Benelli M1 Tactical on the way, a few questions...

P

Paochow

New member
Hi,
I have been contemplating a shotgun purchase for the past few months and after finding this message board several days ago and reading many of the positive comments regarding the Benelli M1 Tactical, I ordered one yesterday (PG and Ghost Ring). I have also ordered several accessories for the gun, SideSaddle, Wolff RP recoil Spring, Giles Sling, and Magazine Extension, and am trying to track down a standard stock at a decent price.

I have a few questions regarding which ammunition to use in this gun, since my local stores are all having hunting sales this week. This is my first shotgun, so I apologize if my questions seem a little basic.

1.) Is the gun proofed for using steel shot? I'm assuming it is since pretty much every modern shotgun I have seen is.

2.)Can the IC choke be used for shooting slugs, or should the Cylinder choke only be used?

3.) Which choke should be used for 00 and 000 buckshot, or is it more of a personal preference?

4.) What do oz and dram refer to in shotshell specifications? I though dram was the powder weight, by my friend told me the oz measurement was powder weight??

According to the Benelli site, the M1 can shoot down to a 3dram 1 1/8 oz. shell, will I have to install the Wolff reduced Power Recoil Spring to shoot the ultra-cheap 3 1/4 dram 7/8 oz target loads?

5.) Any break-in recommendations? I was planing on partially disassembling the shotgun first, making sure all the potential wear areas are adequately lubed. Then shooting a few boxes of 3" magnum shells throught the gun to break it in.

Thanks for all of your help.
 
1. Don't know this one.

2. Both IC and Cylinder may be used for shooting slugs.

3. Cylinder or IC should be used for buckshot. Tighter chokes may be used, but in general will not pattern well. This is because the shot will collide with each other when using constricted chokes -- thus causing pellet deformation. Pellet deformation = bad aerodynamics, which causes "flyers" in your pattern. IC and Cylinder will reduce the possibility of pellet damage and decrease the number of "flyers" in your pattern.

4. I believe you are correct, dram is powder weight and ounces is shot charge weight. I have never had a problem shooting low-recoil (including cheap birdshot) in my M1S90 Tactical (no Wolff spring in mine) but YMMV. I'd say stick with the factory spring and swap it out only if you experience trouble after break-in.

5. I think you've got a good break-in procedure. I personally didn't have to do anything with my gun out of the box -- it shot low-recoil and birdshot straight out of the box.

Justin



------------------
Justin T. Huang, Esq.
late of Kennett Square, Pennsylvania
 
To answer your first question, the choke tube will say whether or not it is ok for steel shot. In the set that came with my HK M1S90, two of the three were proofed for steel shot.

Remember that unless your gun is pre-ban ('94 or earlier) or you are a cop or in the military, putting an extended mag tube in combination with that pistol grip is a FELONY. Now if you are only installing the two round extension, you're ok. But if you are installing the 4-round extension, even with the limiter plug installed, you are breaking the law.

Other than that, you have purchased one of the finest autoloading shotgun available.
 
The term "Dram" is a unit of measurement of power of the shell. It is based on old/outdated procedures for shotshell loading and and rating them for their "power." It is only used as a comparison rating for shotshells and that is why you see it as "Dram equivilant."
It is kind of like a +P rating for handgun ammo.

NJW in AZ
 
Wow thanks for all the help.

Icopy, I am aware of the 5rd limit, that is why I am trying to tracking down a standard stock to use in until I am employed in Law Enforcement. It is legal (unless prohibited by local/state regulations) to have 5+ rd capacity as long as a standard stock is installed, right?
 
Paochow,

Looks like most of your questions have been answered. However, allow me to add the following, based on my recent experience with my M1S90.

2. The IC choke can be used for shooting slugs. Mine only came with IC, M, and F; no "Cylinder" choke :( . This goes without saying, but don't shoot the gun without a choke tube installed (if that's what you mean by "Cylinder" choke).

5. At the suggestion of someone on this forum, I broke mine in with 30 rounds of 3" target loads (over the course of 3 weeks). This past weekend, I attended a two day tactical shotgun course in which I shot 250+ rounds consisting of Federal Tactical 00, Winchester Tactical 00, Federal #7 1/2 (1-1/8 oz) birdshot, and Federal Tactical slugs. Not one failure. So it would seem that breaking in with the magnum loads is good advice.
 
<BLOCKQUOTE><font size="1" face="Verdana, Arial">quote:</font><HR>Originally posted by RHC:
How long is the barrel on the Benelli Tactical?[/quote]

18"
 
Paochow --

You put on the standard stock and you're good to go with the larger magazine capacity. By the way, the Giles Sling is nice. I have one myself.
 
Glad to hear the Giles sling works well, i couldn't find much info on it, but the ad I read on it seemed to sell it.

Does anyone know where to find the Non Adjustable Tactical Stock (the one with the sling attachment points on each side)? I haven't found anywhere that has it in stock yet, everywhere seems to have the adjustable stock with the sling swivel on the bottom, which I don't think will work with my Giles sling.

Also do Beretta brand chokes work in the Benelli? My local stores only have Beretta chokes. I have seen aftermarket chokes that fit both Benelli and Beretta, so I would assume they are the same size pitch.
 
