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 Anyone run an FN SLP?
cableguy221  [Team Member]
4/21/2011 8:05:22 PM
I am deciding whether to get a Benelli M2 or FN SLP for 3 gun.
DonofKalifornia  [Team Member]
4/21/2011 8:10:35 PM
I have both, you need to try both out to see what you like. Personally I like the SLP a bit better.
BBoyd  [Team Member]
4/21/2011 8:36:46 PM
Originally Posted By DonofKalifornia:
I have both, you need to try both out to see what you like. Personally I like the SLP a bit better.



I have a super 90 and a slp and I like the slp better as well, it seems to cycle faster and is a little heavier which I like. They are both excellent shotguns.

DoctorNo  [Team Member]
4/21/2011 10:46:21 PM
I own both. I run my SLP in competition, hands down. It's set up for three gun and much more reliable with all ammo. The benelli's are much more fussy about what ammo they will run reliably. ETA: If anyone says their Benelli has never had a problem, they are either a liar or only run high brass loads.
Firetoad  [Team Member]
4/21/2011 11:11:21 PM
I run an SLP in competition as well. The only problem I have had was a Federal Factory Load with a bad crimp that flipped around backwards in the receiver and didn't eject from the gun after being fired. As a matter of fact, it was the first stage of a match last fall. It really screwed things up for me on that stage! BBoyd was on my squad there and, I believe, saw the malfunction.

Here is a run from a match last month with rifle, shotgun (my SLP) and pistol. Hint... Make sure to keep your rear blade flipped down if you are shooting birdshot. You can shoot much faster, I guarantee it.


jtielke  [Team Member]
4/22/2011 12:30:52 AM

Originally Posted By DoctorNo:
The benelli's are much more fussy about what ammo they will run reliably. ETA: If anyone says their Benelli has never had a problem, they are either a liar or only run high brass loads.

Or had their bolt lightened by a competent gunsmith. I mostly run cheap 1oz. target/game loads and reduced recoil slugs with no problems.
GorillaTactical  [Member]
4/22/2011 2:22:36 AM
Originally Posted By DoctorNo:
ETA: If anyone says their Benelli has never had a problem, they are a liar.


Same can be said about an SLP...

~an SLP owner
HK_Shooter_03  [Member]
4/22/2011 7:37:26 AM

Originally Posted By GorillaTactical:
Originally Posted By DoctorNo:
ETA: If anyone says their Benelli has never had a problem, they are a liar.


Same can be said about an SLP...

~an SLP owner

+1, Yep, and pretty much any other gun.

I've seen SCAR-L's, HK416's, AR's from every premium brand, AK's, M1A's, Glocks, and everything else malfunction in the right circumstances. Nothing wrong with that, it's important to have realistic expectations.
cableguy221  [Team Member]
4/22/2011 7:03:07 PM
I appreciate the feedback yall.
t-payne  [Member]
4/22/2011 8:18:38 PM
I run a benneli M2 and have never had a problem with it. Everything from slugs to spreaders. Never had to change a piston on it either!
GorillaTactical  [Member]
4/22/2011 10:38:04 PM
Originally Posted By t-payne:
I run a benneli M2 and have never had a problem with it. Everything from slugs to spreaders. Never had to change a piston on it either!


seeing that the m2 is not a gas operated weapon utilizing a piston, I wouldn't imagine you would have to ever change a piston on it...
DoctorNo  [Team Member]
4/22/2011 10:40:44 PM
Originally Posted By GorillaTactical:
Originally Posted By t-payne:
I run a benneli M2 and have never had a problem with it. Everything from slugs to spreaders. Never had to change a piston on it either!


seeing that the m2 is not a gas operated weapon utilizing a piston, I wouldn't imagine you would have to ever change a piston on it...


Classic.
SuperSet72  [Team Member]
4/23/2011 12:34:43 AM
I've had very good luck with the FN SLP Mk 1 but you should keep a couple of things in mind:
1. At the 1 year mark, change the magazine spring. When the mag spring weakens, it'll have problems loading the last round. They are cheap from Browning so order a bunch.
2. If you start to have short stroking, verify that the piston hasn't broken a spring. Mine started doing this around the 2 year mark and so did my buddy's. We changed pistons and the shotguns run reliably again. They aren't cheap ($85) so consider the SureCycle treatment. I've heard that it solves the problem.

