Flame Red

I put one of the fine LaRue mounts on and found it very difficult (I should say impossible) to close the latch. I loosened up the nut (with enclosed wrench) till I could easily closed the latch and it seems fine. The only problem I have now is I think the extra weight of the sight seems to cause some FTF? It definately had some problems when I was blasting away from the hip, which it never had before.

I wonder if this one would work in our M1014's: http://www.gggaz.com/index.php?id=112&PHPSESSID=8c96f843ab850b6c70b2062e28e42b86

I use three sources, Internet, local shops and gun shows. Local shops may negiotiate a bit, but they usually want top $. The good side is that they will stand behind what they sell - so if it is not right, the fix it. But with no competition at hand, they will not come down very much on price. I find I can get the best prices at gun shows. Problem is that they never have what I am looking for when I have the cash to buy it. And I always manage to find a better deal shortly after I purchase something. Competition seems to make the deals better. But caveot emptor - I have gotten more lemons than I care to admit from gun shows. While individuals give you the best prices (often some are smoking crack) there is no guarantee. Most of the time I find the Internet folks are seeking the highest prices. When you add the usually outragous shipping and FFL fees, it is worse than paying sales tax. But so far, I have not had any sour internet deals or lemons. Internet is great for finding hard to find collectables. Just prepare to pay top dollar.

If anyone wants one of these four shot extensions, I understand they are available from: http://www.rguns.net/013_7.html

When I had my M1014 converted to be collapsable, Bob Cogan (APW) told me that not only could he not remove the recoil tube because Benelli used some special process to seal it to the receiver, but they used some proprietary electrolysis process to apply the finish. He said nothing he could apply would work on that metal for very long. And he does the best refinishing work in Florida. I suggest that you leave it in it's brushed finish.

Saw this 4 shot extension and wondered if it would work on an M1014: http://www.rguns.net/013_7.html Never know when the Zombies are coming...

[Make sure you tell Bob that you want three positions cut into your tube!

R. Lee featured a M1014 with a rail system and some sort of front grip hanging off that rail system. Where can one get a rail system for a M1014?

I use mine for sporting purposes - Sporting Clays and trap & skeet. So it fits the definition.

Also Impact is selling them too: Impact Guns - M1014 LE for sale Would two FFL's be publically selling them if there was a good possiblity that the ATF would come and get them? I don't think so...

One other note! I was wrong when I stated that the stock could not be removed. It can! It comes off the same way it always did. No need to remove any pins or anything. I also spoke to Dave at Accurate Plating, if you pay an extra $25, they will add a third notch so that the stock will lock in the middle! That will make it three positions that it will lock in. Also, they had tried Gun Kote on it, and it was too abbrasive for it to work properly. I think it is fine as it is, but it would also look nice with the green finish removed and just raw stainless steel. And it is definately not a POS!

One other thought. The recoil can is made from stainless steel. I am thinking of just using 000 steel wool to remove the finish off the entire recoil can. It will give it a brushed look. Since stainless steel should never rust anyway. That way I do not have to worry about any finish wearing off.

Ok, the modification is complete. Check out the results! M1014 Stock Collapsable Modifications Successful!

Folks, Here are the results of my conversion or my M1014 to make the stock fully collapsible. To review, about a month ago I sent my Benelli M1014 to Bob Cogan, a noted gun smith in Tampa that has done some wonderful work for me before. He and his staff are true artists. He did a lot of research and decided that the best way to do this conversion was to machine the existing recoil can. This is because he did not want to apply the necessary heat to remove the recoil can from the receiver and chance ruining the springs. He was unable to get the LEO recoil can from Benelli. He did obtain some diagrams of the LEO can, and performed the modifications himself. It came out wonderful! The stock can be removed the same way as before the modification. The way Bob did it, the stock has two positions that it locks - fully extended and fully collapsed. To move the stock, you must push in the lock button and twist the stock. Then the stock can be slide back and forth. It might have been nice to have a third lock position in the middle between fully extended and fully collapsed. But Bob did not do that because he tried to model it after the original LEO can. He also provides a $25 option to but in a middle lock position. Definately worth it! He could not refinish the can in the original ‘green' finish that Benelli had. The stainless steel is left ‘unfinished’. Bob charged $120, plus shipping to do this modification. Bob can be contacted @ http://www.apwcogan.com/expanded_menu.htm. His phone number is 727-796-5583. Here it is fully collapsed: Here it is fully extended: Here is a good view of how he milled it so that it could slide: Here is a good view of how he cut in the stops: One other note, I did not take it out yet and give it a good use yet, but it feels real solid. I don't think I will have any problems with it as a result of this modification. There is no play in the stock when it is locked. [ 10-18-2004, 03:32 PM: Message edited by: Flame Red ]

