Canuck Operator Elite (M4 clone)...

CanuckShooter

CanuckShooter

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Would any owners of the Canuck Operator Elite be willing to chime in on what your experience has been with this gun and if you'd recommend it for someone who just cannot justify spending the money on a Benelli. It's just not an option for me.

It appears that the Elite model is the second generation with some improvements. Has anyone checked for peening on the bolt or the contact surface of the piston rods after putting a decent number of rounds through theirs? Any common issues you've come across or has yours been 100% right out of the box?

Is the Operator Elite a step above the rest of the clones? Also, is this a 100% clone where every part is compatible with the genuine Benelli part similar to the Panzer M4 in the USA?

"Turkish garbage" or "I'd never own a Turkish gun" is not helpful. I own Caniks, which have been flawless and are some of my absolute favourite handguns, Tisas 1911s, and some Deryas. They are all superb firearms and the fit and finish on all of them is top notch. In fact better than many of the North American guns I've bought. I do realize however, that there are definitely some low quality Turkish guns out there.

I can grab one new for a little over $700. Any experiences you can offer would be greatly appreciated. Also, if you could please specify if you have the original Operator or the Operator Elite.

Thanks
 
CanuckShooter said:
Would any owners of the Canuck Operator Elite be willing to chime in on what your experience has been with this gun and if you'd recommend it for someone who just cannot justify spending the money on a Benelli. It's just not an option for me.

It appears that the Elite model is the second generation with some improvements. Has anyone checked for peening on the bolt or the contact surface of the piston rods after putting a decent number of rounds through theirs? Any common issues you've come across or has yours been 100% right out of the box?

Is the Operator Elite a step above the rest of the clones? Also, is this a 100% clone where every part is compatible with the genuine Benelli part similar to the Panzer M4 in the USA?

"Turkish garbage" or "I'd never own a Turkish gun" is not helpful. I own Caniks, which have been flawless and are some of my absolute favourite handguns, Tisas 1911s, and some Deryas. They are all superb firearms and the fit and finish on all of them is top notch. In fact better than many of the North American guns I've bought. I do realize however, that there are definitely some low quality Turkish guns out there.

I can grab one new for a little over $700. Any experiences you can offer would be greatly appreciated. Also, if you could please specify if you have the original Operator or the Operator Elite.

Thanks
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The O'Dell Imported cturkiah close is juat a rebranded aksr S4 same as revolutionary armoury, federation arms And a few others.
This is the only one to get the rest are c**p.
From an importer point of view they the most expensive one, but also the best built and very close spec to a real M4.
I've been working on the Turkish clones since they first come out.
So now,it comes down to customer service and parts.

O,dell is,likely best for customer service and parts.

That's aid I hVe boxes,on,small parts and new take off parts from dead guns
Bbb
 
badboybeeson said:
The O'Dell Imported cturkiah close is juat a rebranded aksr S4 same as revolutionary armoury, federation arms And a few others.
This is the only one to get the rest are c**p.
From an importer point of view they the most expensive one, but also the best built and very close spec to a real M4.
I've been working on the Turkish clones since they first come out.
So now,it comes down to customer service and parts.

O,dell is,likely best for customer service and parts.

That's aid I hVe boxes,on,small parts and new take off parts from dead guns
Bbb
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Thanks BBB. What is it that makes the Canuck better than the others? Quality of machining? Heat treating? Have you seen any peening of the pistol rods or bolt on the newer ones?

Was the newer Elite an upgrade in quality of manufacture, or was it just the same gun with a few extra features added on? Some retailer listings say the Elite has a "significantly smoother operating action", which is a bit vague.
 
CanuckShooter said:
Thanks BBB. What is it that makes the Canuck better than the others? Quality of machining? Heat treating? Have you seen any peening of the pistol rods or bolt on the newer ones?

