Best cycling bird shot for Benelli M4 semiauto?

[hoodfu]

So I posted a video in the high speed video thread, of my Benelli M4 failing to cycle Winchester #8 birdshot 12 ga rounds reliably. I'd say only 50% of them would fire and bring the bolt back hard enough to chamber another round as can be seen in the video. I also tried their #7.5 birdshot rounds and they worked about 80% of the time. I've also tried the Remington #7.5 game club rounds with the same 80% reliability. I'm shooting in a light competition on steel targets in a month or so and which requires 2.75" #7.5 or higher birdshot rounds, and I'm wondering if people have had particular luck with a certain brand/type of 12ga shell in these types of semiautos.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bzuC3SXXPl0

 

[AcceptableUserName]

the federal seems to be superior than the remmy and the winchester as far as cheaper bulk/target stuff goes.


id shoot the heck out of your gun next weekend or as soon you can with some heavy loads, light loads everything. really take at it. then scrub it up deep and take it out again and retest with the ammo youll be shooting.

 

[oneounceload]

The shot size will have nothing to do with the functioning of the gun. The powder charge, (typically expressed in "Dram Equivalent") will. Find some shells that are loaded to 3 or 3-1/4 DE, which will be somewhere around 1250-1300 fps,and try those

 

[arizona98tj]

hoodfu,
How many rounds do you have through your M4?

 

[hoodfu]

Probably around 2-300. The first bunch was single shot trap, so I never noticed that it wasn't cycling the lower dram shells automatically until I started practicing for a steel target match which needs rapid fire. I had a look on the benelli forums as well, and the duality of lots of lube and using 3.25 dram or higher shells for the first 500 to break it in is where it's at.

 

[Girodin]

I don't know about the M4 specifically but the crap winchester bulk packs that you buy at wal mart give lots of guns ejection problems including some 870s. I've seen a switch to Federal bulk solve a lot of guns problems.

 

[Benelli M4]

Ammunition Specifications for M4 Benelli

Hi, I'm new to the High Road.

Concerning Ammo for the M4 Benelli - I understand that some law enforcement ammo (Beanbag, rubber balls, etc) do not generate enough chamber pressure or whatever to cycle the gun. I need to come up with a good idea of what will and what won't work in the M4 (all types of ammo).

Does anyone know where I can find some printed info onthis subject? Any help will be appreciated.

Thanks!

 

[chas08]

The benelli I once owned was unreliable with anything lighter than 3 1/4 dram - 1 1/8 oz.

 

[hoodfu]

Been a while since this topic has been posted to. The ultimate answer is machine gunner's grease, not gun oil to lube the bolt etc. Worms even with low power stuff after that. That said, the benelli will cycle Remington nitro 1 1/8oz #7.5 all day long, even if dry.