Benelli M4 Shotgun....your thoughts?

[MyGunsJammed]

Well, I'm also looking at shotguns.... I was wondering if anyone has any experiences or thoughts on the Benelli M4 shotgun? Does anyone here own one?

[sonyman74]

Just got one today. I here nothing but good. I leave tomorrow so I want get to shoot it till I get back from offshore. I'll let you know something then.

[MyGunsJammed]

Thanks,

I was just on Benelli's website and see that this weapon is what th USMC uses.... I will consider this weapon as an alternative to the AR-15/AK47

[Sgt.Fathead]

Stopped into Las Vegas Guns while driving cross country last October and the wife and I fired several different rental guns; HK MP5, MP5K, old M3 .45 SMG and the Benelli M4. I put 30 rounds of 00 buck through it and it shredded well, believe you me! When I was in The Corps we did not have this fine shotty.

Only drawback; maybe too long in the muzzle for CQB. Shot smooth and sweet though!

[Gixerman1000]

I have had my M4 for almost 2 years and couldn’t be happier with it, it has been 100% reliable with everything from my light target reloads (#8 shot) to max DRAM 3” magnum buckshot loads and can effortlessly cycle through 9 shells faster than I can keep up with the trigger, it's also one of the softest shooting and easiest to control 12ga shotguns that I have ever shot.

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v238/Gixerman1000/Long%20guns/M4S90.jpg

The M4 being designed to serve as the US military’s Joint Service Combat Shotgun (JSCS) (designated the M1014) is built for extremely rugged use in combat conditions so it's not the lightest out there but the extra weight and ARGO (Auto-Regulating Gas-Operated) system of the M4 makes for a very fast, smooth and soft shooting platform.

The ARGO system will pretty much cycle everything other than super light loads like non-lethal and it will do so no matter how much extra weight is on the shotgun or how firmly it’s held.

The ARGO system is pretty simple and very clean running for a gas operated shotgun, the system consists of two cylinders, two stainless steel pistons and two stainless steel cylinder plugs that each contain a spring loaded pressure regulating bleed off valve.

A single hole in each cylinder that leads into the barrel just in front of the chamber channels the gas to power the pistons, the pistons only move about ¼” and push the bolt carrier back to unlock and cycle the action, the cylinder plugs help to keep an optimal pressure level in the cylinders by remaining closed with low powered shells or opening up with hi powered shells to release excess gas pressure.

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v238/Gixerman1000/Mis/100_9664.jpg

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v238/Gixerman1000/Mis/100_9648.jpg

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v238/Gixerman1000/Mis/100_9641.jpg

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v238/Gixerman1000/Mis/100_9659.jpg

[MyGunsJammed]

How easy is it to get one with the collapsible stock?

Can you buy it separately?

[hogbody74]

Stock options depend on your states laws, but Numrich had them for sale a while back somewhere around $300.
hogbody74

[CGSteve8718]

We carried Mossberg 500s also, it's not as "cool" looking as a Benelli of any sort, but it will work and cost you much much less.

[Creature]

I have heard that the M4 is being fielded by the Marines in Iraq...any word on how they perform in a extremely dusty enviornment? Has the dust over there interferred with the gas-operating system used on the M4?

[MyGunsJammed]

Creature I have heard that the M4 is being fielded by the Marines in Iraq...any word on how they perform in a extremely dusty enviornment? Has the dust over there interferred with the gas-operating system used on the M4?


The answer to your question can be found on Benelli's website.... apparently, it has a self-cleaning operating system of some sorts....

http://www.benelliusa.com/firearms/m4.tpl

[Creature]

The answer to your question can be found on Benelli's website.... apparently, it has a self-cleaning operating system of some sorts....

I would prefer independent confirmation...not the manufacturer's evaluation of their own product.

Unless a piece of equipment has endured the talcum-like dust of an Iraqi dust storm and still operates as advertised...and it can be confirmed by the grunts on the ground, I don't believe what any other "source' says or writes.

[Rocked]

No word on reliability, but I was told while ago from an Iraqi Veteran that the collapsible stocks did not hold up well. The collapsible stock was immediately switched out for the pistol grip stock. If you like the look of it, however, Ive seen fixed versions of the collapsible stock fully extended.

[BigJimP]

I have one of my boys in the Marine Corps - and the M4 is holding up well in the jungle environment and in Iraq. Stock preference is kind of a personal thing from what he tells me - but I think in general most of them prefer the pistol grip. He said such good things about it I bought my first semi-auto Benelli last year for some sporting and field shotgunning - and it's a very different gun - but a great system.

