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I would have serious doubts about buying a Benelli at all considering the unsatisfactory way in which Benelli has handled the whole collapsible stock issue on the M1014. The customer service was substandard and I was lied to on several occasions. If I can get the buffer tube replaced then I will keep the shotgun otherwise I plan on selling it and buying a HK. This will be the last Benelli I ever purchase as it has not been a positive experience.

Can we get a contact and phone number? Does he have room for one more retro-fit? What method does he use to apply heat and remove the tube?

Please post the contact information for the BENELLI CLASS3 guy I am ready to have this POS retro- fitted. What was the total cost? What about the warranty issues? Will the warranty be voided even when Benelli factory parts have been used? Has Benelli given their blessing on this solution?

It is unfortunate that a Benelli customer would have to even consider litigation to compel a manufacturer to do the right thing. I am fortunate enough to have a friend that is an outstanding attorney located in Clayton Missouri and a graduate of Washington University Law School. He has been practicing law for 12 years and has helped me resolve issues with several uncooperative manufactures in the past. Perhaps we can get all the attorneys together and arrive at a creative solution to help the M1014 owners out. It seems that Benelli has put the M1014 owners in a catch 22 situation and have essentially forced you into buying a new shotgun. Benelli simply does not want you to have a collapsible stock on the M1014 even though it can be successfully done. If the buffer tube can be successfully replaced by a qualified gunsmith then why is there such resistance from Benelli to provide the parts. At the most you would be voiding your factory warranty. Of course the Benelli warranty could consider putting any type of light mount on the fore end of the shotgun an unauthorized modification and not honor the warranty. If I am forced into buying a new shotgun it will not be another Benelli. For all those considering throwing out the Benelli I suggest you look at the Heckler and Koch semi-auto tactical with the folding stock. The barrel is about an inch longer but with the folding stock the overall length of the shotgun is shorter than the Benelli. Also the HK comes with a lifetime warranty for the original purchaser. Has anyone gotten buy back prices from some of their local gun stores on the M1014? I suspect we will be lucky to get half of what we paid for the shotgun.

I was told the tube could not be removed and there was a design difference that would prevent removal. This was not a warning concerning the removal but rather it could not be done. Why does Benelli approve of buffer tube removal on the M4 but not on the M1014 if the design is the same? I can understand Benelli having concerns with an amateur trying to remove the tube but there should be no objection to a professional gunsmith performing the removal. Why is Benelli acting like there is something special about the buffer tube removal on the M1014 and not on the M4. I don’t see any welds on the nut attaching the tube. My point of posting the pictures is to get feedback from other members as to what might have been done to prevent removal. Benelli needs to prove there is a design difference on the M1014 or sanction the buffer tube removal as they do with the M4.

Negligent Design or Manufacture Unlike strict liability theory, which focuses on the product, negligence claims focus on the manufacturer's actions in designing and manufacturing the product. As in all negligence cases, the manufacturer can be found liable if a judge or jury finds that the manufacturer failed to exercise the degree of care that a reasonable manufacturer would exercise in manufacturing the product or that the product was not manufactured according to the manufacturer's own specifications.

I examined the owner’s manual which shows the buffer tube to be removable and have posted that diagram. I expect the design of the shotgun to be the same as what is presented in the owner’s manual. There were no footnotes in the owner’s manual stating the buffer tube of the M1014 could not be removed and the buffer assembly of the M1014 was different from the M4. I suggest all M1014 owner’s thoroughly examine the engineering diagrams in their owner’s manuals if they disagree. The Benelli 5 year warranty does not cover accidental damaged caused by the owner’s use or normal wear and tear. As it stands if you damage the buffer assembly or it wears out you will have to replace the whole receiver. This is a negligent design and should be subject to recall and warranty repair.

