The new 3-inch Benelli SBE 3 in 28-gauge is a stout, tight-shooting shotgun for the serious waterfowler. (Photo By: Colton Heward)
October 11, 2022
By Colton Heward
Waterfowler’s pleas for more premium options in sub-gauge shotguns have not fallen upon deaf ears. Benelli answered the call guns-a-blazing earlier this year with the launch of the all-new, 3-inch chambered Super Black Eagle 3 28-gauge .
Benelli’s revered lineage of Super Black Eagle semi-automatic shotguns have met the demands of the most serious waterfowlers across the world for 30 years. In 2019, Benelli launched its wildly successful third generation of the proven inertia-driven scattergun, the Super Black Eagle 3. Since its introduction, the SBE 3 has carried on the SBE legacy of reliability and performance and we can expect nothing less from the newest sub-gauge member of the SBE 3 clan.
Advertisement
New Kid on the Block The 28-gauge cult has been around for decades but has exponentially gained steam in recent years. From the over-used phrase of my 3-year-old, “But why?” Well, that depends on who you ask. Practically speaking, 28-gauge shotguns are lighter in weight making quick movements in tight quarters a breeze while also enjoying the comforts of nominal recoil. Scientifically speaking, the only benefit a 28-gauge possess over its larger-bored cousins is its knack to produce a shorter shot string. This benefit, however, is worth noting and entertains the notion of many that the 28-gauge packs more punch than it should. However, it is the onslaught of premium non-toxic loads such as bismuth and TSS that have really broadened the horizons for all sub-gauge shotguns. Given the right load, this new 28-gauge shotgun will ethically knock down everything from teal to swans at reasonable distances.
Advertisement
From the inertia driven action to the aluminum receiver, to the ergonomically shaped forearm, Benelli’s SBE 3 28-gauge is quite literally a proportionally scaled-down version of the 12-gauge SBE 3 that so many of us know and love. For reference, the SBE 3 12-gauge with a 26-inch barrel weighs 6.9 lbs. The SBE 3 28-gauge with the same barrel shaves off just over 20% of that weight, tipping the scale at a mere 5.5 lbs. Other features of the SBE 3 28-gauge include a series of shims for shooters to adjust cast and drop to their personal liking.
An oversized bolt handle and release make for effortless handling all season long. (Photo courtesy of Benelli) Field Testing the Benelli SBE 3 28-Gauge Shotgun Although comfortable to carry, I initially worried that the weight and size reduction would result in an erratic “snappy” feel to the shotgun when shouldered. That sentiment was buried as soon as I got my hands on one. A single swing of the shotgun through a crossing clay target was all it took to realize that Benelli had masterfully distributed the weight of the SBE 3 28-gauge to maximize its shootability. The shotgun felt alive in my hands but composed when acquiring and swinging through the target.
Recoil from a 28-gauge is inherently minimal when compared to its larger-bored relatives, but Benelli‘s Combtech and Comfort Tech 3 technologies dang near eliminate felt recoil in the 28-gauge SBE 3 . You can’t truly appreciate the luxury of a light recoiling gun until you have experienced it. Once you do, chances are you will not want to go back to the teeth-rattling scatterguns you have shot for decades.
Unfortunately, by the time I got my hands on one of these sweet little rigs, waterfowl seasons across the country were closed. However, turkey season was in full swing. This is a waterfowl publication, but I figured if this shotgun could take down a gobbler there wouldn’t be a fowl in the sky it couldn’t fold. I won’t bore you with a turkey hunting story but suffice it to say that the SBE 3 28-gauge delivered in spades, rolling a wary tom at 49 yards with 1 3/8 oz. of #9 TSS shot from Apex Ammunition .
With a well-patterned modern steel load, the SBE 3 28-gauge will provide ample knock-down power inside of 35 yards. Using bismuth and TSS loads will extend your effective range beyond that.
Benelli Super Black Eagle 3 28-Gauge Shotgun Specifications Benelli Super Black Eagle 3 28-Gauge Shotgun. (Photo courtesy of Benelli) Type: Inertia-operated semi-auto Gauge: 3-inch chambered 28-gauge Magazine: 2+1 Sights: Vent rib with fiber optic red bar front Stock: Synthetic and adjustable with supplied shims. Weight: 5 lbs. 5 oz Barrel Length: 26- or 28-inch Overall Length: 47.5 inches with 26-inch barrel Trigger Pull: Single 4 lbs. 6 oz average Metal Finish: Matte black, Realtree MAX-5, GORE OPTIFADE Timber, Mossy Oak Bottomland Accessories: five Crio choke tubes (C, IC, M, IM, F) Suggested Retail Price: $1,799 black synthetic, $1,899 camo Benelli also includes a series of five Crio chokes ranging from cylinder to full to meet the vast diversity of shooters demands. (Photo courtesy of Benelli) The SBE 3 28-gauge comes in either a 26- or 28-inch barrel configuration as well as a variety of finishes including matte black, Realtree MAX-5, GORE Optifade Timber, and Mossy Oak Bottomland. Depending on color, the price for a new SBE 3 28-gauge ranges between $1,799 and $1,899.
It is hard to pinpoint the draw to a 28-gauge, but there is something innately satisfying about folding our feathered adversaries with a sub-gauge scattergun. Whether you are breaking clays, pillow-casing doves, or pursuing our web-footed foes across the country, shotgun aficionados can put their trust in Benelli’s new SBE 3 28-gauge shotgun .
