Benelli M4 Super-90 barrel extension question

J

Jonny_Cannon

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Well. I own one of these beautiful shotguns. To say I love it would be understatement indeed, so I won't get into that. Although my friend Rob says "you can never have enough 12-gauges", I'm having trouble buying another shotgun - I can't justify it. Any M4 Super-90 owner knows what I'm talking about and why.

But I digress.

I use the Benelli for everything. I use it for the Meat Shoots at our club - contestants stand 40 yards from a structure with a 4" dia steel pipe sticking out. Varying shot per round - the one with the most pellets on paper wins. Absolutely great time with excellent people. Unfortunately, I only own tactical shotguns. As you know, firing birdshot or something similar out of an 18" barrel is synonymous with putting your thumb over the end of a garden hose and turning it on full blast. I use a Gobblin' Thunder (giggity) turkey choke, which helps (2 extra inches always helps - giggity).

Here's my question: the Benelli M4 Super-90 is threaded for Beretta chokes. While perusing the internet today, and sitting on the fence considering a few exotics - I like the Adkal M1919 but see maintenance is a nightmare, and the UTAS, which is getting mixed reviews, and that gorgeous Remington 887 nitromagnum tactical with the powdercoating, etc, I found something. The UTAS line offers a 7.5" barrel extension, which threads in to the choke. The articles I read indicate the UTAS uses Beretta threads.

Is there any reason that using the UTAS barrel extension on my Benelli won't work? Or, when purchasing a threaded Beretta choke, does it have to be model-specific? Would a Beretta choke for a Benelli be a different length than a Beretta choke for the UTAS?

Any input would be appreciated; thank-you in advance.

Cannon
 
And kudos to Elwood Epps. I emailed them asking this question, since I bought my M4 from them and they have a UTAS in stock. They answered promptly and honestly indicated they didn't know, and indicated they had no extensions in stock. They were very honest and helpful, and gave me some contact information for another dealer who might be able to help. They could have lied or screwed me over, or got me to buy a UTAS or something, and didn't. +1 to them - I'm a regular customer and absolutely will return now.

Cannon
 
The only thing a 7.5" 'extension' will get you, is 7.5" closer to the target.

You're not giving up any pattern to a longer shotgun. It might give you a BIT more velocity - however - on a non-flying target (where you're not 'swinging' the barrel), you're just as accurate with an 18.5" barrel.
 
I did not know that.

I accept your statement - it is, after all, only 40 yards. However, I have sighted/patterned it at this range, so the sights are not off, with the shot used, but I am seeing people with longer barrels (like, 28" for instance) and full chokes, getting higher numbers consistently. I believe I am accurate; I just wonder if the longer barrel keeps the shot tighter longer. All I know is what I see. And it's consistent - I know when I've screwed up; I see it in the results, but shooting all day long with regular results and I see the other numbers, it makes me think.

Cannon
 
Choke makes all the difference... like I said, you'll give up SOME velocity (not sure if the velocity/length correlation is similar to rifles), but your pattern should be same, given the same choke in a longer shotgun. Barrel length does not affect patterning - only the 'feel' and 'swing' on moving targets.

Could be other guys are using shotguns with modified forcing cones, perhaps 'better' chokes, overbored barrels, etc. There are many things that could affect pattern, but barrel length isn't one of them.
 
Ah I see. I did notice a difference using the turkey choke, for sure. I know the M4 is meant for blasting bad guys once you kick a sandbox door in, but I enjoy using it. So I guess the extended barrel isn't worth my while. If it would fit, and there was the possibility it would work I'd try it - they're only about $50 or $60 bucks, but if not, there's no point.

Except, putting the extension on, and then getting a custom 4-shot magazine extension made so the baby will carry 12 rounds instead is a neat idea...

Cannon
 
Load "X" thru choke "A" will give different results than load "Y" will thru the same choke. Shotgunning isn't an exact science. There's no set rule for a given choke and ammo combination but only lots of trail and error until you find the winning combo. Often times you will get better pattern density with a lighter shot load thru the turkey chokes than you will with the magnum loads. You are going to have to buy a different assortment of ammo (shot weight and shot size) and pattern them all with to see which one is the best performer at the distances you expect to shoot your target!
 
Oh I agree completely - I get WAY better results with 7's through the turkey choke than with, say, 4's. I'm going to bring a couple of chokes with me next weekend when we go and change it up. They change the shot each round, so you only end up shooting the same size shot maybe 3 times during the day. It levels the playing field pretty good lol.

Cannon
 
VLT79 said:
Load "X" thru choke "A" will give different results than load "Y" will thru the same choke. Shotgunning isn't an exact science. There's no set rule for a given choke and ammo combination but only lots of trail and error until you find the winning combo. Often times you will get better pattern density with a lighter shot load thru the turkey chokes than you will with the magnum loads. You are going to have to buy a different assortment of ammo (shot weight and shot size) and pattern them all with to see which one is the best performer at the distances you expect to shoot your target!
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this is great advice . shooting a different brand of ammo even though it has identical shot size can sometimes make all the difference in pattern .there will be a load and choke combination that works, you just have to find it .
 
canucklehead said:
Choke makes all the difference... like I said, you'll give up SOME velocity (not sure if the velocity/length correlation is similar to rifles), but your pattern should be same, given the same choke in a longer shotgun. Barrel length does not affect patterning - only the 'feel' and 'swing' on moving targets.

Could be other guys are using shotguns with modified forcing cones, perhaps 'better' chokes, overbored barrels, etc. There are many things that could affect pattern, but barrel length isn't one of them.
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Estimates are 5fps to 10fps per inch on anything above 18". Obviously the velocity change will be more dramatic the shorter you go. However, shotguns use such fast burning powder, which burns completely in the first 3/4" to 2", that even a 6" barrel will have comparable velocity to one much longer.
 
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