Cadillac of Shotguns

[cavman]

http://www.pressherald.com/news/cadillac-of-shotguns-gives-portland-police-new-tool_2011-11-14.html


Portland Me police just received 10 of the Benelli M4 12-ga.

Is there something special that you don't need to clean this as compared to "regular" shotguns to operate?

"We fired this weapon for five hours straight at training and then we just wiped the guns down because they don't get dirty," Hutcheson said.
A standard shotgun or rifle would need to be cleaned thoroughly to prevent misfire and ensure its long-term effectiveness."

Is the recoil really only 25% of a non-semi auto shotgun?

"The semi-automatic shotgun has a gas piston-operated system for chambering shells. That means the recoil is 75 percent less than with a traditional shotgun."

 

[Kendal Black]

Hoo boy. Lots of reporters know nothing about guns, and there are a lot of cops who don't know a whole lot more.

"...they don't get dirty." Well, they'll find out. Benelli calls their gas piston system "self cleaning"; see the manual for instructions on how to clean the gun.

"...has a gas piston-operated system for chambering shells. That means the recoil is 75 percent less..." The guys as Benelli are geniuses, no question about it. I want to see how they have suspended basic physics on these guns. Not sayin' they ain't, but...

""Some users are more compatible (with the Benelli) than they would be with a rifle." Now that, I am certain, is 100% true.

The article contains a number of other misstatements and misunderstandings; I recommend it highly.

 

[Youngster]

They still need to be cleaned or a least relubed after every few hundred rounds, it's just they'll go longer and need less cleaning than any other gas operated shotgun.

They do shoot softer than a pump or a recoil operated semi but not 75% softer, about half that would be my guess. The difference is enough however that you could probably do 3 or 4 times the shooting compared to the above with heavy loads before calling it quits.

Anyway my only real gripe with these shotguns is that they only come with a rather busy ghost ring setup for iron sights, the only other alternative is to run some kind of optic on the top rail.

 

[Fred Fuller]

They certainly have a Cadillac level price tag...

 

[Loosedhorse]

True story:

I was at the LGS ans saw a Benelli M1 Super 90 in the used rack. GREAT price. Asked about it: "Oh, it's an old police beater trade-in. No chrome left in the barrel at all. Doesn't cycle well."

So I take it home, and start cleaning it. After about 5 minutes of scrubbing, the first chrome appears. Then more. Finally, I'm looking at a pristine barrel (that had been nicely protected by maybe a decade of plastic fouling).

The chrome had in fact been worn off the bolt face. But after I cleaned the bolt and the rest of the gun it cycled great. Still does.

So, I guess at least the older Benellis do better with cleaning!

 

[zhyla]

I think the funniest thing here is that "Cadillac" is still used as a synonym for "pinnacle".

 

[Youngster]

I think the funniest thing here is that "Cadillac" is still used as a synonym for "pinnacle".

They aren't in a class by themselves like they were in their heyday but recent ones are as good as anything in their segment.

Anyway, while the M4 is particularily costly its still probably cheaper than training a bunch of guys who are probably used to semiautomatic pistols and carbines to use a pump effectively.

The fact that its fun and soft shooting should encourage folks to practice a lot more than they would otherwise.

 

[morcey2]

I remember a news story from the late 80's where the reporter referred to Mercedes as "The Cadillac of cars."

Um. No.

 

[MCgunner]

Well, my opinion of Government Motors and Cadillac is pretty low, probably mroe along the lines of a Chinese 870 copy, if you get my drift. But, when I opened the link, I was sort of thinkin' Holland and Holland or Purdey or something, hoping to see another beautiful custom fitted SxS, never a bad thing for my old, sore eyes. Instead, I find this tacticool...uh....thing, to be nice.:banghead: Maybe the "HUMMER" of shotguns?

 

[Virginian]

One thing I have to give Benelli; they understand marketing better than everyone else put together. They sell the softest shooting gas AND inertia operated guns, both of which shoot softer than the other, and they charge a premium price for a cheaper to produce action, and guys buy into the tough guy image by the boatload.

 

[1KPerDay]

They certainly have a Cadillac level price tag...

And they weigh about what a caddy weighs...

 

[oneounceload]

That's Beretta, not Benelli - the parent company