Though perhaps best-known for their waterfowl shotguns, Benelli offers one of the most robust lineups of self-defense and tactical shotguns of any manufacturer.
by Brad Fitzpatrick
Like so many others, my first exposure to a Benelli shotgun was in a duck blind. At the time, the M1 Super 90 was making its mark on the American hunting market and rewriting the semi-auto shotgun rulebook by popularizing the “Inertia-Driven” action. But Benelli is a diverse brand that offers a wide range of shotguns suitable for a variety of applications, including personal defense work.
These self-defense shotguns range in price from a few hundred dollars to several thousand bucks, so there’s a Benelli defense shotgun for every budget. Components and features vary by price, but one thing that all these guns have in common is that they offer the rugged reliability we’ve come to expect from Benelli firearms.
Benelli M4
The U.S. military searched for a new semi-auto combat shotgun and they selected Benelli’s M4 Super 90. Known as the M1014 in military circles, the M4 proved exceptionally reliable and has been in service for 25 years. Though it shares the same build quality as other Benelli semi-auto shotguns, the M4 is unique in that it utilizes a gas operation system in place of the familiar Inertia-driven system we’ve come to associate with the Benelli brand.
The M4’s Auto-Regulating, Gas-Operated (ARGO) gas system features gas ports that are located just ahead of the chamber, where gases are hotter and cleaner. This is a departure from more traditional gas operating systems that position the ports farther down the barrel.
Another unique design characteristic of the M4 is that it utilizes dual self-cleaning pistons that apply rearward force directly on the bolt — a simple, reliable design that doesn’t require linkages or action bars in the forearm.
It is remarkable that Benelli could develop a gas system (their first in a semi-auto shotgun) that outperformed traditional gas systems, and with a quarter-century of reliable service, the M4 has proven to be an extremely dependable tactical shotgun. It is available today as either the M1014 (the civilian version of the military shotgun that comes with a skeletonized pistol grip stock and a fixed modified choke) or the M4. M4 shotguns are currently available with either a pistol grip or standard polymer stock with a Titanium Cerakote or black anodized/phosphate finish. Ghost ring sights and a tactical rail also come standard on these guns.
With their 18.5-inch barrels, all M4 shotguns weigh just under eight pounds, which helps absorb the substantial recoil generated by magnum 12-gauge loads. These guns have a 5-round tube magazine due to import restrictions, but you can add a magazine extension easily and affordably if you’d like. The M4 is only offered in 12-gauge and MSRPs range from $2,299 to $2,399.
The M4 is an excellent semi-auto defensive shotgun. With such an impressive military record, it should come as no surprise that these guns are extremely durable, but they’re also quite manageable to shoot. Anyone looking for a shotgun to serve as a self-defense alternative to the AR-15 should take a close look at the M4 since both guns have a long history of military service and a superb reputation for reliable performance.
Benelli M3
Semi-auto shotguns offer fast follow-ups, but some shooters prefer the reliability of a pump. The M3 operates as either a semi-auto or a pump with one minor adjustment, making it the most versatile self-defense shotgun available today.
In semi-auto mode, the gun utilizes Benelli’s time-tested Inertia-Driven system, but by simply rotating a lever near the magazine cap the gun can be converted to slide-action mode, activating a pair of action bars that allow you to manually operate the shotgun. It’s a unique and well-thought-out design, and the M3 is certainly one of the best tactical/defense shotguns ever devised.
The key to the M3’s success is simplicity. In semi-auto mode, the inertia-driven system relies on rearward force (inertia) to cycle the action. When fired, the entire gun moves rearward except for the floating bolt body, and recoil energy compresses a spring within the bolt. This rotates and unlocks the bolt head and the bolt moves rearward. The spent shell is extracted and ejected, a return spring drives the bolt forward, and a new round is snatched from the carrier and chambered. There are no gas systems to foul.
I grew up shooting pump shotguns and love the redundancy this model offers. I’ve seen very few instances where Benelli’s inertia system failed (almost always because the operator over-lubricated the gun, leaving a layer of gunk behind that halted operation), but having the ability to rapidly switch to pump-action mode makes this one of the most fail-proof self-defense shotgun designs ever offered.
