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RPC - Epic story of your loving wife! I like your build but curious about the light and its operation. Looks like an end-cap switch. Have you run the gun with HD loads and manipulated the light as you might in a HD situation? Do you change your thumb position to switch the light then back to more of a standard grip? Just wondering about the ease of operation and if the bezel around the end cap digs into your thumb during recoil. Would a remote tape switch be better? I guess this question would make for a new topic.

I almost died by a bear attack, I live up north where the big ones roam.. I knew a 12ga slug was a great choice for bear protection and carried a Mossberg pump action and practiced with it regularly. At the time I was against a semi-auto shotgun because I had convinced myself that simple was better,.. and who in there right mind would pay $2000 for a shotgun!? 😏 I woke up covered in moss and fresh pungent soil. My breathing was raspy as though I had flim that I couldn't quite cough up. I couldn't see out of my left eye and I could smell and taste that distinctive iodiney smell of blood. My heart pounded back alive with a great rush of adrenaline as I started to recall what had happened to me and where I currently was.... I was buried alive, by a bear. You see, a bear wont usually eat something its killed right away, it will bury it and come back to it later after it has ripened up a bit. This knowledge was flooding through my brain faster than the speed of light as I lay there contemplating my next move. I've told this story over and over again now thousands of times and I've come to realize that we; the bear and I, were playing a chess game of sorts. He made his move by hunting me down and attacking me, I countered his move by a misplaced shotgun slug due to adrenaline followed by a short-stroke of my shotgun leaving me with nothing but a "click" of the trigger when it really needed to count. The bear did what he does best and I assumed the fetal position playing dead until I couldn't stand the pain any longer of him ripping off a but cheek and almost removing my left foot. I blacked out. I didnt realize just how comfortable I was in this makeshift early grave until I decided to move. The pain was unlike anything Id ever experienced before and I let out a grown that didn't even sound like it came from me. Now,..back to the chess part..... This entire time the bear was sitting a few feat away so as I had just got my first breath of "dirt nap" freedom the all to familiar crunching sound of bear teeth on my skull was back again....actually this whole story is made up for your enjoyment...the reason I purchased a m4 is because I got tired of my m3 jamming. have a good day gents. Picture my camera took during the attack ...Im on bottom..

The pirate had me going. I thought Ken was going to show up and interject an, “Ackchyually...” and school us on how to fight off a polar bear with his German musk.

You've got a cool wife you lucky dog (so long as that's not a made up story like the bear attack story).

Like SD, I owned a 121M1 beginning in '86 and ultimately owned three of those. Loved that shotgun, however by '09 I decided that due to lack of support (i.e. spare parts) it was time to let someone else enjoy the 121M1 and picked up my first M4. I've always appreciated Benelli autoloaders for their reliability and ease of operation under stressfire. It's extremely easy to short stroke a pump shotgun under stressfire especially if you're in shock due to injury. BTDT r

Growing up in the 90's, I had a M121 Benelli that had a full length magazine tube and a pistol grip. Somehow I got myself signed up for a a mailing list with Benelli. In the propaganda, they started showing photos of the Benelli M4 which was being tested by the Marine Corps at Aberdeen. Obviously it looked awesome and the ARGO system sounded promising. At the time it wasn't released to the public in America. At some point they released the M1014 to the public in its limited 2,500 run with its non-functioning collapsible stock. A while later, the 11703 model was released. This had a ill fated four port barrel and the same neutered receiver extension. This model came with the pistol grip stock and was generally cheaper than the limited edition. In 2004 I cashed out a bunch of vacation time and bought it for 1,350.00 from gunbroker. I promptly broke the shotgun firing high base loads through that horrible 4 port design. Shotgun went back to Benelli for repairs. I then broke it again since that barrel battered the bolt carrier to the point that it was peening the face of the bolt carrier from the pistons. Back to Benelli again where they replace the bolt carrier, the barrel with a 2 port design and the handguards. I then figured out how to replace the receiver extension with a 11707 models and added a collapsible stock. So I pretty much took the longest road possible to making a 11707.

