Want a Benelli, but which one

[Stan_TheGunNut]

Ok folks, I've decided that I want a semi-auto shotgun, and I've decided it will be a Benelli. The gunshop I normally go to has M2's in stock. One of them is a HD shotgun, and another is more of a standard shotgun. They said they could also order and M4 (but this one seems quite a bit more expensive).

So, I have a couple of questions. The guy in the gunshop admittedly didn't know all the answers, so I thought I'd ask here, and maybe a couple of other places online. For reference, these two links provide examples of what I was looking at:

http://www.benelliusa.com/firearms/m2.tpl

http://www.benelliusa.com/firearms/specialpurpose.tpl

http://www.benelliusa.com/firearms/m4.tpl

-What attributes does the M4 have over the M2, and is it worth the price difference? Is the action on both the M2 and the M4 the same?

-Some of the 'hunting' M2's have the 'ComfortTech' system which is supposed to reduce felt recoil by about 50%. This seems like a nice option if you're shooting clay pigeons, or taking a tactical shotgun class. Is the HD M2 or the M4 able to be configured like this with just changing the stock? If not, is it even possible to get this feature?

-Would you suggest that I purchase a standard 'hunting' type M2, and then just configure it into a HD shotgun if I so desire?

Thanks for your thoughts.

[epsylum]

IIRC the M4 is actually gas piston operated where as the M2 is the inertia one. The problem with the inertia ones is that it relys on the gun being a certain weight to cycle. If you put a bunch of tactical doo-hickies on it, it becomes un reliable, where as a gas system doesn't care.

If I was going to spend the dough on a Benelli, it would be the M4 for sure.

[Stan_TheGunNut]

Thanks epsylum for your reply. Now that you mention it, I do recall that the M2 had a tag that said inertia something one it, and from reading on the Benelli site, the M4 has gas pistons. I guess I didn't think that thru.

I doubt I put lots of gadgets on the shotgun. That's just not really my style. I'm more of a KISS kind of guy. Still, I am leaning more towards the M4, just the cost is a big consideration. I've never paid that much for a shotgun before, but I guess it isn't really that much more than a M2.

[epsylum]

It ain't as pretty or refined as a Benelli, but check out the Saiga 12. It is gas piston operated (adjustable), based on an AK action, and takes detachable magazines. It is also costs a lot less than the Benelli.

[CaliTheKid]

Although my experiece with the entire Benelli line is limited-- I do have a M4 and thus can recommend it highly.

Some quick thoughts:

I am continually impressed by its construction and operation. The quality is there.

Very accurate with slugs and very tight patterns with buck. Tightest groups when I ran a variety of ammo through it were from Hornaday TAP.

It has eaten everything I've run through it from bird shot to full house 00 buck. I can not get his gun to FTF or FTE.

Recoil is a bit more than I expected from a gas gun. Definitely less than the other inertia Benelli's but not as mild as a Winchester SXII I have.

Field stripping to clean is VERY simple.

Thus far it's been worth the price paid ($1270).

[GLOCK35TX]

AS long as your shooting 1 1/8 dram shotshells the Benelli Inertia system will cycle fine - in the M1 M2 or M3

My Benelli M1 will cycle heavy game loads all day long as easily as buck shot.

But beware - trying to configure a Benelli for hunting and home defense - the barrels cost alot!!

[Stan_TheGunNut]

Thanks for your responses. I bit the bullet today, and purchased a Benelli M4. Why that one....well, I decided that I wanted it. I think I may one day go back and get the M2 with a longer barrel for shooting clays and fowl. The action on the Benellis was much smoother than the actions of the other auto loaders I looked at, and I think that's the main reason I fell in love with it.

By the way, I paid $1365 for it...which seemed reasonable at the time. Not sure if I got ripped off, or if that's reasonable, but it's a done deal now.

[BLau]

Bass Pro wanted $1400 for it when I asked.

[ccoker]

cool
I have an M2 Field with confortech stock and a 28" barrel in 12ga for hunting and clay sports

great gun

[Glockman1000]

The M1/M2 and M4 are both great shotguns and work extremely well at what they are designed to do.

All Benelli semi auto shotguns except the M4 are Inertia Driven, the Inertia Driven system is clean and reliable when used under the conditions and with the loads it was designed for.
With the Inertia system Benelli recommends a load of 1-1/8oz at 3 dram eq or more so light target or tactical loads may or may not function reliably especially if there is added weight to the shotgun.
The Inertia system is sensitive to the added weight from accessories mounted to the shotgun such as lights, shell carriers and optic’s (night vision, red dots etc), the system can also be sensitive to how firm or lose the shotgun is held when being fired, like in shooting off shoulder or with your shoulder/back to a wall.

The M4 uses the ARGO (auto-regulating gas-operated) system, the ARGO system will pretty much cycle everything other than super light loads like non-lethal and it will do so no matter how much extra weight is on the shotgun or how firmly it’s held (with in reason).