Was the newer Elite an upgrade in quality of manufacture, or was it just the same gun with a few extra features added on? Some retailer listings say the Elite has a "significantly smoother operating action", which is a bit vague.
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From what i understand its a different manufacture, one that makes a more expensive version.
i have not notice anu of them more smoot then any other.
some to break in faster.
I not see any issues with piston rods or hold issues.
The bain on all of these turkish knock offs, is the bolt release / shell stop.
benelli/ beretta use pretty much the same concept on most shotguns, it is a part that requires to be perfect , that is something that the turkish are having issues with, on guns at the low price point.
some manufactures have been paying attention and hand fitting this part.
The S4 has less issues then other manufactures.
 
badboybeeson said:
From what i understand its a different manufacture, one that makes a more expensive version.
i have not notice anu of them more smoot then any other.
some to break in faster.
I not see any issues with piston rods or hold issues.
The bain on all of these turkish knock offs, is the bolt release / shell stop.
benelli/ beretta use pretty much the same concept on most shotguns, it is a part that requires to be perfect , that is something that the turkish are having issues with, on guns at the low price point.
some manufactures have been paying attention and hand fitting this part.
The S4 has less issues then other manufactures.
Click to expand...

That's what I saw as well in the TFBTV M4 clone burn down on YouTube. That button was the only thing causing any stoppages. It seems it would occasionally block the lift gate from being pushed up when loading more shells. Definitely echoes what you are saying. The gun otherwise ran great.

I've been researching the hell out of these things, and this is all good information. Thanks for sharing your knowledge.

One thing I still can't figure out... some pictures in products listings of the Operator Elite show "Inertia Technology" etched on the bolt while others show "Hybrid System" etched on the bolt. This has me really scratching my head as I thought the M4 uses just the ARGOS gas system.

At the end of the day based on YOUR experience, would you recommend one of these Canuck Operator Elites to someone who wants a fun semi auto shotgun but cannot justify Benelli or Beretta prices if it can be bought brand new for $720ish? Or would you ultimately say avoid/wait for further refinements?
 
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CanuckShooter said:
That's what I saw as well in the TFBTV M4 clone burn down on YouTube. That button was the only thing causing any stoppages. It seems it would occasionally block the lift gate from being pushed up when loading more shells. Definitely echoes what you are saying. The gun otherwise ran great.

I've been researching the hell out of these things, and this is all good information. Thanks for sharing your knowledge.

One thing I still can't figure out... some pictures in products listings of the Operator Elite show "Inertia Technology" etched on the bolt while others show "Hybrid System" etched on the bolt. This has me really scratching my head as I thought the M4 uses just the ARGOS gas system.

At the end of the day based on YOUR experience, would you recommend one of these Canuck Operator Elites to someone who wants a fun semi auto shotgun but cannot justify Benelli or Beretta prices if it can be bought brand new for $720ish? Or would you ultimately say avoid/wait for further refinements?
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The m4 clones Inc the cunuck arw thr ARGo system. So gas blowback with reco tube,buffer and spring in the buttstock.
The Canuck, federation armsxans the revarms are all the same gun. So at this point buy the best price and best rep for service.
 
CanuckShooter said:
Would any owners of the Canuck Operator Elite be willing to chime in on what your experience has been with this gun and if you'd recommend it for someone who just cannot justify spending the money on a Benelli. It's just not an option for me.

It appears that the Elite model is the second generation with some improvements. Has anyone checked for peening on the bolt or the contact surface of the piston rods after putting a decent number of rounds through theirs? Any common issues you've come across or has yours been 100% right out of the box?

Is the Operator Elite a step above the rest of the clones? Also, is this a 100% clone where every part is compatible with the genuine Benelli part similar to the Panzer M4 in the USA?

"Turkish garbage" or "I'd never own a Turkish gun" is not helpful. I own Caniks, which have been flawless and are some of my absolute favourite handguns, Tisas 1911s, and some Deryas. They are all superb firearms and the fit and finish on all of them is top notch. In fact better than many of the North American guns I've bought. I do realize however, that there are definitely some low quality Turkish guns out there.

I can grab one new for a little over $700. Any experiences you can offer would be greatly appreciated. Also, if you could please specify if you have the original Operator or the Operator Elite.

Thanks
Click to expand...
I agree with Turkish guns. I own two CANiKs, a Girsan, Derya and a Rev Arms Mauler. All have been really good. I suggest you get a Beretta 1301. I did, tbh; have zero desire to own a M4. M2, M3, Super Nova I would buy.
 
chocol8thunda said:
I agree with Turkish guns. I own two CANiKs, a Girsan, Derya and a Rev Arms Mauler. All have been really good. I suggest you get a Beretta 1301. I did, tbh; have zero desire to own a M4. M2, M3, Super Nova I would buy.
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To me, $1800 before tax is just way too expensive for ANY gun. Shotguns are a ton of fun for blasting away, but for me they're a very crude, basic tool with a limited scope of use.

