Benelli M4

That's why I went with the Saiga and 1187P (you can get a mag extender but it's expensive considering the gun itself is well over $1000).

-Cheers

I like the FN SLP 18"

I imagine it has to do with the Benelli being made in Italy, and shotgun magazines over five or so rounds not meeting the "sporting purposes" clause of GCA '68.

Take a look at this...

US Made M4 7 round magazine tube

He does noice work, too; many very happy owners. Best of luck & enjoy!

That's still $200 for a mag extension added to an already very costly but great shotgun. If money were no problem, I would pull the trigger now. I just think there are better values in the tactical shotgun arena.

-Cheers

They may be expensive but dang they are sweet. I love mine.

I wish they would take the gas action of the M4 and turn it into a sporting version for hunting. Then I might actually buy a Benelli.

I used to have a Benelli M-1 Super 90 Defence. It held lots of rounds but good grief, with heavy 3" slugs, the damned thing was just Brutal on my shoulder. I weighed nearly 300 lbs. Some sub-6' friends of mine, in the 130-150 lb weight range, had zero probs with that shotgun. I could be waaay off base here, but in my experience, the heavier the shooter, the more troublesome recoil tends to be. I first noticed this with my Benelli shooting 3" slugs between my near 300 lb self, and my 120 lb buddy in the ~4". When shooting the same gun and a heavy load, it moved me backwards maybe an inch, and Steve more like 3 or 4 inches. The recoil didn't seem to bother Steve, but beat me nearly senseless. Me, it moved back perhaps an inch. The way I see it, Steve dissipated the recoil impulse over 3 or 4 inches in a given amount of time. Me; I moved backwards perhaps 3/4" to a full inch in the same amount of time. Nor was Steve bothered much, shooting another buddies' 460 Weatherby Magnum, even though it knocked the snot out of me. Have you guys given this any/much consideration?

That's very interesting. I go about 275 and the Benelli M3 kicks the crap out of me. My mossberg 590 doesn't as bad, though. I think I might actually be faster with the pump gun on actual targets.

In my experience all the recoil operated guns Benelli produces kick the crap out of me at 190 lbs. It goes to show how good marketing and the so called invetion of an "inertia" action can get the dollars but not much sense.

Back to topic though there is a reason the Marines use the m1014 and that is because it is a soft shooting but powerful package. I got the chance to use one on their shotgun course overseas and was way impressed.

S'funny, IMO pixie shotgunners get kicked hard.

FYI, I qualify for Behemoth status and shop at the Big and Fat stores.

My guess is bad fit's the culprit, as well as an unforgiving actions style.

The old A-5s and 11s I've fired are hard kickers for me, even with a stock that's SUPPOSED to fit me OK.

the benelli system does little to spread out the recoil impulse due to the system of operation. it is also a very light shotgun due to the aluminum reciever. the upside is it will cycle almost any ammo it gets fed, perhaps go to the new 2 3/4" tactical loadings that so many are offering now. you can shoot one all day on a single loading of 2 3/4". sure, it is not 3" saboted bear medicine, but for SD use, that kinda horsepower really isn't needed. it may also be counter productive as it will slow the second shot considerably, and lead flying through a perp and the walls behind them are a legal liability looking for a place to happen.

the argument that they limited the capacity due to the AWB doesn't hold water, i got my M1 in the mid 90's, and it held nine rounds. also sold it in the same decade due to my wife disliking the sharp recoil cycle. agree with above advice to get a saiga 12 for SD use.

gunnie

While the M4 is a sweet gun, it does have certain limitations mentioned above. Like cost, too! I like mine, but some people don't. The Saiga is an awesome weapon, just not for me. Personally, I'd get what you are comfortable with, so if you know anyone with either of these weapons try shooting them & decide for yourself.

I could be waaay off base here, but in my experience, the heavier the shooter, the more troublesome recoil tends to be.

