Canuck Operator Elite (M4 clone)...

Few pics of this piece of #### lol.
Buttpad again is useless and rock hard, may throw a pussy pad on it so there is some cushion. More useless is the fixed 1/2 sling swivel on the butt, perfect spot for jabbing you in the chest...gonna have to fix that nonsense.
Little O ring on the firing pin retainer pin, guess it helps keep it put. Aluminum follower at least and moves smooth, mag spring is pretty strong, other springs feel "soft/light" to me but I don't know if that matters, seems like everyone throws reduced power springs in real Benelli M4's anyway so maybe I'm ahead there lol.
Case is good, extras are nice, sling is decent, glasses and foam plugs are likely TEMU quality, choke tubes are clean and smooth, but definitely not Carlson quality.
Didn't get out today, building a portable target stand today, off tomorrow so will try and get out with a bunch of different ammo and beat the #### out of it.
Fit and finish is pretty nice, other then the obvious casted parts braised on the barrel it's all machined 7075 and steel. Definitely looks very M4 cloney, let's hope it works lol
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Well it works pretty decent, put 3 boxes through it in 40 minutes, all 2-3/4...6, 7-1/2, and Canam low recoil buckshot. The buckshot pops, pretty good muzzle flash off that stuff.
One fail to pick up a round, bolt closed on empty chamber mid way through, one light primer strike on the Federal 7-1/2 near the end of the run. Also noticed cleaning it today it was missing the C clip on the trigger pin bushing that keeps it from wandering and prevents the hammer spring and cap from flying out of the trigger group lol, have lots here so was easy to sort out, may have been part of the issues I had.
It's pretty fun, recoil is mild even with the #### buttpad, fixed it with a regular sling stud for now. Nothing fell apart on it, no bolt or piston peen yet, receiver rails not wrecked, a so I'll keep beating it up, see how long this piece of #### lasts lol.
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Was able to figure out this batch of "hunt group" M4's were made by Hamle in Turkey, that's their logo on the guns. Oddly they don't even list the M4's, only the M2's on their website.
I almost want to buy one of each of these clones just to see if there is much or any difference. I know the one I got was test fired a bunch, it was dirty as hell. Maybe that's the new QC method for soft action parts, who knows.
 
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CanuckShooter said:
Anyone know if it's safe to run steel shot through these guns? Does it say anything in the manual?
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Guns are fine for steel, chokes are kinda low end though, I'd use a decent maker steel rated Mobile choke.
Typical warning in the manual about using steel in full or IM chokes is all there is.
 
Ok thanks. I was debating trying out the tip I received here on CGN of breaking the gun in with a box of 3" shells, but perhaps not worth it if the chokes aren't suitable for steel.
 
CanuckShooter said:
Ok thanks. I was debating trying out the tip I received here on CGN of breaking the gun in with a box of 3" shells, but perhaps not worth it if the chokes aren't suitable for steel.
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I used the modified choke that came with the gun for my 75 rounds of 2-3/4, but all lead. The chokes are just kind of meh, don't fill me with confidence, cyl-bore choke they come with and steel I would run without worry if that is what you want to do. I have a bunch of nice Turkish Derya chokes from an older semi I bought from Dlask years ago I will use, also picked up a Jelly Head Xfull Turkey or whatever they call them, has a bird cage style flash hider, color matches, looks pretty mean with it lol.
Breaking it in with 3" will definitely tell you if there is any soft metal in the bolt and pistons quickly though.
Tenda has the HG ones on for $447 now, not many versions in stock but a few. Debating on grabbing a 2nd one for ####s n giggles and spare parts lol. Benelli prices for parts are insane.
Read reviews of all these clones, they all make lemons, don't think there is really any top dog Turk clone that can guarantee it will be reliable and durable. Return and warranty would be a primary focus, Tenda only has 7 days to inspect and function test, that's enough for me but others may need more time. 2 year HG warranty but I don't think there is a warranty center in Canada for them lol.
 
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CanuckShooter said:
Hmmm... BBB just said the Canuck Operator Elite is ARGOS and everything I've read also says it's gas. Now I don't know what to think, though it IS an M4 clone, and the M4 uses the ARGOS system. Sure would help if O'Dell specified on their website.
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It doesn't look like anyone addressed this yet?

