StrangerDanger

Had you cycled the action prior? Or was this the very first time you pulled the bolt carrier to the rear? If you did previously, did it feel gritty or hesitate at any point?

What about whacking it with a rubber mallet on the back of the recoil tube? I'd take it to a gunshop that does basic work rather than pay the shipping back to Benelli. Benelli takes a month to do repairs. Or, I'd go to the hardware store and buy the needed tools to do the job. They'd likely be cheaper than the shipping. If the problem is like I described, it is only an issue that would occur during assembly. I don't believe it would happen during the firing cycle.

This is a M4, right? You'll probably have a difficult time removing the recoil plug from the recoil tube with the spring under tension. What I would do is get a long punch or drill bit that fits inside of the recoil plug's threaded center and push it up inside the recoil tube until I made contact with the retracted plunger. With the receiver in a vice, I'd give the tool a few dead blows from a hammer to attempt to move the bolt carrier group forward. I wouldn't use a large hammer. Maybe an 8 or 12 ounce. My guess is that the tail of the BCG isn't seated properly on top of the plunger. When it was cycled to the rear, this caused the tail of the BCG to bind. I would not hammer on the bolt handle. That will likely result in a bent bolt handle. Disassembly of the recoil tube would also work. Finding a proper tool to unscrew the recoil plug is a difficult task. I don't even know if it is possible to disassemble with all that spring tension against the plug. If it gets to this point, I'd probably let Benelli handle it.

630 is a good deal for that thing. Is that through New Frontier? That button on the top of the light isn't really meant to be pressed while holding a forearm. You are going to have to use the tape switch. I'm not sure which switch it comes with. The one you're supposed to attach yourself, or if it is the XT-07 that has a rail cover segment. I had one of those on my AR for a while, it was a fail. I prefer the tail cap momentary/constant on option. The issue with mounting on the shotgun is, it's going to jam your hand under recoil. Even with the forward mounting of the RAID, I think it is going to crowd your hand with that tape switch poking out the rear. Another option you might want to consider is running a FVG on the front like Unobtanium has on his M80.

The best price I've seen so far for the RAID is about $750. You do realize that the RAID is pretty much tape switch only activation and has the size profile of a X400 right? It is also rather heavy at nearly 10 ounces. 150 lumens is rather weak. For a comparison, an X300 is smaller, weighs 3.5 ounces, has a higher output of 170 lumens, and costs about 180 dollars.

Try your X400 there to see if you like the position. I found the bottom position to crowd your hand placement. If everything must be even, run dual Scout's at 10:30 and 1:30.

If you don't need IR, it's a fail of a light. I was interested in a model they stopped production on that was 350 lumens. However, the activation system for it sucks. It is mostly tape switch driven. I'd go for the Surefire Scout Light M600c at 200 lumens on the GearSector offset mount. You'll have to modify the M80 to accept it though. It is an easy modification. I would not get the M300. It isn't worth the minimal weight or drop in reduction. The added length of the M600 over the M300 will compliment your barrel length. You can get M600c's pretty cheap. Here is one on ebay from a seller that I've used before. http://cgi.ebay.com/SUREFIRE-M600C-WEAPONLIGHT-BLACK-SCOUT-TACTICAL-200-LUM-/140591071901?pt=US_Flashlights&hash=item20bbe1829d $327.50 shipped is pretty good.

You're going with the 14" barrel on the M4 right? What rail system are you mounting the light with?

I've heard of people turned away from shooting ranges and 3 gun competitions for not being in 922 compliance.

A gun trust won't exempt you from anything. The theory is NFA weapons do not have to abide by 922 regulations. I've heard it argued both ways. I'd opt for compliance to protect myself from an overzealous agent. Do it for your dogs sake. If you have an illegal firearm owned by the trust, you as the executor are still liable for being the possessor.

I've heard it argued both ways. I'd opt for the 922 compliance either way. While 922 is overblown when it comes to a standard weapon, on a Class 3 firearm that is likely to be subject to further scrutiny, I'd take additional precautions. The best way to see how the law actually sees it would be to see how short barreled imported AK's are handled. Are you planning on running a collapsible stock? If so, that will add an evil feature even though your magazine capacity will not exceed the limit to count as an evil feature. I rarely see factory handguards come up for sale. They are for sale at Brownells, but they are really expensive compared to the FFT offering. If I was going this route, I'd consider everything to be an upgrade path and stick with 922 compliance anyway. You'll end up with a better weapon as a result. 1. I'd get carriercomp's short titanium magazine tube. You'll gain some weight savings and a US Part. 2. carriercomp follower for the US Part. 3. carriercomp/Geiselle Hammer for the US Part. 4. FFT stock reproduction handguards for the US Part. You'd then be free to add a collapsible stock to the package.