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Yup, I notice that too, I'm about hobbit size and my shoulder has a very easy time of it unless I'm shooting a lot of Magnum buckshot too fast to keep good form. The force just seems to dissipate across my entire body instead of to a single point as you say, although I don't actually get moved around all that much. For some reason slugs don't bother me much at all, I find even 3" slugs less tiring to shoot than any buckshot other than the low recoil stuff.

There is some question as to whether it is legal to convert the M4 to hold more than five rounds. Something about it being an imported firearm.

uh I shot two benelli's from the age of like 12. One being a montefeltro or legacy or something nice like that. Boy that gun was amazing. Felt like nothing IMHO. Second benelli was an m3super 90. Thought that gun was amazing also. Never an issue with loads or recoil. Granted when I tried to shoot trap with the M3 it didn't hold that pattern that great but thats different! No longer have access to those two but boy I wish they did. One the perfect skeet/hunting (if you believe you should use a nice gun like that, I say fudge a gun needs to be used), the other the perfect homeland defense shotgun

my m1 super 90 doesn't kick any more than any of my other shotguns and feels pretty good with 3in mags. I do not use them that often as they are definatly not needed in hd situations. mine is accurate and chews up most anything I put in it. I also have the saiga 12 which on the wrong gas setting will knock the snot out of you. always use the right settings on this shotgun. the saiga chews up everything you put in it. I like them equally as much, but the saiga is getting the conversion and will probably be the go to hd shotgun.

To answer the OP's questions, you can get a 2 round mag extension made by surecycle.com for around $90. You better get it soon before the Federal Assualt Weapons Ban gets reinstated by the new el presidente... since M4 has a pistol grip and a semi-auto action... more than 5 rds will make it a regular gun instead of a sporting gun, and you have to play the 10 US part game. With AWB, no pistol grip with more than 5 rds in a semi shotgun. So my advice would be, stick with 5 rd capacity for now but have the 2 rd extension mag for rainy days (as when the zombies attack).

I was just looking at the M4 on Benelli's website, and I noticed that the mag capacity was only 4+1.

Is this correct?

No it is not. The actual capacity using 3 inch shells (or several longer 2 3/4 varieties such as Noble Sport, etc) would be 4+2, as the M4 is one of only a few semi-auto shotguns capable of ghosting an extra round on the carrier. With shorter 2 3/4 inch shells the capacity will be 5+2. If I were to install my 2 round mag extension, capacity will increase to 7+2 using 2 3/4 inch shells. Currently there are not enough US parts available to get the foreign parts count down to 10, so I am not running my extension. (Tuesday or Wednesday of next week however I may change my mind )

I have a couple of the 2 shot extensions by sure cycle, any one looking for a deal PM me.

Re: M4 recoil.

I normally shoot a trap SKB single-shot but I shot a Benelli "inertia driven" once which makes me an expert on this subject. I thought the recoil was in the kick-the-hell-out-me range with a 2 3/4" *target* load. *Target* load! I hated the gun.

In a post-shooting beer session the assembled group & I came to the conclusion that what bothered me was:

1) The Benelli is sooper light and I'm used to shooting a 100-lb gun (well, almost 100 lbs.)(ok, ok, maybe 10 lbs)(it *feels* like 100 lbs sometimes)

and

2) The recoil pulse from an "inertia driven" shotgun is quite different that any other shotgun I'd ever shot before - much sharper - and I wasn't used to it/expecting it.

Add a #3: "it didn't fit me correctly" and you've got a very uncomfortable shooting experience for me. The guy that owns the Benelli just loves it but it fits him and he's used to the different recoil experience. "It fits him" is probably the important part there.

YMMV. Try before you buy.

Re: M4 recoil.

I normally shoot a trap SKB single-shot but I shot a Benelli "inertia driven" once which makes me an expert on this subject.

Click to expand...

The M4 is gas operated...

So sorry. I am told 'twas M2. M2, M4, whatever it takes.

Please shred or burn the previous message.

And this one.