In general, shotguns are the most finicky of the 3 weapon systems and they can be individual in performance. I had a top-level shooter tell me that he has 2 Salient M2 Benellis and one shoots slugs into a fist-sized group and the other doesn't group well at all.
nickforney  [Team Member]
4/23/2011 10:26:47 AM
I like my slp but still want to find a salient m2. I have sent mine to crums yet to get the tray fixed so it still eats my thumb up pretty bad. mine is bone stock short of a nordic charging handle.
Ironmaker  [Team Member]
4/23/2011 9:43:26 PM
I really like my SLP:



Ironmaker  [Team Member]
4/24/2011 1:27:27 PM
SLP in action.

http://youtu.be/SdhTj80Jm8I

http://youtu.be/zXSRJjTVzAg


Payne  [Member]
4/25/2011 2:00:21 PM
Had the Winchester Practical - excellent gun with very few malfunctions.

Had the FN SLP I purchased as a backup to the above. Mysterious jams that I just couldn't quite put a finger on the cause. They would only happen periodically, generally during a big match.

Had the Benelli M1 - never had a malfunction, I sold it to purchase the above shotguns.

I now own the Benelli M2 Field - And no I am not a liar, for the last three years competing in numerous 3-gun matches, and in practice, I have never had a malfunction with this weapon. The only ammo I use are the green hull Remington STS 3 dram. Low recoil Remington slugs or Federal low recoil Tru-Ball. Federal flight control buckshot if needed.

YMMV
BlindFaith429  [Member]
4/25/2011 2:30:02 PM
Originally Posted By DoctorNo:
I own both. I run my SLP in competition, hands down. It's set up for three gun and much more reliable with all ammo. The benelli's are much more fussy about what ammo they will run reliably. ETA: If anyone says their Benelli has never had a problem, they are either a liar or only run high brass loads.


I have a circa 96 Benelli Montefeltro that I turned into an HD / CQB shotgun. I have run slugs, buck & birdshot through it no problem. I stick to Benelli's recomended spec (3 dram +) loads and I am fine. I have even thried it with some remington "game loads" and remington "trap" loads, and no issues. Im not sure what these loads are rated at. The only mods I have to my gun is a shortened barrel and a Nordic bolt handle.

ETA: As far as an SLP or M1 for 3 Gun, I would say try to shoot both and see what fits you better. Also be aware of the aftermarket support (M2 has slightly higher I would say) and the replacement parts cost should anything break. Benelli parts tend to be pricey for OEM stuff, Im not sure how the SLP's are.
BePhreed  [Member]
4/26/2011 6:39:27 PM
I've had great luck with the SLP in three gun.
SA80Dan  [Team Member]
5/2/2011 11:11:55 AM
I never was a shotgun person, and the only reason I bought one was so I could shoot 3 Gun. I wanted 3 Gun ready to go out the box for reasonable $$, so I went with an SLP Mk1 - and have to say I've been nothing but super happy with it; the reliability, shot pattern and slug accuracy have been great. Only thing I've changed is gotten an extended Nordic Components charging handle; and am considering getting the pronged lifter welded up as it can stab/jam your thumb if you are not careful.
Cole2534  [Team Member]
5/15/2011 11:41:27 PM
I really enjoy mine, it cycles lightning fast. If I want to dump rounds RFN, for whatever reason, I'm only limited by how fast I can pull the trigger.
owlless  [Team Member]
5/20/2011 5:59:06 PM
I used Ironmakers for a stage at BRM3G when the trusty 1100 wasn't so trusty.

I like it. I think I might get one.
biga9999  [Team Member]
5/23/2011 4:43:25 PM
Ran mine this weekend for the first time. Love it.

