RDA1

Titanium has a better strength-to-weight ratio than most steel, but titanium is much less dense than steel and more prone to deformation. Aluminum also has a better strength-to-weight ratio than high strength steel but as you probably know, aluminum will deform more easily than steel.

Yep, here is one post about it, I recall more but stopped searching: http://www.benelliusa.com/forum/showthread.php/31657-3-4-quot-or-1-2-quot-Charging-Handle?p=175073#post175073

I have spoken a few times to Benelli and my dealer whom I ordered through (I ordered one on January 12, 2012 before SHOT 2012 where they debuted and where my dealer placed his order for them), I have heard the same story. They are still trying to work with the ATF to gain approval and plan to work until they get approval in order to fill the original orders placed early in 2012. Benelli stopped taking orders when they saw they had a challenge with the BATFE. I also saw during 2012 they removed the H2O from the website, they have no intention of making more than what is needed to fill the original orders. I also saw the letters from Benelli as noted above. Is there hope? I believe there is, but not much (i.e., the door is closing, but hasn't slammed shut yet).

It has a lot to do with how big a Benelli dealer your LGS is, mine sells a lot of Benellis. He had M4s in stock the day I ordered mine, just not what I wanted.

I receive mine about three weeks after I ordered it.

I have seen similar comments from you about ammo, why don't you get some ammo for me, I'll come down and pick it up if you can get it, my local GM never has any ammo (9mm, .223/5.56).

That is what I paid for mine in January as well.

Sure, I'll send you a PM.

How is that cheap when you can buy a new one from an authorized Benelli dealer for $1,699?

Me too, let us know when it arrives so I can start anticipiating mine... Yep, sorry about that, I figure I have a couple of months to pull together my tools...

I am in the same boat, don't get too excited, apparently you didn't read their website too closely: http://shop.carriercomp.com/main.sc You are charged up front and therefore "own" the tube while they finish fabrication in order to avoid any issues with rapidly changing laws. I ordered in January, I exchanged emails with them recently, here is the most pertinent part: On Fri, Mar 8, 2013 at 7:26 AM, kip carrier wrote: Dear Rich, ..... It turns out the 2 to 3 month production time estimated for orders placed in December and January is going to end up being 3 to 4 months instead. ... So, based on when you placed your order, you are looking at another 2-3 month wait I would imagine.

I'll take back-up, I also sent you a PM last night as well.

I have some of the same questions and thoughts. I'd be more than willing to chip in some money to fabricate a set of useful long punches if someone wants to head up the effort (hint, hint). I'd pay in advance to fund the materials/effort. I might still buy the Wiha metric set (I like Wiha and their punches appear to be nice and a little longer but nothing smaller than 2mm)

This deserves a bump, it is an excellent step-by-step tutorial. Far more detailed than I needed, but these instructions are so thorough, they should allow nearly anyone to do this job with just a few simple tools. Thanks Stranger Danger.

There clearly is no hope for Colorado if these are your elected leaders: http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_embedded&v=RgXsCnrYZGY#! The responses of both politicians is absurd at best.

How well lubed is your M4? How broken in? Low recoil 1 oz shells are pretty light to cycle the action ( a well lubed, well broken in M4 may cycle them reliably), simply go with a higher pellet load (1 1/8 oz or more), standard recoil shell (higher dram) and see how well it works.

Biden would be proud, double barrel shotguns for all. Seriously, politicians are shameless and stupid.

Funny, I took mine to the range right out of the box (no extra lube or cleaning, just assembled the parts as they came from Benelli), ran 75 rounds of buckshot through it without a hiccup. I do plan to try the Frog Lube though.

Special Order? That doesn't sound like a special order to me per se, it sounds like you ordered an M4 with a standard stock, my local dealer had these in stock this month. If you ordered it through a Benelli dealer and they are waiting for new stock to come in, it all depends on how big your dealer is and how far back in line you are. Only your local dealer could estimate your wait based on their past experience, are you the first in line waiting for one or the 100th? Do they get one M4 in per month or dozens? My local dealer had standard stock M4s in stock in early January when I wanted one with a pistol grip (none in stock). They got pistol grip stocks in on their next order within two weeks.

The "Thief" had used the OP's pictures, but changed them subsequently. There really is nothing to this at this point.

From what I have seen, the gun demand is starting to come back to earth but still not great (with evil black rifles still the hardest to come by). High capacity magazines will follow as the manufacturers continue to pump them out. The big concern is ammo, it is still very scare with .223/556 being very hard to find, .22 nearly non-existent and 9mm pretty tough.

Interesting, I had been watching your auction but hadn't seen the copy yet. Looks like they simply stole your pictures and the description is unique to their auction. Certainly dishonest but I would guess they truly have an M1014 for sale but I wouldn't be willing to find out. I have had sellers on eBay use my pictures and even my descriptions word-for-word. Good luck.

I am going to guess photoshop combing a Bushmaster ACR and a Benelli M4.

As I said, I wouldn't want to get caught violating it and with my luck, I'd be the first... ;-)

Agreed, but a manufacturer could stamp "Made in the USA" and it can be just as inaccurate too so I don't know if that is really any better than if you kept a print out of the website that states "Made in the USA". Personally, although 922r is an important legal requirement I wouldn't want to get caught violating, I believe it is targeted far more at manufacturers than end users. But again, I wouldn't want to get caught violating it as an end user, but I think the likelihood of getting caught is incredibly low as I have never even heard of an end user being charged with failing to comply with 922r.