So the ARGO system is an acronym. It stands for Auto Regulating Gas Operated. The ARGO system is Benelli's gas system; it consists of a series of gas ports that get covered up by progressively longer shells. The longer the shell, typically the higher the pressure, so fewer ports are required. Remington took it and improved on it (Added additional gas ports for lighter load shells) for the Versa Max. I assume all the M4gerys use the original ARGO design from the M4.
 
Hitzy said:
Only 2 gas ports in the HG one I have, one for each piston.
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Weird, so they copied the M4, but left out arguably one of the better parts of the design? Just threw a generic gas system in there? Anyone know if all the M4 clones are like that?
 
Scotty454 said:
Oh what the hell, so the modern M4's ARGO system doesn't AR?? Lol you can't regulate sh!t if there's only a single port. 🤨
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Think your getting Remington's version of the Argo confused with Benelli's. Rem put holes in their barrel to accommodate different lengths of shell, all the way up to 3.5" with the length of the shell blocking the holes regulating how much gas is used. Benelli has a single port that has been designed to accommodate all types of ammo. They did make some 4 hole barrels, but they were designed for really low recoil ammo. If using 3" in those barrels you beat the crap out of everything, and usually did damage. They didn't make the 4 hole barrels for long nor many. There is some demand for the 4 hole barrels from collectors due to their rarity, but for actual shooting are not what you want. Unless shooting bean bag rounds etc.

Edit; most of those 4 hole Benelli barrels are marked "Low Recoil Ammo Only", or to that affect.
 
1ABNDT said:
I would agree, for the price they could have easily included an adjustable rear sight & additional bar to keep the action aligned while cycling.


I also went with the 1301T so I could put a pistol grip, folding/locking stock adapter, & hydraulic buffer tube.
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Does the hydraulic buffer tube reduce recoil? Could you kindly list the brands of the parts too please. Sorry, I'm fairly new to the firearm scene.

I've been eyeing the 1301 and been planning to get the kick off system for it. I'd have to modify the kick off system to fit te 1301. I've also been waiting on a 1301 sale. I should've gotten it earlier this year when there was a flash sale for $1500.
 
Grain said:
Think your getting Remington's version of the Argo confused with Benelli's. Rem put holes in their barrel to accommodate different lengths of shell, all the way up to 3.5" with the length of the shell blocking the holes regulating how much gas is used. Benelli has a single port that has been designed to accommodate all types of ammo. They did make some 4 hole barrels, but they were designed for really low recoil ammo. If using 3" in those barrels you beat the crap out of everything, and usually did damage. They didn't make the 4 hole barrels for long nor many. There is some demand for the 4 hole barrels from collectors due to their rarity, but for actual shooting are not what you want. Unless shooting bean bag rounds etc.

Edit; most of those 4 hole Benelli barrels are marked "Low Recoil Ammo Only", or to that affect.
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I'm not getting them confused, I was always under the impression that Remington expanded on the ARGO design for their VersaPort design.

After looking into it a bit, I found an article that suggests that that's true, but that the M4 was never really "auto regulating" like the name suggests (There's no real way for a single gas port per piston of that design to regulate). They added ports to make it more reliable with light loads, but then it was over-gassed for heavier loads, so went back to the non-regulating 2 port design. 🤷‍♂️


The original M4 models had two gas ports. However, the ARGO system isn't completely “Auto-Regulating Gas-Operated” as advertised. The 2 port barrels were quickly dumped for civilian sales in favor of the 4 port barrels, Benelli saying that the “M4 features a modified gas system designed to function with light tactical loads.” What constitutes a “light tactical load” is unclear. It was also called the M1014 (Low Recoil) for a time. While they were better at cycling low recoil and trainer type loads, they also had impressive failures when using heavy loads. Apparently, now, the 4 port barrel misadventure is over and only 2 port barrels are made. In one test, comparing Federal slugs the Benelli averaged 35 fps slower than the other common semi-auto shotguns with barrels of the same length.

