Advice needed: Pros/ cons of Benelli M2

[Huntolive]

Benelli M2 trade for Bneli Super Nova plus $

I have a camo Benelli Spr Nva w/ 28" brl in excellent condition, shoots great.
I am condisering trading for a Ben. M2 also cammo with 26" brl. I would have to add $450 cash to the deal. The M2 is in excellent working order, with a few normal use wear and tear scratches on exterior. It has seen about 4 hunting seasons, and I would be 3rd owner.
I am hesitating, partly beacuse I like the Spr Nva, and would rather keep it, and just pay $850, but that may not be doable financially.

I want a gun I can use for all 12 G applications, but do NOT intend to use slugs, as I have a Savage 220 for deer.
Primary goal is turkey hunting, but also for ducks/geese and other birds, and occasional buckshot for deer.
I have considered getting a 24"brl for my Spr Nva, and calling it a day, but those go for $250. I am not too concerned about losing the 3 and 1/2" capability, as I doubt it really matters.

Would the 26" brl on the M2 be long enough for Geese w/ 3" mag. shells?
How much advantage does the semi-auto really give me for burds and turkey, over the pump?
Is the trade fair? What is an excellent condition spr nva worth? What is a used good condition M2 worth? Advice?

Thanks!

 

[jmr40]

I would do it. In fact did, sorta. I've had a couple of Nova's in the past, but just couldn't warm up to them. From a mechanical perspective I like them, just not to my liking so they went down the road. I ran across a deal similar to yours on an M1 and fell in love with the gun. It is over a pound lighter than the Nova and is the best pointing, shooting gun I've ever owned. My 1st had a 24" barrel, ran across another good deal on a 2nd one with a 26" barrel.

Both have been 100% reliable with anything I've put through them. Because Benelli's have a slightly longer receiver, and a true 26" barrel the overall length and balance is comparable to other guns with barrels 2" longer. To my mind 26" is as long as I want in a Benelli.

How much advantage does the semi-auto really give me for burds and turkey, over the pump?

While a pump is more reliable in theory, I've found semi's to be more reliable in practice. Especially the inertia guns. Gas guns work very well if reasonably clean. The inertia guns will keep working when just as dirty as a pump with less worries about operator error fouling things up. Inertia guns kick harder than gas guns, but not any worse than a pump.

Mine are the older M-1's. If anything the M-2's are even better. I'd make that trade in a heartbeat.

 

[Huntolive]

Thanks jmr,
any other impressions of the M2 versus the Spr Nva?

 

[mooner]

Shoot. I thought I was going to be able to make a trade for a M2 here...

I do like the Nova, probably too much to make a trade, but I think I would like an M2 better.

What is the cost to buy the M2 outright? If funds allow, you can always use a good dependable, ugly, yet durable pump.

 

[Huntolive]

thanks, to buy this M2 is $900, and yes I was tempted to buy it and keep both, but then I'll be paying half my income to credit card interest, and probably won't get much "sympathy" from my wife ;-)
I think the Spr Nva is worth at least $450, BUT I really would rather have a 24" brl for turkey on it, and benelli brls cost like $250. New M2 go for $1200 minimum.

 

[Huntolive]

Hello,
I have never used a semi auto for hunting before, and am considering a trade of my trusty excellent condition Ben. Spr Nva w/ 28" brl (in camo) for a slightly more used Ben/ M2 w/ 26" brl, also camo. Trade would involve me adding $450.
I want the gun mostly for Turkey and Ducks, Rabbits, occasional deer. Mostly for Turkey and birds. My spr nva is accurate, but i do not like the 28" brl for turkey.
Cash prioce on the 4 yr old used but good working M2 would be $900.
Is this a good trade?

I have heard M2's shoot high, the guy selling the M2 claims all Benellis shoot high. What do you guys know about this? What strategies do you reccomend to be on target?

Pros/Cons of the M2???

Thanks (I know I have a similar post, but some folks confused it as a trade offer, so I wrote this to clarify)

 

[rcmodel]

+$450 for a more used gun would be like, he better kiss and cuddle with you when the deal is done.
And promise to love you forever when he gets done having his way with you.


Benelli's all shoot high????
That's a new one I never heard of before either..

All the Benelli auto's I ever owned came with stock shims you could easily install to make them hit wherever you are looking and want them to hit.


If you trade?
Be sure you get the stock shim kit it shipped with with it!

rc

 

[wgp]

My M2 is a great gun. It fits me so it certainly does not "shoot high". Of all my shotguns the M2 (mine has a 24" barrel, which prefer) is the last one I'd part with.

 

[Skribs]

Does your Supernova shoot high? That would be one way to tell if all Benellis shoot high

If you do not like the 28" barrel for Turkey, you can buy another barrel, but at that price you might as well just buy a new Supernova (maybe you can find one cheaper somewhere else, just bringing it up as an alternative).

Price-wise, I don't know much about used prices, but new you're looking at $550 MSRP for the SuperNova and $1450 on the M2, so I think you'd be making out good on that end. With that said, I'd personally rather have a cheaper, but still reliable semi-auto and keep the supernova.

