oilyrag Posted December 27, 2011 Report Share Posted December 27, 2011 I’m struggling on my final decision as to which semi auto to plump for, will mainly be used for pigeon bashing and the odd clay trip. I’ve worked my way through the usual suspects and I’m now torn between the Benelli M2 Comfortech and the Winchester SX3 Composite. Only criteria I have is that I fancy a synthetic, its around the £1000 mark (or there abouts) and it is reliable . I hear good things about them both and like the way they handle, but I’m trying to convince myself the Benelli is worth the extra £300. But then I think go for the SX3 and put the change to some other bits. Does anyone have experience of both the above, or am I missing a blindingly obvious choice? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Alanl50 Posted December 27, 2011 Report Share Posted December 27, 2011 I’m struggling on my final decision as to which semi auto to plump for, will mainly be used for pigeon bashing and the odd clay trip. I’ve worked my way through the usual suspects and I’m now torn between the Benelli M2 Comfortech and the Winchester SX3 Composite. Only criteria I have is that I fancy a synthetic, its around the £1000 mark (or there abouts) and it is reliable . I hear good things about them both and like the way they handle, but I’m trying to convince myself the Benelli is worth the extra £300. But then I think go for the SX3 and put the change to some other bits. Does anyone have experience of both the above, or am I missing a blindingly obvious choice? I had all the same issues as you for choice I went for the SX3 Composite myself in the end It handles nice, points well, and sometimes I hit things. lol ATB Alan Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
deputy dog Posted December 27, 2011 Report Share Posted December 27, 2011 Cant say much for the Benelli as iv never shot one. But iv got a SX3 and for sub grand in money gun. Its a cracking bit of kit. Wont go far wrong if you put your money towards it. DD Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sodylt1 Posted December 27, 2011 Report Share Posted December 27, 2011 I have a Benelli M2 and have nothing but problems with it, its been back to GMK 4 times and to be honest I regret the day I got it!! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
chrispti Posted December 27, 2011 Report Share Posted December 27, 2011 Benellis feel like cheap market toys, kick like a mule and have a horrible step rib. Infact, the only good thing about them is they dont get as dirty inside. An SX3 would be a much better choice Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
utectok Posted December 27, 2011 Report Share Posted December 27, 2011 Benelli here pretty bomb proof and never had any issues mine was second hand and handles better for me than a beretta ( I wanted a leftie too) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mike525steel Posted December 27, 2011 Report Share Posted December 27, 2011 I can honestly say that I've never heard a bad word about the sx3. And that's from guys that have got them You see a lot of them about and they seem to shoot well with them... I don't know much about the benelli but I am sure you wont go wrong with the sx3 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bullet boy Posted December 27, 2011 Report Share Posted December 27, 2011 I've had my SX3 for nearly 4 years now and I gotta say I love it. I've got the Camo version and I've had no problems at all with it.It cycles really well too using 70mm Black Gold carts. If you buy one I think you'll love it too. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
slated Posted December 27, 2011 Report Share Posted December 27, 2011 I had a benelli M1 and had no problems with it, only sold it because it was a little long and I friend started shooting so I let it go cheap. But I have never shot a SX3 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
COACH Posted December 27, 2011 Report Share Posted December 27, 2011 I'm a massive Winchester fan and always have been. I have reviewed both these guns....for me it has to be the Benelli with the wood stock, not the synthetic one. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Salop Matt Posted December 27, 2011 Report Share Posted December 27, 2011 (edited) I've herd a few bad things about the sx3 so tomorrow am getting a M2 ! Either way the sx3 has a 3 year warranty and benelli has 5 year warranty and far less to go wrong with seals etc ! There must be a good reason that the police and the millitary rate the benelli and use it when they want reliability ! Another reason am going for the benelli is because the Winchester felt real cheap like a hats an escort and rough in places ! Edited December 27, 2011 by salop sniper Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kent Posted December 28, 2011 Report Share Posted December 28, 2011 I’m struggling on my final decision as to which semi auto to plump for, will mainly be used for pigeon bashing and the odd clay trip. I’ve worked my way through the usual suspects and I’m now torn between the Benelli M2 Comfortech and the Winchester SX3 Composite. Only criteria I have is that I fancy a synthetic, its around the £1000 mark (or there abouts) and it is reliable . I hear good things about them both and like the way they handle, but I’m trying to convince myself the Benelli is worth the extra £300. But then I think go for the SX3 and put the change to some other bits. Does anyone have experience of both the above, or am I missing a blindingly obvious choice? The only wa is for you to handle both personally, prefferably at the same time. I use the sx3 and for £300 i should just get out shooting more with the cash Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BerettaSV10 Posted December 28, 2011 Report Share Posted December 28, 2011 I've herd a few bad things about the sx3 so tomorrow am getting a M2 ! Either way the sx3 has a 3 year warranty and benelli has 5 year warranty and far less to go wrong with seals etc ! There must be a good reason that the police and the millitary rate the benelli and use it when they want reliability ! Another reason am going for the benelli is because the Winchester felt real cheap like a hats an escort and rough in places ! Are you looking to get it from Tom's or elseware? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
