Benelli M4 vs M2 - Build quality differences?

[Don Nguyen]

I thought I was set on a Remington Versamax, but after handling an M4 earlier today, I was amazed by its build quality. Now the Versamax just feels and looks cheap to me!

Anyways, I want to use the shot gun for occasional skeet as well. So since the M4 only comes in 18.5" barrel lengths, that is a negative since the ranges I would want to go to require 20" barrels are longer.

This led me to look at the M2 as an alternative, since they have longer barrels available. However, I haven't had a chance or been able to handle one in person and I was wondering if the build quality of the M2 is on par with the M4 that I handled.

Thanks!

-Don

[jdben92883]

I went to an M4 from an M1. Build quality of M1 is excellent. I'd expect the same from M2 and lots of 3-gunners use M2 platform and I've never heard anything bad about it. M4 is a WAY softer shooter than M1 though. I absolutely love it.

[Don Nguyen]

I went to an M4 from an M1. Build quality of M1 is excellent. I'd expect the same from M2 and lots of 3-gunners use M2 platform and I've never heard anything bad about it. M4 is a WAY softer shooter than M1 though. I absolutely love it.

That was also my other consideration for the Versamax, which was how a lot of people said how soft of a shooter it was.

It is probably safe to assume that the M2 and M1 probably have the same amount of recoil, since they use the same inertia system? What made you make the switch from M4 to M1?

[Thefeeder]

Start you search for a clays shotgun here

http://www.calguns.net/calgunforum/showthread.php?t=329160

Then go here

http://www.calguns.net/calgunforum/showthread.php?t=751207

[jay_cue]

main difference m4 = gas system, m2 = inertia system.

i could have missed it, but i haven't seen an m4 with a ribbed vent, and thought they were only now sold with a pistol grip. m4 would shoot softer since it runs on a gas system. but with the comfortech stock on the m2 it really shoots soft. I went with a 24" M2 with thoughts of getting into trap and/or 3 gun. I haven't been able to try any 3 gun but have been shooting trap for a couple of months. I was hesitant in buying an M2 at its price without shooting or ever handling it. but with being hard pressed in finding a negative review, I went in with blond fate. the m2 comes with a full set of chokes and shims to adjust the drop. after making a couple adjustments I'm hitting an ave 18-20 in trap. field stripping and cleaning on the M2 I believe is suppose to be easier too.

[Don Nguyen]

main difference m4 = gas system, m2 = inertia system.

i could have missed it, but i haven't seen an m4 with a ribbed vent, and thought they were only now sold with a pistol grip. m4 would shoot softer since it runs on a gas system. but with the comfortech stock on the m2 it really shoots soft. I went with a 24" M2 with thoughts of getting into trap and/or 3 gun. I haven't been able to try any 3 gun but have been shooting trap for a couple of months. I was hesitant in buying an M2 at its price without shooting or ever handling it. but with being hard pressed in finding a negative review, I went in with blond fate. the m2 comes with a full set of chokes and shims to adjust the drop. after making a couple adjustments I'm hitting an ave 18-20 in trap. field stripping and cleaning on the M2 I believe is suppose to be easier too.

Did you buy a certain model to have it come with the full set of chokes, or do all of them come with it?

Thanks.

-Don

[L84CABO]

Benelli makes a hell of a product for sure. I own a M4 but not a M2. Have handled them though. I'd say they're on par with the M4 in terms of quality. At least the ones I've seen. I can't imagine you would be disappointed with one. It's incredibly versatile. You can make it into a HD gun, trick it out for 3 gun, or turn it into a great field/range gun. Or do it all with the right barrels.

Remington makes a good product. But I'd pick an M2 over anything in the Remington stable...all day...every day. The fact that they're the dominant gun in 3 Gun should tell you something about their reliability.

[jay_cue]

Did you buy a certain model to have it come with the full set of chokes, or do all of them come with it?

Thanks.

-Don

no special model. just a 24" m2 field. i believe all m2 come with full set of chokes though.

[jay_cue]

was going to offer to let you shoot it, but you're in irvine. but since you're in irvine you should be near wherever they run the SoCal clinics. you should be able to find someone there that has an M2 and I'm sure will let you shoot it.

[jdben92883]

Had both of them for a while. The M4 is just a much nicer shooter IMO, and I ended up not shooting the M1 at all.

That was also my other consideration for the Versamax, which was how a lot of people said how soft of a shooter it was.

It is probably safe to assume that the M2 and M1 probably have the same amount of recoil, since they use the same inertia system? What made you make the switch from M4 to M1?

[bigbearbear]

My wife uses a M2 Field Compact 12 gauge, it comes with a 26" barrel and a slightly shorter LOP (hence the Compact designation). I don't have a M4 and have only handled it in the store but the build quality seems comparable.

However, make sure you handle the M2 first before you buy it. I say this because the handling of the M2 is very different, its like the difference between a front wheel drive and rear wheel drive car. Unlike the M4 and Versamax, the M2 uses Benelli's Inertial Driven system, this translates into a lighter and slimmer design because the Inertial Driven system is simpler and does not require any components in the fore-end. The feel of the shotgun is very different from the typical gas/piston driven ones with their thick fore-end.

If at all possible, take the M2 out to the skeet or trap field and shoot a few rounds with it to see how you like it.

[1Snowball]

+1 on the m2. I use mine for trap with an 18" barrel and IM choke with no problems. Absolutely recommend.

[NYT]

m2 is definitely on par with the m4, just a different system. inertia vs gas.

[renardsubtil]

My experience with the M4 is that it didn't like cycling target loads (or low recoil slugs) for the first few hundred rounds...something to keep in mind.

If you lived near Livermore, I'd let you try mine....

[Don Nguyen]

I suppose that's all I needed to know/hear. I am that picky with how a gun feels in my hands, so the slimmer body won't be an issue. I can adapt pretty quick to different set ups.

I think the only reason why I looked at the Versamax was because it was reported that it had one of the lowest felt recoils out there for a semi shotgun. This isn't that important to me, since my primary shot gun is a Mossberg 500. However, this was more so a consideration for any new shooters that I took out to shoot for their first time. Most did not like my Mossberg 500 since it had too much recoil, even with bird shot only.