a lot who've had problems, and I've heard of others (whose usage is unknown) who love them. Interested to hear what others have to say...

[crabbait]

was looking at buying one of these guns, but got talked out of it by a gun shop owner who is not a big fan (read: hates) the benellis.

It wasn't the Gun Room was it? I have an SBE and love it. Never a malfunction in thousands of rounds with little mantenance.

[Reel Knotty]

Yes, I shot again with no jam after the first incident. I waited until I got home because it was raining, I was really wet, cold and only hunting for the morning anyway.

I hunted with a Browning Hunter Gold prior to this gun for about 5 years. The Browing is a great gun and I really liked it, but as compared to my Benelli, no contest! I love my Benelli SBE II. I love the way it handles, I love the way it swings, I love the way it shoots (not necessarily the way I shoot ). My Browning had to be cleaned often, and would jam once in a while (without blackberry vines in the action) and got really dirty between cleanings. This was the FIRST time I have every broken down the Benelli since I put it together for the first time. It was remarkably clean given I had never cleaned it before.

Bottom line no problems to report on my SBE II not caused by blackberry vines! I would guess about a thousand rounds through the gun to date.

As far as a guy in a gun shop not being big on them...well, I am a GM guy and not big on Fords. Same kinda thing. Where I bought mine, one guy behind the counter loved them, the other guy didn't (he was a Browning fan and was dissapointed to hear I was replacing my Browning with a Benelli).

Get what YOU want and don't worry about the other guys think.

[bp97211]

Crabbait--you shootin' the SBE or the SBEII? The Gun Room not fans of benellis?

I hear what you're saying about shooting what I want. Hell, it's my money, I'll darn well spend it on what I want--just like buying a new truck, I like knowing what I'm getting into. I am blessed to have a wife who understands my hobbies (read: obsessions), and let's me buy what I want, when I want, within reason. The one thing she has yet to understand is that a man can never own enough shotguns. I'll have to find new homes for a few before adding any more.

[adobe wall]

one thing about an SBE is that they can be broken down with no tools in seconds.

I take mine down into it's major component groups and spray them off with light oil after every outing. I'm not being critical at all, but that vine would have been out of my firearm while I was out in the field. If a weapon is easy to disassemble there is some value in knowing how to break it down.

Odd stuff happens. One of the very few malfunctions I ever had out of an AR15 was a blown primer that got wedged in the buffer tube. What are the odds of that?

I've got half of last season on my SBE, no malfunctions. This season has started off very slow but not due to the firearm. I've noticed that there always seem to be benelli detractors on these threads but I never seem to hear exactly why these folks have a beef with the shotguns.

I reckon if everybody thought the same way we'd all drive Chevrolets and have redheaded women in the seat next to us.

regards, aw

[Reel Knotty]

Originally Posted by bp97211

The one thing she has yet to understand is that a man can never own enough shotguns. I'll have to find new homes for a few before adding any more.

I hear that! I am up to four that are mine. Of course I don't know why she gives me a hard time...she has two! And yes, one is an SBE...I was so jealous of her SBE that I bought my SBE II soon afterward.

So what guns did the gun shop owner like? And why does he hate Benelli?

[Quaka Wacka]

I shot a SBE for several seasons. Shooting usually 1-2 cases a year (sometimes more) and usually only cleaned it a time or two. Which later came back and bit me, when the choke tube got stuck. Although the gun functioned flawlessly hunting several days in a row in the rain, it washed all the lube off the choke tube and it siezed up. I have since bought a SBE II but have only shot a box or so out of it so far. So the verdict is still out. The majority of the problems I've heard have all been due to over lubrication, which collects dirt in the rails and recoil spring. I 've owned several shotguns over the years (Browning, Mossberg, Remington) and the Benelli will always be the first choice for me.

[Reel Knotty]

Originally Posted by adobe wall

I'm not being critical at all, but that vine would have been out of my firearm while I was out in the field. If a weapon is easy to disassemble there is some value in knowing how to break it down.

If I had realized there was a berry vine in there, I definatley would have broken in down I thought it just needed to be cleaned, finally! They do break down really easily. I used to be a stickler for cleaning and oiling guns after an outing...that slowed down after child #2...something about helping out with the kids after being gone all day...the shotgun makes it next to the wood stove with intentions....

I remember breaking down my browning in a layout blind during a goose hunt and having a heckof a time finding a small piece that got away from me Thank God for headlamps is all I gotta say!

