In 2017, Benelli again raised the bar by unveiling the SBE3. 1 position for semiautomatic shotguns, which is where we are today.” “That’s what really put Benelli at the head of the pack and put us in the No. “It dumped accelerant on the exponentially growing sales,” Thompson said. The SBE2 featured new Crio System barrels and the ComforTech recoil-reduction system, a natural feature for an inertia-driven shotgun. “We don’t think we can make the guns that much more reliable in terms of the operating system, so we focused on other technologies.” “We still believe today that the Inertia Driven system is the best operating system on the planet,” Thompson said. Much of that went into the SBE2, which was introduced in 2003. Meanwhile, the Benelli plant in Urbino, Italy, reinvested in research and development facilities and began focusing on new technologies. “That’s when we really began having true marketing, and sales increased exponentially,” Thompson said. But as demand for the SBE and its production increased, company leaders realized they needed to form a stand-alone entity, so they created Benelli USA, the American sales, marketing, and distribution arm of the Italian manufacturer. Initially, Heckler & Koch imported Benelli shotguns into the United States. “The federal ban on lead-shot ammo in ’91 was … kind of a catalyst in Benelli’s development of the 3-1/2-inch Super Black Eagle.” Those first few years just developed the legacy for Benelli, which we’re still building on today.” Guys in the duck blind talked to each other and saw how well the gun performed. Benelli’s ability to have that Inertia Driven Super Black Eagle that would reliably shoot 3 1/2-, 3-, and 2 3/4-inch shells just caught on like fire, and it was almost all word of mouth. And if they did work, they wouldn’t cycle 2 3/4-inch loads. Other companies came around to making 3 1/2-inch semiauto guns, but they didn’t work well. “There weren’t really any other semiautomatics that shot it. “At that time, 3 1/2-inch ammo was fairly new,” Thompson said. Further, because the system blows gas and debris out of the barrel instead of using it to cycle shells, the shotguns continue to function in all weather conditions without requiring much cleaning. The gun’s soon-to-be-famous Inertia Driven technology provided consistent, reliable cycling for 2 3/4-, 3-, and 3 1/2-inch shells with no adjustments. ( Don't Miss: Our 30 Best Mallard Hunting Tips) “While Benelli had been producing fine shotguns for more than 20 years, the launch of the Super Black Eagle in 1992 is really what started the company in the U.S.” “The federal ban on lead-shot ammo in ’91 was … kind of a catalyst in Benelli’s development of the 3-1/2-inch Super Black Eagle,” said George Thompson, director of products for Benelli USA.
The new gun used a patented Inertia Driven operating system, which was actually created by Italian engineer Bruno Civolani in 1967. Roots of Steelīenelli, an Italian manufacturer that began producing shotguns in 1967, started the modern auto-loader revolution by introducing the original SBE in 1992, one year after the federal ban on the use of lead shot for waterfowling took effect throughout the United States. But when you examine the gun and its impact, you realize the SBE platform has transcended waterfowling and become more than just a great duck gun. But the gun was a 20-gauge, an option not previously offered in this iconic shotgun.īefore getting into that, though, it's worth looking at the legacy of the SBE. Just about every modern duck hunter is familiar with the shotgun and its legendary reputation for performing in any weather with any shells. I was carrying a Benelli Super Black Eagle, a waterfowling tool familiar as an old friend. Soon, the familiar rituals of another duck hunt would consume me. Dark forms whirled overhead as I glanced nervously at my phone, wishing legal shooting light would arrive just a little sooner over the North Platte River.
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