Proven SBEII Buckshot and Choke

[AviD]

Does anyone have a proven/tested SBEII Buckshot and Choke tube they can recommend?

I've been researching for even a starting point on a choke tube and shell choice and not coming up with any kind of consistency.

The only consistent "review" I've seen is that the Patternmasters aren't very good for buckshot out of the SBEII.

Basically, I'm looking for the choke make/model/restriction and buckshot type/make/length/size you've shot out of your SBEIIs and respective patterns at 40 yards in a 20" circle.

Anyone?

[OldFlick]

Not going to happen. When you find one that works the brand buckshot you like will not be the same. Even if they keep the same powder, primer, buffer, etc. they vary from manf. lot to lot. I make my buckshot and it is a pain and costly.

[AviD]

I'm confused, what's not going to happen?

Looking back on my notes with my Remington 11-87, I was using the PatternMaster choke and 3" Federal Power-Shok 00 buckshot, putting 100% of the 00 buckshot (15 pellets) in a 9"x13" section at 40 yards, and consistently putting 100% in 20" at 40 yards without a problem.

Are you saying there isn't a single choke and buckshot combo that can attain 100% in a 20" circle at 40 yards the majority of the time with the SBEII?

I'm not asking for a guarantee, merely a subset of proven chokes out of the SBEII that have patterned *some* manufacturer's buckshot well.

There are dozens out there, it would be much more cost effective if I could narrow down on maybe 3-5 to try out with respective loads to see what shoots best.

[OldFlick]

Now I am confused. If 100% are in a 9x13", it goes w/o saying they are in a 20" circle. My hope is you did not sell the Remington, you will be hard pressed to get another shotgun to shoot like you stated. My first post means no two barrels, two different lots of ammo or two matching chokes perform the same.

[AviD]

Ah, of course no two guns are the same, but some guns prefer certain chokes, certain restrictions, with certain loads from certain manufacturer's.

Just as I provided an example with my 11-87, I'd imagine someone on here has an SBEII and getting good patterns with some choke and some buckshot.

As an FYI, the PatternMaster and load were recommended by a local gunsmith for my 11-87...he said either the Federal Premium 3" copper plated or non-copper plated would shoot best. I tried several different brands and other chokes, and he was spot on with his suggestions.

What I've read thus far is PatternMaster is no good for the SBEII...so there has to be some chokes that have had positive results for some (i.e. 100% in a 20" circle at 40 yards). I can't believe not a single owner of an SBEII has ever had one that shoots that well?

BTW, I still have my 11-87, actually have it for sale, as it doesn't really fit me well. Can't get a good LOS with it, and now that I have an SBEII, I don't shoot it much.

Also have an 870 Express that shoots great buckshot patterns with Remington 3" 000 buckshot and the stock Remington full choke. I've taken deer out to 55 yards with that gun and that combo.

Again, there has to be some subset of chokes and ammo that have consistently proven to shoot well out of the SBEII. Just looking for that subset to start trying, and which chokes/loads to avoid.

[gregor187]

Well I have been patterning buckshot all summer in my Benelli SBE 2 and the patternmaster is the choke that I kept...Don,t worry too much about the post you were reading.
Buy a choke and shoot it for your self...Wad wizard is another Choke choice.
Patternmaster will give a 30 day no questions asked money back warranty. I just ordered several models and shot them last weekend and sent back the ones I did not want to keep.
I will not go in to everything that I have tried and how much money I have spent since I got the shotgun last summer.But I can talk with the best of them on opinions. I know I am patterning only one gun but I know the capabilities of this gun..

