truckcop

I use a belt carrier for my pheasant hunts (the only hunting I do).

I got a Mesa Tactical carrier without the rail for my M1. They're marketed for both the M1 and M2. I had two issues. First, the portion of the carrier that wraps around the receiver bumped into the rear ghost-ring sight housing. That was taken care of by a small amount of cutting on the carrier. However, when I attached the carrier to the receiver, the contour of the carrier didn't match the contour of the receiver. They provide a thin rubber piece that attaches to the back of the carrier up against the side of the receiver but that portion of the carrier did not come in contact with the receiver. Instead, the portion of the carrier that wraps over the top and bottom of the receiver didn't quite match and the carrier was held away from the flat receiver side. I put my side-saddle back on. My problems may be due to the fact that I have an older HK-marked M1. I don't know if current M2's have the same problems. If you want a slightly used Mesa Tactical 6 round carrier to try out, you are welcome to it. BTW, I've never had any issues with the side-saddle brand causing any malfunctions with the M1. I think most of the problems have occurred when the pin/bolt holding it on were tightened to much, causing the receiver to bind the internal workings. Never have I had an issue with primary function of the gun.

A little more specific please. You mean it fires twice, as in fully automatic? Or something else?

I never use anything cleaning/lubrication-wise that's not specifically designated for use on firearms. That's my recommendation (as a 25 year agency armorer/instructor) though it's a free country and individuals may choose their own path.

Running a gun dry is a bad idea regardless of the weather. It's called friction. Metal rubbing against metal. Did I mention it's a BAD IDEA? Lots of good lubricants out there. FP-10 is good. Militec. Slip2000. MilCom TW-25B.

Install the T-1 with the factory mount, or much better yet, the Larue short mount for the T-1. Don't worry about the lack of flip-ups. I've got a GGG T-1 on an AR as well as T-1's on Larue's. I don't find the flip-ups to be all that grand an idea on that type of sight.

You can occasionally find PG stocks and barrels for the M1 on Gunbroker.com and GunsAmerica.com. Otherwise, it depends on just exactly what else you want to hang on it. Mesa Tactical(shell carriers, other stuff), GGG(sling mounts, bolt handles, other), Daves Metal Works(large safety buttons, other), Surefire(dedicated forend mounted lights, other stuff) all make stuff for the Benelli. Brownells carries a lot of Benelli stuff as well as factory replacement parts. Others out there as well. Google can help. I've never seen a site dedicated just to Benelli stuff, except for Benelli's site.

Trade the 20 for a 12? Otherwise, NO.

What he said.

They still make them. Larry's in Maine is an importer and their website lists the guns but I don't know if they actually have them in stock. For some reason they're not very popular in the US. I think I picked mine up for less than $400 new.

Kool beans. I love it when a plan comes together. I ordered a couple more shotgun shell caddies.

Ayonke; I got info from someone in Kentucky that Progressive went out of business about a year ago. Some of their products are still available at: http://shootersconnectionstore.com/Progressive-Machine-C128.aspx Unfortunately, it doesn't look like either the charging handle or barrel clamp is available.

What do you base your answer on? I have been wondering about this since I have been looking for another 21 inch barrel for one of my M1's. I went down to the local gun shop and tried fitting an M2 barrel to my M1 receiver. It fit just fine and the action cycled normally. The only difference I can see in the two barrels is a small downward nub on the back end of the extension into the receiver. That cleared the bolt with no problems.

Oh well. I think I said it somewhere else but I've learned that when I find something that really works and I really like, I go back almost immediately and buy two or three more, just for such contingencies. Consequently, I have boxes of neat stuff sitting around waiting for the original to break, wear out, get ripped off or the company go out of business. And if push comes to shove, there will be someone willing to pay a rediculous price for whatever it is once they no longer become available, assuming I'm willing to let go of it.

Looks like they've changed names: http://www.kytactical.com/progressive_machine/Product.html

I've got one as well. I picked up 4 extra mags that showed up several years ago on EBAY, before they quit allowing sales of such things. I have seen them once in a blue moon on gunbroker.com. I asked a Benelli rep at the last SHOT show as to why they quit exporting the guns to the US and he said lack of sales. There was an importer that told me they could still get the magazines. I think it was Larry's Guns in Maine. You might try giving them a call. http://www.larrysguns.com/Default.aspx EDIT - ADDITION: I just looked at their website. They list 6 round 22 magazines for $52. Not sure they have them in stock though.

Any M2 barrel should fit any M2 receiver. A benelli safety is the easiest to switch from right to lefty use. I've been shooting M1's and SBE's for 20 years and I've switch them all. They're symetrical so all you have to do is punch the spring retaining pin, pull the safety out, turn it around, and put it back in. I've never felt the need to go to a lefty receivered gun. On my three gun matches, a shell can put thrown into an open-bolt ejection port a lot quicker than a right-hander. I won a man-on-man steel plate match that way. I was using my right hand to throw it in whereas the other guy, using his left hand was having to go either over or under the receiver to get it in (I didn't pay attention to which method he was using) I was a fraction quicker on getting the reload completed and firing the last shot.

You can get a new magazine spring from Brownell's

I used to have a Winchester 1300 and as I recall, they did the same thing. It was marketed at the time as something like "recoil assisted ejection", making for quicker action cycling and follow-up shots.

I've got his oversized safety on a couple of guns and his charging handle on my competition gun. They work well. The safety is large enough that you can manipulate it with the edge of your finger as you go for the trigger rather than having to push on it with the tip of the finger, THEN go to the trigger. I like the design of the charging handle in competition. It allows me to make a shell change very easily if needed. I like it better than the original, round narrow "tactical" handle that originally came on the gun. I've tried the GGG as well but like Dave's much better. Overall, however, I prefer the newer flat-style factory field charging handle. I haven't felt the need to make a change on my newer guns. Dave's charging handle - GGG bolt release:

I usually look at the simplest explanation first. Have you considered installing a new magazine spring?

Opening weekend. Gregory, SD area.

Pics:

If you don't mind posting your e-mail address here I'll send a couple of pics. I don't have enough posts on the forum to send one through the forum. EDIT: STAND BY, I might have enough posts to post a pic on the forum. It'll take me a little bit to get the pics.

What make of gun vault is that?