I didn't especially like the idea of bear defense with a bolt action rifle or pump shotgun. Did some research and decided the m4 seemed like the most reliable system for the loads I would be using... and the rest (and another m4 and an m3) is history

Thought you all might get a kick out of this. I'm making an M4 charging handle (well, likely several varieties). Stem will be case-hard steel for wear, while the handle will be aluminum for weight savings. Here is a video of the threads being cut (I love my CNC lathe), as well as some 'nearly complete' parts. Picture Video 2019-12-06 17.49.13.mov

There is a lot of misinformation concerning how to remove these recoil tubes from your weapon. Benelli will tell you that you will destroy the shotgun if you attempt to remove the extension. This is only true if you do not heat the threads sufficiently to break the thread locker. Once you've developed the testicular fortitude to complete this project, you must do the following: Disassemble the weapon. You must remove the internals from the recoil tube assembly. Use a pair of snap ring pliers to remove the snap ring at the bottom of the recoil tube. Unscrew the spring retainer. You should put a punch through one of the drainage holes to keep the spring from ejecting when you remove the plug. Contain the spring as the punch is removed. Tip the receiver back to allow the plunger to slide out of the recoil tube. After that, you should spray the recoil tube out with solvent to remove oil and debris that might catch fire during the next process. To remove the tube, you must heat the recoil tube extension's locknut with a heatgun for 30 minutes or more. A propane torch would also work, and be faster. However, a heatgun will be slower and safer. Benelli coats the threads with a green thread locker compound. Make sure you put the receiver in a vice. I found the best place to clamp to was below the rear sight. You do not want to crush the receiver with the vice. Apply just enough tension to hold the receiver in place. Make sure you apply some padding between your receiver and the vice. The nut is common thread. The nut is a 1 1/16" or metric equivalent wrench. You do not want to apply a lot of torque to the receiver. You want the heat to break the locktite's hold. I never used more than one arm to apply torque with. Once it is heated sufficiently, the nut will begin to turn slowly. Continue heating until the nut is completely removed and slides off the end of the recoil tube. Now time for the hard part. Continue to apply heat to the recoil tube threaded area. Use an open ended 3/4" box wrench on the flat spots of the recoil tube to apply torque. These are also common thread. This may take another 30 minutes with a heatgun to break the locktite compounds hold. Note the depth that the recoil tube is screwed into the receiver. Also be aware that this item must be timed to index the stock in an appropriate direction. Once the recoil tube unscrews, clean up the threads with acetone or another solvent. A wirebrush will help. To reassemble, screw the new recoil tube in so that the threads are flush with the inside of the receiver. Thread the locknut over the recoil tube assembly and screw it flush with the receiver. Add the collapsible stock to the tail to act as an index to help time the recoil tube assembly. Once you've indexed it to where you want it, tighten the locknut. What I recommend is installing the collapsible stock at this time, and collapsing it fully. Use the cheek weld piece of the collapsible stock as an index point. Point the cheek weld so it points to the middle of the rear iron sight housing. Once you have it where you want, tighten the locknut. I highly recommend reapplying locktite to the recoil tube and the locknut. Even if you simply use the blue type. The recoil tube extension is pretty easy to screw in. You can do it by hand. Reinstall the internals of the recoil tube. Drop the plunger in, followed by the spring. Press the spring in and retain it with a punch or screwdriver. Screw in the spring plug. Reinstall the snap ring. Install your stock. Hopefully this tutorial is clear. The times needed to run the heatgun are accurate. Prop the weapon up so you can leave the heat on it and just sit by and watch.

Thanks SF, she’s amazing. *As amazing as Jolly Roger’s story, only real...

Awesome wife story. Was the next stop appliance shopping?

I knew of the Benelli M4 for quite a long time, but never felt like paying that much for one. I had a house fire, no one harmed, but the home had a LOT of smoke damage and it was totaled. I rounded up all of my firearms and some had a lot of corrosion due to the corrosive smoke. I disassembled them all, scrubbed them down inside & out and slowly began restoring them. In the mean time I showed the wife that most all of my guns are out of commission. We had tip top insurance so we had a lot of insurance money accessible so with her on my side I just shelled out for the Benelli M4. Anyways ... I was able to restore all of my corroded parts to better than original thanks to a local Cerakote shop. It was a win win deal. It pays to have really good insurance because our home was rebuilt on the existing foundation, the new home is nearly twice the size and twice the value. Taxes certainly went up, but still a blessing in disguise.

I bought my first Benelli, an M1 Super 90, because it looked cool at a LGS and I wanted a semi auto (I still have it). When the M4 came out I thought it was too expensive and waited and waited. Seeing the LE version available to the public I wanted one and finally bought my 11721 M4. It was still too expensive, but I watched on Gunbroker for a while and felt I got a good price. Already spending more anyway on mods.

I don't use it as a "hand grip". I use it as a "hand stop" making it easy to rapid reload from the forward 2-shell holder. Also, cant' be seen from the picture but there is a side-mounted flashlight on the other side with a pressure switch on the Magpul vertical grip. I used the pictured Magpul vertical grip because I had it in my box of picatinny attachments that I've gather over the years.

