Benelli M4 - Reliability

[fallfornoone]

out of the box you need to disassemble the whole gun and clean everything and lube it up, then break it in. once broken in the M4 will shoot anything.

[MoltoMario]

I have about 200 rounds thought my M4. It cycles the light loads, but not all the time. I get a few stove pipes every now and then. 00buck and slugs ALWAYS cycle. I just took her all apart and lubed and cleaned everything so well see how she cycles now. It's the nicest shotgun I've ever shot. Last outting I shot some clays with a Rem 870 and mossy 500 both of witch were more set up for clays and my Benelli held up just fine. Not to mention is a little easier on your shoulder, plus unloading all 7 rounds in like 2 seconds is always fun

I also just found out Benelli is no longer making the Desert Camo version like mine. She's NEVER going anywhere now! Maybe one day ill pass it and my Python along to my son!

[Mitch]

ALCON:

1. Would it be appropriate to make the claim that the Benelli M4 is one of few semi automatic shotguns that are just as reliable as a pump action shot gun?

How reliable is a pump?

Our first Benelli M4 failed twice in two different combat shotgun courses (which is the best place to stress test gear of any kind).

The first time it simply stopped working. The instructor, Louis Awerbuck, said he'd seen it happen before and suggested I saturate the action with oil. I did so and it worked for a while, but then seized up again. More oil, and it worked for a while before I switched to an 870.

A little later I sent an employee to a similar class. He wanted to use the M4, but I said he would need to bring an 870 with him as well, just in case. During the class one of the M4's pistons broke in two, and so he, too, ended the class with the 870.

I have had no problems with our M4s since then. The Benelli M4 is certainly my favorite semi-auto shotgun.

Like all gear, any shotgun is subject to failure during high intensity usage. On the other hand, most shotguns should work fine with moderate usage.

I've hip fired my M4 just to see if it would work.

It did.

It's gas-operated, so firing from the hip had no effect on the operation. On the other hand, you might well have problems firing the inertia action Benelli M1/M2 from the hip.

[45Fan]

Yes, pumps do malfunction, usually user induced. People short stroke them while pumping the action.

Now new out of the box, late production 870's have problems locking up and malfunctioning. Some work just fine.

[CK_32]

Supposedly the most reliable semi out there..

And my 930 was supposedly the most unreliable... 300 rounds light/head loads slug buck and bird and not a single issue with t 930. So take it for what it's worth.

Personal I wouldn't ever buy one being their price. If I had that money to spend I'd prefer another 930, SLP or a versa max

[CK_32]

Now new out of the box, late production 870's have problems locking up and malfunctioning. Some work just fine.

I've sourced this to low end ammo. Being my cousins mid 80s 500, a 590 and my 2 870s all tended to get hung up on Winchester universal and rarely once and a blue moon fed bulk.. Other than that my 870s have run fine right along with 500s and 590s.

Again common denominator tends to be Winchester bulk which almost all pump shooters shoot now.. Which is why this is more common.

[hcbr]

That would be appropriate but they are overpriced for what they are . I guess if you sell them to the military at a certain price it would be possible to sell it to the public at a lower price.

I'm a fan of the FN SLP. It cycles faster than the M4 and ultra reliable. FN SLP fastest cycling shotgun on the planet and cost significantly less than the M4.

^^^ THIS! Don't get me wrong, the M4 is one of the most reliable and great shotguns, but I agree, way too overpriced due to the name. FN has Browning and Winchester under their belt and proven track record for shotguns (i Own a couple of SX3's and SXP) and it's best bang for the buck.

Likewise OP, if the M4 is your cup of tea, go get her, but keep in mind, their are other options, that are comparable if not better, but way less!

The SLP has been on my "to get eventually" list

[JDPhx501]

Yes, pumps do malfunction, usually user induced. People short stroke them while pumping the action.

Now new out of the box, late production 870's have problems locking up and malfunctioning. Some work just fine.

