Looking for opinions on the M4.

[BallChange]

I am not the most experienced shooter. Maybe 6 or 7 years ago when I was a teen I had the chance to put a few rounds through some military grade full-auto weapons, as well as some .22 rifle and handgun target shooting, and trap shooting with over-unders. Among those I shot a semi-auto USAS which might be the most comparable shotgun to the M4 that I've used.

The M4 is the first firearm I own, and I knew going in that spending that much money on a shotgun is largely unnecessary for an "enthusiast" like me, but it had me wondering...

For those of you with wider firearms experience, what makes the M4 worth it over other options? (Recoil, trigger, reliability, quality, cleaning, etc.) The trigger for instance surprised me, with practically no slack and a seemingly crisp pull. I've put maybe 400-500 rounds through a couple sessions and really enjoying just dumping rounds through it and beating it up like it was meant to be. 

Edited September 9, 2020 by BallChange

[Sukhoi_fan]

Reliability.

[filthy phil]

Soft shooter with buck & slugs. Reliable

[Sukhoi_fan]

Failed to mention and as equally important as reliability, under stressfire and when hurt a pump shotgun can easily be short-stroked which can be a real problem. BTDT

[Skull and Bones]

Buy it once, don’t buy it again. 
 

that’s really the best advice I can give. Don’t compromise on on price. Save up. Get what you want.

[marktaba85]

3 minutes ago, Skull and Bones said:

Buy it once, don’t buy it again. 
 

that’s really the best advice I can give. Don’t compromise on on price. Save up. Get what you want.

it is best said as "buy once, cry once"

[marktaba85]

Quality, reliability and holds value!

I have three so I am a bit of a snob lol

Edited September 10, 2020 by marktaba85

[bambihunter]

It strikes me as odd to ask for opinions after you've purchased it, especially with that many rounds already fired. But, since you haven't had much other shotgun experience to compare it to, it is a practical question.

I bought an M4 only because of my history with Benelli on the other models, especially my long time love affair with the SBE 1 (H&K import). I fell in love with the inertia action. Personally, it is the inertia action of their semi-autos that IS Benelli to me. But, the M4's gas system allows it to be softer recoiling, and offers some "freehand" (meaning firing without resistance) shots that will cause the inertia models to eject and close on an empty chamber. With the US military's interest in the M4, I think that caused many in the states to give it a look. The M4 models have a ton of aftermarket parts if you are of the type to personalize them to a hilt. On that topic, remember that if you start replacing parts, make sure you are following the 922r laws. When the M4 is fully "kitted out", they somehow manage a modern classic look for us older shooters, while still being "tacticool" for the younger generation. It probably doesn't hurt that it is featured in most modern video games too.

 

As to why I got into Benelli in the first place, I used to have a different shotgun for different seasons (upland game, waterfowl, dove, skeet, sporting clays, trap, etc). The constantly changing guns meant that with each season change, I missed some shots until I got the feel for that particular gun again. I first read of the Super Black Eagle in 1994; that it could shoot 2.75", 3", and 3.5" mag. In any order, and without adjustment. I made a 3 hour round trip to a gun shop that had one. After holding it, the balance felt good, it was lighter than most of my current guns, many which were only 2.75". So, I saved up about a grand which took me quite a while. So, in '95 I brought home an H&K import Benelli Super Black Eagle. The more I shot it, the more I liked it. So, I slowly started selling my O/U's (Browning Citori and Ruger Red Label), then sold my SxS, then my pumps including the two you mentioned (I do wish I still had the Ithaca 37 for my left-handed friends to shoot), then lastly sold my Ithaca. So, for ~10 years I had ONLY the SBE; well, and a .410 1100 Remington that I traded for that is mint. During that time I bought a rifled slug barrel and modified forearm (required for the SBE 1 to shoot the slug barrel and/or for later field barrels). I said at that time if some atrocious law came into effect that only allowed us a single firearm, that would be it.

 

Flash forward to now. I started to collect them some years back. I now have an M1, two M3T's (top folder's), Montefeltro 20 gauge (my wife's clay pigeon gun), two SBE's and every factory length barrel that was offered (24", 26", and 28" in both low rib and high rib barrels, plus the aforementioned slug barrel), an all black modified M4 (these are gas operated), and the rare and valuable M4 H2O (NP3 version) model 11711.

 

I liked Benelli so much that to this day, only other shotguns I still have only the Remington 1100 .410 and a Savage 22/.410 O/U that I've had for 25+ years. However, a Franchi SPAS-15 or SPAS-12 is on my short list.

[BallChange]

It was definitely a buy once cry once, but I had been waiting on the first firearm purchase for a while, and I never considered an M4 (didn't realize I could legally own one where I live) until I saw it for sale one day, and I knew I had to have it. It obviously feels like quality, but I also know the price can be hard to justify for many. So with that in mind I was curious what made the price worth it for you guys on here. Here we get the collapsible stocks standard and I like the pistol grip also, and it just looks so pretty

On the bright side, here in Canada I don't have to worry about 922r, but parts aren't as widely available, so that's a double edged sword anyways lol.

[Pack Rat]

A 12 gauge semi auto is a formidable tool for home defense. "Hell and back" reliability, red dot friendly, what's not to love? I paid just north of 1500 abt 10 yrs ago and haven't regretted it once. 

Edited September 12, 2020 by Pack Rat

[jimbo45]

Ive got a couple m4's and the price wasnt enough to be any real concern. Quality is worth the cost. Most people who complain that something isnt worth the cost do so because they cant afford.

[ClackClackBAM]

It sounds cliché, but the old saying of "buy once, cry once" def applies to the M4. It is a world-class combat shotgun that has very few rivals. 
Yeah the price tag is high, but once you own one and start using it, the value is immediately apparent. 

For me personally, an M4 was at the tippy top of my gun bucket list, save for a transferrable MP5. I've had my M4 since mid-April and to this day I still can't believe that I finally own one. Just last night I was holding it and was giddy with excitement that I actually have one. Not only that, but it's modded the way I always dreamed of. I couldn't possibly be happier with my purchase.