H&K marked benelli M1 Super90 mods/Q's

[david_the_greek]

Ok hive, I've got a few questions for everyone. I recently acquired an H&K marked benelli m1 super90 (wish I could have found an m3 super90 but beggars can't be choosers right?) for a great price. Currently set up in the field configuration, std stock, std tube, 26" barrel.
I'm in the process of trying to set this up in a more HD/course configuration. Below are some questions and points I'm seeking advice for.

Most importantly, if I understand the threads I've read thus far, my H&K marked benelli is exempt form 922r compliance due to being imported pre-ban/legislation and I have no need to worry about adding all the stupid junk I want. Am I standing on firm ground here?

I've purchased a benelli pg stock and am trying to find a non rip-off barrel that will fit. Any leads or advice for barrels? For the three gunners out there, what barrel length do you feel comfortable with? Is the 18.5" enough barrel for your sport? I haven't participated yet, I'm planning to get into it in the relatively near future.... Has anyone tried the new barrels that are marked to fit m1's but "supposedly" do not fit without alteration to the shotgun?

Additionally I'd like to add an extended magazine tube (one that potentially goes the length of the barrel, not past it however). How does everyone feel about nordic? How many shells does the std tube hold, 3?

Forend I was thinking about a light, does anyone have any experiences with dedicated shotgun forend lights? I'm aware of surefire (CHA CHING!!!), any others worth looking at out there? Anyone use both a barrel mounted and a dedicated forend and have some pointers on which they preferred? I do prefer to save up/shop used and get quality (all my carry and other weapon lights are surefires that I purchased typically under 1/2 price), I am not adverse to buying something that is less expensive but quality.

 

[boricua9mm]

I also recently nabbed an M1S90, but mine is a 20" with rifled sights, pistol gripped stock and 7 round tube. Although I only purchased it recently, I've been a fan of these for decades and have shot alongside many other fellow competitors who used them. Here's what I've gleaned, in terms of your questions...

Not all HK-marked Benelli shotguns are pre-ban. On the left side of the receiver near the trigger guard, there should be a two-letter date code from Benelli. This was a requirement in Italy. This date code DOES NOT correspond to the date code conventions used by Heckler and Koch. Click here for the Italian date code guide. Another potential issue with your plan is that supposedly the shotgun in question needs to have been in the "evil" configuration prior to the date the 922(r) sporting clause went into effect. Without promoting illegal activity publicly here on the forum, I will simply ask "How will they ever know?"

The 18.5" barrel I believe corresponds to a 6 round tube. If your shotgun is of a vintage where you can "ghost load" an extra round on the elevator, then you're starting with 8 rounds. That's not bad at all for 3-gun, but others with different setups may still be at a round count advantage. I don't compete to be the best scoring fellow with an oddball setup, I do it to better my own skill set with what I have. Your mileage may vary there. Of course, you can run a longer tube, but I wouldn't want it to extend too far. Maybe limit it at 7 round tube capacity for the 18.5 inch barrel. The barrels are expensive. The M1 barrels pop up on the used market every so often. I can't answer the question about those M2 barrels advertised as also fitting M1s.

I don't own any Nordic components, but by all accounts their stuff is good to go.

You are probably aware that the M1 is an inertia operated shotgun. The shotgun needs recoil in order to cycle. If you weight down the gun with lights, sidesaddles, etc. you run the risk of eliminating recoil and causing some cycling issues. I would also like to add a light, but I am considering one of the picatinny mag tube clamps along with a Surefire X300. My goal is to have illumination capability with the minimum amount of added weight. I have added the Benelli M1 Practical charging handle to my shotgun b/c I wanted a longer charger with a minimum of added weight. I also switched to the paddle style safety rather than the small crossbolt. Both are factory Benelli parts. I am considering the GG&G bolt release, but it's $100 and I need to research it some more before plunking down the dough.

Some inspirational and potentially useful photos...

Note the "AP" date code, denoting 1986:

Hope that helps!

 

[david_the_greek]

wow, that definitely helped! Those pictures are beautiful by the way....

 

[Owen Sparks]

I have two of them that were imported in the late 1980's. Both have 20" barrels and both came from the factory with full length magazines. You can get 9 shells into the gun if you load 7 in the tube, 1 in the chamber and 1 on the shell lifter.

 

[DougW]

M1 Super90 Tactical (Benelli, with straight stock) and the recent purchased H&K M1 Super90, 92 vintage. (Just for your viewing pleasure.) I am running a Surefire pic rail with a Scorpion Poly LED light on the H&K, which is the HD shotgun. So far, so good.




I run thye Benelli M1 Super90 Tactical in 3 gun matches with modified choke and reduced recoil buck/slugs or #6 birdshot. I have found that a choked barrel works better than a cylinder bore, because the shot pattern spreads too much, and some shots can be 20 to 40 yards out. You still gotta aim, so if you can find a barrel that takes choke tubes, I would definately go that way.

 

[boricua9mm]

I am running a Surefire pic rail with a Scorpion Poly LED light on the H&K, which is the HD shotgun. So far, so good.

Doug, can you tell us more about the flashlight arrangements. Details, man, DETAILS! You mentioned a Surefire picatinny rail, but I am unclear about what you mean (looking at the photo). Are you now using a picatinny railed forend, or is it a magazine tube clamp that Surefire makes?

I'd like to know more b/c I am looking to do something similar to what you've shown in the picture without eliminating my ability to run birdshot loads.

Thanks in advance!

 

[david_the_greek]

if you look at the gun on our left in the picture, between the foregrip and clamp that connects the barrel and the magazine tube, you can see something clamped on, I'm thinking that is what he's talking about.... but I think more pictures are required! They really are things of beauty aren't they? My dad used to have an m3 super90 and either a legacy or montefeltro... they were both stolen unfortunately. When I got my m1 I told him to come over and take at it.... that was maybe 2 weeks ago. Last night he told me to come over.... what did I find? A practically brand new (you seriously cannot tell that it has even been fired or touched) legacy. DROOOOOOOOL. got it for $1200, I think he did pretty well (am I right?)

 

[DougW]

Yes guys, it is the Surefire tube/rail adapter. I removed the one from the Benelli, but I still have the one attached to the H&K.

Here are the pics:







The H&K has the Scorpion light installed. The other set up is the Surefire shotgun adapter, the Polytac LED Scorpion light, and a Fobus 1" light adapter that works very well with the adapter rail. I mount my lights in 1" scope rings, as the rings keeps the light close to the stock and barrel.

 

[Oxide]

While I certainly wouldn't advocate doing anything illegal, I'd like to point out a few salient facts:

1. 922r says that it is illegal to assemble a weapon so that etc, etc, etc. Possessing such a weapon is not a 922r violation in and of itself, it is simply a non-compliant gun. Worst thing would be that you would be made to make it compliant. Now, if you bought something new from Gun Store X, then, sure, you assembled it by modifying the options on it. If you bought it used, who knows who did what?

2. There have been no, none, nada, zip, zilch convictions on 922r that weren't for someone either also committing a violent crime, or wantonly breaking other laws, like full auto conversions, or running a business with imported guns and imported parts kits being kit built here into something else.

3. Most dealers, most cops, most anybody, doesn't know nor care of 922r. It's a blatantly stupid law that is unconstitutional, inconsistent, and ineffective. If I were a Fed, I would be embarrassed busting someone on it. While I would never advise someone to break a law, laws such as these deserve our derision and continual effort to abolish.