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For anyone concerned about changing the trigger or swapping to the A&S housing it really is not a big deal. After watching a few videos I tackled putting my stock trigger assembly in the A&S and it was straightforward and pretty simple. I’m a ham handed buffoon BTW.

Ok ok. Love the passion.

I've got something a line like that in mine, but I have ~800 rounds through mine. If there's no issues when you shoot it, I really doubt it's anything to worry about at all.

I believe the M4 “Entry” model he is referring to is the M4 with 14.5 inch barrel that requires special permit for short barrel shotgun.

Parts finally arrived yesterday. Spent a few hours doing reassembly. Quite a bit of fitting is required to get one of these together after everything has been plated and poor fitting aftermarket components. Such as the FFT handguards must be filed down to get the barrel ring to seat correctly. The FFT hammer had to be ground a bit to make the hammer not hang up on the disconnector. The gas pistons have to be fit. What I do with the pistons is I put the pistons in my drill chuck, then hold a section of 400 grit sandpaper. I then finish it up with some 1000 grit paper. You keep test fitting the piston to the barrel to see when enough material has been removed.

In my opinion, the best ammo is going to be the Fiocchi 7/8 oz Aero Slugs 1300 FPS because it's just about the lowest FPS round you can use without worrying about cycling issues because anything under 1250 FPS, there's a 50% chance that the ammo won't cycle (jams) on a newer gun. The reason the FPS is so important is because 12 guage shotguns have a lot of recoil and when your gun rattles the fillings out of your teeth on each shot, you're less likely to practice with the gun because it's unpleasant. And you have to use above 1250 FPS to avoid jamming. The Fiocchi 7/8oz 1300 fps Aero slugs will give you the least kick while still remaining reliable (won't jam) which means your shots will be more accurate and it'll be a much more pleasant shooting experience so you'll practice more. I believe this is a popular round for 3 gun competitors for all the same reasons. For home defense, I would use something like 00 Buckshot because it's like shooting someone with nine pistols at the same time so you have a higher chance of hitting the target and it'll be safer than shooting slugs through drywall walls. And if you get a clean shot, hitting someone with 9 pieces of lead is most likely going to end the fight with a single shot.

The m4 is my first gun too lol! What I did was, I thought to myself, why did I buy this gun, and if I had to depend on it with my life, what ammo would I run? Any type of Federal slugs/00 or 000 buck worked well (both 2 3/4 and 3"), S&B stuff slightly less so. I also cleaned it after every range trip for the first few hundred rounds but dont bother as much now and it runs great with Federal ammo, so I stick with what works. To me, its expensive, not because it's supposed to be treated like a fragile piece of art, but because the Marines (or a first-time gun owner like me) can beat the shit out of it and it looks good doing lol.

I agree. Either trap or skeet is a great way to work on malfunctions, tactical re-loads, emergency re-loads, shell change-out, etc. Get a shell pouch https://www.midwayusa.com/product/1015017764?pid=538068 or a fanny back will work and set a full box of shells in it with the carboard lid ripped off. You can pre-arrange all the shells to be oriented in the same direction if you want. Then have a friend start throwing clays as fast as the throwing machine will cyce them. If shooting skeet, they can launch either pairs or singles. If he's hand slinging them that will work too with a bit of practice on the thrower. Mix a snap cap into the mag tube to practice the "dry-click" and then cycling the bolt with both weak and strong hand. Load only a few in the tube and practice topping-off or recharging a dry gun. You'll learn to differentiate the sound the gun makes after the last shot with the bolt locking back. This kind of training gets your blood boiling and in a good way, for sure! The first time I did this was with a 12 round mag tube giving me 12+1. My buddy kept pulling and I kept a shooting. After 13 shots and seeing the sky filled with clay "flak burst" it was nothing but school girl giggling! I'm no expert on chokes but I've got a Carlson cylinder choke in my gun with zero restriction for home defense using 00 Buck. For a 30'+ HD shot I'm not sure what would be more better but I'm open to suggestions. If shooting trap, I'll use a more restrictive choke like modified. There are guys running tactical or door breacher chokes that seem to claim a reduction in muzzle rise due to the porting. I have no experience in that. Another though. It's your first gun and an expensive one at that. But, don't treat it like a baby, run it hard like a tool and make it do what you want. I think of it like running a drill driver...loosen chuck, insert drill, reverse the drive to tighten chuck and drill the hole. Reverse the drive and loosen chuck, replace with driver, reverse the drive and tighten the chuck, run the screw into place. Rinse and repeat. I know, I'm weird. You just need to get that thing heated-up!

If you don't want to worry about changing chokes between slugs and shot, I am pretty sure you need Cylinder or IC at the tightest. When you read up on chokes, they will tell you can can and can not put through them. Carlson's 9choketube.com) makes a tone of chokes for just about every shotgun out there. A good way to practice with your gun is to find a local trap range. Get #8 (or 7.5) target rounds like Federal Topgun, or Remington Gun Club. M, IM, or F are good chokes for trap.