Benelli MR1 Opinions?

Crazy Chaingun

Crazy Chaingun

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Hello all.

I'm trying to think of what to save up for over the summer, as work allows me to get one firearm per year at cost (I'm working at a LGS). I've wanted to get a good-quality .223/5.56 rifle for some time, and this might be the time to do it, if I can set aside enough cash.

The Ruger Mini-14's are cool, but the proprietary magazine is a deal-breaker for me. Bullpups like the Tavor and T-97 don't really fit me well ergonomically. I'll get an AR-15 some day, but I want a non-restricted rifle to start off with. The MR1 feels pretty comfortable when shouldering it, and I've had good experiences with Benelli stuff so far.

What kind of experiences have you guys had with your MR1's?

My main concerns would be durability, reliability, accuracy, and how finicky they are with mags/ammo.
Ability to mount optics is also a concern. Are the iron sights on this rifle removable?

Feel free to post pictures of your rigs if you have some.

Thanks
 
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I like mine. I shortened the barrel to 18.5" and had it threaded 1/2" x 28.

I installed the tri-rail on it. It's easy to do but you shouldn't have to pay for this option.

Pros

It's non restricted. In theory I could walk down the street in downtown Vancouver with it as long as it is unloaded. I enjoy not needing an ATT, trigger lock, locking opaque case and having to go to a certified range with it. I throw it behind the seat of my trucks with a dozen 10 round LAR mags and I go driving.

It runs very reliably and cleanly due to the Argo piston system. I don't clean it much and it never jams, even with hollowpoints or cheap Norinco ball.

It has functioned perfectly with all mags I have tried except for some black, angled bottom LAR mags that are tight in the mag well.

It is typical Benelli quality as you'd expect.

The iron sights are very good so I have my 2x7 scope in a QD mount so that they are easily usable.

I have a laser on it and it shoots tiny groups from the hip with it at 7 yards.

I'm running an 860 lumen Fenix PD35 and it turns night into day. Handy for a non restricted rifle.

Cons

It's heavy but I just need to harden up and stop being an old man.

The ergos are not for go fast guys. I like reciprocating bolt semis and I rack the bolt from the underside with my left thumb or I pull down on the bolt release with with my left hand.

If you're an AR guy you'll hate the controls.

The trigger pull is good for a semi.

Accuracy with Norinco,Fiocchi and Winchester white box is 2-3" off the bench. Not stellar but then again it's easy to hit a dinner plate with it out to 250 yards, quickly.

The rear sights are removable with Torx screws but I haven't done it and I've read that they are a 8itch to get off. The front sight is molded into the forend.

DSCN2392crop_zpsbd855956.jpg
 
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Geologist - I really dig the look of that setup, very nice.

Do you have any issues with your scope being higher than you would find comfortable? (i.e. having a "chin weld") This seems to be a common complaint. I'm really not a big iron sight guy, I'd rather drop the money on a good-quality optic, having the irons for backup (or even not at all).

Also, what magazines do you use? Will Gen 3 Pmags or PCV mags work well in these?
 
I had one and it ran perfectly for 1100 rounds until the recoil spring broke. I sold it after I got it back from warranty work.

I liked it, I liked it a lot. The only centre fire semi rifles I own nowadays are my AR15 rifles. I'm usually at the range so non-restricted isn't a huge selling point for me. I really enjoy bolt action rifles so when I'm not at the range I still have options. That being said, I'm always tempted by the newer rifle stocked MR-1. I really like the look of that rifle.

Controls are different than the AR15 but not bad. Mag release is more difficult to access but I could reach the bolt release with my middle finger without taking my hand off of the grip so that was never an issue for me.
 
NoTarget said:
Controls are different than the AR15 but not bad. Mag release is more difficult to access but I could reach the bolt release with my middle finger without taking my hand off of the grip so that was never an issue for me.
Click to expand...

I do the same thing, and operate the charging handle from the underside like an AKM.

PCV 50's work well and drop free, they do not engage the bolt catch on an empty magazine though. The metal AA Beowulf magazines work perfectly and drop free, as do Gen 3 pmags. Gen 2 pmags are too tight to drop free, but are reliable. The only magazine that I've had problems with were the grey square-shaped lar-15 magazines, which were not perfectly reliable.

If you have the solid stock, choose a low sight, or one that has a removable riser, I am using a spitfire 3x. The rear sight is definitely removable with a torx bit, and the picatinny rail can be removed and reinstalled backwards for closer sight mounting.

The trigger is very nice, reliability is great, accuracy is marginal. I really like that benelli didn't try to dress it up like an AR15.

Here's my own:
5pizEvV.jpg
 
Crazy Chaingun said:
Geologist - I really dig the look of that setup, very nice.

Do you have any issues with your scope being higher than you would find comfortable? (i.e. having a "chin weld") This seems to be a common complaint. I'm really not a big iron sight guy, I'd rather drop the money on a good-quality optic, having the irons for backup (or even not at all).

