Greg...you know that's why it works right. It's really the added weight that reduces the recoil...I know there is some fancy stuff behind if but if you put lead weights in the gun it would pretty much do the same thing.

DAMN Marc! You mean I got ripped off? I hate that. Guess I should have just crammed a couple of lead decoy weights up in there and it would have worked just as well.

If someone asked me what the softest recoiling gun out there is, I'd say SBE II. I hope you can find a way to make it work. Definatively lay off the 3.5's if you're worried about recoil, they are mostly unessesary. If the pattern is on target, and the bird is in range, they'll drop.

You are probably the first person I have heard say the SBE is the softest recoiling gun.

Have you shot it before? It's out of this world. SBE II, I dont' have a first hand comment on the SBE I.

No I haven't but I have heard that gas guns have less recoil than inertia driven guns. I thought that was a fact.

use 3" even for geese there was a study done and the 3 1/2 dosent make a significant range difference

LOL...a study huh. You have two factors that give you range...first the size and density of a pellet...second the FPS it is going when fired. A 3.5" shell may or may not give you more range than a 3" or even a 2 3/4" it all depends on the factors I mentioned. What a 3.5" does do however is it can either give you a larger load or more FPS or a combo of both. So in some cases it does give you more range in other cases it doesnt.

It's really not all that simple. In many cases the felt recoil will be less in gas guns vs inertia but there are many factors at work and you would have to take it on a case by case basis. This and a lot of these posts are beyond the scope the the OP subject...but it's fun to talk about I guess.

I kind of get the feeling the OP is looking for a magic contraption that will make his 3.5" shoot like a .410...it's not going to happen no matter what you do with this gun or any gun within the same weight class.

I think one of the best things about the SBE II is that it has a badass butt pad, and the stock is designed to flex and take up some of the recoil, has those little rubber chevrons down the side. I can't tell the difference between dove loads and 3.5 in it.

[quote=Greg
DAMN Marc! You mean I got ripped off? I hate that. Guess I should have just crammed a couple of lead decoy weights up in there and it would have worked just as well. [/quote]

Not saying you got ripped off...just saying IMO about 95% of what that mercury does to reduce recoil is from the weight added. What you are really paying for is having something that adds that weight while still making the gun feel balanced. If I'm wrong enlighten me.

Also you need to come down and hunt with me sometime...no ducks here in centex but maybe we could discusses the virtues of recoil while looking at no ducks in the skys.

Here is a question. How does the stock flex just because there is rubber pieces if it is rigid between them?

That's funny because I can and could in any gun. while you are hunting most people don't care about the recoil but if you have a heart condition like the OP it's pretty serious.

He's actually right about the flexing. As for answering the how part I'm not an engineer so I don't know how to explain it to you.

No, I know he is right, I was really wondering how. lol

Didn't mean t sound like I was questioning him.

well the stock is pretty much plastic and the chevrons are pretty much there to cover the holes in it. The difference to me like the difference in recoil in any semiauto is marginal anyway. But for me recoil isnt an issue while hunting.

Its a common fact that inertia guns kick much harder than gas operated. No matter what kind of comfaripoff stock is on it.

BTW I have an inertia gun and love it. Not to be rude here but a duck gun is a duck gun its gonna kick thats part of the fun

You could port the barrel or choke tube. Lengthen the forcing cone. Ive owned a Benelli SBE 2 and with 3 1/2" shells its a teeth rattler for sure.all these folks Im sure they can tell you. http://www.briley.com/

no problem with 3 1/2 in mine, shot some today and it wasn't bad

I'm not buying that a ported barrel or choke tube reduces recoil what so ever. I'm pretty sure all it does is make the guys next to you pissed because your gun is so loud.

Yeah, If it was me this is the order I would try things:

1. Switch to 3" shells (save money)
2. Add recoil reducer ($60-80)
3. Get a Beretta ($600-1200)