BamBam

Easy fix as Stranger pointed out, nonetheless poor inspection-oversight by Benelli for a $2K+ Shotgun. If unnoticed over time that little bur will likely break off during cycling and could cause further issue/damage. Obviously COVID broadly impacts every company’s abilities vs. production catch up vs. quality control (and now Italy is another COVID lock down). Come on Benelli inspect closely this is your reputation!!

Spoke with a DoD contact that relayed Benelli’s explanation is odd regarding blueish M4 receiver color variance is result of US military request for improved/hardened finish..because it’s unlikely that Benelli would incur the extra steps & costs involved to specifically meet newer US military needs and then simply extend the same application to all civilian model M4’s. If Benelli is automatically extending the improved hardened anodizing process to all civilian M4 models at no cost, then why not pronounce & tout the improved finish of the vital receiver and color variance? Stranger D. may have called it right from the jump..guys at the plant in Italy have to much olive oil on their hands at the acid tanks lol!!

Thanks Electric7, was waiting for someone to validate a newly purchased M4 that came with a black receiver vs. blueish finish. Early in 2020, Italy was in shut/lock down several times due to the vast spread of Covid throughout the country. However, when Benelli returned to a significantly rapid backlog of production they had developed/introduced a “newer & more resilient” anodizing process with broad color variance for the M4 receiver??..that apparently ONLY applies to the M4 receiver?? During the past year+ it’s possible that the USMC requested a more resilient finish applied to the M4 receiver(as some were told by Benelli)..but that’s what Titanium-Cerakote (H2O model) is for and they could have simply applied black Cerakote to meet the USMC request. Might just look into this as I have some good contacts within DoD and USMC.

+1 on the newer enlarged Botach handle. It’s essentially identical and functions the same as the OEM handle, ergo feel & easy on the skin too!

So yesterday I stopped by a local Cabela’s where I live (ammo browse, SHOCKER nothing!) and I overheard a conversation at the gun display counter. A Cabela’s staffer behind the counter who appeared older was steadfast explaining to two younger guys/customers that ALL NEW Benelli M4’s are now made with Navy Blue receivers only. I moved in closer to listen and one of the guys asked the staffer if they could order/request the M4 receiver to be black and would it cost extra?? The Cabela’s staffer said he was told Navy blue only right now. As I walked away, a few things were validated to me..1) Benelli clearly is not the source of such ridiculous misinformation..2)Benelli clearly did/has not got in front of/fully disclosed it’s latest & significant color variance with M4 receivers which results in ridiculous misinformation..3) Cabela’s remains unimpressive when it comes to firearms, relationships with distributors & manufacturers..I’d purchase a firearm from a Dentist while having a root canal before Cabela’s! Sorry, Rant complete.

Lol Stranger!!..green hue from extra virgin olive oil on technician’s hands after lunch break...BRILLIANT!! Side question: anyone have experience with running an Armageddon Gear or Rifles Only carbine sling on their Benelli or AR platforms?? Have some friends who run these on their precision rigs & swear by them. Both companies offer carbine slings without the precision rifle arm-cuff. They have a small area of built-in bungee for the neck area & have insanely-fast adjustment pull. Own & love the Armageddon Gear shooting bags/rests, Game Changer line is excellent.

I guess I am in the minority when it comes to the newer blue receiver color variation against the overall-black theme of the M4, no offense just me. I understand the hard anodizing process of the receiver being stronger vs. standard anodizing, while inherently having a higher degree of color drift and.. “we do have quality standards in place to reduce the variance”. However, somehow for years Benelli was able to manufacture thousands of M4’s with a more consistent black receiver(albeit marginal color variance) of which I have owned 3 personally. Unless of course the hard-anodizing process has recently changed/been upgraded altogether by Benelli. In either case, it would seem rather simple to indicate/fully disclose in advance to Benelli dealers and customers who are ordering the M4 that the receiver has a well known color variance to effectively establish expectations & eliminate surprise upon delivery. There are numerous new M4 owners asking..”is my receiver supposed to be this blueish color”??

Gotta say..bravo & strong advocate of les-garden’s perspective regarding the pitfalls of knock off versions of the Benelli M4!! Essentially, as the Benelli M4’s reputation grew from battle-proven deployment followed by production/offering to the civilian market..the time tested formula was set in motion: demand = rise in purchase price. This is validated by the present day price(pre-COVID) of $2,000+ for a new Benelli M4. Quality vs. affordability is each person’s bridge to cross..and most of the time quality wins the day & saves money in long term. Personally the head-scratcher to me is, people that quantify spending $$$ on multiple shotguns while dismissing purchasing a Benelli M4 due to it’s “expensive price”?? Having said all that..clearly Benelli’s quality control in manufacturing has suffered in the face of extreme & heightened demand, question is if/when they address it.

+1 on the Savior Equipment double rifle bag, they make excellent products!! I have two of the Urban Warfare in upgraded “MultiCam” exterior material made of tough-as-nails Cordura..but they are twice the price of the non-MultiCam material. Well built & totally functional, plenty of protected storage for rifles, pistols, mags & accessories. They also include multiple hold/carry handles including padded backpack straps.

..or your M4 came with a choke tube already screwed in? If so, the choke tube is likely a M (Modified sized choke tube). If your M4 came with a choke tube installed it’s easy to confirm visually, at the end of the barrel you will see several small notches/u-shaped cuts..they are on the end/part of the choke tube and are used to align with a tool(choke tube tool/wrench) for removing & installing choke tubes.

I own Benelli M4’s & M2’s, wearing Scalarworks mounts. Switchedem’ all from RMR’s over to newer SRO’s & never looked back! Personal choice of course, but some users claim the SRO “looks odd” and is not as indestructible/duty proven vs. the RMR..naaa..I have validated with lengthy runs, drops, & various abuse that the SRO is well built & plenty tough. The SRO has identical footprint as RMR, but SRO sits a tad taller (slight raise under frontside of optic) & a tad wider. For practical application on a shotty, the SRO has a rounder & slightly larger FOV vs. the RMR, which for me expedites & enhances overall sight acquisition. Further practical application, with the SRO u can change the battery topside/don’t have to dismount unit like with RMR’s. Don’t listen to haters who offer that the SRO can’t survive an IED attack or that it was made for pistols. Contact Trijicon & inquire about SRO applications or on Trijicon’s web site validating the SRO for shotgun use all day long. I have the larger 5 MOA dot size, just works for my eyes on shotties..also available in 2.5 or 1 MOA dot. I put my RMR’s on pistols being more compact..go figure!

Total hardware porn!! That loading port work looks spot on..blends nicely as you pointed out & ensures overall integrity of the receiver is not compromised in any way ( just my OCD!) Sold..mail call?

+1 on Briley and their overly aggressive opening/polishing of M4 loading port. At a particular show a while back I noticed Briley had a booth and I was able to closely examine & handle a M4 with a nice loading port job they had on display. The port was deeply cut/angled towards the mag tube, and I mean very closely to the tube. However, the beveling lines, angles & polishing were really impressive, like bikini wax, of course to be clear it was a display booth showing off their work. I have made several calls to Briley to discuss their loading port opening process (spoke to Larry & Gary) and they will go aggressive or less as you want, but they were like..”just put a note in the box when you ship us the gun saying what you want done”. Ya, well I’m sure Briley knows what they’re doing and allows communication and updates, but my experience with that type of procedure lends it itself to problems. So long story short..I would like to reach out to the expert here..Stranger..and ask him for the loading port job & some other mods to my M4!!