Yup, a guy running a pump kept short stroking and jamming the action while I was shooting my M4 at the clay stations once. I had him set the gun down and then just racked the hell out of the slide to free the shell.

The people running pumps in training class are also more tired at the end of the session than people running semis. You def. need to train more and harder if running a pump. Did Stan's 101 class at TASC last month. He had extra time after 4 hours and asked if anyone wanted to stay on and run a few more drills,most of the people running pumps were done by then and only us running M4s and SPXs stayed on.

[Dhena81]

I had a Benelli M4 that had thousands of rounds through it and it only choked when I was running winchester birdshot. I loved the gun it was amazing to shoot I sold it because it was just to expensive to feed because I always wanted to do mag dumps because it was so soft shooting. The main gripes I had with the Benelli m4 was it seemed like a lot of money to spend on a shotgun I had around 2k into it plus the weight and adding a light where issues. I sold it for almost what I payed and bought a 590A1 and haven't looked back it does everything I would need a shotgun to do just not quite as awesome as the Benelli did but close.

[sirgiles]

my m4 out the box would not cycle birdshot. slugs and buckshot worked well.

same here.
had issues too with reduced recoil ammo.

my 930 spx spit out everything out of the box.

[ERdept]

Absolutely NO, if you use low wall.

Some may cycle,some not.

I've several M2's and 2 M4's. The M4's did worst with low wall.

IT"S meant for full power killing rounds. But, some will cycle, some won't.

I've found more M2's cycle low wall then M4's.


IF YOU ARE LOCAL, you may try my M2 at Insight. But it's got a lightened bolt, and a lot of other work for 3 gun.

[ParadigmShift]

For anyone having issues with M4 cycling birdshot... Try Federal brand. Mine cycles them without fail.

So far the only thing mine doesn't like is Winchester brand bird, cycles everything else no problem.

slp comes with 2 systems for light loads and reg loads. m4 is worth the money but capacity upgrades are always sold out.

Also this, why would I want to fumble around switching the gas pistons? There's nothing better than a Benelli M4 imho ... well....maybe except an AA-12

[walmart_ar15]

That would be appropriate but they are overpriced for what they are . I guess if you sell them to the military at a certain price it would be possible to sell it to the public at a lower price.

I'm a fan of the FN SLP. It cycles faster than the M4 and ultra reliable. FN SLP fastest cycling shotgun on the planet and cost significantly less than the M4.

Benelli M1/M2 and Beretta 1200/1201 are the 2nd fastest shotguns, Browning 5 is the fastest. Not that the split sec delta will make any difference in rec shooters.

[jdben92883]

What grip/stance have you used to force a misfire on your M4? I have yet to find one for either of mine. M1 is another story.

What you have to aware of concerning some semi-auto shotguns, is that there reliability is somewhat tied to proper stance and grip. If held improperly, the action will not cycle properly.

[JDPhx501]

Perhaps the OP can better clarify why they want discussion on M4 vs Pump, which as is looks like opening a can of worms kind of question. What pump shotgun specifically? Not all pump shotguns are built equally just as not all semis are built the same. Does OP want to buy an M4 for HD but balks at the price tag because a pump can do the same? Or does OP plan to use it for competition, to which I would say there are better options for that than the M4 as it was designed as a combative platform.

In my experience, when it comes to the M4, either you have one or want one Everytime at the range it never fails to bring people wanting to see it, shoot it, talk about it, or just watch it in action. In fact, I'm alittle over it and wish people would stop gawking and go buy one.

Yes, it is expensive but hey if you own multiple ARs, you can own a stock M4. I'll never be more than a mediocre AR shooter but the M4 is my favorite shotgun and I picked to be best with it.

I love mine and it is absolutely my first choice for home defense. Its been abso doesn't matter to me that the SLP or VersaMax can cycle a split second faster, I use it for HD and I need to account for my shots if it comes down to it.

I feel like this thread has brought out the haters seeing an opportunity to bash it so I will just post a pic with the new Streamlight added. These are my go to HD weapons