[ogrejager]

Jeesh, Knotty, you started a big time thread here. If I woulda known that ribbin' ya about your expensive little autoloader woulda been such a big deal I wouldn't hat have givin' you a hard time.

Nice to know what caused that. Still doesn't explain that one that flew over your head after, though? Yeah, I missed it too. I'll stop that line of BS right now. No excuse for missing a pheasant that I almost stepped on. At least I got 3 shots off. One word: 870.

--Rob

[Reel Knotty]

"Rib not lest ye be ribbed!"

What fun is hunting without the customary ribbing?!!

At least you didn't rib me (to much) about missing

I did get three shots off on the one over my head I was hoping not to admit to that one online, thanks!

[jokester]

The Benelli's are one of the best IMO! I have a Nova and I know quite a few people with the SBE's and they all rave about them! I've shot one before, and now I want one

Originally Posted by crabbait

It wasn't the Gun Room was it? I have an SBE and love it. Never a malfunction in thousands of rounds with little mantenance.

Funny you mention that, cause I was thinking the same thing :grin: I've heard stories that the guy doesn't like anything unless he sells it on his shelf!

-jokester

[Swamp Puppy]

Originally Posted by bp97211

The Gun Room not fans of benellis?

you think they don't like benelli's...try asking them about Brownings. lol. they really hate those.

[Lured In]

Originally Posted by bp97211

Between the jam and getting home, were you able to fire the gun? Was this something that you would not want to try and fix in the field, or just were heading home anyway?

BP...as was said above, the SBE (and M1 Super 90 3" series) are probably the easiest scatter guns on the planet (next to a break action) to field strip and clean if needed. With a minimal amount of familiarity with gun, you should be able to strip it down and rebuild it in just over a minute.

One of my good hunting buddies has been through 3 shotguns in the last 6 years for various reasons, but reliability being the primary. He now has an SBE II and with the exception of severe neglect, it hasn't let him down. I have had my SBE I for 7 years and will never buy any other auto.

[Chesapeake]

I will seccond Quaka Wacka's claims. He's shoot an SBE for the 3 years we have hunted together. Last year it started acting up not sending the bolt all the way home. I thought it funny his $1200 gun didnt work until we pulled it apart to give it a look.

Looking in that gun I would have guessed he had never cleaned it before. He claims to clean it a few times a year. A Glock wouldnt have fired in that condition. We just wiped it out a bit (with a stick I think) and put it back together and it was up and running. Later he found his abuse had won him one very stuck choke tube.

I dont have the $$$ for an SBE but my next shotgun is going to be a Nova hands down.

Lets just say I'm a believer.

[billc_sbio]

Originally Posted by Quaka Wacka

I shot a SBE for several seasons. Shooting usually 1-2 cases a year (sometimes more) and usually only cleaned it a time or two. Which later came back and bit me, when the choke tube got stuck. Although the gun functioned flawlessly hunting several days in a row in the rain, it washed all the lube off the choke tube and it siezed up. I have since bought a SBE II but have only shot a box or so out of it so far. So the verdict is still out. The majority of the problems I've heard have all been due to over lubrication, which collects dirt in the rails and recoil spring. I 've owned several shotguns over the years (Browning, Mossberg, Remington) and the Benelli will always be the first choice for me.

Hint: Get some "High Temperature Anti-Sieze" (Lube/Paste) comes in a bottle with a Cap/brush applicator (you can find it at NAPA Stores).

This stuff IS the stuff to use on Spark Plug threads, Outboard Motor Fasteners, Exhaust system (high temp) Nuts/Bolts AND Choke Tubes.

Your Choke Tubes should NEVER "stick" due to it not being there (they might stick due to other causes, such as thread damage, though).

[Meister Jaeger]

Originally Posted by bp97211

The one thing she has yet to understand is that a man can never own enough shotguns.

Brian- If you need any help with this, let me know and I'll let you in on the epiphany I had a few years back that enabled me to help my wife understand the unquenchable thirst for weaponry. It goes something like "You see, Sweetheart - (shot)guns are like jewelry..." BRILLIANT!

BTW, I'm going on 5 seasons with an SBE I, and lovin' it!

MJ

[Hunt'nFish]

Yep "Never Seize" is good stuff but most folks won't flip for a can. A tube of Lubriplate or Tetra Grease maybe. But I think the main point your making is a little grease goes a long way! I AGREE 100%!!

