Benelli M1 Super 90

[XenopusTex]

Suggestions for a good "training" load for this guy? Inherited one of these and it appears to have not been fired much (very few wear marks on bolt for example). Tried a variety of Federal "game loads" as a break in along with some Remington STS loads. The STS loads do not seem potent enough to cycle the action without causing malfunctions.

Thinking one of Federal's species of LE buckshot loads for the load out at home, but really don't enjoy the prospect of putting tons of them through the shotgun.

Also, S&B makes a 15 pellet 00 Buckshot load in 3" magnum load out. From what I've read, it seems that the M1 Super 90 can handle 3" magnum loads. Anybody have any experience with that load out of an M1?

 

[DougW]

My M1 Super90 Tactical functions fine with #8 bird shot. I used to use #6 with the modified choke in 3 Gun, and would run reduced recoil buck and slugs all day long. The trick is to pull the Benelli into your shoulder when shooting. You will have to play with yours, but you shouldn't have to use only 3" stuff to make it run. Be sure it is well oiled. Mine has never failed me.

Mine stays loaded with some Winchester Reduced 00 buck. I don't shoot full power loads in mine.

 

[judgedelta]

The only trouble I had with mine was the recoil assembly rusting. I replaced it with a stainless unit designed for a super black eagle and now it won't shoot with the cheapo "promo" loads. Shoots everything else fine. I used it for deer hunting for twenty years with full power 3" 000 buck. You might want to pattern it with buckshot and make sure the POA and POI are the same. That is a problem with Benellis.

 

[oneounceload]

The STS loads do not seem potent enough to cycle the action without causing malfunctions.

That should not be happening. Has it been thoroughly cleaned and relubed per the owner's manual? If it has been sitting for a while, perhaps the ports are a little clogged

but really don't enjoy the prospect of putting tons of them through the shotgun.

Then don't - it shouldn't need it.

 

[Chuck R.]

Mine functions with 2 3/4" 1 1/8 ounce target loads fine.

I "broke" it in with 1 1/4 once 3dram loads, and run the bolt rails wet. Every couple of years I clean the action tube/spring. My SBE also runs light loads fine, as Doug W. says due to the inertia action, you've got to maintain shoulder contact.

Chuck

 

[oneounceload]

I have never had the need, nor have any of my semis, to need a diet of heavy loads to "break it in"..........NEVER, not one, not in any of three gauges, nada, nil, zilch........any gun that needs that is poorly made, and Benelli, Remington, Beretta, Browning and others similar are not poorly made

 

[Chuck R.]

I have never had the need, nor have any of my semis, to need a diet of heavy loads to "break it in"..........NEVER, not one, not in any of three gauges, nada, nil, zilch........any gun that needs that is poorly made, and Benelli, Remington, Beretta, Browning and others similar are not poorly made

Maybe "breaking in" was poorly stated. Simply stating what I did, initially both of mine had issues with cycling 1 ounce loads. Once I shot them a few times (broke them in), they now cycle one ounce loads fine. This is only from my limited sampling of 2 (M1S90 and SBE), but if you google search benelli Cycling problems you'll see other reports of issues. It's not a quality thing, but the guns were designed to operate within certain parameters and ammunition is one of them.

BTW, the MS190 being an inertia system doesn't have ports to clog............But it does require a certain level of energy to operate. From the manual:

The shotgun can operate with a wide range of cartridges, thanks to the high degree of performance being acquired. The inertial system requires, however, a minimum of kinetic energy, which is necessary to achieve a normal cycling of ammunition. Extensive testing in ballistics labs and repeated field testing of our line produced weapons put at 230 kgm the lowest level of kinetic energy that must be generated by the cartridge 12 gauge and at 190 kgm for 20 gauge to fully cycle the action (values measured by manometric barrel at 1 m from

Chuck

 

[jmr40]

I have 2 of them. So far I haven't found a load that won't cycle.