I have written several nice letters to Benelli asking for their assistances in this matter without a response. All letters simply requested information and clarification on this issue. There is no reason they can’t post a technical bulletin discussing this issue on the Benelli USA website. Further there is no reason to not provide M1014 owners with the diagrams showing the attachment of the buffer tube on the M1014. Any shotgun or rifle that is deliberately design in such a way that you can’t remove the buffer assembly is a negligent design. I had one of my rifles receive a crushing blow to the buffer assembly during a repelling outing. It was a post-ban rifle and required me to buy a new tube and stock since the stock is pinned to the tube but I did not have to replace the whole receiver. Collapsible stock or not the serviceability of the M1014 is degraded by a negligent design. The M4 came with a non-collapsible stock and complied with the AWB and the buffer tube is removable. We are entitled to an explanation from Benelli why the buffer tube is not removable on the M1014. Also they should be willing to make the modifications so it is removable under warranty.

In the M1014 picture taken from the marketing literature there is a groove and notch on the buffer tube of the M1014 which would allow for a collapsible stock. Refer to the picture in the previous post with red circle highlights. But according to Benelli the M1014 was never designed to have a collapsible stock. Can anyone prove the M1014 is not the M4 given a different name/number to differentiate it as a limited edition? Why is Benelli refusing to provide technical drawings that will show how the design of the M1014 receiver and buffer tube assembly is different from the M4? I can’t even get Benelli USA technical support to tell me the differences. I have tried every diplomatic way to get Benelli to address this issue and provide the information I have requested and they refuse to comply. There is no doubt that if the buffer tube is permanently attached then all of us will take a major loss on this shotgun. The whole idea of this shotgun was to be a collectible that could appreciate in value some day. I am sure most of us are less worried about the collapsible stock now and more concerned with having to replace the receiver if and when the buffer assembly fails. I suggested a class action lawsuit as a remedy because obviously Benelli is not going to address this issue voluntarily. My attorney has always said to negotiate first and litigate as a last resort. I am at a complete standstill with Benelli and no one else has mentioned having any better luck.

Has anyone tried to have a gunsmith remove the buffer tube from the M1014?

Nowhere in the marketing literature does it state the M1014 is not a M4 and the M1014 is on the same page with all the US Marine service shotgun hype. The M1014 in the picture is shown with a notch and a groove in the buffer tube so the M1014 must be a M4 because only the M4 can have a buffer tube that supports a collapsible stock. The owner’s manual supplied with the M1014 is the M4 super 90 with no mention of the M1014. Even if one does not agree that the marketing literature is deceiving the M4 owner’s manual is an obvious misrepresentation. No where in the marketing literature or the owner’s manual does it state the buffer tube can not be replaced. Also in the marketing literature it refers to the stock as a civilian version but not the shotgun as a whole being a civilian version. The M4 is stated to have a non-collapsible stock in the marketing literature so does that mean the M4 as a whole is a civilian version. Red circles in the close up of the M1014 picture taken from the marketing literature show a groove and notch on the buffer tube. But according to Benelli the M1014 was never designed to have a collapsible stock. Are we starting to feel defrauded yet? I know my M1014 buffer tube does not have this circular groove and notch.

First the assault weapons ban made no mention that the methods used to prevent collapsing of the stock required the recoil tube to be made permanent. I have converted a half dozen AR type rifles from different manufactures without incident. Threaded barrels were prohibited and the muzzled break must have a blind pin and be soldiered in place. It was simply a matter of buying a new buffer tube, stock and barrel if you wanted to break the law. Again there was no reason to make a critical operating component such as the buffer tube permanent to comply with the law. As far as the warranty I don’t think 5 years is going to cover the useful life of the shotgun. Many people have weapons that are easily 20 or more years old and are fired regularly and are kept going by replacement parts. Also the warranty will not cover normal wear and tear or accidental damage. 1) I contacted Benelli after the AWB ended and I was first told they would not provide the parts. 2) The second time I contacted Benelli after the expiration of the AWB I was told that the buffer tube could not be removed without causing damage to the receiver. I made it very clear that I would not perform the procedure myself but have a well trained gunsmith do the work. It was stated that it was not a skill/knowledge issue but it simply couldn’t be done. 3) The third phone call was to question the design of a weapon that would prevent the removal and replacement of a critical operating component such as the buffer tube assembly. I was told there were no mistakes made in the design of the shotgun and the buffer tube can not be removed. 4) No response from Italy as of yet. In fact no response to my complaints sent via email and regular mail to Benelli USA. It appears that Benelli doesn’t want to put anything in writing which can be used against them. Benelli should be willing to release a public statement regarding this issue and make it absolutely clear that it is not possible to remove the buffer tube and the shotgun was intentionally designed that way. Further they should provided technical drawings to the public showing the design differences so perhaps some third party could develop a safe method for removing the tube. It is very suspicious that the owner’s manual included with the M1014 was for the M4 Super 90 and no mention of the M1014 is made. I am sure if the correct manual and diagrams were furnished with the shotgun there would have been no takers for the M1014 Limited Edition.

