Do any of these imported M4 style shotguns have factory magazines that hold more than 5 rounds? If not, what's the interest?
Since I have just bought one, I guess I should be one of the people to respond.
First of all, fully loaded this gun holds six rounds which is about the same as most tactical 870s and 1100s or their Mossberg counterparts. But, the advantage is that the tactical reload is almost faster than even
Jerry Miculek with his specially modified Mossburg. It certainly is faster for me.
Second, there are non-factory magazines that hold even more rounds that worked at least while I was at the range with my friend who already had one of these guns. In my opinion, the larger magazines made the gun awkward.
Third, this gun is very similar in many ways to an AR 10 in weight and balance and the running systems are very similar. Other than weight or balance it is also similar to the AR 15 which makes it a gun that operates very much like guns many people are familiar with.
Fourth, like many
RIA guns, it works well without a lot of problems and it does it for a very inexpensive price. (Part of that is the interchangeable gas vent which allows everything from trap loads to 3" slugs to work every time. No compromise.)
Fifth, I like the idea that I could have one magazine loaded with slugs and another loaded with # 4 buckshot and maybe yet another magazine or two loaded with specialty loads.
Are there really good combat shotguns out there that hold many more rounds? Absolutely.
Kel Tech has had one (
KSG 25) on the market for about a year that holds 25 rounds of regular ammo and 41 rounds of Augula Mini Shells.
It is a pump however rather than a semi auto. The The
SRM Arms Model 1216 is semi automatic (sort of) and holds 16 rounds. Both are heavy as hell when fully loaded and have funky balance and the SRM requires lots of training to master. The KSG has a 30" barrel, which in my opinion, is too long for tactical situations. Both are well North of $1,000.00 which means you can buy two, possibly three, of this gun for the same money. The
KSG Tactical (15 rounds) might be an option for some, but again, it is a pump and from my trying one along with a number of other people, was fairly easy to short stroke under stress.
In the end, we all end up liking different things for different reasons.