I like affordable guns that sit just below the line of diminishing returns of price relative to value and quality. CZ, Canik, S&W, Mossberg, Derya, Tisas are my favourite brands. I just wouldn't be able to enjoy a gun with such a high price tag, as I'd be expecting the quality and function to be proportional to the increased cost. I'd be extremely disappointed with anything less than perfection basically.

DarkSyd said:
O’Dell’s Customer service is fantastic, fwiw.
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This is what I'm reading everywhere, and it's helping push me toward trying one.
 
CanuckShooter said:
To me, $1800 before tax is just way too expensive for ANY gun. Shotguns are a ton of fun for blasting away, but for me they're a very crude, basic tool with a limited scope of use.

I like affordable guns that sit just below the line of diminishing returns of price relative to value and quality. CZ, Canik, S&W, Mossberg, Derya, Tisas are my favourite brands. I just wouldn't be able to enjoy a gun with such a high price tag, as I'd be expecting the quality and function to be proportional to the increased cost. I'd be extremely disappointed with anything less than perfection basically.


This is what I'm reading everywhere, and it's helping push me toward trying one.
Click to expand...
Ii thought the same, till bought my 1301, using sezzle. It's as good as a M4, shoots faster, has chokes and cheaper. Bought mine new for $1600. It's appreciated to $1800+. Shoot a 1301 and youll see why it's not only fun, but arguably the best semimauto on the market.
 
CanuckShooter said:
To me, $1800 before tax is just way too expensive for ANY gun. Shotguns are a ton of fun for blasting away, but for me they're a very crude, basic tool with a limited scope of use.

I like affordable guns that sit just below the line of diminishing returns of price relative to value and quality. CZ, Canik, S&W, Mossberg, Derya, Tisas are my favourite brands. I just wouldn't be able to enjoy a gun with such a high price tag, as I'd be expecting the quality and function to be proportional to the increased cost. I'd be extremely disappointed with anything less than perfection basically.


This is what I'm reading everywhere, and it's helping push me toward trying one.
Click to expand...
Check out a Stoeger M3K. Owned by Beretta, who also owns, Benelli.
 
CanuckShooter said:
Would any owners of the Canuck Operator Elite be willing to chime in on what your experience has been with this gun and if you'd recommend it for someone who just cannot justify spending the money on a Benelli. It's just not an option for me.

It appears that the Elite model is the second generation with some improvements. Has anyone checked for peening on the bolt or the contact surface of the piston rods after putting a decent number of rounds through theirs? Any common issues you've come across or has yours been 100% right out of the box?

Is the Operator Elite a step above the rest of the clones? Also, is this a 100% clone where every part is compatible with the genuine Benelli part similar to the Panzer M4 in the USA?

"Turkish garbage" or "I'd never own a Turkish gun" is not helpful. I own Caniks, which have been flawless and are some of my absolute favourite handguns, Tisas 1911s, and some Deryas. They are all superb firearms and the fit and finish on all of them is top notch. In fact better than many of the North American guns I've bought. I do realize however, that there are definitely some low quality Turkish guns out there.

I can grab one new for a little over $700. Any experiences you can offer would be greatly appreciated. Also, if you could please specify if you have the original Operator or the Operator Elite.

Thanks
Click to expand...
1st generation Operator I tried does not like 2 3/4 target loads and rarely cycled them properly. Cycled every 3" really well though. No info on durability.
 
CanuckShooter said:
The M3K is on my short list as well. I stumbled across the Operator Elite while reading up on the M3K. I'm leaning more toward the Operator right now though. :cool:
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I have friends that run both the Operator and the Operator Elite in competition. Two of these friends are literally the best shooters I know and both have absolutely no issues with these shotguns. As a matter of fact, one of them teaches Tactical Shotgun courses and runs his Operator a hell of a lot. A third buddy of mine ran an Operator he won at an event a couple of years ago for the very first time last Saturday at a 2Gun we shot and won the event, so I have no qualms about the functionality of the Canuck offerings.
My other friend runs am M3K and has been happy with it, nice shotgun but he has had a few cycling issues with it, however that was probably more of a break in period as it seems to function well now👍
I’ve been running a True North Arms VR-66 in competition this year and I gotta say at the price I paid ($649) it has been a hell of a bargain and has run flawlessly with everything I’ve ran through it. It came with 5 extended chokes, a plus 2 mag extension and a very nice case for that price, well worth a look at for sure
 
