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It occurred to me that I have yet to post a photo of my M4 since completion.

If it doesn’t work for me, it’s yours.

It sounds cliché, but the old saying of "buy once, cry once" def applies to the M4. It is a world-class combat shotgun that has very few rivals. Yeah the price tag is high, but once you own one and start using it, the value is immediately apparent. For me personally, an M4 was at the tippy top of my gun bucket list, save for a transferrable MP5. I've had my M4 since mid-April and to this day I still can't believe that I finally own one. Just last night I was holding it and was giddy with excitement that I actually have one. Not only that, but it's modded the way I always dreamed of. I couldn't possibly be happier with my purchase.

I came here to post what RPC said. Dinging up something new that you love sucks. On the other hand, the first scratch/ding is the hardest and now you don't have the pressure of keeping it pristinte. Going even further, I learned to appreciate the character that some imperfections can add to an item, so now I'm almost relieved when I initially damage something (assuming the damage isn't' too bad. If it is, I just get pissed off haha)

My default is to go with the RMR RM09 which is a 1 moa dot size optic. I don't see a reason to ever use the larger moa dots. The 1 moa is fast to find since you have a pretty solid cheek weld that guides your face to the optic. Currently on mine are 3.5 moa models since the smaller dot size ones were moved to other platforms. I don't like busy sights and I hate looking thru a tube on a firearm that is meant for more close quarters engagements. So I remove the iron sights from my M4's that have the RMR present. This cuts about 4 ounces of weight which more than offsets the gains of the RMR and Scalarworks Sync rail. Now if you find that the optic sits too low, there are spacer options of 2.5 and 10mm that will raise the optic slightly. This may make sighting more comfortable when using the middle position of the collapsible stock.

Very cool! My daughter loves 12 gauge too.

I was able to change out my original mag tubes to the 7 shell tubes by using a heatgun with a small nozzle attachment to precisely direct heat to the outside metal of the receiver. Heated up enough quickly to loosen up the red threadlocker (lots of it) and was fortunate not to damage or warp the plastic parts and my M3. Did this for both the M3 and M4, even though our unit's armorer/gunsmith said to use a torch...

It strikes me as odd to ask for opinions after you've purchased it, especially with that many rounds already fired. But, since you haven't had much other shotgun experience to compare it to, it is a practical question. I bought an M4 only because of my history with Benelli on the other models, especially my long time love affair with the SBE 1 (H&K import). I fell in love with the inertia action. Personally, it is the inertia action of their semi-autos that IS Benelli to me. But, the M4's gas system allows it to be softer recoiling, and offers some "freehand" (meaning firing without resistance) shots that will cause the inertia models to eject and close on an empty chamber. With the US military's interest in the M4, I think that caused many in the states to give it a look. The M4 models have a ton of aftermarket parts if you are of the type to personalize them to a hilt. On that topic, remember that if you start replacing parts, make sure you are following the 922r laws. When the M4 is fully "kitted out", they somehow manage a modern classic look for us older shooters, while still being "tacticool" for the younger generation. It probably doesn't hurt that it is featured in most modern video games too. As to why I got into Benelli in the first place, I used to have a different shotgun for different seasons (upland game, waterfowl, dove, skeet, sporting clays, trap, etc). The constantly changing guns meant that with each season change, I missed some shots until I got the feel for that particular gun again. I first read of the Super Black Eagle in 1994; that it could shoot 2.75", 3", and 3.5" mag. In any order, and without adjustment. I made a 3 hour round trip to a gun shop that had one. After holding it, the balance felt good, it was lighter than most of my current guns, many which were only 2.75". So, I saved up about a grand which took me quite a while. So, in '95 I brought home an H&K import Benelli Super Black Eagle. The more I shot it, the more I liked it. So, I slowly started selling my O/U's (Browning Citori and Ruger Red Label), then sold my SxS, then my pumps including the two you mentioned (I do wish I still had the Ithaca 37 for my left-handed friends to shoot), then lastly sold my Ithaca. So, for ~10 years I had ONLY the SBE; well, and a .410 1100 Remington that I traded for that is mint. During that time I bought a rifled slug barrel and modified forearm (required for the SBE 1 to shoot the slug barrel and/or for later field barrels). I said at that time if some atrocious law came into effect that only allowed us a single firearm, that would be it. Flash forward to now. I started to collect them some years back. I now have an M1, two M3T's (top folder's), Montefeltro 20 gauge (my wife's clay pigeon gun), two SBE's and every factory length barrel that was offered (24", 26", and 28" in both low rib and high rib barrels, plus the aforementioned slug barrel), an all black modified M4 (these are gas operated), and the rare and valuable M4 H2O (NP3 version) model 11711. I liked Benelli so much that to this day, only other shotguns I still have only the Remington 1100 .410 and a Savage 22/.410 O/U that I've had for 25+ years. However, a Franchi SPAS-15 or SPAS-12 is on my short list.

Love the smell of new rubber

My M4 is about done. Only thing left is a Limbsaver if they ever come back in stock. Briley CF mag extension, TTI charging handle, bolt release, safety & extended carrier. Holosun 507 green dot on Scalarworks mount.

One issue of consideration when speaking about pellet size is how much penetration you are looking for. Some people prefer smaller pellets in defensive loads so in a residential scenario you don't rip through walls endangering everyone in the house. In other situations you probably want the all-out knockdown of 000 buck. If that's the case, try using some of Caligvla's tri-ball ammo that snapped his B&T rail in half