In the twenty years since the M4 was designed, not much has happened except for the unfortunate misadventure with the 4 port barrel. Nothing was ever done to introduce an ARGO shotgun that could be rationally used for general hunting and clays purposes. Nine years ago when the pre-Vinci hoopla began, I mused that perhaps, finally, Beretta-Benelli was going to do something mainstream with the ARGO system, but that was not to be. As we all know now, it was the Vinci.



Remington improved on the basic A.R.G.O. Action of 1998, patenting their own action and their “VersaPort System,” and it has been released for some time now as the Remington Versa Max 3-1/2 inch chambered gas-operated autoloader. The Versa Max action was designed by Gian Mario Molinari of Italy, filed for patent on May 24, 2007, claiming priority over the Benelli patent filed a year earlier. On November 29, 2011, it was awarded to Remington. If you are interested, it is US 8,065,949 B1.

Although the 3 inch chambered ARGO system was touted as “Auto-Regulating,” it wasn't and isn't exactly. The Versa-Max, a 3-1/2 inch chambered gun, cleverly uses unfolded shell length to block off chamber ports. Eight ports open for 2-3/4 inch unfolded length shells four for 3 inch shells, and three for 3-1/2 inch shells. Automatically, there are three different gas port settings. The Versa-Max has been successful and there are now nine different models available, more than any other Remington autoloader.
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Scotty454 said:
I'm not getting them confused, I was always under the impression that Remington expanded on the ARGO design for their VersaPort design.

After looking into it a bit, I found an article that suggests that that's true, but that the M4 was never really "auto regulating" like the name suggests (There's no real way for a single gas port per piston of that design to regulate). They added ports to make it more reliable with light loads, but then it was over-gassed for heavier loads, so went back to the non-regulating 2 port design. 🤷‍♂️
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Like all advertising, perhaps 'auto' has meant what they wanted. In Benelli's case, it means the operator doesn't have to adjust anything, and with Rem it means the size of the shell auto regulates.
 
Grain said:
Like all advertising, perhaps 'auto' has meant what they wanted. In Benelli's case, it means the operator doesn't have to adjust anything, and with Rem it means the size of the shell auto regulates.
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I agree, just marketing, I've had an R1 in 308 for a while now, about the only thing that holds water with their ARGO is the gas port is much closer to the chamber then other auto's. So if that actually makes it run cleaner, bonus for them lol.
I was trying to think of any semi that didn't have some form of gas regulator by design, and there are not many. M1 Garand, Swede Lungman, but both WWII era stuff.
Only modern semi I can think of is the Ruger Mini.
Even these M2 clones appear to have some excess pressure venting with those piston plugs, they have a captive heavy spring and steel plug to vent any over pressure gases, design seems solid to me.
I look at these like the new "nork clones", with the exception that OEM Benelli parts are stupid expensive. All the nork clones were of very common US designed ####, so better parts were always reasonable.
 
PRRRoblematic said:
Does the hydraulic buffer tube reduce recoil? Could you kindly list the brands of the parts too please. Sorry, I'm fairly new to the firearm scene.

I've been eyeing the 1301 and been planning to get the kick off system for it. I'd have to modify the kick off system to fit te 1301. I've also been waiting on a 1301 sale. I should've gotten it earlier this year when there was a flash sale for $1500.
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From what I remember the Kick Off System from the Beretta A400 is direct fit for the 1301T, has that changed?

If you choose not to have a pistol grip.

The recoil reduction on the KynShot non adj hyd damper that I have is 50%. The adj version states 80%.

You can choose at time of order through a Mesa Tactical retailer.

You can purchase the entire kit for the 1301T.
 
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Anyone have any preference between the R4 and Canuck Elite? I read a review on another Canadian site where a guy compared them and said the R4 had a better fit and finish. Small sample size.

I see there are a few small differences between them. The adjustable stocks are very different, with the R4 having the adjustable cheek piece. The mag tube crimp is absent on the R4. The charging handle on the R4 is lined up with the bolt release, whereas on the Canuck they are offset. The Canuck also comes with 2 stocks and is about $80-$90 more expensive than the R4.

I know O'Dell gives top notch support. Curious about how the warranty support for the R4 is.
 
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