Benelli M2 vs Benelli M4 vs Beretta 1301

[saber]

[hunterb]

If you're gonna 3-gun or shoot clays, get the M2 with a 26" or longer barrel, field stock (non-pistol grip).
If you've got a good budget and want to get the absolute best assault shotgun, get the M4. 1301 is the best value. Not quite the M4, but great bang for the buck.

M2 is most versatile and what I would get in hindsight. I got the M4. Love it, but it is a heavy beast, and you inevitably spend money upgrading it.

Just my 2 cents

[therealnickb]

Super Nova is pretty nice...

[Master_Prestige]

[Boarhuntor]

For HD i'd never go with anything which does not have a breach barrel and ability to attach a bayonet.

[W.R.Buchanan]

You might want to look at a Mossberg 500 or 590.

A Pump Gun for HD use is a little more user friendly than a SA, and just as much fun to run in a class.

Here's a pic of my M500 house gun. It is kept "Cruiser Ready" fully loaded no round in chamber, by the bed with a loaded fabric side saddle,,, total 12 rounds on board.

When you get it make sure you get a barrel with Rifle Sights and send the barrel to www.Vangcomp.com to get the full treatment. It will do things a Benelli or Beretta only Dreams of for half the cost.

Randy

[bug_eyedmonster]

I have both Benellis and previously owned a 1301 Tac. While I did enjoy the Breetta, I still prefer the Benellis over it. I also have several M1S90s, which are great shotguns as well. If I had to choose which shotgun specifically for 3 gun, I'd get the M2 as you saw in a previous post. If it had to double as a HD gun, nothing runs like the M1S90 for me, personally.

With that being said, for HD, we have nothing but 870 variations.

Jerry

[L84CABO]

I'm a Benelli guy over Berettas but the 1301 is, most certainly, a quality gun.

The m2 is an inertia gun. The m4 is gas. The m4 will be a little softer shooting over the m2. And there may be limits to how many accessories you can attach to the m2 as excessive weight may affect reliability because of the inertia system. The m2 has the benefit of being able to obtain longer barrels. With the m4 you are stuck with 18.5" as there are no other options...err...except there is a 14" barrel if you have legal way of obtaining one.

The m4...in my opinion...is the pinnacle of semi auto home defense shotguns. The m2 is a fantastic gun though and may be more versatile given the ability to secure longer barrels. You can't go wrong with either one.

Without going into all the gory details, do note that the Benellis fall under Federal 922R laws since they are imported shotguns. If you wanted to, say, swap the factory 5 round mag tube on the m4 for a seven rounder, it will cost between $200-$400 for the three additional parts needed to keep it 922R compliant and depending on which options you go with. So be sure to factor that cost into your decision making process.

If you are sitting there scratching your head and saying to yourself, "what the hell is he talking about with 922R," you need to do a bit more research. Note that Beretta probably falls under 922R too if it is an imported shotgun. But I have no idea about the availability of the after market parts as I've never converted one. There are plenty of after market parts for the m2 given its domination in 3Gun circles.

[W.R.Buchanan]

There are Stoegers which are Turkish made Benelli's as well in the $600 range for essentially the same gun. I don't like the shell trip on the Benelli's.

The main problem with these guns is that you need to get exactly what you want the first time. The Aftermarket Parts are expensive! and it's not like you just go down to the corner gun shop and pick them up. They are hard to find.

There are plenty of other options that don't have these problems built in.

I have shot a M4 Benelli and a 1301 at a Front Sight Class, and the owners both shot my Auto 5. I liked these guns alot but they are cost prohibitive.

But,,, I liked my A5 better and so did they, it was easier to run and just as fast if not faster ? Definitely faster to come back from shooting it dry.(Speed Load)

What really frosted them was liking my $500,,, 55 year old gun better than their new $1300- $1600 guns.

Briley makes a really nice Mag Tube Extension for the A5 and other guns. $100. No 922R to deal with either.

The other options are Remington or Mossberg Pump Guns which have tons of inexpensive options available, and Brownell's has them all in their catalog.

Randy

[Ubermcoupe]

I think the M2 has more options for 3-gun and for clays (and bird hunting...). The market on the M2 is pretty far out there as well. I try and scope options via brownells to save a few dollars when I can.

M4 is DOPE. I picked up a used one for a song a year or so ago off GB for an actual honest used price - 2/3 of MSRP. Sure it was used, but I bought it to use, and for that price... who wouldn't. I was on the auction ring for a 3 months before finally winning one in my price range. All depends on what you want and when you need it.

My M3, however - def my favorite, but I like really weird odd-duck guns.

TL;DR - HD + shooting around in the desert or the private range, or even a class - M4

Something for competition - M2

[hardcore4sure]

I'm a Benelli guy over Berettas but the 1301 is, most certainly, a quality gun.

The m2 is an inertia gun. The m4 is gas. The m4 will be a little softer shooting over the m2. And there may be limits to how many accessories you can attach to the m2 as excessive weight may affect reliability because of the inertia system. The m2 has the benefit of being able to obtain longer barrels. With the m4 you are stuck with 18.5" as there are no other options...err...except there is a 14" barrel if you have legal way of obtaining one.

The m4...in my opinion...is the pinnacle of semi auto home defense shotguns. The m2 is a fantastic gun though and may be more versatile given the ability to secure longer barrels. You can't go wrong with either one.

Without going into all the gory details, do note that the Benellis fall under Federal 922R laws since they are imported shotguns. If you wanted to, say, swap the factory 5 round mag tube on the m4 for a seven rounder, it will cost between $200-$400 for the three additional parts needed to keep it 922R compliant and depending on which options you go with. So be sure to factor that cost into your decision making process.

If you are sitting there scratching your head and saying to yourself, "what the hell is he talking about with 922R," you need to do a bit more research. Note that Beretta probably falls under 922R too if it is an imported shotgun. But I have no idea about the availability of the after market parts as I've never converted one. There are plenty of after market parts for the m2 given its domination in 3Gun circles.

Mesa Tactical and Aridus industries make everything you need.
My 1301 as it currently sits, is lighter, recoils less and is easily $500-$1000 cheaper than an an M4. No brainier IMhO

[pzbike]

Less expensive, more reliable,

1301

[meno377]

I’m looking to up my shotgun game and pick up one of these shotguns for Home Defense and an occasional shotgun class.

I was using a Benelli Supernova but have decided to upgrade.

Anyone have any thoughts or suggestions?


Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk

M2-field model: Break Clays? Yes. Hunting? Yes. HD? Yes. Shotgun Class? Yes.

M4: Break Clays? No. Hunting? No. HD? Yes. Shotgun Class? Yes.

1301: Break Clays? No. Hunting? Not really. HD? Yes. Shotgun Class? Yes.

[therealnickb]

M4 does fine in all those categories.

[saber]