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The Benelli M4 is an advanced shotgun for shooters ready to work on their advanced skills.
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Check out Benelli’s guns: https://www.benelliusa.com/m4-tactical-shotgun
Buy one on GunsAmerica: /Search.htm?T=benelli+m4
Speed, precision, and ergonomics aren’t normally things we associate with tactical shotguns. We are accustomed to slower, heavier guns that (at least when compared to rifles and pistols) aren’t easily manipulates, and are slow to feed. Rough edges, loose tolerances, and bead sights are all apart of the experience. The entry model tactical shotgun is almost always effective, but they can feel a bit primitive.
The Benelli M4 is a gun that breaks that traditional lose and gritty mold. While an old pump gun can feel a bit like a pick-up truck, the M4 is the Italian sports car of scatter guns. Fast and effective, the M4 isn’t the traditional tactical shotgun. In fact it takes a completely different approach and acts more like a scalpel than the hammers we all start with.
The M4 is fast. Much faster than a pump gun.
The M4
Let’s start with the action. Semi-automatic tactical guns often have dubious reputations. The varying loads in the 12 gauge family make consistency hard to gauge. Some loads will slam the bolts back. Others won’t provide enough power to eject the shell.
That’s the appeal of the pump. I grew up running pump shotguns and I have always trusted pump shotguns. More importantly I had never found a semi-automatic shotgun that worked as reliably as my beloved Remington 870. And if there is a malfunction with a pump shotgun, the same racking motion used to load each and every shell will clear the chamber.
My love of the pump-gun is what it is. But I’m not one to stick my head in the sand. If there is a better way to do something, I’m open to trying it. And the M4 is the one semiautomatic gun you will always hear cited for reliability in the tactical class.
I’ve spent the last 5 months training with the M4. And I’m talking hard use–around 1500 rounds of buckshot, slugs and mixed high velocity game loads. I’ve come to terms with the semiautomatic combat shotgun and I’m starting to prefer it.
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The M4 isn’t as compact as some of the bullpup upstarts. But the design has proven to be compact enough to move in close quarters.
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Features
Gauge: 12 Ga.
Chamber: 2-3/4″ & 3″
Barrel Length: 18-1/2″ with screw in chokes
Weight: 7.8 Lbs.
Sights: Ghost Ring
Action: semi auto (ARGO) Auto-Regulating Gas-Operated system
Finish: Matte Blued
Choke: removable
Capacity: 4 + 1
MRSP: $1999
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This is how the M4 comes out of the box. You can get the M4 with a straight stock, and in H2O resistant stainless, too.
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Design
To say that the Benelli M4 is a cut above its competition is a gross understatement. In reality this is a gun that is in a class of its own. If we compare the M4 to a pump guns like the Mossberg 500 or Remington 870, price would dictate that the 500 or 870 is the better value. But Benelli makes their own line of less expensive pump guns to compete with the American standards.
Still, there are reasons why the American pump shotguns are household names. Most of the American semi-autos can’t stand up to the M4. The precision and performance of the Benelli makes it stand out like a Clydesdale in a paddock of donkeys.
The dual pistons on the M4 help keep the guts clean.
The M4 is built with speed and reliability in mind. The action of the M4 is driven by the Benelli Argo system. The Argo system is a dual short stroke, self-cleaning gas piston mechanism. The pistons make the action cycle extremely fast while also keeping the bulk of the gasses and grime out of action.
This is a tactical shotgun. Some automatics are finicky. You have to keep them clean and tuned perfectly. If you don’t, you might miss out on a bird, or blow a stage in a competition. But odds are your life isn’t on the line. As cliche as the word “tactical” can be these days, we know the word’s roots. This is a fighting gun. The M4 has to go for long stretches of time without being cleaned, and it still has to run.
But there’s more that makes the platform compelling. The exterior of the gun is built for comfort and functionality. One thing that plagues some shotgun designs is the addition of a pistol grip to what was designed originally as a straight stocked gun. The pistol grip stock of the M4 keeps all the controls in reach and provides a rubber grip to white knuckle as you drive the gun to targets. The forend is ribbed for his or her pleasure. I mean grip. The ribs add a positive griping surface in rain, mud, dust, or while wearing gloves.
Switching out the fixed stock is easy, thanks to forward thinking from Benelli.
Though the factory fixed stock is great and comfortable, I’ve never thought it was all that attractive. Once you remove the stock you will notice the factory buffer tube is already set up for a 3 position collapsible stock. Throw on an aftermarket stock from ProMag or shell out the dough for a N.O.S. Benelli law enforcement stock and the M4 instantly comes into its own. A 3 position stock on the M4 allows the shotgun to be used with body armor or thick winter clothing.
