Benelli M4 will not cycle light loads. SOLVED ON POST 23

[Kevin M.]

First off, this is a brand new gun. I have about 75 light trap loads and 25 slugs through the gun. Slugs cycle without any issues. Gun is well lubed and cleaned.


Alright, this was not entirley unexpected, as I knew the gas system was set up for a wide range of loads, able to handle the heaviest without damage to the system, but that this means that light loads may not cycle.

I have found though that with the local bulk brands of target load, it will not cycle reliably. (50% FTE's.) So the round will fire, make it 3/4 of the way back, and then jam, while not making it far enough to pick up the next shell. Must be manually racked.

So my question is this:

Are there bulk packs of heavy target load (7-9 shot) that will reliably cycle the action, or am I going to have to get a shotshell loader to make more powerful loads? Or is it somthing else entirely and I am missing?

Thanks.

 

[Kano]

From what I have heard, once the gun gets broken in on the heavier loads, it will cycle the light stuff.

 

[Spcamno]

Don't own a M4 but what Kano said.

The problem should diminish after a few hundred rounds.

Also, check yours if it has 4 or 2 has gas port on the barrel was told that make some difference:

http://www.benelliusa.com/forum/showthread.php?t=18329

 

[rajczak_kashka]

had a similar issue with mine. Shane at Reliable in Vancouver contacted the Benelli rep and their is fix of the ejector that is required to cycle low recoil ammo and such. kne runs like a dream now. Low recoil is for sissys anyway!lol.

 

[F22_RaptoR]

They run good in mine, the M4 likes to be run WET (lots of lube on the carrier rails). This may lead to poor performance in the winter though, unless you get a very thin oil for low temps.

I also ran about 250 rounds of 00 Buck through mine to give it a bit of a break-in.

 

[gushulak]

I have an M4 Super 90 that gets a steady diet of slugs and buckshot, never an issue with them. Was reluctant with light target loads, but ran a few boxes through mine and each one fired, ejected and feed a new one. Have yet to have a single hiccup in my M4 with any loads I have tried.

 

[Kevin M.]

Update, I ran 125 shells of various brands of target load through it, and it was not consistant. I would sometimes be able to fire all seven rounds without a FTE, but other times it would FTE every round. It seemed to be totally random.

I cleaned and oiled the entire system twice during those 125 shells.

It runs heavy loads flawlessly though.

It's a bit of a shame because I want to use this for action shotgun, but I am pretty sure that my range only allows #7-9 shot for shooting steel.

Unless somthing eles comes up, it looks like I am stuck getting some reloading equipment so I can up the powder charge so it will cycle the loads.

 

[P90Puma]

There is no stuck, if it doesn't break in soon, deal with whoever for warranty.

I can cycle 7.5/00/Slug, in whatever combination in the tube and not have a single malf, I have actually never had a single malf with my m4.

Runs like a tank.

 

[diemaco]

Go to your local gun/hunting store and pick up some heavy target or field loads. Make sure its 1 1/8th oz of shot and atleast 3 dram ( 3 1/4 is better).

What kind of shells are you using now? Winchester Super Target? Try the Federals.

 

[OZZ]

I just bought a M4 14" recently too and it cycled perfectly with all the low recoil ammo I could find to try it out. I use TW25 grease on the rails.

My barrel has 2 gas ports.

 

[UncleWalther]

Are you shooting it from a rifle rest, to sight it in? That will cause the problems you are describing.

 

[G37]

I owned an M2 and had the exact same problems as the OP.

I thought that for the money, it should cycle everything out of the box. Hope it improves for ya! The M4 is still a ###y shotgun.

 

[Kevin M.]

Are you shooting it from a rifle rest, to sight it in? That will cause the problems you are describing.

I used a rest for 10 shots, same result as the 115 that were fired standing from the shoulder.

Shells used were Winchester, Federal, and one other brand a fellow shooter let me try, but can't remember. All were target loads.

Mine also is the new design with two gas ports.

 

[gutinater]

after maybe 100 rounds of buckshot and slugs my m4 cycles winchester and federal cheap target loads 100%. The only time it will jam on occasion is if i shoot using the pistol grip from the hip because my wrist absorbs enough of the recoil that the bolt will not travel fully rearward.

 

[Repro77]

I had the same issue with my M1S90 when it was new, and I switched to 3 dram shells and it worked flawlessy after that. I've tried lighter loads after this and it now works well with them as well. I think it needs to "break in" a bit first.

 

[Kevin M.]

I had the same issue with my M1S90 when it was new, and I switched to 3 dram shells and it worked flawlessy after that. I've tried lighter loads after this and it now works well with them as well. I think it needs to "break in" a bit first.

How does one determine what shells are 3 dram or better? I don't think I have ever seen it on packaging.

 

[Westside]

I had similar issues with my M4.

Put a load of buckshot through it (300 + rounds ) and it still wouldn't cycle the trap loads.

Then i disassembled and polished the inside of the recoil tube and it now cycles everything i throw into it.

US Military manual for Benelli M4:
ht tp://www.militec1.com/firearms/manual44.html

Best of luck!

 

[diemaco]

How does one determine what shells are 3 dram or better? I don't think I have ever seen it on packaging.

It should say on the box for most loads. Some shells even have it printed on them.

 

[mmattockx]

How does one determine what shells are 3 dram or better? I don't think I have ever seen it on packaging.

The top flap on a box I happened to have handy. Labelled as 12ga, 1 1/8 oz, #7.5 shot, 3 Dram Eq. I don't think I have seen a north american manufactured box of shotgun ammo that hasn't had the dram equivalent on it, but I don't shoot much shotgun anymore and could have missed them changing the labels.

Mark

 

[Kevin M.]

The top flap on a box I happened to have handy. Labelled as 12ga, 1 1/8 oz, #7.5 shot, 3 Dram Eq. I don't think I have seen a north american manufactured box of shotgun ammo that hasn't had the dram equivalent on it, but I don't shoot much shotgun anymore and could have missed them changing the labels.

Mark

Thanks.

I never knew what dram was until I heard it on this thread, I will take a look at my boxes.