The smith finished the modification. He said he will try shipping it back to me tomorrow. I had a 30 minute chat with him. He sure knows his business!Here is what he told me. He went to Benelli and got all the schematics, so he knew how to machine the existing can so it would work. There are some lock washers, and some spanning nuts that hold the recoil can onto the reciever. That and some kind of green 'Locktite'. It would require a lot of heat to remove the recoil can from the reciever. To apply that much heat, all the parts would have to be removed from the receiver, sights, everything. Otherwise the heat would ruin the springs. Recoil springs would have to be replaced. The recoil can is made of stainless steel, is very thick, so it is very strong and could take the milling without weakening it. There is a small pin that is semi-premanently attached in the stock near the release button that he had to remove. He was able to put the whole receiver, with the can attached into the milling machine to flatten out the can so that the stock can slide fully. He then used a special tool to make small groves in the can that will lock the stock in various positions. Now the negatives. He said that he could ot refinish the stainless steel can in the same way it came from the factory. He suggested letting the bare metal show where it was milled off and where he put in the notches. He mentioned some sorts of paints, but he though that was tacky. He could not blue it because it was stainless steel. The stock is no longer removable. That semi-permanent pin is what keeps the stock from coming completely off when you expand the stock to the furtherst rear position. You would have to punch out the pin in order to remove the stock. And this pin is 'pinched' in so it won't just fall out. He also said that if this shotgun had to be refinished, it would be a nightmare to do! This was because of the various combinations of materials used. Is said that he will charge me about $120 for the job. But I will wait for the final bill. He said that even though it was a PITA, he would be willing to do it for others now that he figured it out. I would suggest that everyone wait until I get it back and make sure it functions satisfactorily before contacting him. Here is his web site: http://www.apwcogan.com/ Will post my final thoughts here soon.

So Benelli sold your class-3 a M-4 recoil can? Please post his telephone number so others can do a mass purchase!

I HAVE EXCELLENT NEWS!!! The gunsmith I have given mine to just called to ask me a question and I asked him about how he was making out with the conversion. He believes that this will not be a problem. His only question was that he did not think he could match the original finish of the recoil can. I told him to just blue it (so it is protected). He also told me that Benelli would not sell the LE recoil can to him either for use on a M1014. They claim there is some difference (besides it being fully collapsable) that makes it unsuitable for use on a M1014. He thought they would have sold it to him if he said it was to replace an m4. But he though it would be easier to machine the original than wait for the part and perhaps have to make other mods to make it work. He also though they were difficult to deal with (read A-Holes). I WILL post who did this work once I know it was completed satisfactorily. I promised he would get more business from some of you if it works out well. He did not tell me when it would be ready.

Where there is a will (and enough money), there is a way. I have got to think a really good machinist could duplicate the collapsable can. I guess I will see how good of a machinist my smith is. He has all the lathes, milling machines and other goodies needed. I am sure he will tell me if he can't take off the recoil can. Even if he can't me might be able to modify it with it on. Too bad we can't get a CAD drawing of the real can. I am sure that there is a machine shop out there somewhere that would be willing to make them by the dozens. Heck, I used to know people in the areospace industry that would make things off the clock for themselves on the fancy robotic machine tools. Of course the old one would have to be removable. Even if it could not be removed, a really good machinist could cut off the stock one and weld or mechanically attach a new one. All it takes is $$$$$$ and finding a talented machinist that is willing to do it.

If the smith cannot manage to modify my M1014, it appears to me that I can sell this POS and buy the fully functional LE version for less money: http://www.impactguns.com/store/benelli_shotguns.html They have a package that includes the fully collapsable stock and mag extender.

The URL is: http://www.benelliusa.com/forums/ultimatebb.php/topic/1/415.html Sent the picture to the smith. He probably won't even look at it for weeks. Will post results. Told him other are interested so he might get more business too.

We need the links! Mine is waiting at the smith's to be milled. I would like to be able to send him these pictures!!! This is the best picture I could find for the milatery model. http://club.guns.ru/images/hkm4/4.jpg [ 09-24-2004, 03:19 PM: Message edited by: Flame Red ]

I think that the difference is all in the recoil can. Basically on the civilian versions, the channels in the recoil can limit it. But on the LE versions, they have extra channels dug into the recoil can so the stock will collapse. But Benelli will not sell the LE recoil can.

Here is some interesting info about the 1989 bill that was put up for a vote (not passed): http://thomas.loc.gov/cgi-bin/query/z?c101:H.R.+825: That link indicates it was not passed. I did some more searches using the keyword shotgun and import and found some bills, none of which seemed to pass. Here is an interesting link from the NRA: http://www.nraila.org/Issues/FactSheets/Read.aspx?ID=80 22. Benelli M1 Super 90 Defense Shotgun 23. Benelli M3 Super 90 Shotgun Were banned by the AWB. I guess they are legal now that is it history.

Wow, I had no clue. I would hope that the Gunsmith would point out to me if this were illegal before I shipped it to him. I know other smiths in the past were very knowledgable about what was legal and not and would point it out. They like to keep their good customers out of jail. And I certainly have no desire to be some Bubba's b1tch at Levenworth. I ordered the TacStar shroud, that is sooo cool. My M1014 is at the smith's now. I'll call him in a few days and see if can make the modification. I certainly will post results here. Hope it is legal now, and that he does not screw up my honey!

Hey M1014 - Where did you get that cool thingy that is covering your barrel? I want one!!!!