This in one reason why I like extended choke tubes....you can just reach up and give it a twist every now & then to check that it's tight (& break rust free). In fact we can't help ourselves....playing w/ our chokes that is.:blush:
And an extended choke is much easier to get a hold of if it were to rust up a little. A little strap wrench is about all that's needed.

Ok, back the topic of the thread. Any gun can jam, particularly semi's. I do not think this is an SBE issue, just a freak deal that happens. SBE's are great guns and the fact that QwackaWacka's SBE worked as long as it did before finally hickup'ing is testiment to that. (Perhaps I need to loan my Spartan to Alex for the season.....I'm sure if anyone can get it to malfunction he can!) Remember I bought the Spartan as an experiment just to see what it could take in abuse. So far not a jam one w/ duck loads....trap loads, well it won't cycle them clean. Duckintheblood's Spartan does, mine won't. Remember I think I found a part in the gas system in backwards but have not rechecked it since.

I still want a nicer gun, I've always liked the SBE because of the non-gas, recoil operated system....nearly foolproof. But I also shoot the Franchi 912 very well too, it's similar in design to the SBE.
(Oh QwackAttack, I found a new "black" 912 for $600. You sure you don't want to sell yours??? I'll trade ya a very nice Rem700 338Ultra mag-na-ported and all. A fine shooter too.)

Interesting to hear the Browning Gold comments. That is one gun I have not handled. (It has o-rings right?)

I still think a fella should buy what gun fits and they shoot well......and then learn it's care & feeding requirements. Gun that fits and you hit with will kill you more birds that the finest gun that doesn't. Shoot what fits and learn to care for it.

Semi's have their quirks, pumps have few. Notice that Ogerjager's 870 has yet to jam. (But Rob, I consider a short stroke with that new 3.5" 870, a malfuntion too. He, he, he.)

This is healthy discussion....I think what comes out of it is, the need for a "little" routine maintainance. Care for our guns and they will care for us.
(That's the gunsmith in me talking there.)
Hunt'nFish

[Teton]

Originally Posted by Swamp Puppy

you think they don't like benelli's...try asking them about Brownings. lol. they really hate those.

Every time I go into that un-named place (the last time was a long time ago), I get some idiot who tries to blow smoke up my dress about how much more he knows about guns (and hunting), and how much more HE KNOWS what kind of a gun I WANT. I just roll my eyes and ignore him...That tactic may work for someone who does not know what he wants, but it doesn't work for me. Not to hijack this thread, but if you do your homework, don't believe what any gun salesman says when you find out that his shop will not sell that brand. He's paid to sell you another brand. He's just doing his job and doesn't care about your interests necessarily; that I can forgive and ignore.

Back on point, I have three close friends who shoot the SBE, and it is a very fine gun. I have a Beretta, but when foreign material like blackberry stalks get into the breech, it doesn't matter how much you paid for the gun, it needs cleaned!

[billc_sbio]

Wow...this sounds JUST LIKE an unnamed shop on Foster that I've been to but rarely visit.

Don'tcha just love being insulted by the employees first thing when ya get in there?!!

I know we can't be talking about the same place?!!

[ogrejager]

Originally Posted by Hunt'nFish

Semi's have their quirks, pumps have few. Notice that Ogerjager's 870 has yet to jam. (But Rob, I consider a short stroke with that new 3.5" 870, a malfuntion too. He, he, he.)

Yeah, but we're talking about GUN problems here, not USER problems. If we start talking about the gun/ground interface system, there's a lot of problems we can talk about. Like how a guy can shoot a double on mallards one day and miss a pheasant that jumps at his foot the next day. What's up with that?:blush:

[adobe wall]

billc's advice about the anti-sieze is spot on. I keep an old 35mm film canister (y'all remember when cameras took a roll of film?) with anti-sieze in it, I'd say it has lasted about 15 years. A very small amount of that stuff goes a long ways and saves a lot of headaches.

I also use it on muzzleloader breech plugs and nip.ples.

