Benelli M2 vs clone

Rust said:
I have had the Stoeger M3K and I now have the gun it copied. The Benelli M2. (Also an M4 and a Nova Speed) No issues with the M2, plenty of "tuning" and "break in" with the Stoeger. Much of which helped reduce my problems with the Stoeger were Benelli parts.
The ONLY thing that would make the TNA VR-66 tempting is that I have a Canadian company, whom I like, that I can call up when I have problems. Might be worth speaking to them first about support before buying.
You may not mind it being fussy on ammo or the bolt failing to go into battery or the failures to extract. But all of my issues with a Turkish M2 clone happened on the clock. 3Gun and IPSC.
Click to expand...

I've run almost exclusively target load through my VR-66, lots of cheap stuff and never had it not go into battery or fail to extract in over 1000 rounds. TNA service has been really good.
 
I have a Canuck 'Operator'.
wVQzo7vl.jpg

Slugs, 3Dram Target and 3" Turkey loads cycle as fast as I can pull the trigger. Light 2-3/4" target loads so-so.
3" - 1+5+Ghost
2-3/4" - 1+6+Ghost
I like the short barrel for turkey hunting from my dog house style turkey blind. Note, mine came with no magazine plug, made my own to make it hunting legal.
 
I'm on my 3 rd semi at the moment. Sold the previous ones to fund the next..

Started with a Steoger M3500. Right out of the box from Cabela's I took it to the range same day. Sprayed cosmoline everywhere like horse s##t in a barn. BUT it cycled everything I gave it. Inertia action. Dependable but heavy (which made recoil mangement with the stiffest of loads a breeze but was very cumbersome in the field and getting in and out a truck). Worked flawlessly for 3 years even with the cheapest target loads...until I DIY gave it a Duracoat paint job. I got a hint of overspray in the action, and it took a few hundred loads to re-break it in.

Second semi was a Renegade R4 clone. Bought it used. Previous owner disclosed that he had issues with cheap Challenger loads, but great success with Winchester heavy target loads. After I bought it, I tested his claim. He was right.. challenger had the occasional hicup.. the Winchester heavy target loads worked flawlessly. Sold the gun after 1 year and 300 rounds .... not because the gun had issues but rather the fit and finish was a bit lacking for my taste. Sold it for about $20 less than what I bought it for... thats cheap rent IMO. I sold it also because, "it doesn't have issues right now... but what about 500 rounds from now?"

Third semi (that I still have .... and will keep potentially to the grave) is my Benelli M4. Previous 2 semi were good value for the money (at that time I bought them) but I should have followed by own mantra in that "buy once cry once." Had to run 200 rounds of stiff 3" magnum loads to get it broken in... but now it cycles Winchester target loads flawlessly. And since its dependable and the fit and finish is tippy top, I have sank money into the modifications done to it.

What am I trying to say.... well, (1) buy once cry applies to all guns, especially when weighing shogun clones versus their real deal counterparts, (2) knowing what I know now, I would never limit myself again to inertia. The M4 (and its clones), for me anyways, seem to be dependable and low maintenance, gas operated systems.
 
Last edited:
Hey OP, buy the Benelli and a couple years from now, you won't start a new thread or contribute to an existing thread, regarding how disappointed you are in the knockoff.
 
I have no experience with the inertia type shotguns so can't speak to that. I do have 2 Beretta 1301s and a Canuck copy of the M4.

Wanted an M4 style, big disappointment. The ergos aren't great, very cumbersome design. The 1301 is unreal. Fast shooting and fast loading. It shoots faster than Beretta advertises by the way. I've run nothing but junk through it and never cleaned it. I'd say 6k through it, had a ftf once when my daughter's boyfriend rode the charging handle with his off hand. No other issues.

My Canuck is similar, only difference is the charging handle (S$J oversized) likes to #### off every few shots.

Rarely take it out now because I just don't like looking for parts in the dirt.
 
I have a VR-66 and it’s cycled everything I’ve thrown at it. Really impressed. I’ve never owned a Benelli but the vr-66 is a solid gun. I’ve owned a few other Benelli clones and never been as impressed as with this one.
 
One thing I think to mention about cheaper clones is how many rounds do you intend to put through it? Some people have problems with the cheaper guns right away. I know someone who bought a Canucks operator and the pin that hold the bolt release fell out shooting its first box. Have I heard people say they run great? Yes there are some on this thread. I bought a benelli M2 and I used to go skeet shooting every weekend in the summer. It has a round count in the thousands and the only hiccup is when a gf tried to feed it reduced recoil (for the record it cycled some of them). If it's something you plan on using a lot I'd go benelli. If it's a range once a year you can get away with the cheap stuff usually. In my opinion a cheap semi auto is basically a bolt action. The true value semi auto is a pump action.
 
I gotta say I totally agree with Wesley No. 5, I compete with a Tac Ord Versa Max and if you intend to keep a gun for years and put thousands of rounds through it it's better to cry once. The ammo will run you more than the gun eventually. I bought the TNA VR-66 because reviews were good and so far I'd still suggest to buy it. As pointed out it will not be a $2k+ shotgun but it may be worth looking at.
 
I have a m2 tactical(coyote) and a m2 with 21 inch barrel (crow and duck) ..and a 1301 pro with a 21 inch barrel (new coyote gun).. love the m2's the pro has only 20 shots or so … The m2 which is the older versions are a great gun... strip and clean in minutes... you can pick up a good used one on other sites for a good price ….pistol grips don't work well for wing shooting ... my 2 cents .... Turkish guns are 1/2 the price buy 2 so you will have a spare .. berretta a 400 would be a nice addition to the stable..
 
adambkjohnson said:
My name is Adam and I have been thinking about buying my first semi shotgun. I have 2 pumps. This would be just for the range or outdoors for fun. I would like a 18.5 barrel. I don’t hunt or do 3 gun. I am looking at the Benelli m2, I like the simplicity of the inertial system, but they are $1500-2000. My question is are the clones any good or reliable? I just want something that will cycle most 12 guage loads. I see tna has their vr-66 on sale for 750. I’m just trying to get some opinions. I would rather spend about $1000 but I don’t want junk that won’t run. Let me know what you all think. Thanks in advance.
Click to expand...

No, the clone will not be as reliable, good, attractive or even be something to be proud of sitting in your safe. Get the real deal
 
An update on a mod I did to the VR-66. The Taran lifter from Tac Ord fits the VR-66 with some minor filing. Makes a big difference and before anyone jumps on the cost it was $140 tax in and shipped so if that’s too much for a Turk shotgun again spend $2k and get an actual M2.

Also in case it wasn’t mentioned elsewhere the VR-66 can be ghost loaded and function.
 
Last edited:
Scotty454 said:
One of the top guys here has a Nova Speed and a M2 Speed, what he runs depends on the stage, like you said. If a stage doesn't specify max number of shells in a gun to start, and you can run a pump quick, the big ass mag tube on the Nova Speed gives you an advantage over the semi guys that have to reload. If the stage is 9 shots or less, or you have to think about slugs as well, that advantage disappears, but it in certain specific examples it makes a lot of sense.
Click to expand...

Slightly off topic but what competitive discipline lets you switch guns from stage to stage?
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top Bottom