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Benelli M4 trap or skeet shooting ammo?


kimurabean

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This might sound a little odd, but I take my Benelli M4 trap or skeet shooting regularly. Today, I was using the shells they sell you at the range (Low Recoil 12g, 1oz #8). Out of the 75 shells I shot, 4 or 5 of them jammed in the barrel so bad I needed to use my needle nose pliers to pull the shell out of the barrel.

 

Assumption 1: I assume the low recoil shell doesnt have enough kick to push back the slide far enough to completely eject the spent shell.

 

Assumption 2: I also assume I need a different round with enough kick to push the slide (not sure thats the right terminology) completely back to eject the shell.

 

I spoke with my local armorer, he recommended using a shell made for real game instead of a shell labeled "target", "clay" or "sporting".

 

I am looking through various bird shot vendors, but I want to make sure I buy a bulk load of the right ammo.

 

Any suggestions as to what ammo I should use?

 

My home defense rounds are PDX 12g 00 Buck, so I think Im good there.

 

Any comments would be greatly appreciated.

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How well lubed is your M4? How broken in?

 

Low recoil 1 oz shells are pretty light to cycle the action ( a well lubed, well broken in M4 may cycle them reliably), simply go with a higher pellet load (1 1/8 oz or more), standard recoil shell (higher dram) and see how well it works.

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How well lubed is your M4? How broken in?

 

Low recoil 1 oz shells are pretty light to cycle the action ( a well lubed, well broken in M4 may cycle them reliably), simply go with a higher pellet load (1 1/8 oz or more), standard recoil shell (higher dram) and see how well it works.

 

 

I lube that sucker up pretty good with Frog Lube. I just recently loaded these rounds in my Shopping Cart. I did some reading on the DRAM rating and I think a 3.25 Dram, 1290fps 12g round will do. Ill check it out next range trip and get back with you.

 

Link to rounds from AmmoToGo.com

http://www.ammunitiontogo.com/product_info.php/pName/25rds-12-gauge-estate-2-34-3-14-dram-1oz-8-shot-ammo/cName/12-gauge-birdshot

 

Thanks for the quick reply...

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The problem with the inexpensive shells is the fact that the base metal is steel (silver in color) and not brass.

The harder steel, being less malleable expands to fill the chamber but does not contract closer to its original size as brass does making it more difficult to extract from the chamber of your barrel.

 

Remington STS or Winchester AA are the best reloadable shells out there.

 

The amount of payload 1oz vs: 1 1/8oz should not make a different. It is the powder charge that makes your gun function. Case in point, 00 Buck and Slugs are 1 oz payloads and should be 100% reliable in your gun.

 

You might also try polishing your chamber with 0000 steel wool wrapped around a wooden dowel and chucked in a drill.

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The only thing odd about using an M4 for trap/skeet/sport clays is the odd looks you'll get from the folk shooting 391s. :p

 

 

 

lol - i think those are the rentals they offer at the range. Kinda like the old used-up driver they offer beginners at the driving range. BAZINGA!

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I us the walmart 100 round boxes for sporting clays with my M4.

 

I actually had the lady at the range ask what I was going to use and when I showed her my M4 she actually said "that wont work". That's odd seems to function just fine and breaks flying clay things too! Are the better tools for the job, you bet, but this is what I have. Have fun.

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  • 3 weeks later...

Thanks for the info guys and gals. Just wanted to let you know I finally got a chance to test some 3.25 dram 12g bird shot rounds and the M4 didn't jam once.

 

Here's a little gun porn..

 

BEFORE...

[ATTACH=CONFIG]2028[/ATTACH]

 

AFTER... ;)

[ATTACH=CONFIG]2029[/ATTACH]

 

I love my M4....

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  • 10 months later...

Went to the range yesterday and shot a box of Remington STS Light Target Loads through my M4, without any malfunctions. After reading this thread I was concerned they might not work, but they did. Taking a skeet class this March, and think I will use the Benelli instead of my trusty old Weatherby Model 82. Only gripe I have with the M4 is that stock recoil pad sucked when shooting in a T-shirt, as we do here in Arizona. Replaced it with a Limbsaver and now it is a joy to shoot.

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