M4 Super-90 barrel extension

[Jonny_Cannon]

Well, after much research (and for all the replies to my old thread, I am grateful to all listers here), I went ahead and bought the UTS-15 7.5" barrel extension on a lark. I know it will not help shot pattern, but I was curious to see how the shotgun will behave, and what effect the barrel extension will have on it (ie does it throw the loads off-centre, etc in the way a choke might, will it blow up a la Bugs Bunny, lol, and so on). For $75, what the heck.

So, it arrived last night. The UTS-15 supposedly uses Beretta choke threads, as does the Benelli M4. I can confirm indeed it does. Threading it into the shotgun was easy. Fits perfectly. Threading my choke into the end took a bit of cleaning, and some gentle reaming with a tap. The threads seemed to be cut straight and correct; they just needed to be cleaned out. Although I haven't measured it (I can't remember if the M4 has an 18" or 18.5" barrel), with a Gobblin' Thunder (giggity) choke & external compensator, I'm guessing the barrel length is around 27-28". If anything, it may make for a decent bird gun.

I'm taking it out to the shoot at the club tomorrow, so I'll post some pics and a report on how it worked out later on. Just thought I'd post as an FYI.

Cannon

 

[Jonny_Cannon]

Well, here are the pics:







Once I finally got it patterned at the turkey shoot, I found it was shooting a few inches high, centered, at 40 yards. This was with #8 shot, and the turkey choke on it. I was bench-shooting while I patterned it, to further reduce the possibility of human error.

I know the turkey choke is not meant for #4's & #5's as far as loads go, but I only had a turkey choke and a modified choke for it. I left the turkey choke on to try for consistent set-up between loads. I'm going to buy a few other chokes to experiment with as the loads change.

Here's my results:

1) With 7 1/2's & 8's, no difference in the amount of pellets, one way or the other, using the extended barrel.
2) With 4's & 5's, there was an increase of about 10 pellets, consistently, using the extended barrel.

Why or why not there was an increase is beyond me, because I know an extended barrel isn't supposed to make a difference. Also, I know the turkey choke should hamper my results, but these numbers were the best with 4's & 5's we have achieved - same increases for both my gf & I, each time. The distance was only 40 yards, so I can't see the shot dropping in that distance with an 18.5" barrel - I know the velocity likely increased with the barrel extension, but it is what it is.

That's all I know; I said I'd report my results. Maybe someone with more knowledge than I can offer a better explanation.

Cannon

 

[canucklehead]

Very cool! Looks goofy as hell, but might turn my M4S90 into a clay slayin machine.

Where did you source the extension? Wolverine? Any problems with it coming loose? Do you just tighten it by hand?

Waiting for my straight stock to arrive.. might try it out on clays with the extension setup! Thanks for your post.

 

[Jonny_Cannon]

Yes - Wolverine had it. I tightened it by hand. I had to check the turkey choke once in a while, but it also comes loose on just the shotgun only if I don't use my wrench - not just the extension. the extension itself stayed in tight.

It indeed looks goofy. The gf said she really liked the balance, though, and holy crap does it every quiet the thing down.

Cannon