Shooting the M4
The step up to the M4 offers instant results. There is a significant increase in speed, control, and power. Will this instantly make you a better shooter? No. But it will with practice. And this gun inspires confidence.
Another notable part of the shooting experience is its mild recoil impulse. The relatively light recoil comes from a combination of the ARGO system and the weapon’s weight. Shooting 00 Buck and 1oz. slugs won’t rattle your teeth. The gun shrugs off most recoil as the bolt cycles. After the first few range sessions with the M4, I found shooting 50 rounds of 1oz. slugs in the M4 felt as punishing as shooting 5 to 10 shells in my old 870.
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The sights make accurate shot placement easy.
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And the spread from 25 yards is effective at stopping threats.
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While we are speaking of the ARGO system, it is also important to note that the ARGO recoil system is self adjusting. This allows you to mix loads all the way down to mild game loads. You normally can’t get away with bird shot in this gun but you can reliably run a mixed tube of 00 buck, 1oz. slugs, and high velocity game loads. Maybe that’s the one place where an old pump gun just can’t be beaten.
The loading gate is polished allowing the shells to slide in with ease. The loading gate is thumb safe, too. My medium sized thumbs and loading gates don’t normally get along, but I after a few reloads, I had no trouble with the gate.
One immediate change I made was the addition of an extended mag tube.
In its stock configuration the gun holds 4+1–nothing too rave about. In a gun this size, I want more for both defensive and offensive shooting scenarios. Adding an extension or threading a full-length magazine tube on to the gun adds to the capacity. An extension allows for a 7+1 or 8+1 if you ghost load the gun (loading a full tube, the lifter and the chamber).
Ergonomics
From the accessibility of the controls, to the ease of manipulation, the M4 is just a bit more in touch with the shooter. Not everything is perfect form the factory, but with a few outsourced parts (and some time) the gun can easily be perfected.
Let’s start with the good–the safety is over-sized and easily accessed from either side of the pistol grip. The cartridge drop lever is out of the way and protected, but still easily accessible by breaking your grip. The iron sights are adjustable and give you a clean sight picture that is better than most rifles.
The ProMag stock compacts nicely and is easy to extend. Ideal for those who may need a variable length of pull because of armor or heavy clothing.
After running the gun for a while now, I’d like address a few other items. You can replace the bolt handle with an over-sized barrel from Freedom Fighter Tactical; add a larger pad to the bolt release from GG&G and even swap out the stock for an adjustable stock from Pro Mag. After attacking those low spots It’s hard to find anything to dislike about the M4.
Move on up
Guns like the Mossberg 500, and the Remington 870 have been the industry standard tactical shotguns for decades. Pump action dependability gets the job done. But now that I’ve run the M4, they feel like starter guns.
The only reason I can come up with to stick with the old pump platform is price. I used to say it was reliability. The M4 has undercut that old excuse. I’d go so far as to say that the M4 is the upgrade you should make once you’ve mastered pump-action shotgun. It’s the last tactical shotgun you will ever want or need to buy. It’s a gun you would take with you to war, the gun you would wield as society collapsed, the gun you grab when you hear a bump in the night.
Freedom Fighter Tactical Benelli M4 Upgrades
/blog/freedom-fighter-tactical-benelli-m4-upgrades/
Benelli M4 Raven Stock from ATI
/blog/benelli-m4-raven-stock-ati/
ProMag’s Benelli Mods on the Cheap–Review
/blog/promags-benelli-mods-cheap-review/
Check out Benelli’s guns: https://www.benelliusa.com/m4-tactical-shotgun
Buy one on GunsAmerica: /Search.htm?T=benelli+m4
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The piston system helps keep the internals clean, and an easy field strip makes cleaning easier.
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More upgrades from Pro Mag. A railed forend is harder to hold, but more versatile.
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Even though it isn’t as short as a bullpup, the M4 is still maneuverable.
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The front sight is much more robust than what you’d typically find on a shotgun.
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The rear sight is a well protected ghost ring. The barrel shaped charging handle is from Freedom Fighter Tactical.
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Freedom Fighter Tactical Benelli M4 Upgrades
/blog/freedom-fighter-tactical-benelli-m4-upgrades/
Benelli M4 Raven Stock from ATI
/blog/benelli-m4-raven-stock-ati/
ProMag’s Benelli Mods on the Cheap–Review
/blog/promags-benelli-mods-cheap-review/
Check out Benelli’s guns: https://www.benelliusa.com/m4-tactical-shotgun
Buy one on GunsAmerica: /Search.htm?T=benelli+m4