1st Competitionn with new Benelli

[StressPuppy]

Well, after spending some time last week trying to get the new Benelli M1 Tactical broken in, I went to the Rivannah Weapons Master match in Charlotesville, VA. Great people there and a great match.

The downside was that I had shot the Benelli, but never worked on reloading or select-loading. And boy did it show!!!!! I wasn't last, but as close to it as you can get without actually being last!!!! But the gun functioned flawlessly and whatever I thought about it before, I like it even more now. I even let a good friend of mine use it (the one that was trying to talk me into a Saiga or a Remington Comp. Master). After he was done, I heard him talking to his wife on his cell phone and telling her it was all my fault that he liked the Benelli!!! Said the recoil by the last round (about 12 or so) was noticeable, but not problematic. Maybe another Benelli convert!!!!

I am planning on getting a modified shell carrier from c-rum/Jeff, and possibly having a few other things done (once I fully break the gun in). But I REALLY need to work on a reloading technique that will work.

First, I have seen both 6 and 8 round side saddles. Can anyone give me input on either or both? I know that they can be known to cause problems with cycling if over-tightened. But if done right, are they a harm or help?

Also, I looked at arm shell holders. BlackHawk Industries seems to make a very nice 8 rounder. And it uses individual straps so you can technically put two on one arm, one on each side of the arm, for 16 shells. With 8 on the gun, 16 on your arm, and up to 9 in the gun (7 +1+1) to start, would you need anything else?? Has anybody used the BI arm carriers? Can you give me some input?

Finally, I need to figure out the best and fastest way to reload and to do selective loads. I watched Daniel Horner shoot (if you have never seen this phenom, you should!!! 17 years old and SMOKING everyone there. AMAZING!) and don't know if I can ever get to that level of fluidity. But practice is the only way. Any hints, thoughts, ideas or things you can point me to (videos, websites, etc) would be GREATLY appreciated.

In closing, let me say.................................. I AM A BENELLI MAN!!!!!!!!!!!!! WOOOOOOOOO HOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO

 

[Duke of Lawnchair]

AWESOME!!!

First, I have seen both 6 and 8 round side saddles. Can anyone give me input on either or both? I know that they can be known to cause problems with cycling if over-tightened. But if done right, are they a harm or help?

Tac-Star makes a six round side saddle, which is mounted via replacing the trigger assembly pin with a threaded pin. I've successfully been able to tighten mine fairly tight and my Benelli continues to cycle flawlessly. Other Benelli users haven't been as lucky as me and the general rule of thumb with the Tac-Star units is to not overtighten. Overtightening is supposed to "crimp" the receiver.

There's another kid on the block and that is 3gungear, which I have NO experience with.

3gungear

They manufacture 6, 7 and 8 round side saddles. These are velcro mounted and negate the replacement of the trigger assembly pin. They do not need to be tightened and just "slap on" the side of your receiver.

With 8 on the gun, 16 on your arm, and up to 9 in the gun (7 +1+1) to start, would you need anything else?? Has anybody used the BI arm carriers? Can you give me some input?

Sorry, can't help you there.

I watched Daniel Horner shoot (if you have never seen this phenom, you should!!! 17 years old and SMOKING everyone there. AMAZING!) and don't know if I can ever get to that level of fluidity. But practice is the only way. Any hints, thoughts, ideas or things you can point me to (videos, websites, etc) would be GREATLY appreciated.

Try looking for one of Louis Awerbuck's publications.
He has a select-a-slug drill for the Benelli.

Jim

 

[Zak Smith]

I've shot the M1S90 in 3Gun for the last year. Here's how I do it:

First, I had a friend use JB Weld to do the bolt carrier modification. This allows the extra shell under the bolt carrier, for 7+1+1.

There was an excellent article in USPSA's "Front Sight" magazine on how to reload the shotgun fast. Using the Choate shotshell carriers, or any other carrier that allows you to grab multiple shells at once, try this: Grab them in your weak hand so they are perpendicular to your fingers, with the base of the shell resting on your index finger and the shells pointing towards your index finger. Raise your weak hand with 3 or 4 shells - depending on your hand size - and load them in the gate by getting them started and then ramming them home with your thumb. By loading 3 or 4 at once, you get the speed up. You should be able to load at a rate of over 1 shell per second using this method.

For select loading: When you eject a live round from the chamber of the M1S90, the next round does not feed from the tube. Use this to your advantage for single loading. Even though I load as described above with my weak hand, I use a different strong-hand technique for select loading a single round. Say I have the gun stoked with shotshells and I want to shoot one slug. First, I have my carriers set up so I can grab the slug with my right hand. Leaving the gun shouldered, I pull my left (weak) hand to the rear off the fore-arm, and catch the bolt handle and pull it all the way to the rear. Now I drop the slug into the open receiver with my right hand, release the bolt handle with my left hand, and shoot it.

If I want to shoot more than 1 slug, I'll just load them with my left-hand into the tube using the normal method, and shoot the shotshell into the berm (acceptible for competition, but not the "real world" where you have to account for rounds).

Hope this helps. The Benelli is a 3Gun MACHINE.

-z

 

[StressPuppy]

DOL, Where might I find Lewis Awerbuck's publications? I am new to shotgunning, so names don't register yet.

Zak, Do you know of any way I can get a copy of that article (or the whole magazine)? I'll cover copy and postage.


Thanks!!

 

[Duke of Lawnchair]

StressPuppy,

I purchased my copy from Amazon.

A quick search will yield a plethora of Louis's works.

In the meantime, if you don't have a carrier that indexes the shotshells for you, ie. bag or pocket then here's a method that I learned from a shotgun course and reiterated with Louis's book.

