Never owned a shotgun but I am looking at a Benelli M4. Any cons? Any other recommendations? For HD

Never owned a shotgun but I am looking at a Benelli M4. Any cons? Any other recommendations? For HD

awesome shotgun
expensive, complex, more difficult to maintain

i have a remington 870
allegedly...

For semi-auto, I’ve shot the M2 and M3 a lot. I like the dual action nature of the M3, but I’d rather hand a plain semi-auto. For defensive use, I’d go for the M2. Don’t know much that about the M4 other than it’s damn pricey and hard to find.

I own a Benelli Nova. It was my dad’s.

All of the Benelli M series are pricey. I’ve also shot Remington and Mossberg pumps a lot. I recall the newer production Remingtons had feeding/pump issues.

I went with the Mossberg 590 Mariner. 

Simple enough for the military to operate and maintain,   
reliable,
can hold up to 9 shells (8+1),
20" barrel,
lots of accessories available for it,
finish is an anti-rust coat that's proprietary - intended for boats and other wet environments (like an island), and
very affordable.

Also came with the pistol grip, if you're not happy with the stock.

I added a heat shield, picatinny rail, miniature red dot, sling swivels, sling, and replaced the factory fore end with one that has a weapons light rail.

https://www.mossberg.com/product/590-mariner-9-shot-50299/

I’ve had a Mossberg 930 SPX for a few years. It’s the last gun I’d ever sell.

I’ve had a Mossberg 930 SPX for a few years. It’s the last gun I’d ever sell.

A buddy has the 930 JM Pro series. It’s a competition shotgun, but it’s a damn sweet shooter.

A buddy has the 930 JM Pro series. It’s a competition shotgun, but it’s a damn sweet shooter.

When I'm back to Wisconsin on vacation I use it to shoot cans of shaving cream with 3" slugs to impress the neighbor kids.  Not only a good show but a pleasing odor!  The only down side is it's a gas driven piston gun and you have to clean the piston every so often.  The gas system seems to help out with low brass shell reliability though.  I'd short shuck a pump way more often than the 930 malfunctions with cheapo bird shot.

Grandpa gun with wood furniture.The jury might cut you some slack for legit hd.

I own/ have an 870 for years now and love it. (Only shot it with my 18.5 inch barrel, havent tested out the 26 inch barrel i just acquired.)

I recently bought a moss 500, but havent shot it yet. Feels bout the same as my 870 while handling it. The only downside to the 500 is that i had to spend bout an extra 100 bucks on getting a tube action assym and hogie forend (870 comes standard with the slide action tube assym.) cause my forend has the pinned type of action bars. Read some people broke there forends with this style so i have a solid backup if mines ever break.

As for the 870, i dished out a few hundred bucks for a recent cerakote job. The finish attracts rust. Sort of speak lol. I wouldnt call it high maintenance but you do have to keep it nicely oiled/ greased for it to outlast you and your children's lifetime if you keep the parkerized finish. I keep the inside of the barrel nicely greased for both 870 and 500.

My 870 so far has a volquartsen extractor, magpul forend, streamlight protac 2/ aluminum mlok pic mount , magpul buttstock, magpul sling loop, troy 1 pt sling, and some carlsons aftermarket chokes.

My 500 has egw top pic rail, holoson 515t, cdm light mount, surefire light and thats bout it. Debating whether to cerakote the barrel professionally or try alumahyde 2 on it. Since the receiver is aluminum i might just rattle can the receiver as im not worried bout rust like the 870. But always good to have an extra "barrier" protecting the metal. Plus i like rattlecan jobs. Lol

I handled a benelli m4, m3, and m2. I like the m2 the most out of those 3. The m4 to me is heavy as fuck. It had the adjustable stock, idk if thats why it weighed alot?? Never looked up specs. M2 is cheaper by ~$500-700 when compared to m4s and it has the inertia gas system, so cleaner than the 1100 (which ive also shot.) And since the m2 is highly regarded as a competition shotgun theres a plethora of aftermarket items for it.

its not difficult to maintain they give it to marines

  yup, but a squid would have trouble!

I would say the biggest decision is semi auto or pump.

Sent from my SM-G991U using Tapatalk

I would say the biggest decision is semi auto or pump.

Sent from my SM-G991U using Tapatalk

Both. . .  Get one of each

Oh, and O/U (I still want one one day)

And Uncle Joe's double barrel of deterrence. . .

Both. . .  Get one of each

Oh, and O/U (I still want one one day)

And Uncle Joe's double barrel of deterrence. . .

Slam fire... Lever...

As for me, I would run a pump to keep it cheap and use the rest to help keep a lawyer on retainer.

I bought a stoeger M3000 last year. So far I've been really happy with it and it was only $600 from SEC.

Since I too poor to afford a factory made shotgun,  I had to make one with stuff from Home Depot for about $30. As a suggestion if you are going to make one, get the 3/4 black pipe for the barrel /chamber, but don't buy the 1 inch black pipe for the firing pin section. That has a weld bead on the inside which you will need to grind off.  The silver color pipe does not have a weld bead on the inside and if you are lucky, you might find one that slips over the 3/4 pipe without any work.  Most times you will have to sand off  a few thousandths on the outside of the pipe to make it slide in and out easily. I got chamber inserts so it can fire 12 and 20 gauge, 9MM and 22LR. The 9MM and 22LR inserts have a very short rifled barrel.  Still not very accurate but I wouldn't want someone shooting at me from 50 ft or less.

Where do you guys train with your shotguns?  KHSC rifle side restrict to only slugs.  Can you use HD type shotguns at the skeet and trap bays?

Sorry if dumb question.  I don't own a shotgun (as you can tell).

Another dumb question:  Why only slugs at the rifle side?  Shotguns are relatively short distance weapons.  What could possibly be more of a safety hazard with shot vs. say, a rifle round like 30-06, 308, 7mm, etc.?

Unless there is an entirely other reason besides the shot loads themselves?

Where do you guys train with your shotguns?  KHSC rifle side restrict to only slugs.  Can you use HD type shotguns at the skeet and trap bays?

Sorry if dumb question.  I don't own a shotgun (as you can tell).

Another dumb question:  Why only slugs at the rifle side?  Shotguns are relatively short distance weapons.  What could possibly be more of a safety hazard with shot vs. say, a rifle round like 30-06, 308, 7mm, etc.?

Unless there is an entirely other reason besides the shot loads themselves?

HDF open shoot allows various shots.  At 30 yards, bird shot spread is like from foot to head size.  At 5 yards it's like an avocado. 

Both. . .  Get one of each

Oh, and O/U (I still want one one day)

And Uncle Joe's double barrel of deterrence. . .

Mrs. CMO wants an Elmer Fudd one.