The ARGO system is pretty simple and very clean running for a gas operated shotgun, the system consists of two cylinders, two stainless steel pistons and two stainless steel cylinder plugs that each contain a spring loaded pressure regulating bleed off valve.

A single hole in each cylinder that leads into the barrel just in front of the chamber channels the gas to power the pistons, the pistons only move about ¼” and push the bolt carrier back to unlock and cycle the action, the cylinder plugs help to keep an optimal pressure level in the cylinders by staying closed with low powered shells or opening up with hi powered shells to release excess gas pressure.

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v238/Gixerman1000/Mis/th_100_9664.jpg (http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v238/Gixerman1000/Mis/100_9664.jpg)

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v238/Gixerman1000/Mis/th_100_9648.jpg (http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v238/Gixerman1000/Mis/100_9648.jpg)

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v238/Gixerman1000/Mis/th_100_9641.jpg (http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v238/Gixerman1000/Mis/100_9641.jpg)

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v238/Gixerman1000/Mis/th_100_9659.jpg (http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v238/Gixerman1000/Mis/100_9659.jpg)

The M4 being designed to serve as the US military’s Joint Service Combat Shotgun (JSCS) (designated the M1014) is built for extremely rugged use in combat conditions and it is noticeably heaver than the M1 or M2 but the extra weight helps keep the felt recoil low and it’s very controllable. The M1/M2 have pretty heavy recoil because they have to be so light for the Inertia Driven system to function properly, the extra weight and ARGO system of the M4 makes for a very smooth and soft shooting platform infact it is one of the softest shooting 12ga I have ever shot.

I have had mine for about 2 years and couldn’t be happier with it, it has been 100% reliable with everything from my light target reloads (#8 shot) to max DRAM 3” magnum buckshot loads and can effortlessly cycle through 9 shells faster than I can pull the trigger.

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v238/Gixerman1000/Long%20guns/M4S90.jpg

[Stan_TheGunNut]

Thanks for the writeup Glockman, and for posting the pictures. It was a very informative post.

[CaliTheKid]

x1 -- very informative. Great pics too.:thumbsup:

[sandpiper]

Thanks for the good info everyone.

[cphilip]

Hey Stan! Noticed we are close to each other. Where did you buy your M4 from?

[Stan_TheGunNut]

Bought it at the Walhalla Gun Shop. They ordered it for me, but I still need to pick it up. It hasn't come in yet. Hopefully I don't have to wait much longer.

[cphilip]

Does he normally carry Benelli or is he just ordering as needed?

[Stan_TheGunNut]

They have quite a few Benelli M2's and SBE's in stock, as well as some FN's, Remingtons, Beretta's, etc. They had to order the M4 for me.

[DaBigBR]

Now go track down one of the collapsible stocks before they all disappear.

[Harbour]

Originally posted by Glockman1000

The M4 being designed to serve as the US military’s Joint Service Combat Shotgun (JSCS) (designated the M1014) is built for extremely rugged use in combat conditions and it is noticeably heaver than the M1 or M2 but the extra weight helps keep the felt recoil low and it’s very controllable. The M1/M2 have pretty heavy recoil because they have to be so light for the Inertia Driven system to function properly, the extra weight and ARGO system of the M4 makes for a very smooth and soft shooting platform infact it is one of the softest shooting 12ga I have ever shot.


But there is something to be said for light weight. And it's hard to say that M1s are not tough.

I'm not immune, or particularly sensitive to recoil. Shooting an M1 is still a lot better than any pump gun I have ever used. Not extreme, by any measure.

Would be embarrased to discuss the abuse I've subjected M1s to, and they came through unscathed.

M1s are so light, fast, accurate and well balanced, they remind me of a $2,800 custom 1911 pistol.

An M1 S90 would be my pick over anything. As always, YMMV. :)

[rem2429]

most guys using benellis for 3 gun pick the m2, although the odd older m1 or m4 will show up. Really, I don't think you can go wrong if it says benelli. I hope yours has a functioning extended mag tube.

[Alaskapopo]

I just went through the same process as you and decided to buy an M4. I like the gun except the trigger which was very heavy. I sent it off to get worked on. Otherwise a very nice shotgun.
pat

[Alaskapopo]

Originally posted by rem2429
I hope yours has a functioning extended mag tube.

After much research on this topic I have found that you can not legally put an extended mag tube on any Benelli unless it was made prior to 1989. Unless you are a police officer, or unless you register the gun as a short barreled shotgun or unless you bring the total number of imported parts in the gun down below 10. (need 5 US made parts). Section 922 covers this. There is a lot of confusion on the matter presently and BATFE has not been enforcing the law. But they recently put pressure on Benelli to stop sellng the collaspable stocks and extended magazine tubes.
Pat