Benelli M3 vs. M1

[Mr.RoDiN]

See the thing is i dont think i will ever "need" the pump action function. My only problem is that i use the value pack ammo from walmart as well. I mean sure now and then use heavier ammo, but for the most part i use he wal mart ammo. I have a Winchester 1300 28 inch. I wanted something semi auto and tactical. I love the M1 and if i knew for a fact it could cycle the lighter wal mart ammo i wouldnt think twice about the m3. But I figured what if it doesnt cycle? At least with the M3 i can use the pump feature. So what do you guys think? If I were to break in the shotugn with heavier loads would it cycle the lighter loads better? Also how many shells do you think it would take to actually Break it in?

[Josh]

I dont think there is a number as to how many shells it would take. Just trial and error. FYI mine works fine with the PG stock and the walmart ammo.

If your that concerend with it go with an 1187 or some other gas operated shotgun.

If you expect to use the pump feature so much you might as well just stay with a pump.

[Mr.RoDiN]

I do not like the remingtons my heart is set on benelli. I do not think i would use the pump feature. As long as your saying the wal mart loads are fine i might as well go with the M1 but i will do more research.

[pasvorn]

FYI, my buddy bought a Remington 1187P at the same time that I bought my M3. Out of the box, the 1187 won't even cycle the Fed tactical Buckshot. I don't think we can generalize that a gas gun is better with lighter load than an inertia system.

Regarding M1 v.s. M3, M1 has an additional advantage that you can change choke tube. Whereas M3 only has fixed imp cylinder. It is fine, but I wish that I can get a full choke to make my pattern a little tighter.

Good luck.

[TonyM]

FYI, my buddy bought a Remington 1187P at the same time that I bought my M3.

MY M1014 has eaten over 500 shells of the Federal Tactical (LE133) loads and never hiccuped. So I still vote for finding a M1014 or a M4.

[dwtt]

I think the semi-pump M3 is a good idea. The semi-manual selection is good for combat, like when you face a group of badguys on foot and some in a car. The buckshot in the magazine can be used against the foot troops in semiauto mode, then switch to manual mode to manually load slugs for the car. Dropping slugs into the action is faster than reloading the magazine with several slugs. The SPAS-12 was designed for this type of use, but the SPAS was outlawed by Roos-Roberti.

[saki302]

The M1 can also be reloaded singly though the ejection port to replace the loaded shell. Either way, it's a highly unlikely scenario. They added that capability on the M1 for your stated reason!

If the M3 is switched to pump mode, you will still need to cycle out the ammo in the magazine, AFAIK, there is no mag cutoff feature on either gun.

-Dave