What is that some of you members don’t understand about my postings? Since some of you are having difficulty comprehending I will provide a summary for those individuals that are not the sharpest tools in the shed. 1. Benelli technical support stated the tube can not be removed without causing damage to the receiver. 2. Benelli when contacted denies there is any problem with the design and refuses to remedy the situation. 3. Benelli corporate refuses to respond to complaint letters. 4. If the buffer tube can not be removed then any damage to the buffer assembly will require receiver replacement ergo you would need to buy a new shotgun. What is that some of you members don’t understand when I say it was marketed as a collectable military version? Yes the buffer did not have the usual notches to comply with the AWB and there is an American flag engraved on the receiver but other than those two cosmetic differences the receiver should have been mil spec and the buffer tube should be removable. Just as many AR-15 manufacturers had fixed telescoping stocks and false flash hiders there rifles were still military spec. when it came to all the other components. Others can disagree with it being marketed as a military version with minor cosmetic differences but obviously they have not thoroughly read the Benelli marketing material, technical data and owners manual which portrays the shotgun as being a military version except for the cosmetic differences. I am not going to further argue how it was marketed as obviously a bate and switch took place. But let us table the issue of the M1014 being misrepresented as a military version for a moment and address the issue of the non-removable buffer tube assembly. No shotgun or rifle that requires a recoil buffer tube assembly should be designed in such a way that would require you to replace the receiver instead of the buffer tube assembly if wear or damage would cause the buffer tube assembly to fail. If the shotgun was design where the buffer tube could not be replaced then this fact should have been clearly noted in the documentation accompanying the shotgun and all marketing literature. Benelli is negligent for selling a product in which they knew shotgun replacement and not repair was the only option for a failure of a major operating component of the weapon. If Benelli has made a mistake in the design of this shotgun then they should replace the receiver and buffer tube assembly under warranty.

Anytime I purchase a firearm I read the manufacture’s technical documentation, marketing literature and owner’s manual before I agree to make the purchase. I did not read anywhere in the above three items that this shotgun could never have the buffer tube replaced. The buffer tube and assembly is exposed to wear and tear on a regular basis just as the trigger group, bolt and barrel. Essential we were duped into buying a weapon that if the buffer tube assembly were to fail you would be required to buy a new shotgun. That is the equivalent of buying a weapon where the barrel could never be replaced. Evidently I missed the part in the literature about this being a disposable shotgun. We were defrauded as to the ability to repair the firearm as well as this shotgun being identical in design to the military version. Many manufactures have employed methods to prevent a stock from collapsing to comply with the laws but you could still replace the buffer tube assembly if there was some type of failure. This shotgun now has no resale value at all. Who would buy a shotgun where once the buffer assembly fails you would have to throw out the whole receiver. Again I urge all M1014 owners to consider a class action lawsuit against Benelli. We have been subjected to a severe monetary loss by purchasing this shotgun.

Members I have posted diagrams from the owner’s manual of the M1014. I think Benelli should prove that the buffer tube attaches differently on M1014 and provide us with detailed diagrams substantiating this fact. Further if the buffer tube does attached differently on the M1014 then the shotgun should have never been represented as a “military” collectable version. Plain and simply a military version would allow for the replacement of the buffer tube. Further if the buffer tube is permanently attached to the receiver that means any malfunction of the buffer assembly would require a new receiver. So not only do you have a shotgun that can never have a collapsible stock on it you will have to buy a new receiver if the buffer tube assembly is ever damaged. The M1014 Limited Edition owner’s manual is showing the removal of the buffer tube as you would expect from a military version. So evidently we were further defrauded by Benelli with the inclusion of the military manual instead of a manual that depicted the actual design of the shotgun we purchased.

