Benelli M3 or M4

[wesel123]

We'll its time for a new defense shot gun and want to get everyone’s opinion on either and M3 or an M4.

The M3 I'm looking at is used but very gently and I'd save a bit of coin. My concern is whether I really need a selectable shotty????

The M4 is proven and so is the M3 but is one better than the other. I would like the ability to shoot lower grain rounds with the pump but not sure I really need to..

HELP!!!!!

[SunTzuNephew]

Pump....when you put the defense-friendly items (like a light, etc) on a recoil/inertia operated shotgun, it doesn't work so well any more.

[BIGdaddy]

agreed. pump.

my 870 rem has been 100% reliable for the last 10 years.

I'd say benelli will be no different...if you miss a pheasant with an auto, its no big deal, but if you have a jam-o-matic when you meet the homeboy that just broke into your house at 3am, you'll realize real quick that simpler is better. (they do make good bats, though. :) )

[wesel123]

Pump....when you put the defense-friendly items (like a light, etc) on a recoil/inertia operated shotgun, it doesn't work so well any more.

I had no idea that offset weight would hurt the operation of the gun. Good to know. But I belive the M4 is a gas blow back (ARGO is what they call it)..could be wrong though.

[SunTzuNephew]

I had no idea that offset weight would hurt the operation of the gun. Good to know. But I belive the M4 is a gas blow back (ARGO is what they call it)..could be wrong though.

Still depends on the inertia....the amount of gas blowback is regulated for the weight, change the weight and you can have problems. It's noticeable when you get the full range of tacticool stuff on the gun...sidesaddle, speedfeed stock, lights, sights, etc.

I have an M4, but my home defense shotgun is a Mossberg 590. It's NEVER not gone boom when I wanted it to, and I don't expect it ever will. A plain 500 is OK too, as is a Rem 870 or an Ithaca (got an Ithaca but it's old now, and getting hard to find parts so I baby it).

[wesel123]

Ok that makes perfect sense. I have a Win 1300 which has never failed me but I really want a semi....I cant explain why???

Found a slightly used Desert Camo M4 for $1400...not bad considering that new is $1900

How about the FN SlS.... if I could get one in Cali....I do not even see a dealer here....lame

[nobodyspecial]

if you are set on a semi auto shotgun, how about a Saiga 12? its built on an ak47 action design, so it has the legendary reliability going for it.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5xKhn9Gb01I

[Fireman78]

Pump....when you put the defense-friendly items (like a light, etc) on a recoil/inertia operated shotgun, it doesn't work so well any more.

I agree... Remington 870.... best home defense shotgun ever. The audible warning "clack clack" will doe wonders for your carpet and furniture. (by having the guy run away instead of turning into goo.)

[nobodyspecial]

I agree... Remington 870.... best home defense shotgun ever. The audible warning "clack clack" will doe wonders for your carpet and furniture. (by having the guy run away instead of turning into goo.)Hey shouldn't get a warning... He is already in your house, he knows he isnt supposed to be there. There should already be a round in the chamber. :) But I do agree, that if you shouldn't confine yourself to a semi auto, especially for home defense. I own a Benelli Nova pump and I absolutely love that shotgun, but am thinking of upgrading to a SuperNova.

Something like this:

http://world.guns.ru/shotgun/ben_nova.jpg

[Fireman78]

It would be fun to see the size of the perps eyeballs before he got the lead sandwich.

[SunTzuNephew]

It would be fun to see the size of the perps eyeballs before he got the lead sandwich.


Thats what the light is for!:Wow1:

[KG6BWS]

Unless you are willing to CONSTANTLY clean it, I would stay away from a semi for defense purposes. A friend of mine has a Benelli (cant remember the model), for hunting, and while he says it is a great shotgun, it is VERY finicky.

I agree with the above posts about the Remington 870. You cant beat a pump anyways for reliability, but IMO, the 870 is the BEST shotgun made. My dads is 30 years old and mine is about 15. Neither one have ever had any problems, never been to a gunsmith, and have never misfired. Both of ours are used mainly for hunting and have been subject to mud, dirt, dust, rain and mine was even dropped in a marsh one time. I swished it around in the water to clear the mud out and kept on hunting for the rest of the day. My Remington 1100 (semi) on the other hand, isnt IMO good for anything but a day at the range.

However, if you really are dead set on a semi, Benelli, or Beretta for that matter, are good choices.

[wesel123]

I agree with everyone on the pump for defense. That’s why I’m keeping the 1300. Reliable, I KNOW it'll work. I think the semi has a fun factor to shooting that you can’t get with a pump. The 1300 is loaded and ready to go at home.

I found a Brand new Mossberg 930 SPX at a local dealer for 699. For half a Benelli how could you go wrong???? I'm going to head over to my local armor and take a gander. Play with all the guns you guys suggested.

Ahhhhh nothing like gun store therapy :sombrero:

[TACODOC]

Mossberg 500 is my gun of choice for this app, Remington 870 is my second choice (both excellent guns BTW).

.02

[FreeManDan]

Any thing sold on the market now days can't be a bad shotty IMO, but no one has mentioned the FN SLP. Its every bit as good as a Benelli but a few hundred bills less. Light and well balanced, durable and recoil is somewhat less. A lot of the professional 3 gun competitors are using them, when the lower price doesn't matter, they still choose it. If I were to change anything on it, it would be a shorter stock by an inch for home and LE officers who would be exiting a police car and wearing armor. The end user probably wouldn't hunt with it, I say that in part cause I'm not a hunter.

http://www.fnhusa.com/le/products/firearms/model.asp?fid=FNF005&gid=FNG002&mid=FNM0018

The Saiga 12 is Bad @$$ tooo...:drool:

oh and you said you wanted to shoot light ammo, the SLP comes with 2 gas pistons to choose from, one for heavy, and one for light. The light setting is can be used with 00 buck, #4 buck, bird shot, and all that it is between. I haven't shot slugs, but I'm told it can with the light load piston....

[TACODOC]

I like the Saiga 12... alot :drool:

Or, even better yet would be the new AA-12 ;)

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=p4ebtj1jR7c

[Every Miles A Memory]

Everyone is talking from rumors and here-say

I have the Benelli M4 and this shot gun has never once jammed, no matter what round, what grain or what size I've put through the barrel

I've brought it to the range and put hundreds of rounds through it day after day

Ask Ryan (Dr. Moab) on this forum about it. While with him and his family in the San Rafael Swell, his brothers, who are police officers spent over an hour putting my shot gun through the paces and all were drooling over how amazing it shot.

No matter who shoots this gun leaves with one intention, going straight to a store to put some money down to get one of their own

I'd find a range that allows rentals and check it out for yourself, but I cant say one bad thing about this. My daughter even can shoot 3" magnums through it all day long and she's a very small framed girl

[jesusgatos]

if you are set on a semi auto shotgun, how about a Saiga 12? its built on an ak47 action design, so it has the legendary reliability going for it.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5xKhn9Gb01I
Mmmm, Saiga 12. Got an 870 and love it, but that's definitely the next shotgun I'd buy. It's just... so...

[bobcat charlie]

I prefer an earlier non-interconnect pump, M37, M1897, M17, etc. Without the interconnect (hold the trigger down and operate the slide) you can fire aimed shots almost as fast as an auto with a lot more reliability! I have an old JC Higgins M20, no interconnect, with an 18" barrel that is absolutly reliable and only cost me $125!