Trying to choose a Benelli tactical...

Z

zx11rider

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My goal is primarily a semiauto home defense shotgun that I can occassionally use for skeet or trap. I plan to mount a surefire fore end and possibly a side saddle, and will shoot some sort of reduced recoil tactical load.

I understand the m1 (and m3) being inertia driven are impacted by both mounting equipment and low recoil loads. After a solid break in period, would it be reasonable to expect my planned setup to function well? If not, I'll probably go with a m4... but why did they make the m4 capacity 4+1 versus the m1/m3 5+1?

Lastly, I checked out an m3, and despite Benelli literature I didn't find it to be a true "pump" gun when switched. Instead of just racking the slide, I had to turn that ring each time, rack the slide, then depress the bolt release button. Is there some way to lock it in pump mode and have it work like a real pump action?
 
Honestly I would highly recommend the M3 because that is the Benelli I would buy and I personally think its an all-around awesome shotgun, but after reading your post I did not know that you have to switch it everytime you pump. I thought that once you switch it to pump it stays locked in that mode until you switch it back to semi-auto. If thats the case, where you have to switch it after everytime you pump, that really isn't very convienent. I would go with either the M1 or the M4 then, probably the M4 since its new :) If the Marines picked it, you can't go wrong ;)
 
My M3, which I know to function properly, does not require me to unlock the ring every time I work the fore end. I think the one you handled was either not working properly or you received incorrect instruction as to how to operate it.
 
I would suggest you stick with the basic shotgun and forget the gimmicks.The added weight of light etc may interfere with functioning. Lights make a wonderfull aiming point for the BG. If you can't do the job with 4 12 gage rounds you really have a problem....My 24" M1 90 is for everything, hunting ,target and defense ,I don't need anything else. If you like gas operated better get the M4.....The reduced 'tactical' rounds have been found to be quite effective.
 
SKN: I found that the fore end would lock itself after a full return stroke. Is there some trick to locking that ring or somehow preventing it from locking to keep it in pump mode? Do you have any accessories mounted on your m3 and do you ever fire low recoil rounds? Any problems?

Mete: the light is a must have, I'd rather have it and not need it...

I really want the m1 (or m3) over the m4 for a couple of reasons (weight, price, maintenance). Can any m1 owners with tac lights comment on using low recoil rounds after a good break in period? Do lighter springs help, and can you use such springs with full loads?
 
Don't do it. Get a gun that WORKS when you hang stuff on it. If you want a Benelli get one but leave it alone, they work pretty good that way. For the additions you want you NEED a gas operated gun to assure reliability. Weight and maintenance is close enough to be considered the same between a quality gas gun and the Benelli, and price of a good gas gun will leave you a good chunk of change left from what would have been spent on a Benelli.

Take a look at the SuperX2 practical model, it should fit what you want to do nicely.
 
Benellis are neat guns, if over priced. The only reason that the marines wanted to be able to manually pump the sucker was in SHTF situations where they were shooting bean bags or things like that, which do not reliably cycle an auto, but they wanted an auto for everything else that a shotty would be good for. If I had the $ for one, id get one, but *sigh* I dont even have enough to buy a REM :S
 
Beretta 1201FP-completely reliable with any loads, 5+1 capacity, parkerized finish, rugged ghost ring sights, synthetic adjustable stock, hard chrome bolt, field strips including trigger group without a single tool, same rotary bolt action as the Benelli at half the price. Check with anyone in the know that offers tactical shotgun training and they'll tell you out of the box it's perfct for its designated task. ;)
 
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