Also, what magazines do you use? Will Gen 3 Pmags or PCV mags work well in these?
Click to expand...

The chin weld is OK at 2.5x but I have crawl forward at 7x. I had the scope in Leupold Rifleman see through rings and needed a cheek pad on the stock but with this lower QD mount I'm OK without the pad.

That's a Norinco 5/30 mag that came with my CQ-A in it but I never use it. I only use the 5 shot Benelli off the bench and 10 round LARs for everything else. They all work fine.
 
I left my mr1 bone stock, I find it super reliable, decently accurate and it's a rifle I'll probably never sell really. I highly recommend it personally.
 
For some reason I'd thought the 5-rounds magazine was proprietary... finding that the well is compatible with Beowulf mags just made this rifle a lot more attractive to me. I handled one in a gun show, and found that the ergonomics were very comfortable for me: bring it into battery and the eye was naturally lined up with the iron sights with a fine cheek weld, and the hand guard is wide and comfortable to hold. The model I saw did not come with a flash hider, so I suppose I'd have to get the barrel threaded.

Geologist's setup looks wicked, wicked fun, and I'd want a bipod under the front too! How much does it weight, as-is? :)
 
Grawfr said:
For some reason I'd thought the 5-rounds magazine was proprietary... finding that the well is compatible with Beowulf mags just made this rifle a lot more attractive to me. I handled one in a gun show, and found that the ergonomics were very comfortable for me: bring it into battery and the eye was naturally lined up with the iron sights with a fine cheek weld, and the hand guard is wide and comfortable to hold. The model I saw did not come with a flash hider, so I suppose I'd have to get the barrel threaded.

Geologist's setup looks wicked, wicked fun, and I'd want a bipod under the front too! How much does it weight, as-is? :)
Click to expand...

I'm not at home but I guestimate close to 9 lbs with the scope, sling and flashlight.
 
Well, this is getting more and more attractive.
Ergonomically speaking, these rifles fit me better than most other black rifles I've handled.
Since it sounds like these things are mechanically solid, I think I'm probably going to make this my goal to save up for.

Any more pictures or opinions are very welcome.
Also, if anyone in SW Ontario (Hamilton-Brantford area) would be interested in letting me try their MR1, I'd totally owe them a few beers ;)
 
They were initially called the Beretta rx4, before production was undertaken by Benelli; so one could argue that it is part of that family.
 
Geologist, I think that is a sweet looking set up. I am thinking of doing the same sort of revamp for my MR-1. How easy was the barrel to get of for cutting and threading? Did you notice any accuracy drop-off with the barrel shortened? What is the forward accessory rail you have on the barrel forward of the handguard (clamp-on?)?

Your setup does a nice job of getting the MR-1 much closer to a true 'black rifle' look.
 
ted_dent said:
Geologist, I think that is a sweet looking set up. I am thinking of doing the same sort of revamp for my MR-1. How easy was the barrel to get of for cutting and threading? Did you notice any accuracy drop-off with the barrel shortened? What is the forward accessory rail you have on the barrel forward of the handguard (clamp-on?)?

Your setup does a nice job of getting the MR-1 much closer to a true 'black rifle' look.
Click to expand...

I just pulled the barrel/gas system off like during a cleaning and brought it over to Leigh at Dlask et voila! I haven't noticed any change in accuracy after the cut but with either the Dlask flash hider or the A2 birdcage off my CQA, the muzzle flash is greatly reduced.

I have an NC star universal barrel laser on it. The last time I shot it the laser died so I'll replace it with another laser until I can get a black infrared laser PEQ which I'll mount at 6 o'clock.

I'm more of a function over form gun guy so the mods I've done have been to make it work better for me and my needs. It's a great take it with you carbine.
 
Are you a member of a club ? I am a member at Brrc and have a Mr1 with the comfortech stock .. It is amazing I am in the process of installing a Zeist conquest scope I just am having an quality control issue with the rings. I got to take then back to Al Flareitys . Shoot me a pm if you want
Stefan
 
Still alive said:
Forgive me for this noob question but what is the difference between the MR1 and the Beretta CX4 Storm?
Other than the molded grip on the Beretta? They look very similar.
Click to expand...

I know it's been answered on the matter of the different calibers (5.56mm for the MR1/Rx4 vs pistol calibers for Cx4/Mx4), but on the matter of the looks there's at least three different configurations of the stock on MR1: "Comfortech" stock, straight stock with a pistol grip and the telescopic stock with pistol grip:

BenelliMR1_zpsd3a412d0.jpg


benelli_mr1_1231101.jpg


BenelliMR1_zps954c0c09.jpg


AFAIK, there's only one "shape" for the Cx4 Storm, but of course that doesn't preclude a little "modding": add butt spacers as needed, side/bottom rails, optics, bipod, barrel shroud and you can make it a ###y little number too:

cx4-storm_4.JPG
 
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