Older Benelli M1 Super 90

[Robert Hairless]

Flip180, $850.00 isn't a bad price for a new-in-box M1 Super 90 now, I think.

It would be better if that shotgun had the two-round magazine extension at that price. Benelli USA stopped importing them from the mother country several months ago but Sure Cycle makes them in the U.S.A. and I gather that TacStar is also making them. The Sure Cycle version costs about $150, which is a bit much for a hunk of tubing with some threaded adapters. Somebody has the TacStar extension for sale on GunBroker at $49.50.

For the sake of comparison, search GunBroker for "Benelli M1." I took a quick look just now and saw a used one listed at a starting bid of $1,100. I didn't spend the time to go through all the various listings. You might well find something you could get for less, but of course you will be buying sight unseen and will have to pay for shipping by UPS overnight and for at least one FFL transfer fee. That's an easy $50 extra.

I don't have any experience with Sure Cycle products but I have a friend who has a friend who thinks well of them. (This is, after all, the Internet.) I do have experience with TacStar products (they make the sidesaddle) and their products are okay. Benelli's own extended magazine tube is quite a nice piece of work but they're being sold for exaggerated prices, in my opinion.

akluvr, you're on the right track, I think, and you have enjoyable times ahead of you as you become familiar with that marvelous shotgun. I'd probably put a tritium front sight on mine if it were a simple matter of screwing out the old and replacing it with the new. Do keep in mind, though, that although a tritium sight is commonly referred to as a "night sight," it isn't really that at all. It won't substitute for the weapon light because it doesn't illuminate the target. What it does is make the sight easier to acquire quickly in dim illumination. That's it. The target, its background, and their periphery must all be visible.

 

[flip180]

Robert,

I really haven't found anything new in that price range either. I have an 870 HD and really want to like this gun but, the Benelli is really something else. I have video of me running though the jungle run with the M4 and after watching it, I really like the way the Benelli handled. The M1S90 really shoulders well and is perfectly balanced. The M4 is WAY out of my price range but, I think the M1S90 is just the ticket. One more thing is that my M3 light and long gun remote will attach to the Benelli with the same insight magazine mounted light mount that I have on my 870.

Flip.

 

[Robert Hairless]

Flip, I like the M1 Super 90 better than I do the M4. It's probably not a common opinion but it's mine and I'm stuck with it. The M1, for me, is quicker and more easily manipulated. As you say, it shoulders well and is perfectly balanced. I agree on both points.

 

[Chuck R.]

I too prefer the M1S90 to the M4.

Don’t get me wrong, the M4 is a cool shotgun and probably well worth the money. But, it simply negates the major benefit of the Benelli for me, which is the simple and robust inertia system. The thing I like about Benelli’s the most is that they’re kind of like pumps, only better I really like not having to clean the gas system and how clean the action stays.

Unfortunately, the price for extended mag tubes for Benelli’s are outrageous. I bought mine before the sunset of the ban, and just sat on it till the ban was through. I think the only alternative is to buy one from one of the 3 Gun specialty guys, and just count it as money well spent.

akluvr, if you’re going top use the gun for yotes, then you’ll get some use out of the night sights. You’ve also hit my favorite aspect of the M3 series lights, they can be mounted on multiple guns if need be.

Robert, You didn’t read me wrong, the pic shows brass up, I load brass down. That way I can maintain my cheekweld, support hand maintains gun on target, strong hand loads from under shell carrier. It’s about the fastest way I’ve found to use the buttstock carrier.

Chuck

 

[silverlance]

m1

where did you guys get ghost ring sights for the m1s90? i hve the standard mid-gun on barrel rear sight and its so low that each time i fire it i get a bruised cheek.

 

[Chuck R.]

silverlance,

Mine came with the GRs from the factory. If I'm not mistaken, they're made by LPA:

http://www.precisionsalesintl.com/sightsmain.html

The rear is just like mine, but the front is different.