Paochow --

Do answer your choke question: yes. Beretta chokes will work on the benelli. They're actually very similiar guns. For instance, the trigger group is the same.

As for the stock, check out Brownells. They sell all the factory parts for Benelli. Prices are Ok. Once in awhile, CDNN Investments will have the parts as well. Both companyies are online. Have fun.
 
Paochow,

Be careful when installing the sidesaddle. The Benelli is well known for developing problems if the sidesaddle is over-tightened. They may stop cycling the lighter loads when you add any extra weight (saddle, mad extension, SureFire forend etc.). Despite what the Benelli web site may say, these guns do differ in what they will cycle reliably. Mine cycled everything until I put the SureFire on it, while others that I know of are very picky.

Also, I advise getting a Patternmaster choke tube (~$75). This will tighten your buckshot patterns considerably and works fine with slugs. It is much cheaper than having a Vang comp job on the Benelli.
 
jfrancis, tell me more about these Patternmaster choke tubes.

Are you recommending a specific choke when you said, "they will work fine for buckshot and slugs"?

I 've done some patterning withg my benelli and I am not very pleased with the performance of the Benelli "full" choke. Buckshot pattern was pretty distorted and still fairly wide. The pattern seems to be slightly more even with the "IC" choke.

I also found that the "IC" choke worked very well with some Remington 1oz slugs!

Do tell...

CMOS

------------------
NRA? Good. Now join the GOA!

The NRA is our shield, the GOA will be our sword.
 
Wow what a great gun!!! I received it last Friday and took it out hunting and clay shooting this past weekend. The rate of fire is phenomenal! I never thought a shotgun could be capable of such rapid follow-up shots. I put approximately 300 rounds through it this weekend (everything from 3" mag hunting and buckshot loads to ultra cheap 7/8oz 3 1/4 dram target loads.) I had very few problems, even with the light loads, although the gun would not cycle the lightest loads reliably if fired from the hip. Also my friend was unable to have the gun cycle the light loads when firing from his shoulder, but he was "giving" into the recoil too much, much like when I was hip shooting. A minor annoyance that can be easily solved by spending $.50 more per box for better ammo.

The giles sling works great, after roaming the woods eight hours each day, my arms were hardly tired. After these outings my friend became interested in purchasing a giles for use on his 870.

I was planning on installing the sidesaddle today, but need to go get some locktite, and a plastic washer to protect the gun's finish from the support bolt. I was also considering covering the gun facing side of the saddle with electrical tape to prevent possible finish wear, or is this not a problem?

Also for those who have had problems with reliable cycling of light loads after installing the saddle is this only when the saddle is loaded with shells, or when empty as well? I would think that the saddle shouldn't interfere when empty, as long as the screws are not overtightened (use locktite instead).
 
Paochow --

I'm glad you like your M1. It's an awesome weapon. Two tid bits for you. Since the M1 is recoil operated, you can limp wrist it just like an auto pistol, as you and your friend already experienced. This is more common with lighter loads. Also, the sidesaddle malfunction usually happens in combination with the forearm light attachment. So, if you only use the sidesaddle, you should be cool. If you plan on adding a tactical light in combination with the sidesaddle, you may have troubles. This is one of the main reasons that led Benelli to make the soon-to-be-released M4. The M4 is the new military shotgun. It's gas-operated and can handle heavy attachments. Enjoy your new M1S90.
 
CMOS,

I use the Patternmaster exclusively on my M1S90 (for buckshot, birdshot and slugs). It will keep all 9 pellets of Federal Reduced Recoil 00 buckshot within a 6-8" circle at 25 yards. Headshots on IDPA-type targets are quite possible at 15 yards. They have a web site and are also available through Cabella's.
 
jfrancis - let me get this straight - you're saying the Patternmaster "Full" choke will keep a 6-8 inch pattern at 25 yards with Fed Tac "00"????

The Benelli full choke produces ~24" patterns for me.

Please confirm that pattern size!

Thanks,
CMOS

------------------
NRA? Good. Now join the GOA!

The NRA is our shield, the GOA will be our sword.
 
CMOS,

That is correct. At least for my gun. I cannot guarantee that your barrel will pattern as tight. What I will say, is that you can expect the Patternmaster to significantly shrink the group. You may also have to play around with different sources of buckshot. Mine definitely prefers the Fed Reduced Recoil 00, although their 000 buck gives similar results.

I have taken several shotgun classes in which I had the opportunity to compare my Benelli's patterns with Vang Comped 870s and 11-87s. The Patternmaster produced results that were at least as good and sometimes better. Of course, some may argue that you can overdo it since you end up with the equivalent of a 12 gauge rifle!
 
The latest issue (November) of SWAT magazine has an article about the shotguns of Scattergun Technologies (now Wilson Combat). The writer was not too happy with the patterning of his T&E gun and recommended it be fitted with a Patternmaster. He was quoting 5-shot groups under 7" at 25 yards......
 
[whistling]

Very cool. I'm going to play with my Cabela's catalog when I get home.

Do you happen to know the part number for the choke you have?

Thanks,
CMOS

------------------
NRA? Good. Now join the GOA!

The NRA is our shield, the GOA will be our sword.
 
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