Steve Rose

Moving the M4 front sight and magazine tube ring back for the shorter barrel configuration presents challenges, not only in the remove/reattach processes, but also due to the smaller barrel OD in the mid section of the 18” barrel which affects sight regulation and mag tube alignment if not properly compensated for before reattachment, not too mention keeping everything properly aligned via a fixture while reattaching the parts. That smaller barrel OD at the new muzzle may also limit choke tube threading possibilities. They may be a shop out there doing the conversion and the folks here on the forum would like to know if there is. We get asked about converting the M4 barrel to Entry length and always decline based on the above reasons. The factory Entry barrel is relatively expensive and often hard to source but in the case of the M4 it is the better route.

Did you take the stock off to remove the Speed Bead? Was the action spring tube loose in the receiver, or was the stock nut overly tight and imparting a bend or bind on the tube?

The M2 barrels are interchangeable, same forearm and mag tube on all the M2 versions. If your M2 has a ghost ring rear sight keep in mind that the GR rear sight will not align with a vent rib sight bead.

Yes

From a legality standpoint that model can be used for duck hunting (as long as the magazine is plugged so the gun hold no more than 3 shells total). From a performance standpoint the GR sights, short barrel and lack of choke constriction will severely limit its usability for what most hunters consider an ideal duck gun.

Functioning / cycling will not be affected by the shorter barrel. Having the cut down barrel threaded for the original choke tubes might be an issue.....measure the OD of the barrel at the proposed“new muzzle” and see if the OD is considerably less than the OD at the factory muzzle. If you can post the new muzzle OD (to 3 decimal places) I can tell you more about the choke tube threading options.

As you've probably found in your research steel shot is a poor substitute for lead shot that only came about due to concerns and regulations with lead in the environment (ie, it started with waterfowl hunting). Steel is the less expense substitute for when lead shot is not allowed, but pales in performance compared to the other “non toxic” types of shot we now have available on the market.

Conventional thinking has always been (1) Back off one choke constriction with steel to achieve patterns similar to lead. In other words steel shot through a Improved Cylinder constriction will pattern like lead shot through a Modified choke and (2) Do not shoot steel through a Full or tighter choke constriction. The steel shot column is less fluid therefore it will not compress as easily in a tight choke resulting in erratic patterns and possible choke tube/barrel damage.

Briley has the bolt release parts for the SBE3

Yes it is.... Does you M4 cycle well with a standard velocity loads and the new “breacher” tube in place? (I cannot see any reason why that breacher tube affect reliability.) @SolidBuilt Those 1600 fps slugs are a very “hot” load and no doubt recoil is significant. Any chance you are anticipating the recoil after firing a few rounds and letting the gun move too much?

We can shorten and crown those slightly long M4 barrels, we just don't remove/reattach that front sight tower on the Benelli barrels.

Did I say that? We still do (and have done) quite a bit of Benelli work. Send me a message or email with your wish list.

My first thought too....Loose and sliding side to side while in the box? IF NIB I'd say just not zeroed, but if the gun has been used and zeroed maybe there are other circumstances?

This EGW base details the hole spacing

What is "bad" about the lifter? I've always found the TTI to work without issue, the Crums modified lifter is actually longer than the TTI....sometimes is just a hair too long and can contact the shell latch when the the button is depressed to close the bolt (sand about about 1/32" off the end of the lifter if that is the case) Mag tube spring (trim to fit, make it about 15" longer than the mag tube & extension) https://www.brownells.com/shotgun-parts/magazine-tube-parts/magazine-springs/extension-tube-spring-45-12-ga-prod87919.aspx

Post a picture of where the contact is happening if you can.

Is your shell lifter factory, or an extended or modified lifter (TTI, Crums, etc)

Some of the Turkey and Custom Shop models have had a factory tapped receiver, not sure about the basic field models....most are not tapped. Check the price of a new M2 barrel if you don't already have one?

https://dawsonprecision.com/speedloader-tube-for-12-gauge-shotguns-6-rounds-by-arredondo/ https://youtu.be/M3Hs4do69ms

Copied from a similar thread on AR15.com: What you have there is a factory-made M1 Benelli barrel ordered by Benelli USA for use in the Entry Model, but never actually cut to 14”. NFA firearms are not importable for civilian sale, so as a workaround, Benelli USA orders and imports from Benelli ITA as an 18” model with the sights installed for 14” length, just as you observed, then cuts to 14” and Form 2 registers as an NFA SBS. Never seen one make it out of the factory, pretty cool. ETA: Benelli doesn’t really position their NFA shotguns for civilian sales per se and the Entry models could be imported directly as NFA guns, however there is a ton of additional paperwork involved and the imported NFA guns become the practical equivalent of a pre-may dealer sample MG. This workaround is perfectly legal, smooths the distribution workflow and allows the resulting gun to be transferable rather than only available to LE and SOTs. That barrel is certainly an oddity to most people, but is worth a premium to a Benelli M1/M2 owner looking to Form 1 their gun into an SBS.

Sold - Thank you

Anyone want it for $160 shipped?

WTS: Benelli 12ga. ComforTech Stock with GripTight Coating Item # 83181 New factory stock for the Cordoba. Also fits the M2 and SBE2 (the rubbery “GripTight” surface does not not lend itself to stippling) $225 shipped in the CONUS. Money order or PP (using friend / gift option)

That is the old style M2 20ga latch. It will work in the 12 ga M2 and M4 but it has 2 downsides. (1)The release post (that sticks though the receiver) is hollow and contains a spring. You cannot drill/tap it for an oversize button (2)The forward section of the latch is just a little long so you have to push shells even farther into the mag tube to get them to clear the latch (farther in compared to the standard 12ga latch)