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The Browning A5 is factory designed to auto load. If you saw a Benelli or Stoeger with the auto load feature here in the USA the gun probably had the modification done by MOA Precision, they've had the parts available since early this year (2019). I have one on my RAS Benelli M2. The auto load feature allows you to shoot the gun to empty/bolt locked back, then you can insert shell(s) into the magazine tube and the first shell will automatically exit the mag tube and the action closes and “auto loads” the shell into the chamber. Here is a video demonstrating with my Benelli M2. Benelli Auto Load with MOA Precision parts

I’ve done a lot of Limbsaver pads on collapsible stocks and regular stocks. Now if you cut the stock down, you’ll have to modify the pad to blend in. There have been a few websites outlining the process. I’ve never done one of those. Using a screw was definitely a cost saving measure over copying the factory system that is locked in place by the trigger pack and field serviceable.

The normal functions of the gun remain. You can still load the tube and leave the chamber empty, and you can open the bolt and remove the chambered round without emptying the magazine. If the bolt is closed (regardless of the chamber being empty or loaded) you can load round into the mag tube as in normal operation. The auto load feature allows you to have the gun completely empty (including the mag tube) and the bolt locked open, but now shells can still be inserted into the mag tube.. When you insert the first rounds into the mag tube the first round will then eject into the action and get chambered. This was all developed for competition guns so when the gun is shot dry only one loading technique is needed – just stuff shells into t mag tube and keep going– no need to insert a round into the action, close the bolt, then fill the tube. Whether the “modification” holds up under heavy use / high round count remains to be seen. I have a couple thousand rounds in on my M2 with the MOA Precision parts – so far so good.

This J-Kenny Auto Loading Lifter does sound quite interesting, but it leaves me a little bit confused about what manual features it overrides with the Benelli M4. I read their product page on their website, but the info leaves me with more questions and confusion. Does the Auto Loading Lifter not allow the chamber to be clear, the bolt closed and a full magazine tube? What I mean by that is ... I really like that I can chamber my first round and upon racking the charging handle, I can quickly & easily clear the chamber without it automatically ejecting a round from the magazine and allow the bolt to close with an empty chamber. This is where I am left a bit confused as to what this part will disable and/or alter in the way of 'normal' functionality. I think it would be a really good idea for that company to make a thorough video showing two Benelli M4s side by side and demonstrating the original/normal functions vs how it functions using the Auto Loading Lifter.

The Browning A5 (current model and the older “humback” Auto 5 with the 2 piece lifter) are the only shotguns that I know of with the “auto load” feature from the factory. The shell latch design of the Italian influenced guns (current Benelli, Beretta, Stoeger, Franchi) could be adapted, not so with the Remington 1100 or 11/87 action. There is a lot of “that's the way we've always done it” and “not designed here” in the firearms industry...and the Italians seem to have a “our way is the best way” attitude to firearms technology.

I've had good luck with the FFT spring kit. They aren't meant to be lighter or extra power or anything like that. They're produced by Wolff to be a higher quality than OEM springs which tend to take a set. I did not have good luck with the TTI spring kit. I had light primer strikes and ended up removing the springs.

You're not dense, you're just used to pump shotguns clearly. The idea is that you load a round into the chamber FIRST while the BCG is back and the gun is empty. You then release the BCG, which lets you load additional rounds into the tube. This way, you always have a round in the chamber so you can use it if you need it. It's superior to a pump in that with pumps you have to load rounds into the tube, then pump, in order to accomplish the same thing. The m4 is faster getting a round in the chamber when you have an empty gun. If the bolt is closed, it always allows loading of more shells. The setup is also designed so that you can change the shell that's in the chamber without affecting the shells in the mag tube. It works better than the pump way. The small lever is there to reset the system on command. It allows the BCG to be locked back regardless of how whether the chamber is loaded, not loaded, rounds in the tube, no rounds in the tube, etc. On the next BCG cycle, the bolt will remain locked back, allowing you to manually load or change rounds if you desire. Overall, it gives you much more options and flexibility, not to mention speed, over the standard pump system. It just takes some getting used to, as it is rather different. Once you get good with it, you'll realize how awesome it is.