The M1014 is portrayed as a military version in the marketing literature by Benelli It is made out to be a collectible version of the same shotgun used by the US marines. Yes I knew the stock was fixed to comply with AWB but since the shotgun is supposedly the military version the buffer tube would be replaceable and a collapsible stock could be added at a later time. Further I do have the magazine extension which allows for 7 rounds in the tube and one in the chamber. As I mentioned in earlier posts I can not get a straight answer as to whether the buffer tube can be replaced and Benelli is deliberately withholding the parts or the tube can not be removed from the receiver. If the later is true than this would not be a military version and should have not been marketed as such thus constituting fraud on the part of Benelli. I strongly believe in immunity from lawsuits for gun manufactures when a mentally ill individual goes on a killing rampage as these types of incidents are beyond the control of the arms manufactures. Misrepresentation and fraud in the sale of the firearms is a completely different story. The M1014 Limited Edition was misrepresented as a military version and we were defrauded by the Benelli Corporation and the dealers that sold us the shotguns. If this shotgun truly was a military version the buffer tube could be replace with one that allowed for a collapsible stock. Resale value of the M1014 is devalued because everyone now knows that it can never be fitted with a collapsible stock. And as far as a collectable you will just have to write it off as a loss because no one will care if it is a limited addition and has an American flag engraved on the receiver because it can’t be fitted with a collapsible stock. I suggest the following action plan for all M1014 Limited Edition owners. 1) Write to Benelli and make it clear you feel you were defrauded and demand that they retrofit or replace the shotgun. 2) M1014 owners should make multiple postings about their dissatisfaction with Benelli in every firearm forum (i.e. AR15.com, glocktalk.com, etc.) they visit in cyberspace. 3) All computer savvy M1014 owners should start a Benelli dissatisfaction website and register it with all well known search engines such as Google. That way when potential Benelli purchasers look for product buying advice our websites will show up with our complaints. 4) Express you dissatisfaction with Benelli products at all gun club meetings you attend. Put flyers up on the bulletin boards at the shooting ranges you attend with buyer beware warnings when it comes to Benelli products. 5) Write to all major firearms publications and the NRA and tell them how you were defrauded. 6) If you work at a large hospital or corporation use your organizational wide email lists to tell others about Benelli’s despicable behavior. 7) Consider participating in a class action lawsuit against Benelli. We are 2500 plaintiffs strong and most juries are sympathetic to the plaintiff and not the corporate defendant. It is time Benelli is made to do the corporate perp walk for knowingly and willfully deceiving the consumers that bought the M1014 Limited Edition. Benelli M1014 Limited Edition owners now know that the M in the M1014 stands for misrepresentation and not military.