As stated, a can of it would last the average person a lifetime. Maybe the next DA meeting, if I can make it, I'll bring a can and split it up amongst the group if anyone wants some of it.

regards, aw

[Reel Knotty]

Originally Posted by Hunt'nFish

Interesting to hear the Browning Gold comments. That is one gun I have not handled. (It has o-rings right?)
Hunt'nFish

Yes, I believe it has o-rings. While it did jam from time to time, it was usually due to user neglect. The Browning took a lot of abuse from me, including complete immersion in the muck when I have fallen in . Both times I unloaded, watched water come out from every crack and crevice (was interested to watch the water poor out of the magazine tube ) before a quick break down and check and lube (I carry 'break free' in my duck bag) before continuing the hunt. Both times it functioned afterward, but not error free until it was broken down for a complete cleaning. I have yet to take a tumble with the SBE, so we will wait and see if the opportunity arises to duplicate the 'muck' situation.

I turned to the SBE as I wanted an auto loader that did not use gas system for action with hopes that it would work better, jam less, and get less dirty for ammo shot. So far it has exceeded my expectations, berry vines included Even with the berry vine, the SBE only needed a light wipedown with rag and solvent/lubricant shipped with the gun. As mentioned before, this is the first time it has ever jammed. From what I can tell, the vine got lodged in the rail and that 'caught' the bolt and held it open. After working the action a couple of time it forced the vine far enough to the rear to keep it from causing any more trouble. Given my experience with the browning, I figured it was time for a good cleaning so didn't even think about checking for things like berry vines (lesson learned here...)

After the same amount of hunting and ammo, I would have needed to clean the browning 2 to 3 times (and it probably would have started mis-feeding to tell me it needed cleaning). The cleaning of the browning entailed soaking the gas piston in Hoppe's # 9 over night and used of brake or carb cleaner and 0000 steel wool to remove the residue on/in the piston and the outside of the magazine tube. Use of compressed air always helped A great deal of powder residue also ended up in the trigger mechanism as well, which does not happen with the SBE so far. As I used (and abused) the browning, the cleaning intervals did increase (must have broken in finally). When it was new I had to clean it at least every other outing. Last season used I think I cleaned it twice. And yes, it started mis-feeding to tell me it was overdue...

The browning also had trouble feeding target loads, even when perfectly clean...never had this trouble with SBE.

Never thought to use anti-sieze! That would have really helped the time I got a choke stuck in the browning....I had to take it to a gunsmith to get it out! Went to extended choke tubes after that...easy to check and gave me something to play with when there were no ducks :P I will put some on all my choke tube threads right away!

[Quaka Wacka]

Originally Posted by Hunt'nFish

. SBE's are great guns and the fact that QwackaWacka's SBE worked as long as it did before finally hickup'ing is testiment to that. (Perhaps I need to loan my Spartan to Alex for the season.....I'm sure if anyone can get it to malfunction he can!)


This is healthy discussion....I think what comes out of it is, the need for a "little" routine maintainance. Care for our guns and they will care for us.
(That's the gunsmith in me talking there.)
Hunt'nFish

Mike- I'm sure if anybody can get that gun to jam I can . Even with as in frequent I clean my shotgun thiers not a bit of rust on it anywhere. I'll have to try that high temp anti-sieze. Does it even resist washing out?

AW- If you have a big can or want to go get a can of it. I'll split it with you and anybody else needing some.

[billc_sbio]

[quote=Quaka Wacka;1307371] I'll have to try that high temp anti-sieze. Does it even resist washing out? quote]

Hehe, as stated it IS the stuff for Outboard (and outdrive) Fasteners!

(Why the factories don't put it onto their fasteners when they assemble their new motors is beyond me. )

Yes, it does resist washing out, however whenever my barrel gets really wet (usually just from exposure to rain) because any close fit between any two surfaces literally "sucks" water and liquids (capillary action) in and holds it there. The Grease won't necessarily be washed away, but you know there's going to be water trapped in there.

Because of this, on a real "soaker" of a day, the kind I take my shotgun all apart and wipe and dry everything down, I'll include removing the choke tube, wiping it off with a dry paper towel as well as making a "wad" of paper towelling and twist it around, wiping the exposed inner threads.

Then another light coating of the Anti-Seize Grease is applied and the Tube screwed back in.

It's my belief that the Anti-Seize would prevent the Choke Tube from sticking in the event I didn't clean and wipe it dry, however I'm not prone to inviting unwanted surprises.

[sunshinefisherman]

The blackberries are on my list for yet another reason....

So, this was a blackberry jam?

[ogrejager]

Okay. That was a good one.

[Teton]

[laugh, laugh laugh] out loud!!!

[Reel Knotty]

I love blackberry jam...

[bp97211]

R. Knotty--

This has been a great thread. Thanks for posting and getting this going.--Brian.