Benelli M1 vs M4

[eric90503]

Just curious AFAIK M1 is Inertia and M4 is gas. Which one has more muzzle flip and recoil?
Looking to buy a HK M1S90 for 3gun, but M2 is readily avail. but have a legality question of what is legal for tube extension.

Not had much experience with anything more than 3 shot. Always used shotguns for upland game.

Any comments?

[glock_holiday]

Just curious AFAIK M1 is Inertia and M4 is gas. Which one has more muzzle flip and recoil?
Looking to buy a HK M1S90 for 3gun, but M2 is readily avail. but have a legality question of what is legal for tube extension.

Not had much experience with anything more than 3 shot. Always used shotguns for upland game.

Any comments?

As far as your questions about the M1 vs. the M4. Can't help you there. I've only had experience with the M1. I've owned 14", 18" and 26" versions and all have performed flawlessly. One thing to consider if your looking to 3 gun with it. The H&K imported M1's will allow you to float an extra round under the bolt where the later Benelli USA imported M1's and the M2's do not. Changes were made to the bolt carries on the later ones to prevent it.
As far as I know all the H&K imports are pre-import ban. So, the mag tubes would be legal on those. Not sure on the later ones. All the ones I have had have been H&K imports. That's what I recommend getting. They are fairly available on gunbroker.

Good luck.
GH

[eric90503]

Thanks GH. Good to know about the M2 ramps.
Anyone shoot a M4 vs. M1?

[ADAM]

i have super black eagle2 which i think has the same action m1 i love it inertia system works no problems 3000 rounds and easy to clean 5min

[esskay]

Without question the M4 is much softer shooting than the M1 or M2. The M2 with its trick buttstock is a little softer shooting than an M1. Don't see many folks running M4s for 3-gun, mostly M1 and M2 amongst the Benelli crowd. Just run light bird loads (e.g. 7.5 1 1/8 oz) and reduced recoil slugs and you should be fine with an M1/M2.

You can modify (or have modified) the Benelli bolts to allow ghost loading if they don't already allow it. (as noted above, some M1 bolts do some don't, M2 bolts usually don't, M4 bolts generally do). This shouldn't be your determining factor as you can modify the gun to allow it, and I honestly don't find myself ghost loading the gun that often. If you're not shooting open, you're not supposed to have more than 9 rounds in the gun anyway, and you want your mag tube to hold at least 8 (you'll be at a disadvantage with just a 7 round tube -- even if you have a 18.5" barrel just let the mag tube extend beyond)

If you go to BrianEnos.com where the hard core competition shooters hang out, you will see that the most recommended (by that crowd) shotgun for 3-gun is a Benelli M1 or M2 Field with a straight rifle stock, vent rib barrel with fiber, and additional gunsmithing by a Benelli specialist. Not everyone might agree with this, but certainly if you have the $$ you can't go wrong with this setup.

ETA: Weren't you at the X3 match this month? Did you meet Rob Melhorn? If you've really caught the 3-gun bug and wanna just dive in, go ahead and pick up an M1 or M2 with vent rib barrel and hand it over to Rob to work his magic (straight stock vs PG stock is up to you, the straight stock is arguably more reliable and points better/quicker, the PG may be easier to drive). You're welcome to check out my Melhorn gun at the next match if you'd like.

[RRangel]

I concur that the M1 is has more recoil than even a pump shotgun. The inertia system leaves something to be desired in this respect. You'd probably need lighter loads to change this.

[gtmmark]

I have a M2 and a M4, the M4 kicks allot less.

[randy]

esskay is correct in his post. 21" Benelli M2 Field is the gun to buy for 3 gun. Rob does great work.

[eric90503]

Without question the M4 is much softer shooting than the M1 or M2. The M2 with its trick buttstock is a little softer shooting than an M1. Don't see many folks running M4s for 3-gun, mostly M1 and M2 amongst the Benelli crowd. Just run light bird loads (e.g. 7.5 1 1/8 oz) and reduced recoil slugs and you should be fine with an M1/M2.

You can modify (or have modified) the Benelli bolts to allow ghost loading if they don't already allow it. (as noted above, some M1 bolts do some don't, M2 bolts usually don't, M4 bolts generally do). This shouldn't be your determining factor as you can modify the gun to allow it, and I honestly don't find myself ghost loading the gun that often. If you're not shooting open, you're not supposed to have more than 9 rounds in the gun anyway, and you want your mag tube to hold at least 8 (you'll be at a disadvantage with just a 7 round tube -- even if you have a 18.5" barrel just let the mag tube extend beyond)

If you go to BrianEnos.com where the hard core competition shooters hang out, you will see that the most recommended (by that crowd) shotgun for 3-gun is a Benelli M1 or M2 Field with a straight pistol stock, vent rib barrel with fiber, and additional gunsmithing by a Benelli specialist. Not everyone might agree with this, but certainly if you have the $$ you can't go wrong with this setup.

