Need info on a Benelli build

[Borden811]

I'm looking to build a turkey specific gun on a benelli. It'll be a 20ga. I'm looking mainly at the m2, or SBE 3. I'm leaning m2 because I want it drilled and tapped, and heard there were issues with that regarding the SBE 3. I've also heard they now come drilled and tapped. Can anyone verify that?The shortest barrel I can find from the factory is 24". I'd prefer 20 or 22. Does anyone have any experience with cutting a benelli barrel, and how short you can go and still be able to rethread for chokes. I'm also assuming it would have to be with another thread pattern, and not the crio chokes, if it's even doable. I don't see where benelli, or anyone else offers a pistol grip stock in 20 ga. I've read where a 12ga stock will fit, but just needs sanded some at the receiver/stock junction to make it flush. Anyone with experience there? Basically, I'm trying to figure out if the juice is worth the squeeze. I'd like to end up with a finished product of a 20ga pistol grip m2 or SBE 3 with a 20"-22" barrel, and run a reflex type red dot on a scalarworks mount. Stocks will be dipped in mossy oak greenleaf, and metal cerakoted in some shade of brown. I'm open to ideas/suggestions.

[neal]

I am close friends with someone who knows about everything there is about benellis and works on them daily. Do not cut the barrel, the pistol grip can work but also could have issues cycling. I've got a few SBE2's 12ga I do have a pistol grip on one of them and I absolutely love it! Wish they'd make one for the 20ga.

I've got 3 M2 20's had forcing cone done, RR Raptor choke and had a slammer button and cocking handle and trigger done on one of them. I load my own shells. I mess around shooting a lot and they throw really great killing patterns out to 70+

As far as the M2 vs SBEIII definitely stay with the M2 that advice is from someone in the gun industry who's advice I trust. 

Neal


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[Borden811]

I am close friends with someone who knows about everything there is about benellis and works on them daily. Do not cut the barrel, the pistol grip can work but also could have issues cycling. I've got a few SBE2's 12ga I do have a pistol grip on one of them and I absolutely love it! Wish they'd make one for the 20ga.

I've got 3 M2 20's had forcing cone done, RR Raptor choke and had a slammer button and cocking handle and trigger done on one of them. I load my own shells. I mess around shooting a lot and they throw really great killing patterns out to 70+

As far as the M2 vs SBEIII definitely stay with the M2 that advice is from someone in the gun industry who's advice I trust. 

Neal


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

I have a SBE II 12ga, an Ultralight 12ga, and had an m2 12ga I put together with a 21" barrel, steadygrip stock, extended bolt handle, mag release, etc. If it was 20, I'd still have it. I handload my own tss as well, and don't use any of my 12s for turkey anymore. Hence the desire to build a 20. I guess I'll be on the hunt for an m2 20ga compact, and I can add the pistol grip later on if I decide I want it. I have a Franchi affinity 3 turkey 20ga that shoots excellently, but I'd rather have the benelli.

[Ondavirg]

The sbe 3s now come with a tapped receiver (2 holes, not the 4 hole pattern we are used to seeing in the 12 gauge).  So you wouldn't be able to run a scalarworks, but sumtoy's mount or similar would work fine, and does on my 28 gauge. The 20s and 28s use the same part for the tapped receiver cover.  I spoke with someone at benelli who told me they would be available for purchase through your dealer or possibly online before turkey season 2025. That would solve the issues of not being able to tap one.