I recently have been looking more and more into getting a semi auto shotgun. I have AR’s and handguns for home defense and carry outside the house.
I realized though that I don’t really have anything for:
Bears/other four legged predators. My wife and I are about to go camping pretty often, and the areas we travel to are known to have bears. Yes I know bear spray exists, and we have that, but a firearm that’s capable of stopping a bear would be extra piece of mind.
We travel (by car) to CA pretty often, to visit family. A long gun would be good to have. For anyone not familiar with CA laws, AR’s and AK’s must be neutered in some stupid way I don’t remember off the top of my head. Regardless, a semi auto shotgun seems to still be one of the few types (if not only type) of firearm that can stay as capable as its out of state counterparts.
So, that along with me being tempted to add a semi auto 12g to the toolbox, got me looking at both the 1301T and Benelli M4 LE.
Last I remember, a while before 1301’s became a thing, Benelli M4’s were the go to semi auto shotgun. Are they still relevant (for lack of a better word)?
Based on reading around, Benelli’s have less parts, “feel” more durable, are easy to service, and are reliable. The complaints in the past were 922r, and price of the shotgun itself + aftermarket parts to un-neuter it.
Now I see there’s an LE version that comes with the collapsible stock (or the non-pistol grip for less if one prefers), and a 7+1 tube.
Pricing aside, is there a reason to go with one or the other(1301T vs M4)? I don’t care about aftermarket support, I just want to mount a WML and RDS.
I came upon an M4 for about the same as what a 1301T will cost me. But I want to know if one is truly a better choice over the other.
I just want something reliable and durable. While I know cheaper options exist, im more of a buy once, cry once guy and would rather pick between these two options. Unless there’s really something better.
I have both of them, and they’re definitely not equal in all ways.
Without a doubt, the M4 is a more durable design, and if I were forced to go into an ugly situation, it is the SG I will be taking. If I weren’t running an RMR on it (with a mounting solution that includes a rear aperture), I would have immediately replaced the 1301’s plastic rear sight, which is quite ridiculous at this price point.
Both have been supremely reliable, even with light field loads of birdshot.
Recoil is more similar than not, so that’s not a deciding factor.
The 1301’s buttstock is noticeably shorter than the M4s, so it easier to wield in right spaces, or if you’re wearing a vest.
Neither is a poor choice, but the M4 is a better choice if it absolutely, positively has to work under pretty much all conditions.
Both are fantastic shotguns, with reputations for solid reliability, so I don’t think you can go wrong either way. Obviously, the M4 has a longer track record of combat experience and durability, but the 1301 seems to be really growing in popularity.
Having shot both, I ended up going with the 1301 Tactical. It feels little lighter to me than the M4, which i like, and mine has cycled anything and everything i’ve ever run through it from cheap 8 shot to slugs and buck etc. The M4 can be a little more picky with weaker ammo, so that could be a factor if you plan to shoot weaker birdshot or low velocity ammo. The BLINK operating system in the 1301 is just fantastic, cycles anything, and is very fast. I like being able to train with cheaper lighter loads, so that was a factor to me in choosing the 1301.
Typically the 1301 is a couple hundred dollars cheaper, which makes it an easy pick over the M4 from a financial standpoint, but if you can get them for the same price, it’s more of a toss up. It seems like the main differences come down to weight (M4 feels more robust but is heavier), and cycling (the 1301 will cycle a wider range of ammo and is technically a faster cycling operating system).
If possible, you should try and shoot both, and then see which feels better to you. I don’t think you can go wrong either way.
I’ve got them both also. I have short barreled my M4. Without knowing anything else and factoring in price and legal complications, the 1301 would be my “if I could only have one” pick over an 18" M4. The 1301 is cheaper, shorter, lighter, faster, and has at least as good of an aftermarket and in far less time.
My recollection or understanding is a collapsible (Calif. uses the wording “folding” or “telescoping”) stock on a semiauto shotgun is forbidden in California. The M4 with some sort of fixed stock would be ok though.
The Mesa Tactical “Urbino” stock seems to be a popular aftermarket stock for the M4, however, if not one of Benelli’s own brand of fixed stocks.
Thanks for the replies everyone, I haven’t abandoned the thread. Just been really busy.
In regards to the collapsible stock legality, yes I believe you’re right about CA requiring a fixed stock, but that’s an easy fix.
My main concerns were durability and reliability. I don’t think the 1301 is fragile, but I did see mentions about the amount of plastic parts used and that it just has more moving pieces than the M4. Whether that was another case of internet nit-picky “feels” talk or valid concerns, I wasn’t sure.
I also just remembered most complaints against the M4 were related to how much more money you had to pour into it just to restore its true capabilities. Which is no longer a problem with the LE models. I would like to try them both out side by side for a test run, but I won’t be back in the US for another couple months.
They’re both fantastic SG’s. I don’t own both but I own an M4 H2O and an XPLOR A400 which is similar.
Beretta makes the best hunting SG period. The 1301 is a tarted up tactical hunting model.
Between these two, as others have stated, the main difference is the weight, the other difference is the M4 has two small gas pistons while the Beretta has only one large piston. The Beretta will cycle much faster than the M4 as well.
The M4 is supposed to be able to cycle even if one of the small pistons goes tits up. But would imagine you need a defensive load for that to be the case.
You need to decide whether the weight or the redundancy is more important.
Sorry I should have been more clear in my post. Meant to say I’ll get hands with both (including actually shooting them). I have a range nearby that I’m sure has the 1301 for rent. Going to double check if they have M4’s as well.
Not to muddy the waters, but you might want to take a look at the new Beretta A300 Ultima Patrol as well.
I was helping AI at a shotgun instructor class last weekend. There were six 1301’s, and four A300 UP’s on the line. Not a single one of the Beretta’s had an issue.
I have three Beretta’s, and four Benelli’s for class purposes. I’d go with the Beretta based on current production and prices.
Thanks, I admittedly haven’t paid much attention to the A300. I figured it was just a budget version of the 1301. I’m glad to hear that the Berettas are doing well. I’ll look into the A300 as well.
The most noticeable difference for most people between the two are the weight, built, & perceived recoil. Depending on the individual the weight of the M4 can be a turn off, to others they prefer the weight cause it helps absorb some of the recoil but if people learn & get good with the push/pull method the decision picking one over the other becomes so much clear because the only clear difference is the weight which can be challenging depending on your conditioning during a long hot day shooting course.
I give the edge to the 1301T because of LOP
If you go with the 1301 go ahead and pick up some o-rings for maintenance.
To me the biggest flaw in the M4 is the lack of appropriate stock options. I have an LE model and I DESPISE the stock. It absolutely beats my cheekbone to pieces. I ordered a field stock and if course it has a loP appropriate foe a Wookiee. I had to hack mine down and fill it with marine epoxy so I could attach a new butrpad….a serious pita. The beretta has an excellent length stock from the factory.
That being said, the M4 is wan absolute beast. It runs crappy leaky buckshot, birdshot, whatever garbage you want. And pretty much every critical part is metal and overbuilt. Definitely the ultimate doomshotty
Interesting, as i’ve heard the opposite from many people. One of the big complaints of the M4 is that it WON’T run whatever garbage you want, mainly it can have issues cycling lighter loads or birdshot. I don’t own a M4 (i went with the 1301 tactical), but it seems not cycling light loads is a common complaint of the M4. But again, that’s just from friends who own them, and internet forums, I don’t personally own one.