compo90 Posted December 28, 2011 Report Share Posted December 28, 2011 a good friend has the bennelli M2....he loves it, and to be honest so do I , and my son and some other acquintances who have shot it..........only winchester i have ever owned is a winchester lock knife, thats good though Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ziplex Posted December 28, 2011 Report Share Posted December 28, 2011 Benelli M2 is not like a toy, it's built really well and will take all sorts of abuse, if you've had a problem i'd have to say you have been unlucky at best? It is light, pointable and flawless (in my case) with any load. Yes it has a bit of a wallop to it but it's light weight and not gas driven so what would you expect? If you're sat on a marsh or in a hide you'll not notice recoil anyway. If it fits you well i'd say go for it and that's from personal experience....from someone who rarely cleans it and regularly gets it covered in **** etc Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Salop Matt Posted December 28, 2011 Report Share Posted December 28, 2011 Are you looking to get it from Tom's or elseware? Yes just given it a clean having purchased from west mids (Tommy) this afternoon Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BerettaSV10 Posted December 28, 2011 Report Share Posted December 28, 2011 Yes just given it a clean having purchased from west mids (Tommy) this afternoon Thought you had, I was looking at the Benelli's on their web site trying to see if to swap my wood stock one for a synthetic stock and what the differances were between the various models he has in stock. One minute it was there and gon the next. Enjoy using the gun. Still need to work out what the differances in the models are though and if its worth swapping mine over. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Albertan_J Posted December 28, 2011 Report Share Posted December 28, 2011 Sx3 for me mine is faultless cycles anything and easy to clean. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Salop Matt Posted December 28, 2011 Report Share Posted December 28, 2011 Thought you had, I was looking at the Benelli's on their web site trying to see if to swap my wood stock one for a synthetic stock and what the differances were between the various models he has in stock. One minute it was there and gon the next. Enjoy using the gun. Still need to work out what the differances in the models are though and if its worth swapping mine over. Where abouts are you in the county are you ? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
oilyrag Posted December 29, 2011 Author Report Share Posted December 29, 2011 Some very helpful replies there, thank you. I must say that I have thumbed over a Benelli and for me at least it handled and shouldered very well. With regards to it feeling cheap, it never once crossed my mind when I had a play that it was made to a budget. If anything it looked/felt well engineered, mechanically anyway. I suppose any synthetic/plastic gun will have a slightly 'cheaper' feel to it (if that's the right word). I've not had chance to shoulder an SX3 yet so I suppose I will have a better idea once I find one locally to have a look at and make my decision then. One thing that does come up quite often, is the mention of the Benelli having a higher level of recoil than other semi autos due to it's inertia system. Recoil has never been an issue for me when shooting an o/u, but would I be right in saying the M2 would have less recoil than a o/u? Thanks again. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
maxie Posted December 29, 2011 Report Share Posted December 29, 2011 As far as I`m concerned there is no recoil with the M2,perhaps it depends on what you`ve shot with before,in my case a 40 year old Baikal sxs,now thats serious recoil. As far as I`m concerned there is no recoil with the M2,perhaps it depends on what you`ve shot with before,in my case a 40 year old Baikal sxs,now thats serious recoil. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sky gipsy Posted December 29, 2011 Report Share Posted December 29, 2011 Hi I've been shooting my sx3 for 12 months now & love it. It shoots where its pointed, handles loads from 24 to 65g with no quibble & is easy to fully strip & clean after a foul time on the marsh. I see you're in Lancashire, so if you're not too far from Malmo Guns, why not nip over there today as they re-open & I'm sure John or Bryan would let you shoot one at a few clays to give you an idea. I got mine from them & have never looked back. Regards. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BlaserF3 Posted December 29, 2011 Report Share Posted December 29, 2011 Compared to a gas auto the Benelli will have more recoil, personally I think they are overpriced as well. I would say that due to the bolt retracting on the Benelli it should have less recoil than an O/U, but they are quite light guns and light weight means more recoil. I like gas operated guns, as they lessen recoil and I cannot see the point in buying an inertia gun, which really has nothing in it's favour, when you might as well buy a trouble free O/U. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BerettaSV10 Posted December 29, 2011 Report Share Posted December 29, 2011 Where abouts are you in the county are you ? Same area as you. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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