Shot Shell Indexing:
Secure the shot shell (with your support hand) from a carrier, pocket, buttcuff, side saddle, etc. by placing the brass on your pinky and the crimp on the tip of your index finger. Now, with the palm facing up, feel for the crimp with the support index finger. A crimp will more than likely tell you that you have some sort of shot (bird or buck). No crimp generally tells me that I have a slug.

Slap the cartridge into the loading gate and jam it in with your thumb. I've seen many people slide the shell across the trigger guard and into the load gate.


Here's an addendum to Zak's excellent description of select-a-slug. This works well for me but can be HARSH on your finish.

If I DEFINATELY know that a slug shot will have to be made, I index one in my support hand and hold the firearm with the slug nestled between my support hand and the large groove in the Benelli's foregrip. The slug will already be indexed.

Base on the pinky and crimp/slug resting on my index finger.

When the moment of truth is upon you, reach over with your strong hand (use your support hand to draw the gun into your shoulder) and work the bolt open and keep it open. This will relieve the gun of a loaded round but will not throw a shell on the carrier. With the bolt open slide your support hand (with the indexed slug) along the foregrip groove and right into the ejection port. It'll slap in perfectly. Release the bolt and resume your natural shooting grip.

I know the description is a little long-winded but it works.

The only bummer about it is that your foregrip might/will get scuffed and the small length of receiver from ejection port to foregrip will be marred.

Jim

 

[Zak Smith]

StressPuppy,

You might try contacting USPSA ( www.uspsa.com ). I don't know if I still have a copy of that issue - I'll check this week.

Duke,

The trick to fast reloads is loading multiple shells per "trip" to your shell carrier. I've only seen one person load "singly" fast.

I just played around with your select-a-slug method. It's a little awkward to me, because the strong hand need to keep supporting the gun while pulling the bolt handle. I couldn't do that and keep it on my shoulder with good gun support. When using the weak-hand to pull the handle, it retains control of the gun througout, but you do lose a fraction of a second grabbing a shell in your strong hand.

-z

 

[Duke of Lawnchair]

Zak,

I definately hear ya on the "singly" loading, but two per trip is about all that I can manage.

Out of curiosity, do you have a video of yourself or someone doing the multiple shells per trip?

I generally considered myself a shooter with enough dexterity to manipulate most things, but doing more than two shells on a load is too much for me. I know others can do it. A friend of mine, with much smaller hands can do it, no problem.

As for the select-a-slug method that I use, it works great for me, but like most anything, YMMV. Only a few of the Benelli users in skul could do that.

Jim

 

[BerettaNut92]

You go boy

As for the shell holders, after trying out a shell belt, shell box pouch on belt, rifle magpouches, bandolier, buttcuff, sidesaddle and a shotshell loop sling, I keep going back to the butt-pockets on my Royal Robbins pants.

 

[Zak Smith]

Jim,

I'll see if I can get an short MPEG video made tonight, or maybe a series of stills.

-z

 

[StressPuppy]

I'd be interested too.

If you need a place to put them, I have a domain with some space and can put a link to them if needed. Just let me know.

THANKS!

 

[Duke of Lawnchair]

Zak,

Groovy.

Thanks in advance,
Jim

 

[BillL223]

I have used both the plastic 6 round side saddles and 3-Gun Gear 8 round carriers on my Benelli. Both work fine. The 3-Gun Gear unit attaches with Velcro so there is no isssue of overtightening the receiver. This unit holds the shells more securely and I think is a little slower to pull rounds out of. When using the sidesaddle, I roll the gun and hold it with my strong hand while reloading with my weakhand. I use three Choate racks as described by Zak earlier and grab 3 at a time. I carry extra ammo in the 8 round side saddle plus an 8 round arm carrier, also made by 3-Gun Gear but I exhaust the Choate racks first. I also carry 2 rounds at the ejection port. Shooting Limited, I can start with 9 in the gun plus 18 in Choate carriers, 8 in the side saddle, 8 on forearm, and the 2 at the ejection port. I have tried carrying 5 on the buttstock put this was slow.

 

[Zak Smith]

Here's a pic of my setup:


3Gungear bandoleer, cheap $15 shotshell belt from, 3GG forearm carrier.

I load the belt and bandoleer in groups of 3 shells so I can grab the right number without fumbling.

-z

 

[Zak Smith]

Loading sequence:

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Movie (going at a slow pace to demonstrate):

Click for AVI movie

 

[Zak Smith]

Select-loading sequence:

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Movie:

Click for AVI movie

 

[Duke of Lawnchair]

Absolutely Awesome

Zak,

That's the stuff!

I see what I was doing wrong with the "multiple load".

Going into detail as to what I was doing would require too much typing.

After watching what you did, I picked it up within a few minutes.

Good stuff. Awesome.

Thanks for your pictures and videos.

Even though you've already tried the select-a-slug method that I use, I'll try and make an AVI of me doing it. Hopefully, it'll be up by tomorrow (charging my camera).

Thanks,
Jim

 

[StressPuppy]

Zak,

GREAT STUFF!!! Thanks!

I will give both methods a try and see what I can do. BOUND to be faster than the fumbling I did this past weekend!!!

I am going to order some dummy rounds from Brownells so I can remove the worry of AD.


DofL,

I'd like to see your pics and vid too. The more input the better.


As a side note, found out the scores from the match. My friend that borrowed my Benelli beat me! Beat with my own gun.... :banghead: That will NOT happen again! (But now I hear him talking about wanting a Benelli M4 )

 

[Duke of Lawnchair]

Alrighty, I have a video.

Now, how do I host it?