OK, what about a Benelli M4 Super 90 with a short barrel?

[Big Bad]

I wasn't bright enough to get the exact measurement but when I asked the CFO looked it up and told me that the only short barreled version that Benelli made in this gun has a 14 inch barrel and that would mean that the vendor is correct about it being restricted (I called them because I wanted a different answer).

This is quite a different shotgun from the regular length M4, the barrel is shorter of course and the mag tube is a full 5 shot one right out of the box. It's significantly lighter too, which is a good thing if I was humping it around but if R status I wouldn't be very much and also the felt recoil would be a fair bit higher- that's an issue but not a huge one for me. This is another used Benelli and frankly unique and previously unknown to me and others, so it does have the allure of being rare, which almost but not quite cancels out the restricted thing. Another question is how the barrel length affects slug accuracy and buckshot spread.

Anyway, eager to hear from anyone who's had experience with this stubby M4, even if limited, please advise.

 

[Big Bad]

Oh, and of course Benelli describes this model as the M4 'Entry', and I don't think they're talking about any old regular kind of entry either. So I'm wondering how over specialized this gun would turn out to be.

 

[canucklehead]

It's a great shotgun - the ONLY difference between a regular M4 (non-restricted) and the M4 entry (14" barrel semi-auto - ie: Restricted), is the barrel length and I believe choke.

M4 ships with crio chokes, and M4 entry is fixed I believe.

Great shotgun - but 100% restricted in 14" form.

 

[Big Bad]

So another question is what does an M4 Entry sell for when it's new and out of the box?

 

[johhny12gauge]

I had the 14" restricted Benelli. My 2 cents is to avoid buying it. It was still pretty heavy and feeding wasn't as good as I had hoped. I prefer pumps so that would be a factor. I would take the Mossberg 590A1 in any barrel length as my one and done shotgun.

 

[lerch641]

So another question is what does an M4 Entry sell for when it's new and out of the box?

Roughly $2500. Not much more than a standard M4S90.

 

[Jaaska]

Barrel length has nothing to do with slug accuracy or shot spread . Shot spread is determined by the choke and mechanical accuracy will be the same from a 14 inch to any length of barrel . My 14 inch 870 is as accurate as my M4 and by swapping out chokes on either i can change the shot pattern density . It may be easier to aim with a longer sight radius of a longer barrel but the longer barrel is no more accurate . Mine have Aimpoint T2 Micros on them so for me sight radius is irrelivent .

 

[F22_RaptoR]

The allure of the shorty M4 I think would wear off pretty quick IMHO.

I mean, if you only ever go to the range then it's probably a cool little fun gun but the big point to shotguns is their utility; you can use them for so many different purposes.

I've held and shot the M4 entry, the difference in weight and recoil is almost nothing, and the benefit of the M4 18.5" is that you can put a partial extension (+1) to get 5 shells of 3" and 6 of 2-3/4"; as well as being able to take it out into the woods or whatever for predator defense.

 

[Big Bad]

Barrel length has nothing to do with slug accuracy or shot spread . Shot spread is determined by the choke and mechanical accuracy will be the same from a 14 inch to any length of barrel . My 14 inch 870 is as accurate as my M4 and by swapping out chokes on either i can change the shot pattern density . It may be easier to aim with a longer sight radius of a longer barrel but the longer barrel is no more accurate . Mine have Aimpoint T2 Micros on them so for me sight radius is irrelivent .

OK but both shot spread and slug accuracy (trajectory) are also affected by velocity, and 14" is a pretty short length to ensure all the powder in a shell has a chance to burn; I would call it borderline. I think it's a fair question, maybe Benelli would ensure it's not a problem or maybe they decided it's a necessary tradeoff.

The allure of the shorty M4 I think would wear off pretty quick IMHO.

I mean, if you only ever go to the range then it's probably a cool little fun gun but the big point to shotguns is their utility; you can use them for so many different purposes.

I've held and shot the M4 entry, the difference in weight and recoil is almost nothing, and the benefit of the M4 18.5" is that you can put a partial extension (+1) to get 5 shells of 3" and 6 of 2-3/4"; as well as being able to take it out into the woods or whatever for predator defense.

Yeah but I have all the hunting shotguns I need (and more), this would half a fun gun, 1/4 a niche purpose gun and 1/4 a sort of cool collectible, an expensive one for those purposes of course. And there's the fact that I've never particularly liked the regular B M4 but this one really speaks to me. The restricted status is something you either put up with or it serves its intended government purpose, which is to prevent people from buying them and to ensure those guns stay registered for a coming roundup.

 

[Big Bad]

Thanks to everyone for the feedback and advice. Great to have on what I consider a major gun purpose.

 

[F22_RaptoR]

OK but both shot spread and slug accuracy (trajectory) are also affected by velocity, and 14" is a pretty short length to ensure all the powder in a shell has a chance to burn; I would call it borderline. I think it's a fair question, maybe Benelli would ensure it's not a problem or maybe they decided it's a necessary tradeoff.



Yeah but I have all the hunting shotguns I need (and more), this would half a fun gun, 1/4 a niche purpose gun and 1/4 a sort of cool collectible, an expensive one for those purposes of course. And there's the fact that I've never particularly liked the regular B M4 but this one really speaks to me. The restricted status is something you either put up with or it serves its intended government purpose, which is to prevent people from buying them and to ensure those guns stay registered for a coming roundup.

If you're okay with it being restricted, then honestly I can't think of any reason not to do it

The M4 is a very solid shotgun out of the box, not really much for really required upgrades. my only advice is if you haven't used or checked out the telescoping stock, try it out first. some people like it, and some don't. But there are a few options on the market for replacements, including the Mesa fixed stocks if you like it a bit shorter.

The one thing that sold me on the M4 is firing all 6 shells before the first one hit the ground (Do it with cheapy target ammo, not buckshot! the M4 is a very easy recoiling shotgun but buckshot is way too much!). It pushes you back pretty hard but that smile will last for days