Stan_TheGunNut

I had a similar problem when mine was brand new. The solution was to shoot some 00buck and slugs, maybe 50 rounds of it, and then I swapped back to the "not so cheap anymore" wallyworld 100 round bulk packs of Federal and Winchester. Runs fine now. Do field strip it, clean it, lube it, shoot some 00 buck and slugs or some turkey loads, then swap back to the #8 birdshot, and see if it still has the same problem.

While I'm a new Benelli owner and don't have a lot of experience with them, I have to disagree with MudHen. To me, the bolt should not open due to the shotgun being carried in a veritcal manner. I'd say something is wrong with the gun, either a weak spring, or something else. I have never had a problem with my bolt opening because I carried it pointing in the air on my 12 gauge M2, nor on my M4. I would not hesitate to call customer service on this issue.

I paid around $1050 (don't remember exactly) for my M2 field. The tactical version with the pistol grip that I considered buying was around $1200 if I remember correctly. You can probably get a slug barrel, but it may take a while, and it will cost you.

I dont' see a problem with it. Just check your local laws. Some states restrict the magazine capacity for hunting. You might have to put a wooden dowel in the mag tube or something to restrict the magazine capacity while you hunt.

Back around 15-20 years ago, I was over at my uncles house admiring his new Remington 1100. I suggested we go shoot it, and he said sure. He had never fired it, but had taken it hunting sometime during the previous week. During that time, he had turned over on his ATV. Anyone see where this is going? He loaded up his shotgun, aimed at a can we set in front of the hill behind his house, and BOOM!. I looked, he looked, and the can, bushes, nothing had been hit. I looked down at the barrel, and it was split on the side. I'm guessing the shot hit some mud or other obstruction, and blew out. I don't know where it went. Remington was kind enough to replace his barrel for him, and he still has the shotgun. I wish I had pictures of the blown up barrel. Anyway, based on that experience, the link looks like a barrel obstruction to me. I hope he gets his barrel replaced by one or the other of the manufacterers.

Thanks for the help Hogwild. Not trying to multitask here...I intend to use it as a HD shotgun. I have my M2 Field for the clays and hunting. I just want to be able to 'plink' with it using the cheap ammo. I'll get some of the Miltec and see how that works.

I went to the range again today, and shot some slugs, 00 buck, and some field loads. These all cycled okay, so I think the problem is with the light loads. I'll try a different kind of lube too, and see if that helps with the light loads any. Thanks for the input.

How many rounds do you have thru yours Yote? I'm hoping mine will shoot some of the cheap bulk stuff to practice and play around with, once it gets broken in.

I swung by WallyWorld and picked up some Remington, Winchester, and Federal 00 buck, and some some slugs. Hopefully I'll be able to tell a little more about how she shoots after 15 rounds of each of those. I'm also going to try and patern the gun to see where she shoots. Today I was there to make noise more than anything...I had forgotten all my targets here at home. I also took the M4 apart and cleaned it thoroughly. I typically use Hoppes and Rem oil. Prior to the first range trip, I had only given it a once over, and not a detailed cleaning. I also just noticed that some of the Federal ammo I grabbed is reduced recoil, so I guess I'll shoot that last. I'm not sure how that will compare to the regular stuff.

My M2 24 inch barrel is not tapped either.

Thanks for the links Hogwild. I think that tonight I'll clean the shotgun really well, and maybe swing by WallyWorld and pick up some field loads, buckshot, and maybe some slugs. Hopefully when I take it to the range tomorrow, it will function better. I'm hoping it just needs to be broken in a little bit, and will eventually run okay on the less expensive ammo. Regarding the loctite, I don't ever see me changing the choke in this shotgun, so why not make it a little permanant. To me, Benelli should have sent it without a choke at all, and just a smooth barrel. I guess at least for now, I will just take it out and clean it, and stick it back in.

I purchased a new Benelli M4 and was able to take it to the range today to test it out. I was using Wally World 100 round bulk pack ammo from both Federal and Winchester. The federal was #7.5 shot, 1 1/8 oz 3 dram equivalent, and the Winchester was the same except it was #8 shot. During my range visit, I was having multiple failures to eject where the round to be ejected got caught in the action. In other instances, the gun failed to load. Sometimes when I checked it, the next round was on the lifter, and other times it was still in the magazine. Often, after the last round was fired, the bolt wouldn't lock back. I realize some break in period might be needed for it to function properly, but this seems excessive (my M2 has functioned perfectly since I first took it out of the box). I was using the bulk birdshot simply because it is relatively inexpensive. I guess my questions are, how long of a break in period is normally required, and what methods would you use to break it in? What cheap ammo have you found to work, or not, in your M4? Is there anything I can do, be it cleaning, changing my shooting technique, etc, that would make the gun more reliable? Also, what's the point of a screw in cylinder choke? Has anyone used some blue loctite on it to make sure it doesn't come loose? I think I might. Thanks for any suggestions and insight you may offer.

Does 'ghosting' an extra shell underneath the bolt on the lifter do any damage to the gun, short or long term? Also, does it adversely impact the reliability of the shotgun? I'd also like to second the question on why all the Benelli reference material says 4+1. Is the capacity 4+1 when using 3 inch shells, and 5+1 when using 2.75? I bought my M4 a few months ago and the shop had to order it. It came in this week, and I'm planning on heading to the range Sunday afternoon. I had actually come to this site tonight to ask the same questions that have already been answered in this thread.

I haven't lost mine yet, but it seems like it would be easy to do while walking thru the woods. I wish there were a way to ensure that it was really stuck in there. I guess it could be glued in or something, but I'm not sure if that's the best solution. I don't think there is any required maintenence that has to be performed in the stock though, so maybe that is a possible sollution.

Ok, just drop me a line the next time you head this way if you think you'll have time to shoot some. There are a few public ranges we can go to. Also, I'm not really a Clemson fan even though I live here. I'm from NC originally, and went to NCSU. I still think Tarheels whenever I hear 'Carolina'.