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I’ve had the operator for 3 or 4 years. Had a few issues right from the box. The charging knob retention to bolt was poor, fell out while firing. Also a trigger pin slid out, both parts where luckily found in the sand. Both were minor fixes to solve the problem. Other than that, I ordered a mesa optics rail for Benelli m4 and the receiver screw pattern did not match. I made it work by marking and drilling the mesa rail to match the receiver.
 
edgy said:
I have friends that run both the Operator and the Operator Elite in competition. Two of these friends are literally the best shooters I know and both have absolutely no issues with these shotguns. As a matter of fact, one of them teaches Tactical Shotgun courses and runs his Operator a hell of a lot. A third buddy of mine ran an Operator he won at an event a couple of years ago for the very first time last Saturday at a 2Gun we shot and won the event, so I have no qualms about the functionality of the Canuck offerings.
My other friend runs am M3K and has been happy with it, nice shotgun but he has had a few cycling issues with it, however that was probably more of a break in period as it seems to function well now👍
I’ve been running a True North Arms VR-66 in competition this year and I gotta say at the price I paid ($649) it has been a hell of a bargain and has run flawlessly with everything I’ve ran through it. It came with 5 extended chokes, a plus 2 mag extension and a very nice case for that price, well worth a look at for sure
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Thanks. This is the exact kind of endorsement of the Operator I"m looking for. I'm checking out that VR-66 right now. Pretty awesome, and only $650. Is it like the M3K where the inertia spring is under the handguard? Or is it more like the Benelli M2 inertia spring design which I read is behind the bolt?
 
edgy said:
I have friends that run both the Operator and the Operator Elite in competition. Two of these friends are literally the best shooters I know and both have absolutely no issues with these shotguns. As a matter of fact, one of them teaches Tactical Shotgun courses and runs his Operator a hell of a lot. A third buddy of mine ran an Operator he won at an event a couple of years ago for the very first time last Saturday at a 2Gun we shot and won the event, so I have no qualms about the functionality of the Canuck offerings.
My other friend runs am M3K and has been happy with it, nice shotgun but he has had a few cycling issues with it, however that was probably more of a break in period as it seems to function well now👍
I’ve been running a True North Arms VR-66 in competition this year and I gotta say at the price I paid ($649) it has been a hell of a bargain and has run flawlessly with everything I’ve ran through it. It came with 5 extended chokes, a plus 2 mag extension and a very nice case for that price, well worth a look at for sure
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I'm looking at buying a VR-66. Im pretty much going off what other people have said. I think I'll buy one.
Have you swapped the slides on your CANiK pistols? They run flawlessly. I have a ECE and Mete SFx. When you put the ECE slide on the Mete frame, it essentially becomes a Mete SFT, but with a SAI threaded barrel and irons.
 
It would be nice if there was some clarity on the different makers and the current gas systems they use.
I guess they all started as the simple gas non rotating bolt, then went inertia with MK2 versions, now the ARGO type.
Another observation is there are 2 different mag tubes (straight and ribbed) and 2 different trigger guards (standard and enlarged). Both seem to go together though with the respective models, ribbed/standard guard (like M4) and straight/enlarged which is not as M4 looking.
Safeties seem to be at rear of the trigger guard on some, in front on others. Trigger take down pin has a large head, some on the right, some on the left.
Here is a screen grab from a Hunt Group MX4 manual, I'll see if I can find anything about the other ones and post here.
Screenshot-20241015-103538.png


Rev Arms manual is crap, so is Canuck...looks like Canuck is Inertia.
Here is a replacement barrel for Rev Arms, shows same gas system as Hunt Group
Replacement-barrel-R4-75506.jpg
 
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One thing I have noticed is that there are two different versions, both sold under various different names. The one with the bolt handel directly above the bolt release button and one with the bolt handel slightly offset and forward of the bolt release button. The one with the bolt handel directly above is the more accurate clone of the M4 and seems to be the better made one (Rev Arms). The other is the Charles Daly (offset). I have had both and the Rev Arms I purchased from S&J has run flawless with no issues whats so ever. The other one was a POS and was plauged with issues from day one. If you are going to get one. Make sure it is the right one.
 
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