ETA: Weren't you at the X3 match this month? Did you meet Rob Melhorn? If you've really caught the 3-gun bug and wanna just dive in, go ahead and pick up an M1 or M2 with vent rib barrel and hand it over to Rob to work his magic (straight stock vs PG stock is up to you, the straight stock is arguably more reliable and points better/quicker, the PG may be easier to drive). You're welcome to check out my Melhorn gun at the next match if you'd like.

Thanks esskay for the tip. Randy was saying the same thing about the M2. Not doubting you guys at all. Just curious why people don't use the M4's. My friend was going to order one and I thought it would be easier to get one in with his order.
Just have to decide whether to get the M2 with wood or the Black PG one. I really liked my friends M1. All my life I've only used shotguns for upland game. Then I go to a 3 gun match and it was all she wrote. It would be nice to have a M2 for hunting an switch out the barrel and stock for 3gun.
I've never owned an auto before. This will be a treat. Hope to see you at the next match.

[eric90503]

esskay is correct in his post. 21" Benelli M2 Field is the gun to buy for 3 gun. Rob does great work.

Will do Randy. Was Rob the one that was using the 3 colored Benelli? Wish I had more funds to build the SV but might have to go the same route as you with the G35. I'm liking that pistol more and more.

Thanks Randy

[esskay]

Will do Randy. Was Rob the one that was using the 3 colored Benelli? Wish I had more funds to build the SV but might have to go the same route as you with the G35. I'm liking that pistol more and more.

Thanks Randy

Unless he's changed his shotgun, Rob runs an all-black Benelli. He also shoots open.

[ar15barrels]

One thing to consider if your looking to 3 gun with it. The H&K imported M1's will allow you to float an extra round under the bolt where the later Benelli USA imported M1's and the M2's do not. Changes were made to the bolt carries on the later ones to prevent it.

Late Benellis can have the carriers modified to allow this.
It's a very simple modification.
Don't let that important feature of an earlier gun dissuade you if you find a better deal on a later gun.

[esskay]

Thanks esskay for the tip. Randy was saying the same thing about the M2. Not doubting you guys at all. Just curious why people don't use the M4's. My friend was going to order one and I thought it would be easier to get one in with his order.
Just have to decide whether to get the M2 with wood or the Black PG one. I really liked my friends M1. All my life I've only used shotguns for upland game. Then I go to a 3 gun match and it was all she wrote. It would be nice to have a M2 for hunting an switch out the barrel and stock for 3gun.
I've never owned an auto before. This will be a treat. Hope to see you at the next match.

Some people do use M4s. However:
* not as much aftermarket support (i.e. parts/accessories for 3-gun and smiths who have done work on them). Also, it's a bit funky in some respects. e.g. Note that the M4's barrel has a ring at the very end of the muzzle for the magazine tube to be secured. If you want 8 rounds in your mag tube, you use a one-round extension (Nordic) in addition to the regular extension.
* don't know if they even make an M4 barrel with a vent rib. Ghost ring sights are great for shooting slugs but slower for everything else you'll do on a stage.
* potential 922(r) concerns
* lot more expensive!! This may be the biggest reason you don't see many of them!! Benellis are already pricey enough! And when you have such an expensive & premium shotgun it gets harder to pay someone start removing material from your receiver!
Note that Benelli does make a straight stock for the M4.

You noted M2 with wood stock or black PG. IMHO, I'd go with a straight stock. Also wood is pretty but I'd go with synthetic. My two cents.

And you sure could swap out barrels for 3-gun and hunting. You don't really even need to change stocks, you could hunt with a PG too if you wanted! Easy enough too to remove the extended mag tube or use a plug if you need to limit the mag.

By the way, I actually have a take-off 26" vent rib M2 barrel that I've been intending to sell but haven't gotten around to listing. It's even been worked over by Melhorn for reliability (polished/etc and sprinkled his magic pixie dust on it) and he added a hi-viz fiber sight. I was thinking someone who shoots open might be interested in it since it had the extra gunsmithing, but it sure would work great for hunting.

[ar15barrels]

By the way, I actually have a take-off 26" vent rib M2 barrel that I've been intending to sell but haven't gotten around to listing. It's even been worked over by Melhorn for reliability (polished/etc and sprinkled his magic pixie dust on it) and he added a hi-viz fiber sight. I was thinking someone who shoots open might be interested in it since it had the extra gunsmithing, but it sure would work great for hunting.

Do M2 barrels drop into M1 receivers?
If so, let's make a deal.
I have a ghost ring gun and a rifle sight gun, but no rib/hiviz gun.
Just been looking for a barrel to try...

[randy]

Somebody in our squad was using a multicolored Benelli. It was either Jack or Rob.

Lisa Renich from Bakersfield has the coolest painted shotgun I've seen.