I have a Benelli M4, and an M1 Super 90 and prefer them over others I have.
FWIW, I have a few other types of defensive shotguns including short Rem 870, Win M12, Ithaca 37, High Standard K120, and a Rem 11 (Browning A5) given the whole treatment.
My favorites were the Benelli M1 and the Rem 11. The M11/A5 may sound like an odd choice, but they are almost indestructible and eat anything I’d use for defense.
A couple of years ago when the Beretta 1301 was taking off, I started thinking I’d get a newer shotgun. I had about retired the M11, and I didn’t like not having a backup to the Benelli.
The front runners for me were the Benelli M2 or M4, and the Beretta 1301. The Beretta A300 Patrol that came out while I was deciding and got addrd to the list.
Prices at the time from the best sources were:
Beretta A300: $1000
Benelli M2 $1300
Beretta 1301 $1400
Benelli M4 $1750
There were a couple of things I didn’t like about the Beretta A300:
-The rear sight and rail were plastic. That might be OK, but I hate the idea of paying $1000 for a shotgun and getting a plastic rear sight.
-The barrel was made at a Stoeger (Beretta-owned) factory in Turkey to Beretta’s specs. This was a no-go for me. I just can’t buy something from a Muslim-ran country. Call me a whatever, but so be it.
That left the M2, 1301, and M4.
The M2 and 1301 were within $100 at most places and usually the Benelli was less. I trusted my Benelli M1, so between that and not saving anything going with Beretta, I eliminated the 1301.
For a clincher, I pulled my Benelli M1 apart to clean it during this time and two things struck me. The Benelli has always been easy to clean. The recoil operation means no gas ports sending crud…anywhere. Wipe the chrome bore and it’s almost done.
The second thing is the “rat tail” bolt link that connects the Benelli M1 bolt to the recoil spring in the stock is a heavy chunk of steel. Every time I saw that piece of iron, I was impressed. No stamped steel piece here.
So after looking and reading and checking everything, one more look inside the M1 decided it for me. I wanted another Benelli.
So now, M2 or M4?
I really preferred the M4 over an M2 but aside from the cool factor I couldn’t come up with a truly good reason. The dual piston system of the M4 shoulda allow a wider array of ammo that worked in it, but this had never been a problem in my M1 so this was almost a theoretical edge.
It was decided when I found a very little used M4 on Gunbroker for M2 money. Sold.
Now that I have the M4, here are some comments and observations:
-You are limited in replacement stocks. I like a shorter stock so I can square up on the gun like a carbine. Shortening a Benelli stock is complicated because it’s hollow plastic. You can do it, but have to use a filler like a wood block to attach the butt plate.
The other way is a replacement stock. The only one I know of is the Mesa Tactical Urbino. It’s a great stock, but you are stuck with a pistol grip and no conventional grip option.
I don’t hate the PG (not a PG-only) stock as much as some, so it wasn’t a big deal to me, but some hate the thought.
-That neutered magazine tube. There are plenty available from many sources and materials, but I hate the idea of it because there is no reason they can’t install a real mag tube in MD or TN before they send them out.
-I hate to use the term because it sounds worse than it is, but I don’t know a better way to put it. Benelli cheaped put some on the M4. The trigger structure is plastic instead of aluminum like on my M1. And that rat tail I bragged about? It’s stacked and riveted standings like most others. They are beefier stampings and rivets, but it’s still not as robust looking as on my M1.
Having said that, none of this has been a problem and I don’t expect it to be. Aluminum trigger units are available if it just kills you.
All I’ll say is: The Marines have been using them for 25 years and if they aren’t tearing them up they must be just fine.
To the good, it has gobbled up everything I’ve loaded in it. Most of that has been the cheapest blasting ammo from WalMart or Rural King. Both current production and old stuff I’ve accumulated worked fine. Win AA “light” might be the weakest I’ve used. The first class I took it to was two weeks after I bought it, and it was the only gun that didn’t have a problem, including the instructor’s Mossberg 590.
It is strangely consistent patterning buckshot. ECS686 posted the targets above from last fall, and it will do that with both Federal Flite Control and Hornady Critical Whatever it is called. Many guns do that with either of those, but what is odd is it does it with various choke tubes. Other guns that I’ve tried Fed FC in, it works great with open chokes but as you go to a tighter choke tube, the pattern blows.
I’ve tried four Beretta/Benelli tubes in this M4: Skeet, two Cyls, and Mod (actual construction of .008 over bore size to .012 under) and the Buck patterns the same. That’s unusual. I did this to find which tube shot slugs most accurately, which turned out to be the Mod tube. I didn’t have to compromise between which tube patterned buckshot the best and what grouped slugs the best. I probably got really lucky there but I had to point it out.
But I should also say that Benellis always seem to be excellent slug shooters.
Anyway, I have the Benny M4 and like it. I would probably have been as happy with an M2 Benelli, but the M4’s operation might give me a little more wiggle room in shells that work.