The M4 issued to me was a service shotgun for duty and it was keep in the a military armory when not issued. I rarely got the same serial numbered M4 issued, but they all shot the same.

This one specifically. It got to be about $35 after shipping. https://freedomfightertactical.com/products/the-freedom-fighter-tactical-wolff-gunsprings-premium-shotgun-spring

I had never fired a shotgun, when i got my permit to buy and own one at first i really wanted a (dont know if its appropriate to say on this forum but cough.. Vepr12.. cough.. But then the ruskies attacked Ukraine and the manufacturer Molot got in to the sanctions list and could not find one in europe let alone in my country.Was bummed for a while and searched for shotguns manufactured in europe, and then found the glorious Benelli M4.Did not had a chance to touch one nor to shoot one but i decided this is the shotty i need. Ordered one from my local gunstore, had to wait 6 months to have it delivered from Italy. My first shotgun i ever shot was my very own M4.It ate EVERYTHING i threw at it from the nastiest shoulder busting slugs i could find locally to the mildest birdshot (24gram 2.0mm bb size) like a champ. I had read that the US marines use it and it was supposed to be the pinnacle of 12gauge, mil spec and what not and i really like it but unfortunately mine started to leak from the gas block(which i tried searching but found nothing that nobody has ever had happened to theirs) now here i am waiting again for the third month to get my beloved M4 back which is under warranty in Italy.

I'd make that option 2 - looks to be a spinner.

I first saw the M4 on the cover of a publication by USCCA. I think it was written by Mark Martin and it went into all the basics of defending yourself and others using a pistol, rifle and shotgun. I fell head-over-heals with that picture.., it was like seeing a hot blond in a red corvette convertible. Just had to have it! At the time there didn't seem to be many shotguns with pistol grips, pic rails and ghost sites on them so this thing was just all-out sexy to me. I went fishing on Gun Broker and finally landed the deal for $1,525 in January of 2014. My buddy and I went trap shooting and I pulled out my M4 after a few rounds using my O/U. I stood at the trap house and had him launch 6 clays as fast as the machine would launch 'em. Turning clay into little black clouds of dust as fast as I could was a blast! Giggled like a school girl! Later-on with an extended tube, I did the same thing -- this time with 12+1. Try it, you'll like it! As I got involved with some local 3-Gun shoots and started tricking out my M4 I had a little bit of "lover's remorse" as I think I would have gone with an M2 or FN purpose-built shotgun for 3-Gun. Gone is the pic rail and after market side saddle. Gone is the ghost site housing -- replaced with Scalarworks mount and an RMR. And gone is the pistol grip so I can do weak hand load 2 and 4. So, after a little bodywork, I guess I'm sticking with the hot chick in the 'Vette! In the works is a send-off to Briley to open the loading port and maybe shaping the forcing cone. Also get an A&S trigger housing. Once I get all the parts swapped-out and Stranger Danger gets the NP3 coating thing figured out, that'll be my next step to perfecting perfection! One thing I'd like to do is attend a tactical shotgun course. I can run the gun ok but would like some bootcamp style instruction and techniques. Any ideas? Also, thanks to the many folks on this forum for all the help and advice. Who knew I could still learn something new everyday!! ;-{)

I recently got an m4/mag upgrade and dealt with the 6 rounds problem. I could only fit 7 with target loads, 6 with everything else. I'm spamming the top googled threads with this reply because got sick of being told it's about shell length and unfixable, or I have to cut my spring to fix it. I could never find a thread that just gave me a clear answer about an easy spring swap or anything else that worked. I'm blown away by how hard it was to find a clear answer on this simple topic. The fix? I replaced the factory spring with a wolff m4 spring from freedom fighter tactical and it went from being a half inch away from holding 7, to holding 7 of anything 2 3/4" long. It's tight, but mine holds 7 of everything now. This isn't meant to be an ad for wolff, as there may be others out there that would fix the problem, but it worked for me and should for you. Non-target-load 2 3/4in shells are longer and that's a fact, but assuming your m4 parts are the same dimensions as mine which they should be, your M4 WILL hold 7+2 if you get the spring replaced. I hope I can bring a few people's blood pressure down if you are dealing with the same problem and as frustrated as me with the threads full of non answers out there.