I have owned many Benelli Ones,,,,And only one series Two. But as a general rule the the Improved Modified factory choke should be fine with the yardage that you are trying.
I pattern my guns at 50 yards......and am looking at the targets now as I type this. My targets are flat cardboard and are 19 inches wide and 21 inches tall. I put a 3 inch birchwood casey stickon decal in the center.
I have shot two shots in each target circleing the first shots holes to know the difference. all 15 targets at 50 yards with the patternmaster and 3 1/2 inch double 00 remington lead,,,,,Have an average 13 pellets on board and average six pellets within eight inches either side of decal..
At 30 yards it averages 16 pellets on board and all but three are very close to center.
For Buckshot only. the Pattermaster or the Wad Wizard are going to be your best bets. Used to be in bussiness together I am told and went their seperate ways,,, The reason your guys says Federal is because they use a gas sealed shotcup in all of their 12 gauge buckshot as well as Remington in there 3 1/2 inch double (only). These two choke companys use the studs that catch the cup gas seal and slow it down.
No other shells will do worth a darn without the shot cup and gas seal wad...Winchester does not use one at all in their buckshot not even the Supremes....What worked best for me even the High Dollar Turkey chokes with all kinds of buckshot?
Patternmaster 1 inch extended,,,Ported.....Remington 3 1/2 00 buck..
And as a backup three inch federal Classic 00 lead loads..

Looking back over what I have typed it may be viewed as cocky and I wrote it only to help a fellow shooter out only..
The best of luck to you on what ever road you choose to go down.
Good Shooting,,,,,,,Gregor187

[AviD]

Gregor, good tips.

I've been away hunting in North Dakota and just got back recently. I finally got out to pattern some with my SBE2 and shot a variety of shells out of the Full, IM, and M stock chokes, as well as the Rhino turkey choke I had purchased.

I did call Rhino for their recommendation and they said the choke I had was fine for buckshot (and T shot). I did bring up the fact that it was a super full choke essentially, and they said it is fine for any buckshot or T shot, but absolutely NO steel shot. They said they could sell me another choke, but it would be the same one...the one I have is the one they recommend for buckshot and T shot.

The Rhino did pattern the best, but none of the patterns blew me away.

I picked up a few more rounds in 3.5" as I shot a lot of 3.0" the other day just to see how it would shoot.

I'll probably give the patternmaster a try as well with the loads you've concluded to shoot well with it and see how it goes. Definitely take advantage of that 30 day return if I don't like the results.

If you or anyone has any additional feedback, please let me know.

Thanks all!

[gregor187]

Yea, I bought a new Rhino Choke a few weeks back, It patterned Ok with buckshot on a few shots, But would not stay with the patternmaster Shot for shot at 50 yards.

However it did the best of all the Turkey chokes I have tried.

[AviD]

Yeah, I use the Rhino with Nitro 4x5x7 and that patterned absolutely awesome.

I called Patternmaster the other day, and talked to one of their guys there and he had mentioned the SBE2 is a vary narrow (small) bore diameter compared to other make/model guns. I asked him about the choke constriction, and he said he'd recommend the Long Range Ported Patternmaster choke for buckshot and 3" or even 2-3/4" shells due to the narrow nature of the barrel/muzzle...the less pellets the less chance of interference/collision. He also mentioned the Patternmaster was equivalent to about an Improved Cylinder stock Benelli choke.

I was going to hit the range today but rain/sleet put a damper on that plan. Next time out I'll try the IC and see how it patterns out, if I see a marked improvement (but not good satisfactory), I'll give the PM a try. PM guy also recommended the Federal shells for the same reason you did, with the PM choke designed to "grab" the wad, etc.

I'll keep you posted on the results when I eventually hit the range.

You shoot any #T out of your SBE2?
I'm going to try the Hevi-shot Dead Coyote loads in 3" and 3.5" with the Carlson DC choke and various other chokes. We'll see what happens there too...eventually

[OldFlick]

I just used a Patternmaster extended(for 3 1/2"shells) and it put 10 to 14 pellets in a 10" circle(50 yrds), the rest being close. I was impressed. The gun is a SBE II. We also had a extended tube for a Browning Gold 3 1/2" which we used on 3 different guns. It worked great on one and fair on second gun, third gun shot bad. Only ammo it liked was Federal 00(3 1/2"). Did not try any shorter rounds.

As I understand Patternmaster they do not choke the bore, they change pattern by how long the tube is past the bumps.