blackpowder1

Many thanks for this explanation. It makes perfect sense. So, I will leave my sight adjustments to hit what I aim at at 15 yards, as this is a reasonable distance one can expect in most self defence scenarios. At distances of 25 and 50 yards, I can just aim below the mark accordingly because I know to aim 3" or 5" lower. If I shoot at greater distances, I guess I will have to find out by trial and error where the projectile again crosses the line of sight on it's way down, right?

Hi all around ! I am not very familiar with the ballistics of solid lead shotgun slugs. I sighted my Benelli M2 at 15 yards to hit center with 1 ounce slugs. It took some dialing in, but now the POI is dead center. Yesterday, I extended the range to 25 and 50 yards respectively. The slugs were rising with increasing distance. POI was 3" high at 25 yds and 5" high at 50 yds. The iron sights sit 1,5" above the bore center line. I would have expected the POI to be lower with increasing distance due to the considerable weight of the slug. Can someone enlighten me as to why POI is higher at greater distances. Many thanks ! Blackpowder

Thanks, it never occurred to me to keep the lever depressed . . . learned something new?

oh, maybe there ist something I haven't discovered yet? The only way I know to unload my M2 is by either cycling all shells through the action and ejecting them the traditional way which, however, involves the additional step of having to drop each additional shell manually onto the lifter and repeating the action until all shells are ejected through the ejection port. Alternatively, I push the loading gate/lifter upwards and depress the little carrier latch at the mouth of the magazine tube and holding it in with my index finger until the spring pushes all the shells out. But that could be a pain for someone with thicker fingers and at the very least awkward and uncomfortable.... Maybe there is something I don't know here? ? Please enlighten me. Thanks!

Hi fellas, Interesting to see someone picking up my thread 5 years after I started it. I think the confusion with the "cartridge drop lever" or the "red dot" lever on the Benellis is in part due to the fact that this option departs from the traditional operating modes of semi-auto shotguns. With the Benelli-Type actions (as well as many others like Stoeger, etc.) the gun reloads only when the action is cycled by pulling the trigger AND firing a live round. Just cycling the action does not drop the next cartridge on the lifter. You have to press the red drop-lever every time. This is a departure from the traditional operation of, let's say, the Remington 11-87 and others, which drop the next cartridge on the lifter by merely cycling the bolt. One just has to be aware of that. However, the need or advantage of having this "cartridge drop lever" option is questionable. I really can't see much purpose in it....

ok, after some days of thinking I decided to go with the M2 with choke options. The simpler recoil operated system and easier maintenance swayed me in that direction. I just hope it reliably cycles standard loads in the 3-4 dram range......

Many thanks! Ammo sensitivity is an issue for me as I dont always have access to the ammo I want in my remote location. Will the M2 work with lighter 2 3/4" shells in the 3 dram range and also 3" magnum shells with around 4 drams? ?

Hello all Around, In my search for a suitable semiautomatic shotgun for allround multiple purposes I have decided on a Benelli. Having said that, I am still undecided whether to get an M2 or M4. I need to use it for sports, shooting clay pigeons, pest control around my extensive property, occasional hunting, self defence and target practice. That pretty much sums it up. Any comments on the advantages/drawbacks, positive and negative aspects of the two in question? Any opinions out there? Your advice is much appreciated !

it helped. Thanks!

Hi everyone! For years I have been shooting my M2 with all sorts of loads from 430 grains to 550 grains or more and shells from 2.5" to 3" magnum shells and all kinds of different manufacturers without ever a problem - my M2 eats almost everything but the very lightest of loads. I recently acquired a brand new Remington 11-87 police and was a bit disappointed at the reliability with the same ammo that works so flawlessly in my M2. There were feeding problems, failures to eject, shells getting stuck in the ejection port, etc,.. Now perhaps gas operated systems are a bit more ammo sensitive or a brand new gun out of the box should be worked in a bit longer? Or perhaps gas systems need to be treated differently with lube......? Does anyone have similar problem and/or some good suggestions how to get the Rem. 11-87 running smoothly? Thanks !

Thanks a lot for the inputs fellas. Now I understand the purpose and function of this lever. However, the position of the red dot on the lever is not exactly helping intuitive operation of the weapon. It does lead to wrong assumptions and it doesn't help to know that one should never assume things concerning weapons, especially their operation. IMHO, the lever would be understood better without the red dot for it would simply indicate that the hammer is cocked whenever the lever is visible.

Ok, thanks, it does indeed do that. But now I am even more puzzled because until now I accomplished this function by simply pulling the trigger. In order to load the magazine you have to cock the gun by pulling back the bolt and release it by pushing the bolt release button. Only now the loading gate can be depressed so shells can be loaded into the tube. Once fully loaded you need only pull the trigger to release the first round from the magazine and then continue as you describe. The lever accomplishes the same thing (as I just found out by trying) but actually I really don't see the need for it to just move shells onto the loading gate and into position for chambering. Surely there must be another purpose or function, right?

Hi all around! Can anyone tell me what the red dot lever on the bottom side of the receiver above the trigger guard on my M2 is for and how to use it? Many thanks for the help.

I already adjusted my stock the way I want it. The M2 comes with special shimmies to individually set cast and tilt. That's a good feature on the Benellis. Perhaps they should also supply some for the interface between barrel and receiver.....

barrel looks pretty clean. sent about 350 shells, shot and slugs, through it and mechanically clean it after every use. Never really cleaned it chemically. Will do that now to rule out that problem. The slugs I use are: Gecco 2.6" competition slugs. @truckcop: checked the front sight and it's centered. I still have the strange feeling the problem lies elsewhere. Has anyone ever heard of improper barrel to receiver fit or problems in that area?