[MyGunsJammed]

Humm.....

I figured the collapsible stock would look cool...but at the same time if its gonna break on me I might as well stick with the standard pistol grip stock....

The gun costs an arm and a leg though at $1600 IMHO.....but I think it'll be well worth it, since if the USMC approves of this gun then it should work well for my needs


by the way, how many rounds does this gun carry fully loaded?

[Gixerman1000]

I haven't heard anything about the collapsible stock breaking but I have often heard that the M4 was uncomfortable to shoot with that stock.

[Desert01]

I don't have the documentation to support this, but..... my friends a TACOM are reporting some issues with the USMC's 1014's over seas. I have not seen any 1014's over sea's. I have seen a lot of the standard M-500's.

Issues reported were not cycling Less Lethal, which it was not designed to do in all fairness. Some other reliabilty issues. Then again the M-1014 was not required to meet the same reliabilty standards that the pump guns were in the 70's.

Good shotgun though in many respects. Like all shotguns though they are a specialty tool and not a ground combat weapon of first choice.

[MyGunsJammed]

Gixerman1000: I haven't heard anything about the collapsible stock breaking but I have often heard that the M4 was uncomfortable to shoot with that stock.


*thinking out loud*
Humm.....shooting discomfort is something I'd like to avoid all-together if possible... so maybe I better stick with the regular pistol grip, standard stock model ...

[1032]

I seriously considered the M4 as main SG for HD, then decided to go with a Big5 variety 870 Express, not out of saving money consideration, but I thought about the idea of a "shotgun".

For me, the concept of a shotgun is a really crude yet reliable weapon. The Benelli M4 and dressed-up SGs are too tacticool for me. Kinda like a Ferrari lawnmowers....

Besides, racking a SG is half the fun of owning a SG.

IMHO...

[MyGunsJammed]

I went by the gunshop and actually got to hold this gun.....

my first impression was that wow..... the gun feels light and comfy, and feels very plastic lol.....

The model I was looking at was the desert camo one, which he quoted me $1700, but I told the guy that I'd prefer the black one, to which he responded he could get me, and it would be about $100 or so cheaper...

I also wanted to ask, how long does it take to reload this gun?

[Smitty in CT]

The model I was looking at was the desert camo one, which he quoted me $1700, but I told the guy that I'd prefer the black one, to which he responded he could get me, and it would be about $100 or so cheaper...

I also wanted to ask, how long does it take to reload this gun?

The M4 is an incredible shotgun...but...$1600 - $1700... OUCH!!

If you use a speed-loader like this, less than 2 seconds:
http://www.brownells.com/Images/Products/100001125.jpg

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Smitty

Buy 3 Mossberg 930's for the price of 1 M4....
http://www.mossberg.com/images/products/930/85360.jpg
http://www.topglock.com/Item.aspx?PID=70891

[flomofo]

I wanted to order if I couldn get the m3 my shop had but ours re strictly 4 shot models nd you cant adapt a foldable stock to it.

[MyGunsJammed]

Smitty in CT Quote:
Originally Posted by MyGunsJammed
The model I was looking at was the desert camo one, which he quoted me $1700, but I told the guy that I'd prefer the black one, to which he responded he could get me, and it would be about $100 or so cheaper...

I also wanted to ask, how long does it take to reload this gun?

The M4 is an incredible shotgun...but...$1600 - $1700... OUCH!!

If you use a speed-loader like this, less than 2 seconds:


~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Smitty

Buy 3 Mossberg 930's for the price of 1 M4....

http://www.topglock.com/Item.aspx?PID=70891




Wow!!! Thanks for your informative post!!! I'll keep the speed loader thing in mind, I didnt know speed-loaders existed for shotguns....for semi auto rifles, yes, but shotguns, i didnt Know.....

That Mossberg looks real nice too.... do they make them with the pistol grip stock??

[Smitty in CT]

That Mossberg looks real nice too.... do they make them with the pistol grip stock??

Choate has said they are working on one and it should be available in December.

http://www.riflestock.com/images/Products/MARK5_PISTOL_GRIP_STOCK.jpg

http://www.riflestock.com/catalog_page_detail.cfm?recordno=6&Product_CatalogID=2741&ProductNumber=02%2D01%2D34&ProductCode=23&ProductSubCodeID=163&NewProduct=0