Differences bet. Benelli M1 and M4

[GetmeoutaCT]

Hello all -

I have a Benelli M1 super 90 I purchased in the mid 90's. It is still in the box; still not assembled, in fact. I have a Mossberg 590A1 that is my go-to shotgun; I bought the Benelli simply because those were my heady just-got-my-permit and wanted everything in sight days.

I have a question. What are the differences between my M1 and the current-production M4?

 

[Ranger Roberts]

To my knowledge the only difference is the M1 is inertia driven and the M4 is gas.

 

[Gordon]

I like M1 super 90 models better than the later ones my self; they seem to cycle faster. The M4 is kinda a military/ police off shoot of their latest and great high end SG .I borrow a Marine configured one to use in the last SG course I took under Louis Awerbuck. I found it un ergonomic for rapid use for me and did not like the sights. Also it recoiled more than a faster shooting old 1100 3 gun SG I used to use. The M3 was not a sporting proposition at all, I too had to have one because the concept seemed so kewl: a heavy dty pump/auto. Alas I found it an answer to a non existent problem and confusing under stress and bulky-sold it. So I have a camo coated M1 super 90 with 28" barrel as my go to duck gun. It never fails and does everything a duck gun should do , real quick!

 

[GetmeoutaCT]

Thank you gentlemen.

 

[gscrasher]

I had an M1 Super 90, with the inertia action. Currently I have the M4 gas gun.
I much prefer the M4. One thing not mentioned so far is the substantial difference in felt recoil between the inertia gun versus the gas gun. The M4 shoots much softer than the M1.