The Benelli Super Black Eagle 3 is one of those shotguns that almost every serious waterfowler has heard about, even if they have never owned one. But a lot of shooters still think of it as just “the newest Super Black Eagle,” and that undersells what Benelli was trying to do. When the SBE 3 launched in 2017, Benelli clearly treated it as more than a cosmetic refresh. American Rifleman’s 2017 coverage said the gun borrowed heavily from the Ethos and was designed as a hardcore 3 1/2-inch waterfowl shotgun, while Benelli’s own current pages emphasize the Easy Locking Bolt System, Comfort Tech 3, and BE.S.T. finish options as key selling points.
What makes the SBE 3 especially interesting is that Benelli stopped pretending the gun had to be perfect for every possible role. American Rifleman said the company essentially focused the SBE 3 on its bread-and-butter role: waterfowling. That focus helped the shotgun become one of the clearest examples of a premium inertia-driven magnum semi-auto built for serious field use first, then later expanded into 20-gauge and 28-gauge versions for shooters who wanted the SBE 3 formula in lighter packages.
1. The Super Black Eagle 3 launched in 2017
The SBE 3 officially arrived in 2017. American Rifleman’s SHOT Show 2017 coverage featured the new shotgun, and its later 2017 test article covered it as the new generation of Benelli’s flagship waterfowl gun.
That matters because the SBE 3 is not some recent 2023 or 2024 update. It has been around long enough to prove itself, build a real field reputation, and spawn smaller-gauge branches.
2. Benelli built it as a 3 1/2-inch waterfowl shotgun first
This is one of the biggest truths about the gun. American Rifleman’s 2017 review said the SBE 3 was designed as a hardcore 3 1/2-inch waterfowl gun and that Benelli had wisely focused it on waterfowling instead of trying to make it perfect at everything. Benelli’s current 3 1/2-inch SBE 3 page still frames the shotgun around big versatility with magnum capability.
That matters because the SBE 3’s identity is not vague. It is a premium hunting shotgun built to dominate one of the hardest-working corners of the shotgun world.
3. It borrowed heavily from the Ethos
American Rifleman’s 2017 test said the SBE 3 borrowed heavily from the classy Ethos, and the 2021 20-gauge launch coverage said the 20-ga. SBE 3 brought over many of the best features adapted from the Ethos line.
That is a pretty important detail because it shows Benelli was not just stretching the old SBE II formula. It was importing newer design thinking from another successful Benelli family to modernize the gun.
4. The Easy Locking Bolt System was one of the major upgrades
Benelli’s current SBE 3 3 1/2-inch page highlights the Easy Locking Bolt System as a signature feature, and American Rifleman’s 2017 review explains that the new dual-lug bolt head includes a spring-and-ball detent that helps the bolt rotate fully into battery even if it is eased forward.
That matters because older Benelli users knew that not fully seating the bolt could create headaches. The SBE 3 directly addressed that with a very practical improvement. That is one of those changes that looks small on paper but matters a lot in actual field use.
5. The SBE 3 still uses Benelli’s inertia-driven system
The SBE 3 remains an inertia-driven semi-auto. American Rifleman’s 2023 28-gauge Shotgun of the Year piece praised the line’s ultra-reliable, smooth-cycling, and simple inertia-driven operating system, and the 20-ga. Gun of the Week article also identifies it as inertia-driven.
That matters because the SBE 3 did not abandon the core Benelli identity to modernize. It kept the simple inertia system that helped build the Super Black Eagle name in the first place.
6. Comfort Tech 3 is a major part of the recoil story
Benelli’s current pages for the SBE 3 highlight Comfort Tech 3, and American Rifleman’s 2017 review specifically said the system uses a series of dampening chevrons, a soft buttpad, and a comb insert to help tame recoil.
That matters because recoil is a very real issue on a light inertia shotgun that can digest 3 1/2-inch shells. Benelli clearly knew the gun had to be more comfortable if it was going to keep its flagship status.
7. Benelli reshaped the loading area and controls for better handling
American Rifleman’s SHOT Show 2017 piece said Benelli made magazine loading easier with a beveled loading port and redesigned carrier, reshaped the trigger geometry, and enlarged the bolt release.