Chuck

 

[silverlance]

Just got another really wierd Benelli M1 Super 90 today (ill post pics later today)

* It is NOT an H&K model (at least it doesn't say H&K on the right side of receiver).
* It has the 7 round tube, looks to be factory benelli as it even has the little limiter
* Laser Products (surefire?) foreend, the old type with no rocker switch
* pistol grip stock, but it doesn't seem to fit perfectly (it is however benelli.. I have one just like it on my other m1s90). the piece of plastic thats supposed to go under the trigger guard doesnt align properly.
* ghost ring sights, adjustable front and rear. no tritium. there are no grooves on the top of the receiver.
* threaded barrel but only one choke ("M") came with it. choke is black in color.

anybody seen one of these before?

 

[Robert Hairless]

Silverlance, a photo would be interesting. I haven't seen what you've described. Might it be an M1 produced after H&K stopped importing them?

I've never understood the relationship between Benelli and H&K. I was dubious when an acquaintance talked about H&K having been involved with Benelli in developing the M4, but it seems he was right. My guess is that the relationship might be one in which two separate companies collaborate on specific projects that are mutually beneficial through something like virtual teams. I don't think that H&K manufactures shotguns so that teamwork idea would make sense.

My M1 has the older SureFire foreend. I'd much prefer the later version (with the shutoff switch) but the cost of switching seems disproportionate to the benefit.

On another note, barely related to this topic, the Benelli M1 is so seductive that I tend to slight my old best friend the Remington 870. The manual of arms is so different between the two that I was apprehensive that I might have lost touch with it. Last week I took the 870 for an outing and was prepared for embarrassment. Didn't happen. My hands, shoulders, eyes, and legs immediately knew what to do and I was popping targets at 25 yards with the same speed and accuracy as before. I'm much relieved.

 

[pink_talon]

fyi - adding shells to sidesaddles affects the operation of the inertia mechanism making it a little more prone to mushy shouldering or borderline loads. I've heard that keeping the spring and cylinder in the buttstock clean/lubricated helps a lot! Mine HK M1S90 Loovve it

 

[VA27]

Mine has the regular rifle sights, grooved receiver not drilled and tapped for a mount or ghost rings, and it has factory choke tubes.

For Silverlance The standard stock drop is set for the ghost ring sights and therefore too high (for me) to use the rifle sights. That stock also won't take the M1 Field drop washer kit. I got around that by getting an S90 Field stock with all the drop washers. I lost the side sling mount, but gained the ability to actually use the rifle sights.

The ghost ring sights are a little faster and fine if you don't shoot more than 50 yards or so, but if you like to stretch the envelope a little, the ability to hold up a little more front sight is handy.

 

[Al LaVodka]

My H&K Benelli M1 Super 90 is like a 25" vent-rib barelled honker with a mag tube almost as long. Screw in Mod. choke. Very well used and not especially well maintained. Probably used in three-gun. Cleaned her up, including the sand baked inside the receiver, and she works fine. Put a pistol-grip on her and she is the most natural-pointing shotgun of the, um, many I own.

I suppose I should buy her a new set of, I suppose, Wolff springs?

Al

 

[gunnie]

..."I just picked up my new Christmas present from my wife."...

wandering off subject some here, but has your wife fired this yet? i got one in the mid '90's for my wife to carry for bear in AK when picking blueberries. i ended up selling it because she didn't like the sharp/fast "kick" of the recoil operation system.

but then if that was just your justification for the purchase, i've used that ploy before myself....



gunnie

 

[dogsoldier0513]

As for slings with integral shotshell holders, my own opinion is that there are much more enjoyable ways to commit suicide than having a bunch of shells swinging around to deflect my aim. A high quality bandoleer works, but--again--the shell holders are elastic and that's not good. I've also had bandoleers that popped their stitching and dropped some of the shells.

Have you given thought to REVERSING the sling (I'm refering to the slings that hold NO MORE THAN (10) rounds)...having the shells located near th BUTT instead of the forearm? It works.

 

[pink_talon]

I love my HK Benelli M1 Super 90 and so far it's proved perfect for all my def/tac training!

 

[Dave McCracken]

Thanks, Pink, you just made my day better.