I read about it in a magazine article. The article was specifically talking about how it was the choice of the Marines as a battle shotgun. At the time I was trying to decide whether I wanted a pump home defense shotgun or a semi-auto. I think it was a combination of the M4 reputation and also the fact that not everyone owns one. I guess I like to buy something other than the commonly owned guns. Since my purchase, I've replaced the mag tube with a titanium 7 rounder and made the necessary replacements to keep it 922r compliant. I've patterned it with #00 buck and #4 buckshot out to 20 yards. I've also shot offhand slug groups at 25 yards and I'm extremely satisfied with my purchase. Now, I have 7+1 rounds of Federal 34 pellet #4 buckshot loads for intruder discouragement.

A M4 was issued to me while in the US Navy and attached to 5th Fleet in 2002; best shotgun I had ever used - reliable, accurate, good trigger, and well balanced. I bought my civilian M4 in 2012 and by 2013 had completed several 922r compliant upgrades.

So this is a thread from 8 years ago ... ShootingSight makes a 922R compliant hammer if you need it. Wire cut S7 billet tool steel, with NIB coating.

Overall I think its pretty good. It definitely makes double or quad loads much faster and easier. I recently just got a field stock so now I'm able to practice weak hand loads. I think it was worth it. If you send yours in, I'll be interested to see if it comes out the same.

I am using Fiocchi Golden pheasant at 1485 FPS.

I used a blow torch by inserting it in the area that would normally be occupied by the lifter and heating up the inside of the magazine tube where it is threaded into the receiver. It took a bit to position everything. I heated it up in "pulses" to not over heat one area but once it started smoking, like Sukhoi said whisps, I was able to unscrew the tube. No discoloration or damage to the receiver in my case.

I have a M1014 fixed choke two port 18.5" barrel assembly I'm willing to part with.

Great. I am new to the semi-auto world. Break-action since the '60's; I may have some other questions regarding the mechanics of this fine shotgun. Shot about a hundred clays yesterday and looking forward to upland hunting with it.

This might help locate where it goes. 106 sounds about right? Probably a plug for the magazine tube.

You have the stock group in 108? If so, it removes the same way as the pistol grip stock. Remove the trigger pack and unscrew it. It can be tight. You shouldn’t have to remove the buttpad.

The Super 90 M1 is what Benelli introduced to replace the SL121/M121 M1. Consider yourself extremely lucky if you happen to find an orphan stock to fit it. Choate did have some polymer stocks a few years ago but it's unlikely they've made any since then being there's essentially no market for a batch of buttstocks that fit only a shotgun discontinued 30 years ago. What's wrong with your original buttstock?

A Wolff reduced power (-25%) action spring and reduced power hammer spring might let you run 1145-1200 fps 1 1/18 oz loads with the Salvo attached.

Hello and thanks for letting me in. After a 423 day wait I finally got approval for my Silencerco Salvo. Couldn't think of anything I wanted more for a suppressor host than a Benelli. Found an awesome M2 Tactical on Armslist, ordered my choke adapter, and got her all set up. Thinking of going with Taran Tactical for my charging handle, bolt release, and safety but also really like the GG&G stuff as well. Big fan of the knurling. Want to also change the tube out for a GG&G or Nordic. Also thinking of adding a Surefire DSF-M1/M2 but not sure how the light will flood below and behind the suppressor. Wondering if a barrel clamp with a rail would be better? Anyway please give me insight at your leisure and here is a pics of my new thunder stick

The SRO will be fine. The only issue would be if the weapon was dropped on it, it may deform and shatter. Recoil should not be an issue at all.

I liked the Scalarworks but did not like the Trijicon (and they do not have one for Vortex). So, I removed the factory rail and iron sight and 1) rotated the factory rail to extend back over the spot where the iron sight had sat, 2) used a rotary tool to cut and shape the factory rail to fit the new position, 3) painted the modified rail, and 4) used locktite to bolt it into the new position. This has taken off more weight than the Vortex Razor added. I scratched off the paint from the Right side to show my tooling. NOTE: I also removed the front sight blade.

Carriercomp has one and FFT had a copy of it. Both are pretty hard to find anymore. The trend has been to use rails dedicated to specific optics lately. Scalarworks and MI come to mind. I don’t recall any others that aren’t part or some monstrous system like Sidearmor/Asgard or Mesa Tactical.

I know this is an older thread, but I have to praise you on your instructions. I couldn't find anything, anywhere, on changing the recoil tube assembly. The tip on the taking pictures to ensure proper alignment of the new assembly was spot on, as well. Thank you so much StangerDanger!