Just a thought, have you considered getting a set from FTT for the 922 compliance?

They don't want to spook you from buying. I can't recall what size bit I used. It was back in January. I picked one that had a similar diameter as the shaft of the hardware they supplied. You end up having an allen wrench on both sides of the stock trying to get the hardware to start threading into each other. You could replace the pistol grip fairly cheaply. They're about 40 bucks at Numricharms stripped. The metal piece inside is the one that you have to be careful with since I haven't found a source for one. Overall it was worth the 45 minutes of cussing. Another option would be to buy the Magpul UBR threaded QD cup, and get an allen screw that fit the 10 - 24 thread pattern. Knock out the roll pin, slip a thin washer between the allen bolt and go all the way through the pistol grip to the QD cup. Getting the proper overall length 10 - 24 bolt would be the hardest part.

The install is a PITA for the Mesa rear sling mount. You knock out the roll pin, then you have to drill out the existing hole all the way through. There is a metal piece inside that must have it's hole enlarged as well. The bolts meet up in the center and screw together. This is easier said than done. It took me 45 minutes of slowly enlarging the hole to to allow everything to meet up properly in the middle. If you make the holes too big, it'll be a sloppy fit and the mount will move. Furthermore, the metal block inside the collapsible stock will not be firmly seated. This block applies tension on the internal nut that the pistol grip screws onto the recoil tube with. I needed a QD setup rather than the standard straps.

Pretty much doesn't matter.

The hammer was US made for 922 compliance. The bolt release was larger and easier to hit. The bolt handle is larger and lighter to increase cyclic time. The Scout light is mounted, but it is so low profile that you can't even see it.

Benelli M4 11703 Benelli M4 11707 Barrel and Recoil tube Benelli M4 Collapsible stock Surefire M80 Rail System Carriercomp Titanium Magazine Tube Carriercomp Replacement Top Rail Carriercomp Hammer Wolff Magazine Spring Brownells US Made Magazine Follower Design Concepts Titanium Charging Handle DMW Oversized Safety GG&G Bolt Release Meprolights Night Sights Aimpoint T1 on a LaRue Low Mount BlueForceGear Padded VCAS 2 Point Sling GearSector Front Sling QD Mount Mesa Tactical Rear Sling QD Mount LaRue Index Clips for rail covers Surefire M600c Scout Light GearSector Offset Scout Mount I think that's everything. Of the rail systems I've tried, I like the Surefire M80 the best for the light mounting placement. If I had no light, I would run the stock or reproduction stock handguards. I find that the light placement with the offset mounts are the only viable solution. When mounted at the cardinal points of 9, 3 or 6 o'clock, the lighting device interferes with hand placement unless you're using a forward vertical grip.

Pretty much, yes.

No ability to co-witness.

I'll see what I can do. I looked at your photos and compared it to mine. It is seated basically in the same way. Look at your barrel and be sure that it is seated fully. If so, then the unit isn't going to push in any deeper since it is limited by the barrel. If the barrel is fully in battery, you don't need to worry about it. When I pull on mine really hard fore and aft, I can get a little bit of movement out of the rail system. I'd say 1/32 or maybe 1/16 of an inch of movement. The tensioner at the front of the rail is meant to bite into the locking lug to limit movement.

http://shop.carriercomp.com/product.sc?productId=15&categoryId=5 Carriercomp/Geissele production. Brownells can be quite dangerous. At any given time I have about a grand worth of tools on my want list.

Some quick photoshop of what mine would look like chopped down to 10.75".

10.75" Barreled Benelli M4 This is what I'd build if I was going that route. I'd beg Kip to make me a custom length Titanium tube to match it. Drop his bolt handle, top rail, hammer, and follower in. Add a GG&G bolt release. Then add a Surefire M80 rail system.

Consider you can send an 18.5" M4 to King Armory and have the barrel cut down to whatever you want for like 300 - 350 dollars. They had the option to go to 10", 12.5" and 14". You could have the 18" weapon in hand while you wait for the NFA stamp to go through. Then, either just buy a 14" barrel assembly that tend to pop up now and again for about a grand. Or, arrange to have King Armory chop down your 18.5" barrel for the rough price given above. Factory 14" barrels won't have a removable choke either, so this isn't going to be an issue. Here's a 12" for visual reference: Israeli IDF variant: