Benelli M4 vs. M2

I know this is an older post but I'm in the market for a shotty and am leaning towards the same two options. Couple questions:

1) Used M1 vs Squeaky-new M2? My understanding is the M2 is a new-and-improved M1. Am I mistaken on this?

2) As I will only be allowed to own ONE shotgun (isn't marriage great?!), I need the shotgun to have the capacity to serve not only as a tactical/defensive shotgun (love the tactical look ), but I also want something that I can hunt and participate in sporting clays and such with. I really like the gas-operated feature of the M4 (much less recoil yes?) but I like the fact that you can equip the M2 with either an 18.5" barrel or a 26" barrel, tactical (and collapsible) stock w/ pistol grip or the ComforTech stock. Can you do the same with the M4?

Conversely, the M4 comes equipped with picatinny rail, Ghost-ring sights, etc. I assume you could comparibly equip an M2 in a simialr fashion?

All things considered equal, I'd prefer
A) the softer-recoil option.
B) I prefer auto over pump

As for the hunting part, the shotgun needs to be able to handle everything from doves to geese and everything in between.

Thanks in advance all!

I own one of these tactical shotguns, and it fits the bill for what you're seeking [home defense and skeet/trap] {sorry, don't hunt anymore, but this gun is certainly capable}:

http://www.fnhusa.com/le/products/firea ... gid=FNG002

I actually love pulling this thing out in front of all the haute tautes at the local skeet/trap events [some Southerners can be so "plantation aristocratic" sometimes] while they smirk and snicker at the "low-heeled cad" with the tactical black long gun daring to mingle in amongst the hand engraved and inlaid gilded over and unders they've inherited, and then watch them go all slackjawed and stupified when I unleash ceramic annihilation with it, followed by the "What kind of gun is that you're shooting there, young fellow?" mystification that inevitably ensues...! :roll:

It has the fastest cycling action on any semi-automatic 12 gauge on the market today, it has won more 3-gun tactical shooting champoinships than any other shotgun, and won the Golden Bulleye Award from the N.R.A. as the 2009 Shotgun of the Year. Weaver rail, red fiber optic front sight, and folding rear sights included on the gun, along with a hard FN Herstal gun case, choke wrench, and two gas pistons. Cost is only $950, and the gun rockets out eight rounds in under 2 seconds! :shock:

Yeah, it's all that, and a bag of chips! No other 12 gauge shotgun can touch it. And that is not just my opinion - read the reviews, or better yet, watch the videos. Plus the $500 bucks you save off the Benelli buys you a year's supply of ammo to shoot in the wickedly fast shooting beast!

WOO-POW! You owe it to yourself to handle this gun first (or better yet, shoot one) before you buy any other 12 gauge -- no bullshit. CHECK, CHECK, CHECK, CHECK IT OUT!

Just so none of you think I am an FNHUSA employee or some kind of fanboy (I'm way too irreverent for that anyway!), I also own a Remington 870 Marine Magnum equipped with a Surefire foreend, and two Mossberg 500 pistol grip "Just In Case" [Sandstorm and Mariner versions] emergency backups I just purchased to keep handy in the ATV/RUV and boat.

Here's a linky to the Mossberg 500 Just In Case series "just in case" you're interested ($400 for the Sandstorm, $425 for the Mariner) - kinda cool and a lot of gun for the money:

http://www.mossberg.com/products/defaul ... n=products

Clyde, flying down the slide with his eyes open wide!!!!!!!

Thanks for the reply Herky. All the same, I'd prefer auto vs. pump. And it's not necissarily a money issue. It's more of a "I'm your wife and guns scare me" issue. :roll:

One of the hunting expiditions I'm interested in doing is dove down in Mexico and/or Argentina. You're talking about greater than 1,500 shots each day. I want to make sure that the gun I choose will allow me to have a shoulder left when I'm done littering the ground with birds, feathers, and empty shotgun shells! :twisted: Magazine capacity only becomes an issue if I can't load enough in... I'll check with Texas and Louisiana regs but I'm not sure there are capacity limits in these states (I could be WAY wrong on that...)

That's why I'm concerned about the felt recoil. That's also why the Xplore is so favorable even at $1,600. I just don't see an Xplore being the gun of choice for a three-gun competition which I would also like to try. Unfortunately for me, the shotgun of choice has to be able to be used at sporting clays, three-gun competitions, dove hunts, and the occasional duck and turkey outing. I currently don't have any plans to hunt dinosaurs but with the Xplore I guess that's also an option... :shock:

Throw two more caviats to throw in there: Useable for home defense and I prefer a "tacticool" looking gun over a pretty one. Just one man's opinion but while I'd love to have a nice, engraved over-under, say Beretta Silver Pigeon, I'd be afraid to get it dirty. I'm not asking for much am I???

Buy your wife a Ruger 10/22 and introduce her to shooting. Women find it amazingly empowering (you have to be very patient with her, and make her feel comfortable -- no yelling, no teasing her when she messes up, total encouragement with kindness -- otherwise she will storm off the range and you are toast). Get her into it, tell her what a great shot she is, buy her the gear she needs too (let her shop for it and pick it out) and once she decides it is okay, she will be more understanding. Then she will stop objecting, and either catch the bug and want to get her own weapons, or else will be okay that you haven't joined forces with the Dark Side and let you "go do your man thing" without her....

She could also turn out to be a great shooting buddy, but accept the fact -- most women just aren't into guns that much -- they grow up collecting Barbies and plush toys -- we grow up socialized to enjoy guns, hot rods, motorcycles, and other guy stuff.

Then, if you only get her to wear some camo outfits to bed, preferably cut off just above the midriff -- ooh la la -- but hey, that's another story! :lol: 8)

If I could only have one, I'd keep my M4... I dressed it up with a titanium magazine tube, aimpoint, surefire light, collapsible stock etc, and it is definitely the coolest and most functional shotgun I own. Here it is with my m1 entry:





sorry for the crappy iphone picture