Scalarworks did discontinue their Snyc mount for the Aimpoint Micros. I contacted Scalarworks and they advised me that a company in Canada bought all the leftover stock. Found that company's website and successfully placed an order for one on their website. Then I get an email from this company advising me that they could not export an ITAR item to the state (even though that's where it originated from) and they refunded my money. Last I looked the Sync Micros mount was no longer listed on their website.

There are a few I haven't fully populated yet! One is dedicated to reloading tools and equipment. Another has my sockets and wrenches. Drawers for Dremel tools. Another is filled with my electrical diagnostic equipment. One has a bunch of lathe tooling. Bench blocks and vice fixtures. It's rarely ever that clean though!

I don't have pictures, but I have a couple of those LaRue pistol bags and a duty gear bag that has a hard plastic liner. It's great for muffs and some basic tools. The LaRue bags are set up for my pistol caliber magazines. I have a staple gun and painters tape in with it for serving targets. Generally I tape over the holes to get hundreds of rounds out of a paper target. I also have room for the Labradar and inserts for the Ransom Rest.

If you put that made in Italy Benelli magazine extension on your M4 you will need at least three 'Made in the USA' parts added otherwise you'll be in violation of 922(r) (if you have a C stock instead of a fixed stock you will need a total of four 'Made in the USA' parts) - i.e. unless you're not the least bit concerned about 922(r) compliance. FYI, that Benelli magazine extension is steel, just like the OEM magazine tube and Dave's Metal Works full length magazine tube so you'd be spending an additional $50 just to have the Benelli name (which is nowhere to be seen on the extension itself) AND it will appear pieced together rather than the way a M4 should look. Why pay an additional $50 for that?? A M4 looks so much better with a full length mag tube instead of a pieced together mag tube.

My my....such strong emotion. I think that you should check your facts, the military model M4 which is known as the M1014 does not have an insert choke in the barrels.

Well, assuming you put it right back where you found it at the end of the mag tube on the gun, there's your problem. Pull that spring retainer out. It's a tight fit in the end of the magazine tube and it's designed to keep the spring from shooting your eye out when you take the magazine cap off. If you re-install it in the end of the magazine tube you haven't changed the tube capacity and it doesn't have the ability to move forward into the additional capacity of the extension. Take the retainer out, put your spring back in the tube, screw the Nordic extension back on and you'll be good to go. Unless, that is, you cut the spring too short when you were making your adjustments. Cross that bridge when you come to it.

It should hold 7. I wonder if there is any variable at play in the follower? Who's spring are you using? Carriercomp's? Kip advises trimming as needed. I'd snip a half coil at a time until it fits.

WRONG!! It is an INSERT CHOKE,.....at least it is on all CIVILIAN M4.......ive never seen a military M4 up close.

Im sorry you dont listen or read full statements, but i said: ".ive never seen a military M4 up close. " Further i said: It is an INSERT CHOKE,.....at least it is on all CIVILIAN M4.......... I own 3 BENELLI M4.... and seen 100s of civilian M4......they ALL HAVE CHOKE inserts. FURTHER STILL, Benellis instructions in the link above are ALL BENELLIS, not just M4 or for Marines M4 /1014 etc etc...... suggest you READ next time before commenting

HENCE the title of this post, which is LACK OF INFO FROM BENELLI

not helpful really, nobody on that thread has a clue, theyre all more than a bit in doubt.....a bit of useful info however

nobody like a grammarnazi .....people that notice a ' , or a lack thereof, have issues. ROFL hugs and cute fuzzy bunny rabbits.

Owner of 6 Benellis, 3 M4, 2 M2 tactical, and M1S90 1. Ive NEVER FOUND anywhere on earth if the follower for (my) m2 are the SAME (guess i need to whip out the digital calipers ehh!) for my M4 ??!?!?!? 2. BENELLI contradictory info:::: A: All M4 (that i know of, including MINE 3 M4 tactical) SHIP with a III (MODIFIED) CHOKE...... which ALL LEO / MILITARY are using with BUCK and SLUGS......>Buuuuuut!!!!, Benelli says hell no on using a modified choke with slugs (ive shot a TON of slugs thru my M4 babies) As per Benelli here:::https://www.benelliusa.com/customer-service/faq#question_1394 It specifically says: Which chokes are recommended for slugs? These chokes are recommended for slugs: 4 notches = Improved cylinder 5 notches = Cylinder A cylinder choke is recommended for shooting rifled slugs in a smooth-bore barrel. Sabot slugs should only be shot through our fully-rifled slug barrels. It is not safe to shoot slugs through chokes tighter than those listed here. ..............>> Soooo, Benelli, what the heck, contradictory info and a LACK OF INFO.