Benelli m2 tactical vs benelli m4

[Packy14]

Contemplating an m2 tac... Any reason to pay more for the m4? HD and occasional trap is goal.

[sleepur606]

I might be mistaken but isn't the M4 only available in shorter, tactical versions either with or without the pistol grip?

If you plan on using it for anything other than home defense, paper punching, or 3 gun competitions, I'd go with the ability to have a longer barrel. Even a 20-22" barrel can be decent for busting clays while still being somewhat maneuverable around the house.

Have you, by chance, looked at the Remington 1100 Tac4? 22" barrel, full length mag tube extension, still semi auto, and lots of options for stocks if you wanted to change. From the looks of it, your Benelli choices limit you to 18-18.5" and you'll be stuck with that. Most guys will tell you 18 inch barrels, especially those with fixed chokes, are HORRIBLE for skeet/trap.

Hope that helps a little.

[POWG]

Added an M4 to our "loaner guns" for training. Pistol grip, ghost ring rear and blade front sights ...too much "junk on the barrel for my liking" ...and don't really care for the pistol grip. I have simply shot far, far too many clay targets over the years to appreciate these "add ons". Aside from that ...the M4 is a great gun.

I have ordered a "slick" M2 ...meaning conventional grip ...no rail on receiver and nothing more than a fibre optic front sight over a 20" vent rib barrel. With that set up I could shoot anything ...including playing at trap or skeet despite short barrel.

As for defense/tactical use ...personally I would not feel handicapped in any way without all the junk on the barrel and am confident students using the M@ in defensive training IMO will be better off as well. M2 also is a great gun and with auto loaders ...Benelli has always been and will remain my first choice.

Understand ...there is no "one gun" for everything - which is a good thing as one can never have too many guns!

Hope this helps a little.

Powg is out.

[therealnickb]

My m4 is a hoot for clays and a joy with slugs or full load 00.

Ps you can change the choke. But I have not found it necessary to do so.

[Austin794]

m2 all the way, I have handed both and just love the lighter M2.

[Rumline]

M2 owner here. My advice is (surprise) to get the M2. M4 is cool but the M2 with Comfortech and the regular grip is the cat's meow to me. Pistol grip on a 12-guage was just too much wrist pain for me. You can always add toys to the M2 if you want. Mesa Tactical makes a receiver-mounted picatinny rail for red dot / optics. The receiver is pre-drilled for mounting this rail. Nordic Components makes a barrel / mag tube clamp that has picatinny rails for mounting lights, lasers, whatever you want. Not to mention extended mag tubes.

If you do get the M2, and want to go the multiple-barrel route (one for clay games, one for home defense) my advice would be to buy the gun with the longer barrel first, then get the 18.5" barrel on GunBroker. I bought mine in the 18.5" tactical configuration and I'm having a hell of a time finding a longer barrel for it. Well, there are some available, but all in camo...which I don't necessarily want. By contrast there are always a number of 18.5" barrels for sale. Or just go for a single 22" barrel and be done with it.

[Packy14]

thanks for the advice!

[AM9000]

The M4 is a better defense weapon. I own an M4 and an M1. When I hand the M1 to somone who hasnt shot it, the first 2 or 3 rounds are almost allways stove pipes because most people dont naturally choke up on the gun and shoulder it in a way that provides enough support for the recoil powered action to work. Granted, I can shoot the gun without a single hiccup because I know how to shoulder it they way it likes.

The M4 on the other hand works in anyone's hands the first time. My M1 stays in the safe until we are going to shoot clays. The M4 is on guard duty under the bed.


EDIT: My wife loves the M1 for its light weight. Even though the recoil is a little heavier, she loves that she can handle it and swing it around without a problem. The M4 is quite a bit heavier.

[3GunFunShooter]

I have a M2 Salient. Great gun. Everything runs thru it. Mine is set up for 3 Gun. 8+1 and I could put a longer mag tube to 10+1. Most all 3 gunners use the M2 over the M4.