 

[ugaarguy]

I've merged the threads because they're the same. Please edit your first post next time if you need to clarify.

I know I have a similar post, but some folks confused it as a trade offer, so I wrote this to clarify

Also, let me be clear. I know you aren't offering or seeking a trade on THR, but just asking advice about a local trade; So you've done nothing wrong. However, we do not allow actual selling and trading in the discussion forums, so if anyone sees someone actually soliciting a sale or trade in the discussion forums please use the report post button to notify the staff. Thanks.

 

[BigBore44]

I'm curious as to why you don't like the 28" barrel on the SN. I have a 28 on mine. I notice no disadvantage in my ability to maneuver the gun. I shoot everything out of it. From 2 3/4 #8's to 3 1/2 BBB. Even slugs (amazing accuracy for fosters).

You do NOT need 3 1/2's for geese. I learned this long ago. My goose load is 3" #2's for decoying specks and honkers, and 3" BB's for skittish snows.

I prefer my pump over the semi's because I see so many wasted 3rd shells by other hunters taking a 3rd shot on birds they already missed twice, or trying to get that last bird that's to far. I have shot MANY triples in my life. 2 of the triples were on GW Teal. 2 on Woodies, probably ~25 on Greenheads and Gaddy's. Never needed a semi to do it. And I've shot a few doubles on longbeards. Again, never needed a semi. I'm not a shotgun phenom. I just choose my shots and I know my gun. But I still miss (must be shootin high) lol.

I will agree that semi's had a reputation for "sticking" years ago. But it's been a long time since I've seen one do it. I am the only one in our group that shoots a pump. The others shoot M2's, SuperVinci's, SX3's, a Maxus, a TriStar, and an 11-87. Not one FTF, FTE, or FTL in 6 years.

If you WANT an M2, you will have chosen a very fine shotgun. But to say it's going to realistically give you an advantage in the field.....? My opinion is not really, it won't.

 

[Huntolive]

Thanks guys!
So far I got:

M2 is a great gun
Spr Nva is good enough to do the job
The trade is financially fair
Benelli's should not shoot high, and if they do, then a shim kit should fix.

I have to decide by tomorrow.

QUESTIONS:
How does the shim kit work? How/where do you put the shims?
Do you think a 28" brl is a disadvantage turkey hunting?
Is semi-auto a major advantage for duck/goose hunting?
How could I get a much cheaper, but Dependable semi-auto?
Any experience with reliability of Linberta semi auto?

 

[oneounceload]

The shims go between the stock and receiver at the wrist. On my Beretta gas guns (same parent company) there is another shim that goes in the end of the butt stock. It is VERY imperative that both shims are aligned with the same number otherwise you risk cracking the stock. If a gun is shooting high (and not designed to like a trap gun), then odds are you are seeing too much rib and need to use the shims to adjust for drop

 

[Huntolive]

do the shims really help much? what is required to install?
What did you mean my matching numbers on shims?

Thanks!

 

[oneounceload]

The shims, at least on my gas guns, are numbered and lettered to correspond to the amount of drop and whether for cast on (LH), or cast off (RH). Both the plastic/nylon shim that goes at the wrist and the metal plate that goes in the stock need to be aligned the same. For my Beretta A400 it is a 13mm socket to remove the buttstock (as well as the screwdriver to remove the buttpad

 

[VA27]

I picked up an M1 with rifle sights (not ghost ring) and the sights were unusable for me with the standard stock and the shims won't fit it. I picked up a field stock and a shim kit and now I can use the sights and it shoots where I look. It's great.

 

[BigBore44]

Questions 1 already answered. So....
Questions 2-5
2. A 28" barrel is not a disadvantage. People like them for the same reasons they like carbines. But $250 to give you 4" less barrel? No thanks.

3. A semi auto is not an advantage for duck/goose hunting. By the time you shoot the first bird and are transitioning to the next, you could have ready racked another shell.

4. Mossberg, Escort, TriStar. I gave my buddy a lot of grief when he bought his TriStar. I have since stopped. It's really a good shooting gun. And like I stated earlier, no malfunctions at all. It also takes Benelli choke tubes. Also check out the new SPX3 from Winchester. It's a hybrid. Recoil ejects the shell just like a Benelli. Then you just slide the forearm forward to reload. It's very fast when you get the feel for it. I think Winchester claims 3 shots in 3/4 of a second.

5. No experience with them. Sorry.

 

[Huntolive]

Thanks to all of you for your valuable feed back.
At this point I am leaning AWAY from the M2, and either just hunting this season with the 28" brl and see how it goes, or getting a Carlson "benelli" 20" barrel stricktly for turkey.
The guy w/ the M2 he says shoots high does not have the shims, so i don't see adding $450 and a perfectly good like-new supernva to take a chance on the used M2.
I already do have a Linberta 12G semi-auto w/ a 28" brl, so If I really want to go semi-auto for duks, i still can. I do not c any need to go semi-auto for turkey.

Does a 20" carlson/benelli barrel that takes a turkey choke exist?
I am even condiering going as short as a 18.5" carlson brl with rifle sights, IF it is threaded to accept a trukey choke.

Thoughts?