The M3 is currently offered in a single 12-gauge configuration with a 19.75-inch barrel and a pistol grip polymer stock. Ghost rings sights and a fixed cylinder bore come standard on the M3, and total weight is around 7.2 pounds, which makes it lighter than the M4. Like its M4 cousin, it comes with a 3-inch chamber and a 5-round tube magazine. In truth, the M3 — which carries an MSRP of $1,949 — is unlike any other self-defense shotgun on the market, and its extremely rugged and versatile design makes it an excellent choice for anyone who is searching for an ultra-reliable self-defense shotgun.
Benelli M2
The M2 offers many of the same features found on the line-topping M4, but unlike the M4, the M2 is an inertia-operated semi-auto. The advantage of the inertia system is simplicity, and the M2 is one of the most rugged and reliable semi-autos ever built. Unlike the M4 and M3, which are both strictly tactical/defense shotguns, the M2 is available in a variety of target and field configurations.
I have had the opportunity to shoot the M2 quite a bit both in the field and on the clays range and I’m consistently impressed by how much abuse these guns can endure and still run reliably. They’re a popular choice at Argentina’s high-volume dove lodges, where shotguns are routinely fired over a thousand times a day, so you can rest assured that these guns have earned their excellent reputation for reliability.
At 6.7-pounds, these guns are about a pound lighter than the M4 and a half-pound lighter than the M3. Minimal weight is, of course, a double-edged sword since it can result in a noticeable uptick in recoil, but the Benelli is manageable with most defensive loads. A ComforTech stock is optional with these guns, and the chevrons built into the stock compress under recoil and help mitigate the setback of heavy loads. Pistol grip and standard stock configurations are also available, and the M2 is available with ghost ring sights or optional rifle sights. A 5-shot magazine tube comes standard.
If you want a 12-gauge tactical/defense/competition shotgun that is extremely reliable and easy to maintain, the M2 Tactical is a superb option. M2 Tactical shotguns accept Benelli CRIO chokes (IC, M, and F included) and prices range from $1,599 to $1,699, depending on which model you choose.
Nova and SuperNova
I have a soft spot in my heart for the Nova and SuperNova Benelli guns, primarily because I grew up shooting pumps. The Nova and SuperNova are both excellent shotguns that offer the reliability of a pump with a few notable upgrades over competing models.
First, these guns come with a magazine override button on the belly of the forearm that allows you to operate the action and clear the chamber without having to empty the magazine, and that’s beneficial on a defensive shotgun because it allows you to swap between slugs and buckshot as the situation warrants. Both guns have receivers that are made of polymer-coated steel, which helps make the receiver virtually impervious to the elements. The forearm of both the Nova and Supernova shotguns are extended and allow for easy operation regardless of where you naturally rest your hand. Both guns are available in 12-gauge with 3 ½-inch chambers, and both come with 4-round magazine tubes and fixed cylinder constriction.
Though they seem very similar, there are significant differences between these guns. The SuperNova comes with an optional ComforTech stock with chevrons to reduce recoil while the Nova does not. The tactical version of the Nova features an 18.5-inch barrel while the SuperNova gets an 18-inch pipe, and the SuperNova is almost a half-pound heavier, which helps dampen recoil. There’s a Nova version available with a nickel-plated barrel and small parts that’s built for working in wet environments.
Regardless of which Benelli pump you choose, you’re getting an outstanding self-defense shotgun that’s less expensive than their semi-automatic brand mates. I’ve shot the Nova and SuperNova and have found that both guns have very smooth, non-binding actions that allow for fast, reliable follow-ups. Pumps don’t cycle quite as quickly as a semi-auto, but an experienced and efficient pump-gun shooter can put shots on target nearly as fast as someone with a semi-auto. The grip design and texturing of both guns are excellent and keep the firearm under control (not always easy with magnum 12-gauge defensive shotshells). The build quality is what we’ve come to expect from Benelli, which is to say excellent.
As stated, these guns are reasonably priced. The Nova starts at $479 — about the price of a 9mm striker-fired semiauto pistol — and climbs to $689 for the nickel-plated model. The SuperNova ranges from $579 to $629, depending upon which features you choose.
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