Question for Benelli M4 operators

Big Bad

Big Bad

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I often long to own my very own Benelli M4 but am put off by the reputation they have (with me at least) for failing with sub-primary shells, meaning the cheapest stuff I can find that I use for practice. I forget the model # but they do of course make one that can be switched between semiauto and pump operation but equally of course and for some more than usually demented reason, our political masters have decreed those to be prohibited, the jerks.

Anyway, my question is how much is this sort of failure to cycle an actual problem with the M4 version? Always, often, rarely, not at all, what? I actually don't know anyone who owns one, but I don't mind being the first.
 
JoKa, a member here and at the club I shoot with, has one. He only runs higher velocity loads through it (Like the Winchester Super Speed, etc), because of reliability issues with lower power loads. It will run them most of the time I think, but he doesn't like risking it when he's shooting a match with it.
 
Mine has a few thousand rounds through it and the only failure I ever have is when the rough crimp on some challenger shells hangs up while feeding into the chamber. I practice with Challenger 1oz and try to shoot Federal 1 1/8oz loads in matches. I don't mind the odd failure while I'm practicing and I'm pretty quick at getting the gun up and running again.

I don't think my M4 has short stroked any light loads.

You're thinking of the Benelli M3 which is both semi and pump to support the use of really light rubber bullets and beanbags for police and military.
 
When I first got mine I ran some heavy 00 buck to break it in.
Then I tried some cheap fed loads and it didnt run reliably. So I went to the superspeeds and it ran flawless. (And since I found something that worked I didnt want to change it)
After a few thousand rounds and my cheap supply of superspeed drying up I switched over to the cheap challenger rounds and it seems to be running those flawless. It might run the cheap federal better now..... but if it eats the affordable challenger now why bother? I cant recall the last stoppage I had on that shotgun.

(I would still lean towards faster loads though but that is just me wanting the piece of mind and extra jam)
(The gun shoots soooo bloody soft that you cant feel the faster stuffs added recoil. Slugs is comfy to shoot too)
 
Mine didn't cycle bird shot at first but I guess it broke in. Cycles the lowest brass stuff I can find pretty flawlessly.
 
They need a break in with heavy loads at first. So a few hundred rounds of 3” buck or 2/3 shot. The problems you hear about are people who try to cycle it brand new with 2 3/4 “ target loads and they get hang ups. They’re beautiful guns and you won’t regret it.
 
SJAR said:
Mine has a few thousand rounds through it and the only failure I ever have is when the rough crimp on some challenger shells hangs up while feeding into the chamber. I practice with Challenger 1oz and try to shoot Federal 1 1/8oz loads in matches. I don't mind the odd failure while I'm practicing and I'm pretty quick at getting the gun up and running again.

I don't think my M4 has short stroked any light loads.

You're thinking of the Benelli M3 which is both semi and pump to support the use of really light rubber bullets and beanbags for police and military.
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Bingo, the most dumbasses prohibition I've heard of to date.
 
Once broken in with afew boxes of game loads mine ran prefect with cheapo shells. Also good to keep the bolt well lubed.
 
From what I've seen, the heavier the loads used during initial break-in, the more likely they are to run light loads reliably.

If it were me I'd run a case of full power slugs through it and use light oil.
 
Halifax Bob said:
They need a break in with heavy loads at first. So a few hundred rounds of 3” buck or 2/3 shot. The problems you hear about are people who try to cycle it brand new with 2 3/4 “ target loads and they get hang ups. They’re beautiful guns and you won’t regret it.
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This is correct, they need to be broken in, after that they will eat everything, including the liberal government for breakfast
 
As others have said, run some heavy stuff before and it'll run just fine. Mine eats all the 1oz and 7/8oz low brass junky target ammo I put in it.

I think the only stoppage I've ever had with mine was with some unknown brand of 2-3/4" 1oz slugs. One round just didn't eject, but that was it. Most of what I shoot is the cheapy ammo!
 
I lived mine up, and went skeet shooting, not a single stoppages with 200+ cheap target loads I've put through it, nor then ~50 00buck or ~20 slugs. Those of you having issues, did you live the bolt up nice and wet or have you cleaned the pistons?
 
Mine has run everything but the last box of cheap shells I tried. Believe they were challenger target loads. Have been the only shells to not cycle or ever give me issues.

mustang979 said:
I lived mine up, and went skeet shooting, not a single stoppages with 200+ cheap target loads I've put through it, nor then ~50 00buck or ~20 slugs. Those of you having issues, did you live the bolt up nice and wet or have you cleaned the pistons?
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When mine had the stoppages last, I had just thoroughly cleaned it. Had cleaned out the pistons and the bolt was lubed but not wet. Could have contributed to the issue.
 
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I shoot whatever is cheapest and get the very odd failure but i expect it so no biggy . I don't hunt with that crap . Mine got a break in of about 100 rounds of 00 buck and i haven't cleaned it for two years except spraying some lube in the bolt .
 
Jaaska said:
I shoot whatever is cheapest and get the very odd failure but i expect it so no biggy . I don't hunt with that crap . Mine got a break in of about 100 rounds of 00 buck and i haven't cleaned it for two years except spraying some lube in the bolt .
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There's a lot to be said for the occasional failure... when training. So that sort of thing would actually be an asset in my eyes, give me an excuse to shoot crap ammo.
 
Thanks for all the informed and informative replies. Now I need to retire to a mountain top and meditate on getting an M4, an M4 Entry or just not getting myself anything fun for Christmas at all. :)


I do like the shorty though. It's not Shorty's fault the government has it out for him....
 
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