Had one stage where I smoked it. Knocked down all the steel targets, half on the move (which is new to me, had another very experience shooter tell me the shotgun stage was fast and smooth) Can not wait for the next match.
jevonniespapi  [Team Member]
5/25/2011 3:48:17 PM
FN vs Benelli.... It really comes down to what you like.

My buddy has the FN, and it is a tank. A beast of a tank! Very strong, bolt slams into the chamber with a very positive feel. The gun has a short rail on it and iron sights. Whats not to love. Its about a 1K gun, and is truely a work tool for any job.

However... I own an M2.

The M2 is simple, and just works. Loadit with dirt (Ill post a pic later of my M2 at the Texas Multi gun match 2011) and it still fires. Cleaning is optional. Slugs work. The action is a work of art. No pistons, seals, and springs to worry about. It works on innerta, has a comfort tech stock, and just plain works. It does not complain about what ammo you feed it, it actually asks for more. The M2 is a very fast gun, and is the gun of choice that most top competitors use. If you are already considering the M2, you must know of their capabilities, buy once, cry once.
Ironmaker  [Team Member]
5/26/2011 8:52:00 AM

Originally Posted By jevonniespapi:
FN vs Benelli.... It really comes down to what you like.

My buddy has the FN, and it is a tank. A beast of a tank! Very strong, bolt slams into the chamber with a very positive feel. The gun has a short rail on it and iron sights. Whats not to love. Its about a 1K gun, and is truely a work tool for any job.

However... I own an M2.

The M2 is simple, and just works. Loadit with dirt (Ill post a pic later of my M2 at the Texas Multi gun match 2011) and it still fires. Cleaning is optional. Slugs work. The action is a work of art. No pistons, seals, and springs to worry about. It works on innerta, has a comfort tech stock, and just plain works. It does not complain about what ammo you feed it, it actually asks for more. The M2 is a very fast gun, and is the gun of choice that most top competitors use. If you are already considering the M2, you must know of their capabilities, buy once, cry once.

How was your M2 configured when you bought it? What did you have to do to it?

My buddy is looking to upgrade and I had some free time yesterday so I was doing some research for him. Of course the FN SLP comes ready to run, but from what I found the M2 does not come configured for 3 gun unless you fork out the $2500 for the Salient version.
New4John  [Member]
5/26/2011 5:27:12 PM
Originally Posted By Ironmaker:

Of course the FN SLP comes ready to run


I think "ready" is relative.
I have both, and here's the breakdown of what *I* did to each to make *me* happy.

Oversized Bolt Handle
Oversized Bolt Release
Welded Lifter
Machine/Open Loading Port
Change Front Sight
Change Tube spring
Extended Choke Tubes
Extended Tube M2 Only

In summary, the only thing I had to do to the M2 to make it equally "ready" to the out of the box SLP was add an extended tube. I merely chose to do the other stuff, hence my relative comment.

Originally Posted By Ironmaker:
but from what I found the M2 does not come configured for 3 gun unless you fork out the $2500 for the Salient version.


I personally don't believe that's true either (see above about relevancy. It's more about what you want IMO.


hrt4me  [Team Member]
5/27/2011 7:57:20 AM
Originally Posted By New4John:
Originally Posted By Ironmaker:
but from what I found the M2 does not come configured for 3 gun unless you fork out the $2500 for the Salient version.


I personally don't believe that's true either (see above about relevancy). It's more about what you want IMO.


+1
biga9999  [Team Member]
5/27/2011 9:56:16 AM
Vid from last week's match (SLP sighting about 34 sec in)

http://youtu.be/e32MoD53sQ8


jevonniespapi  [Team Member]
5/28/2011 5:08:31 PM
Nither guns are "3gun" ready. One was built for dove/clay shooting, the other law enforcement. Getting something ready for a game u play depends on your preference.

Being that the M2 only comes with a 3 round mag cap, i ordered a tube and clamp from nordic. We both shot 3 gun today and have about eqyal capacity- i shot the stage in 69 sec., while buddy shot it with FN in 1:29. I have practiced A LOT, while he is still getting used to his gun.

Setting up a gun should be based on how the individual.