That matters because the SBE 3 was not just about the bolt system and recoil pad. Benelli also worked on the user interface — the stuff shooters actually touch and notice every time they load, shoulder, and run the gun.
8. The 12-gauge 3 1/2-inch gun was the original SBE 3 formula
Benelli’s current lineup now includes 3-inch and smaller-gauge SBE 3 variants, but the original SBE 3 identity was the 12-gauge 3 1/2-inch model. Benelli’s 3 1/2-inch product page and American Rifleman’s early coverage both make that clear.
That is worth remembering because the later 20- and 28-gauge guns changed what “SBE 3” could mean, but the original version was very much a magnum waterfowl machine.
9. Benelli later expanded the SBE 3 into 20 gauge
American Rifleman’s 2021 coverage introduced the SBE 3 in 20 gauge and described it as the trimmest and lightest gun in the SBE 3 lineup. The 2023 Gun of the Week article lists the 20-ga. as weighing under 6 pounds in one reviewed configuration.
That matters because it shows Benelli realized the SBE 3 name had value beyond the heavy-hitting magnum crowd. The company saw enough demand to carry the platform downward into a lighter, faster-handling package.
10. Then Benelli pushed it into 28 gauge too
American Rifleman’s 2022 review of the SBE 3 28 gauge and its 2023 Shotgun of the Year article both make clear that the 28-ga. version was added as a scaled-down branch of the SBE 3 family. The 2025 article says the company added more 28-ga. hunting models after the gauge joined the line in 2022.
That is a pretty big clue that the SBE 3 evolved from one flagship shotgun into a true family. It stopped being just the 3 1/2-inch goose gun and became a broader premium hunting platform.
11. The 28-gauge SBE 3 won major praise too
American Rifleman named the 28-ga. SBE 3 its 2023 Shotgun of the Year and said the original 12-ga. version had been the clear Shotgun of the Year winner back in 2018 when it was introduced.
That matters because it shows the SBE 3 formula was strong enough to scale down and still impress reviewers. The success of the smaller-gauge gun says a lot about how solid the underlying platform is.
12. The BE.S.T. finish is one of the line’s modern premium features
Benelli’s current SBE 3 BE.S.T. page says BE.S.T. stands for Benelli Surface Treatment and describes it as a proprietary finish that protects steel with a tough, corrosion-resistant armor.
That matters because waterfowl guns live in miserable conditions. Corrosion protection is not some nice extra on a shotgun like this — it is part of the real-world value proposition. Benelli clearly sees BE.S.T. as one of the major reasons a buyer might step up to a more premium SBE 3 variant.
13. The Easy Fitting System is part of the SBE 3 setup
Benelli’s own 20-ga. SBE 3 resource page says the Easy Fitting System includes a shim kit that allows up to eight different cast-and-drop configurations.
That matters because shotgun fit is a big deal, especially for wingshooting. Benelli was clearly trying to make the SBE 3 easier to tailor to individual shooters instead of assuming one stock setup would work for everybody.
14. Benelli still treats the SBE 3 as a current flagship series
Benelli’s family-series page still gives the SBE 3 a dedicated series presence, listing multiple gauges and highlighting features like the Inertia Driven System, Easy Locking Bolt System, Crio System, Comfort Tech 3, and BE.S.T.
That matters because the SBE 3 has not been quietly replaced or sidelined. Benelli still treats it as one of the premium faces of its shotgun lineup, especially for hunters.
15. The SBE 3 was Benelli’s attempt to refine a legend rather than reinvent it
When you look across the sources, the pattern is pretty clear: Benelli kept the inertia system and magnum-waterfowl identity, but improved bolt lockup, recoil reduction, loading ergonomics, fit options, and corrosion resistance, then extended the formula into 20 and 28 gauge once the base design proved itself.
That is why the Benelli Super Black Eagle 3 still matters. It is not just “the latest SBE.” It is the version where Benelli tried to fix the little complaints people had about the earlier guns without giving up what made the Super Black Eagle famous in the first place.
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