The M1014 is portrayed as a military version in the marketing literature by Benelli It is made out to be a collectible version of the same shotgun used by the US marines. Yes I knew the stock was fixed to comply with AWB but since the shotgun is supposedly the military version the buffer tube would be replaceable and a collapsible stock could be added at a later time. Further I do have the magazine extension which allows for 7 rounds in the tube and one in the chamber. As I mentioned in earlier posts I can not get a straight answer as to whether the buffer tube can be replaced and Benelli is deliberately withholding the parts or the tube can not be removed from the receiver. If the later is true than this would not be a military version and should have not been marketed as such thus constituting fraud on the part of Benelli. I strongly believe in immunity from lawsuits for gun manufactures when a mentally ill individual goes on a killing rampage as these types of incidents are beyond the control of the arms manufactures. Misrepresentation and fraud in the sale of the firearms is a completely different story. The M1014 Limited Edition was misrepresented as a military version and we were defrauded by the Benelli Corporation and the dealers that sold us the shotguns. If this shotgun truly was a military version the buffer tube could be replace with one that allowed for a collapsible stock. Resale value of the M1014 is devalued because everyone now knows that it can never be fitted with a collapsible stock. And as far as a collectable you will just have to write it off as a loss because no one will care if it is a limited addition and has an American flag engraved on the receiver because it can’t be fitted with a collapsible stock. I suggest the following action plan for all M1014 Limited Edition owners. 1) Write to Benelli and make it clear you feel you were defrauded and demand that they retrofit or replace the shotgun. 2) M1014 owners should make multiple postings about their dissatisfaction with Benelli in every firearm forum (i.e. AR15.com, glocktalk.com, etc.) they visit in cyberspace. 3) All computer savvy M1014 owners should start a Benelli dissatisfaction website and register it with all well known search engines such as Google. That way when potential Benelli purchasers look for product buying advice our websites will show up with our complaints. 4) Express you dissatisfaction with Benelli products at all gun club meetings you attend. Put flyers up on the bulletin boards at the shooting ranges you attend with buyer beware warnings when it comes to Benelli products. 5) Write to all major firearms publications and the NRA and tell them how you were defrauded. 6) If you work at a large hospital or corporation use your organizational wide email lists to tell others about Benelli’s despicable behavior. 7) Consider participating in a class action lawsuit against Benelli. We are 2500 plaintiffs strong and most juries are sympathetic to the plaintiff and not the corporate defendant. It is time Benelli is made to do the corporate perp walk for knowingly and willfully deceiving the consumers that bought the M1014 Limited Edition. Benelli M1014 Limited Edition owners now know that the M in the M1014 stands for misrepresentation and not military.

Since one of the members had their sensibilities upset because rifle was used instead of shotgun I will make sure in the future I don’t hastily post without a thorough proof reading first. What is wrong with you people? The only thing that grabs you about my posting is incorrect syntax. Plain and simply Benelli needs to do the right thing and make a collapsible stock on the M1014 possible. It was marketed as a true military rifle and the consumer was lead to believe that the disabled stock was reversible. I can’t even get a straight answer as to whether a new buffer tube would resolve the problem or the entire receiver needs to be replaced. I suggested a class action lawsuit because there was an implied contract as to the capabilities of this “SHOTGUN” and no disclaimers were made stating that this was not identical to the military model and the stock could never be made to collapse. If some members would rather be sheep and not consider their legal options that is their choice but other mislead M1014 owners should have a right to collectively fight back if Benelli chooses not to take action on this issue.

Benelli has perpetrated a great fraud on their M1014 customers. I purchased the rifle at a well know national sporting goods chain and was assured that I was buying a limited edition military version and the stock could be easily replace with a collapsible one after the AWB sunset. If this is in fact a true military version the buffer tube should be replaceable. I can not believe the rifle was designed is such a way that in order to replace the buffer tube you need to replace the whole receiver. Benelli should be willing to do the following for their M1014 customers. 1. Make a buffer tube available for the M1014 that will allow for a collapsible stock. 2. If there is some reason the original tube can not be replaced then provide the services at a reasonable cost to convert the original buffer tube. This should be the equivalent of sending in a rifle for a warranty repair. 3. Offer to swap out the M1014 receiver or entire rifle for an equivalent model which allows for a collapsible stock. There are 2500 Limited Edition M4 owners and suggest if Benelli remains unresponsive on this issue that we consider a class action lawsuit. If the M1014 rifle was not a true military version and had limitations then there should have been some type of disclaimer stating that the buffer tube could not be replaced and this rifle could never revert to a pre-ban/LEO model. I have not owned a post-ban model that could not be converted to a pre-ban model with the right parts.

It seems like Benelli is deliberately not wanting to provide the parts necessary to make the stock on the M1014 collapsible and I am wondering if it has to do with them having a US military contract. Colt was known for doing or not doing things with their rifles to stay politically correct because of their large government contracts they held. Now Colt is paying dearly for their behavior by having consumers boycott their products and switch to Bushmaster and Armalite. Also they won’t be getting the new government contract for the replacement of the M16. In fact they are now suing both Heckler & Koch and Bushmaster for patent infringements. If Benelli doesn’t want to end up like Colt they better heed the complaints of their customers and remedy the problem.