ShadowShooter

Nevermind, I just noticed in MeanGreen's letter it states gas piston not gas pistons.. WTF.. All I know is this thing is a boondoggle

In the list of 20, gas pistons (Plural) are listed as one item.

"If I read that correctly, then it does you NO good to purchase the "Field Stock" and put it on trying to eliminate one part (the pistol grip) because the ATF (in the letter) considers that either the Field Stock or the Fixed w/ PG stock the same?" According to the "newest letter," that would be correct. The fixed pistol grip buttstock only counts as one imported part because it is one solid piece molded together as opposed to the collapsible/telescoping two piece buttstock and pistol grip, which count as two. However, I'm going to wait and see the part count on my letter before I proceed. Although MeanGreen's letter seems to be true and correct.

LOL... Agreed 100%

Yup, I talked to a guy in the West Virginia branch and he said they use either address on their letterhead. He said there was no rhyme or reason, just sometimes they use the DC address and sometimes they use the West Virginia address. In any event, I sent a letter to the West Virginia branch as well.

I just sent my letter to both addresses with ATF Agent Sterling Nixon's letter which notes the count at 11 attached. We will see which one gets here first and if they have a different part count...

Interesting.. They told me to send it to the DC address which has the same zip as the letter you posted. http://www.atf.gov/contact/index.htm

Perhaps, but if you want to send your letter to the same place as MeanGreen, use this address Bureau Of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives Office of Public and Governmental Affairs Mail Stop 5S-144 99 New York Avenue, NE. Washington, DC 20226

MeanGreen, Just out of curiosity did the ATF agent list the forearm/handguard in his letter as I don't see it in your list of 12? Also, how long did it take for the ATF to respond to your letter? Thanks...

"I do these letters for lots of M4 owners to protect them from zealous agents." WTF, that ******* agent should just post that info on the ATF's website....

The range I used to go to by my house only allowed buckshot and slugs. They said the birdshot shredded the cardboard and paper target too much compared to the others and caused a mess that they simply didn't want to clean up. They also complained about the little pellets "all over the place." They have since eliminated the use of a shotgun altogether. No big deal, I just have to drive a little further to Iron Sights in Oceanside which allows the use of all three and it's cheaper.

I spoke with Federal and they recommended a full choke for the best patterns w/their LE/PFC buckshot lines. (So much for what my friend said they recommended.) The guy I spoke with noted a .665 should work just fine, but w/the larger shot he said just use the full....

Good call on the tighter chokes with the Federal LE/PFC line. I did precisely that and had better patterns. So much for manufactures' recommendations.

I would chose D both B & C. I would start with the pump shotgun in a pistol grip configuration with a forward vertical grip and a light. If it failed or the bad guy took it away, I would pull out my .45 ACP from my waistband and finish the fight with that.

Hi Duggan, Glad to hear you have not had any problems shooting slugs using a full choke, but it appears you have been lucky or perhaps others not so much. When I spoke with a Benelli rep she said they would not warranty my barrel if anything happened to it if I used a slug with a full choke and that she knew of several failures because of this. In fact, she said they have had gunsmiths send in pictures of split barrels do to this issue. In addition, I received the following e-mail from Benelli USA Customer Service, "NEVER, EVER shoot a slug through a full choke. When shooting a slug through your M4, please use the cylinder choke. This choke will have 5 notches on the end or 5 stars on the side. There is a very real possibility of damage to the firearm and to you. The constriction on the full choke is way too tight to allow that slug to pass through it." Thank you, Customer Service Benelli USA

"Choosing a bullet because of relatively shallow penetration will seriously compromise weapon effectiveness, and needlessly endanger the lives of the law enforcement officers using it. No law enforcement officer has lost his life because a bullet over penetrated his adversary, and virtually none have ever been sued for hitting an innocent bystander through an adversary. On the other hand, tragically large numbers of officers have been killed because their bullets did not penetrate deeply enough. Kinetic energy does not wound. Temporary cavity does not wound. The much discussed "shock" of bullet impact is a fable and "knock down" power is a myth. The critical element is penetration. The bullet must pass through the large, blood bearing organs and be of sufficient diameter to promote rapid bleeding. Penetration less than 12 inches is too little, and, in the words of two of the participants in the 1987 Wound Ballistics Workshop, "too little penetration will get you killed." (Special Agent Urey W. Patrick) Trapshooter1, Yes 6 would penetrate a hollow bedroom door. 7 1/2 will penetrate a hollow bedroom door. It can go through 2 sheets of drywall, albeit probably with less than lethal force, but certainly enough to blind a family member on the other side and let's not forget the wad.. The wad will penetrate as well and if it hits someone in the head it could kill them. If you are going to use birdshot consider using a full choke. (The wider the pattern, the more you increase the chance of collateral damage.) However, should you need to switch out for a slug, say goodbye to your barrel. Another reason to consider not using birdshot for HD. What I'm looking for in a HD round is the one with the largest pellet diameter that produces the deepest penetration, lowest noise, lowest recoil and tightest pattern with a IC or C choke. For that I present you Federal LE127. LE127 is copper plated 00 buckshot with "FLITECONTROL." Copper plated pellets increase penetration and have a tighter pattern than lead alone. And with its FLITECONTROL it's unbeatable. With a Cylinder choke 9 pellets at 10 yards produces a oversized slug like hole. At 25 yards I get all 9 pellets in a 6" circle. 9 .33 copper plated pellets so close together produces significant penetration and one **** of a permanent cavity. FYI, if you can't find Federal LE127 just get Federal PFC154; it's the exact same round in a different box. (Benelli recommends using only IC or C chokes for slugs and Federal recommends using IC or C chokes for its "FLITECONTROL." In fact, using a F or IM choke with a FLITECONTROL round will deform the shot cup and open the shot up more.)