Once in a blue moon, something comes along that sticks like super glue to the human soul. I guess that you have to be a shooter to understand, but in this case, the Benelli SBE (Super Black Eagle) 3, in the 28-gauge chambering, just comes up a total winner.

Now, I could just end this review right here, but that would not answer the burning question as to why I tend to like this fast-handling, ultra-lightweight, smooth-bore autoloader as much as I do.

When checking out the Series 3 during extensive research and load building in 28-gauge during the summer of 2025, I spent a good deal of time behind the slim, quick-responding, sub-gauge shotgun. I got a real feel for what I call the perfect fit for older shooters who are finding 12 bores a bit of challenge, and therefore are ready to step down a few notches. I advise them to take a hard look at the sub-gauge offerings in place today.

I currently own a Super Black Eagle, one of five in the past chambered in 12-gauge. The arrival of the 28-gauge gun, built as a true sub-gauge in frame and overall design, was impressive, to say the least. I like very much the Benelli game plan that allowed the 28-gauge to be built as a true 28, and not slim, smooth-bore barrel stuck on a 12-gauge receiver.

The receiver on the 28-gauge measures 7 inches in total length. Matched to the slim vent rib 26-inch barrel, a very nice package comes together. It is fast handling, 5 1/2 pounds in dry weight, and flat-out swigs like a dream, quick to blank out a static or moving target.

Controls matched to the shotgun’s receiver consist of the standard set of latches. The safety, as in all SBE models, is a button directly behind the trigger. The control latch for the bolt is on the right side of the receiver, just ahead and under the ejection port. A feed latch standard on the SBE is installed under the receiver right, and on the leading edge of the trigger guard. The Series 3 is no different from previous designs, unless I have missed something.

The shotgun makes use of a carbon fiber vent rib which greatly reduces overall barrel weight. Match this with the synthetic, recoil-absorbing stock, and overall weight is a major consideration in the design.

In terms of the gas auto ejection system, the gun uses the Benelli trademark direct recoil blow back design. With five different Benelli SBE models coming across my test bench over many years, I have come to favor this system over a gas valve design for its simplicity, ease of maintenance, and strength when stressed by heavy loads. Today, my 28-gauge guns see load types that even five years ago did not exist, and have moved the performance of the 28 well up the ballistics chart.

Now, if you’re thinking that I am bad-mouthing the 12 bore, please be advised that at my age, I cut my teeth on 4-gauge market guns, 10-gauge goose guns, and general-use 12-gauge most of my life. The 28, for most of those active shooting years, was on the light side. But that gun, in its day, was not facing the technology that we associate with premium, smooth bore-ballistics performance that we are seeing today.

The Benelli SBE III uses inertia driven technology, regardless of the load locking system at the bolt face. It is coupled with much-reduced weight and slim-line feel, as well as it’s quick mounting reaction time, to make the shogun a total winner. I realize that statement is a mouthful, but be advised that I owned the first wood stock model of the Benelli SBE three decades ago, and still shoot the advanced series today. As such, I rest my case regarding this very well made and high-performance smooth-bore.

Shooting the new SBE 3 in 28-gauge produced good results on small, backwater ducks over decoys (30 yards), geese on open water at freeze-up (40 yards), and both rabbit and sage grouse on and in deep prairie country draws (20 to 35 yards). I found the gun mounts just enough faster than my full-size Black Eagle in 12-gauge to allow me that first shot in a bit shorter time at the flush of the bird. Shooting incoming crow targets—my favorite pastime when hunted in deep timber and gap shooting through pine or hard wood trees—was outstanding. Again, time on target was short, and speed counted for much of my success.

Being that the 28-gauge is a bore size built from the core up as an even-pattering bore size, with payloads from 3/4- to 1 ounce of shot, I found the SBE 3 nothing short of a dream gun when set to work on the pattern board. I tested eleven different loads and brands while finding nothing that resembled pattern failure. Some use of TSS in #8 reacted like a bomb going off against warm targets downrange. The new Gen 3 28-gauge is ready-built regarding the use of TSS-loaded shotshell product.

Again, as an older shooter, cutting lock time off my wing shooting has become a real priority of late. I own several different action types of 28-gauge shotguns and each of them has its merits, but the super Black Eagle 3 is covering a very real niche of its own among sub-gauge offerings today.

Set up from the factory with the added butt stock, sling swivel mounts and the fore-end cap mount, the SBE 3 in 28-gauge is a hunter’s shotgun through and through. Benelli makes use of the trademark, black-coated stock that stands up to field stress like pure iron.

Lest I forget, these guns a now offering chambering in 3-inch magnum, due to the fact that load types are changing, and Benelli wants to stay lock step with modern ballistics advancements in even their smaller-gauge options.  

One way to view the whole subject is to think of the new 28 as closer to the old 20-gauge load offerings in terms of downrange performance against warm targets. This shotgun is a widow maker and heart breaker first-class when viewed as a hard-working field shotgun.

As a side note, if you’re thinking that the 28-gauge is a low-grade toy among shotshell offerings, think again my friends. During the past eleven or so months, I have been involved in specialized research and development of ultra-high-performance, smooth-bore ammunition. While little can be released at this time, I can say that that the primary specifications in hull space within the hull’s column is the same as the 3-inch, 28-gauge. Velocity on the new design is 2000 f.p.s. at the muzzle, with a 2-ounce, double stacked payload (classified package) that becomes operational against static as well as warm targets at 200 yards. 

Once in a great while, something comes into play within the firearms and ammunition industry that is a total game changer. This development is exactly that. Here again, the 28-gauge basic design has made a major contribution to the area of load design. Is this for real? Well, a prototype actual cartridge sits within a foot of this computer’s keyboard.

In terms of the testing and the SBE 28-gauge, the selection of ammunition was extensive and illustrated the flexibility associated with the blow back gas control system used by Benelli. Thanks to Ballistics Products and their very-well-written reloading book, the selection of high-performance shotshell loads in this gauge made for a long list of potential offerings. TSS and blended tungsten loads headed up the list regarding downrange performance standards that rivaled the 20-gauge magnum much of the time.

Backridge Ammunition, loaded in 1 3/8 ounces of bismuth shot, stacked up several fur market critters at ranges over 35 yards. Federal Ammunition took care of sharptail targets during the early bird-hunting season, Overall, the Benelli Super Black Eagle in 28-gauge, known as a flexible gun system, never missed a beat with any of the test load offerings. In my opinion, getting away from a gas vale operational system is the key here, and the major feature of the SBE as an autoloading hunter’s shotgun. For my money, I want to spend more time in the field and less time cleaning up a dirty gas valve system.

At the point I was about to close out this review, I was informed by Benelli’s press relations people that the 28-gauge has been selected over the 16- or 20-gauge for Advance Impact development. The 28-gauge will be offered in three different surface-tested models and incorporate the full AI barrel and choke tube design system. 

Why the 28-gauge? I believe the engineers at Benelli understand the outstanding external ballistics balance associated with this gauge offering. The 28 is about to become a fast, lighter-weight, and equal-performing partner when matched against the current 20-gauge gun/load offerings. Additional testing by Ballistics Research and Development will bring out the real picture if Benelli is willing to turn the new 28 AI gun over to me for extensive downrange velocity and energy measurement testing. Raw numbers coming out of ballistics computers during live firing do not lie.

  The price point covering the new Benelli 28-gauge SBE currently stands at an MSRP of $1,900. This includes a full set of five choke tubes. This gun in the AI variant will be significantly higher priced.