Benelli M3 Questions

[Blain]

Now I know the stock is interchangeable between the M1 and the M3, however, I've heard that the extension is as well.

Someone stated that he put an M1 4 round extension on his M3 and it fit and worked fine. Has anyone else heard of this? Will it fit/work?

Also, since I know about how benelli modified their shotguns so that they can no longer hold a round on top of the lifter, I was wondering if there was any way to fit, or alter, this so that it could again?

Also, anyone here who owns an M3? If so feel free to give your comments and opinions about them.

I love the idea that you can switch to pump if semi fails to function.

 

[natedog]

Can't answer your questions on the stock and magazine extension, but on the pump action- I've heard that the pump was only meant to be used for using reduced recoil loads, or special munitions like bean bag, tear gas, rubber buckshot, etc. and that the pump is actually quite hard and gritty, as you must overcome the recoil spring.

 

[Kilrain]

This is my M3. The stocks are the same between the M1 and the M3. I had both and sold the M1 to a friend of mine. As for the extension, I don't know if they interchange. I believe Benelli lists them as different part numbers though so I have my doubts.

My old M1, HK marked, would do the shell lifter/extra shell trick but I have never tried it with my M3.

As for the feel of the "pump" action on my M3, it feels pretty solid to me. Well, as solid as a non-steel framed shotgun can feel. Let me say this, I've played with Benelli Nova's before and my M3 feels tighter and more precise by a long shot. The action is not gritty(at least mine isn't) nor hard. You can feel the spring tension working against you a little however you can also feel the spring tension working for you as you chamber a round.

As I recall, Tom Knapp of Benelli fame, originally did the "throwing 8 clays and shooting all 8 with a pump" with an M3. He started doing it with the Nova in 2000, no doubt to appease Benelli and help with sales.



(The other gun is my Ithaca Mag 10 Roadblocker)

 

[Blain]

Nice pics, Kil. Pump is an emergency backup for me.

 

[50 Freak]

Let me say, I've got a couple of FALs, a couple of ARs, a couple of AK type rifles but only ONE shotgun. And that is a Benelli M3.

The pump mode is just as smooth as the auto mode, I wouldn't hesitate to buy an M3 again if I had to do it all over again.

Only thing I wish I did differently was to buy the folding version as opposed to the Pistol grip one. Wonder if the stocks are interchangable?

 

[hksw]

For me, the pump action of the M3s I've got are actually smoother and easier to work than the Moss 590s. The recoil spring provides little pressure to work against the way mine feel. The pump being worked even sounds higher quality than the 590s. Less tinny and metalic.