[tlillard23]

M3 FTW

[Dhena81]

I took my M4 out and did some trap shooting and it took some getting used to because of the ghost ring sights. I think if you plan on shooting slugs sights are a must but for HD a bead or a FOS is all you need and are actually much faster something I learned shooting trap with ghost ring sights.

I've never shot an M2 but I can't imagine recoil being a problem if I'm not mistaken the M2 has an adjustable gas system which will help you tune it to cycle low brass reliably. My M4 is picky with certain lots and manufactures of low brass and some low recoil buck the M4 is tuned for combat loads the M2 IMO seems like more of a jack of all trades.

I will never sell my M4 though the action is like its riding on ball bearings and the recoil with full power 00 and slugs is almost no existent everyone that has shot it loves it until I tell them the price and all the upgrades I've done to it

[esskay]

I took my M4 out and did some trap shooting and it took some getting used to because of the ghost ring sights. I think if you plan on shooting slugs sights are a must but for HD a bead or a FOS is all you need and are actually much faster something I learned shooting trap with ghost ring sights.

I've never shot an M2 but I can't imagine recoil being a problem if I'm not mistaken the M2 has an adjustable gas system which will help you tune it to cycle low brass reliably. My M4 is picky with certain lots and manufactures of low brass and some low recoil buck the M4 is tuned for combat loads the M2 IMO seems like more of a jack of all trades.

I will never sell my M4 though the action is like its riding on ball bearings and the recoil with full power 00 and slugs is almost no existent everyone that has shot it loves it until I tell them the price and all the upgrades I've done to it

The M2 is an inertia system; it is not adjustable. With a lighter load like 7 1/2 1 oz birdshot, it might not always cycle reliably. Some people have a gunsmith lighten the bolt in their 3-gun shotguns but I wouldn't do this for a defensive shotgun.

You are right, the M4 is a sweet shooting gun, can run full power slugs all day. The M2 (even with Comfortech stock) kicks pretty hard with this kind of ammo.

For a multi-purpose shotgun, the M2 is more versatile with the various types of barrels available. The M4 would not be a great trap gun.

[Jeffy]

The M2 is an inertia system; it is not adjustable. With a lighter load like 7 1/2 1 oz birdshot, it might not always cycle reliably. Some people have a gunsmith lighten the bolt in their 3-gun shotguns but I wouldn't do this for a defensive shotgun.

You are right, the M4 is a sweet shooting gun, can run full power slugs all day. The M2 (even with Comfortech stock) kicks pretty hard with this kind of ammo.

For a multi-purpose shotgun, the M2 is more versatile with the various types of barrels available. The M4 would not be a great trap gun.

Swap the recoil spring in the 'Tactical' for a 'Field' and it will eat lighter loads with no problems.

[esskay]

Swap the recoil spring in the 'Tactical' for a 'Field' and it will eat lighter loads with no problems.

Hm, didn't know about the different recoil springs, thanks.

I do have an M2 Field, and it doesn't always like 1oz 7 1/2 bird. 1 1/8 oz bird runs great.

Should add it has no problems with low recoil slugs or low recoil buckshot (or full power slugs or buckshot for that matter).

[perpetual otter]

I love my benelli m2 tactical. I got mine with the comfortech and ghost ring sights (i sometimes wish I got the rifle sights for longer distance slug shooting) and it is a joy to run. I'm running a Mesa tactical 6 shell carrier on the receiver, all the Dave's metal works enhanced controls and his 7 round tube extension. So far I have not one malfunction, even with heavy slugs in all 6 slots, loaded tube with Federal military buck and shooting the winlite winchester low recoil stuff. It eats up all the Walmart universal loads and low recoil slugs from Winchester and fiochi. I'm even impressed with the patterns of the federal military buck at 15 yards and how tight it stays.

My experience with the M4, while limited have also been good but the gas system and the price difference makes me glad I went with the M2.