This gun has a lot of heat, both good and bad, around it. Introduced in early 2017, this Benelli semiauto is the next generation after the Super Black Eagle 2 (SBEII) (released 2014). That gun and the original Super Black Eagle (released 1992) gained a big following for being simple, reliable, durable and easy to clean. It uses Benelli’s Inertia Drive to power the ejection and has a barrel/receiver design that has the barrel and upper section of the receiver as one piece.
In the Ethos, Benelli addressed the ‘Benelli click’ issue of the bolt coming out of battery or not going full into battery when a shell is chambered gently/quietly or the gun is jostled roughly; those bolt changes carry over to the SBE3. For this model Benelli also slimmed up the gun, slicked up the loading port area, and updated the main recoil reduction features of the stock, now called the Comfort Tech 3, as well as added the new, soft Combtech cheekpiece.
The gun has some detractors, claiming the gun does not shoot to point of aim (usually citing high and left); most blame the new stock as being too flexible under recoil. It’s led to some debates, some upset customers, yet also other customers who find the gun hits exactly where they are trying to hit. This makes it a tricky gun to research online, but here are some tests and threads to get you started.
VIDEOS
For a really nice overview of the gun, with good commentary on how it’s different from the SBE2, check out this video from Michael Payne of Team Carbon Arms. He’s wearing sponsor logos on his shirt so he’s not without involvement in the gun industry, but credit to him for ‘wearing it on his sleeve;’ he also lists some sponsors at the end of the video. This is Part 1 of 2 and covers features and a function test demonstration (at 7:54) where Michael gets into loads too light to function the action.
In the second video from Michael Payne of Team Carbon Arms, he gets into the performance of the gun and takes it Pheasant hunting. He mentions zero failures with the gun, so it can be assumed he either added the function test to the Part 1 video after shooting this video, or he isn’t including those below-spec low-recoil loads in the review of a hunting gun (those loads fired but just didn’t work the action). He does mention one failure during the Pheasant hunt.
If you want to see the guts of the gun, jump to 1:30 in this video by Strix Outdoors.
FORMAL TESTS
Here’s a nice review from Jeff Johnston of American Rifleman covering the gun’s features and performance after a press trip with the gun and Benelli reps to New Zealand. LINK (opens new window)
David Draper of Petersen’s Hunting has a very positive review of the gun based on his experiences with it on a ‘high round count’ hunting trip (presumably the same Benelli gun intro trip to New Zealand Jeff Johnston was on) where he and some others got their initial impressions of the new SBE3. LINK (opens new window)
John Snow of Outdoor Life gives a first shooting impression, covers the gun’s features, and gives it high praise after hunting with it for over a week in Alaska. LINK (opens new window)
Regarding the gun’s reported/alleged POI issues, here’s Randy Wakeman’s take on it, starting after he shares several customer complaints. LINK (opens new window)
Here’s Field & Stream’s Phil Bourjaily’s take on the ‘high POI’ debate, essentially saying the guns pattern high like a trap gun, but also relates that Benelli is looking into lowering the POI with a barrel nut change due to customer reaction. LINK (opens new window)
COMPARISONS
Here’s a thread asking for advice versus a Super Vinci, VersaMax, and A400. On page 2 the original poster follows up with a report after he shoots the SBE3. LINK (opens new window)
FORUM THREADS
Want 20+ pages on the SBE3’s high POI discussion? Start the pot of coffee before you click here: LINK (opens new window)