Benelli M2 owners -- questions

1823 Views 18 Replies 12 Participants Last post by claydoctor, Dec 20, 2007

sputterbug

Discussion Starter · Dec 9, 2007

I'm curious to hear from you M2 owners:

Did you choose a 26" or 28" barrel and why?

I'd need to choose between black syn or camo... any problems with the camo wearing off?

Thanks for the help! Great forum.

1 - 19 of 19 Posts

jugchoke

· #2 · Dec 9, 2007

21 inch, because it was to be an upland gun only. (And some fun skeet practice, of course.)

And now, since I have put a vented PolyChoke II on it, (the absolute best choice for any screw in choke system), I am convinced that I made the right choice! (For an M2 that is.)

I also have the same choke on a BUL, 24 incher, and that lighter gun handles great with the just a tad longer barrel as well.

Anybody need any very slightly used, Benelli Crio Plus, after market, extended, screw in chokes?

Clyde

sputterbug

Discussion Starter · #3 · Dec 9, 2007

Nice setup, but I don't think I have that option as a southpaw. I think 26" is the shortest in a LH.

jed1894

· #4 · Dec 10, 2007

28 inch because all my other guns are 28 and I didn't want to change. I also like the longer barrel because I believe it swings a little better and helps with my aiming.

JED

jugchoke

· #5 · Dec 10, 2007

A 28 inch barrel on a Benelli is like a 29 1/2 inch on other autos, or pumps, because of Benelli's longer receiver to accommodate the rotary bolt head's extra length. (The receiver is almost 1 1/2 inch longer on the Benelli.)

The Benelli 26 inch barrels compare favorably with normal 28 inch guns, at about 27 1/2 inches.

Clyde

sourdough44

· #6 · Dec 10, 2007

I just got the M2 24" 'Steady Grip' camo for turkey & predator hunting. I have seen other camo guns that look a little used after the camo starts to wear off some after years of use. I do think that will happen over time & use with any gun. Maybe even gun oils & solvents will speed up the process. As long as the gun is clean & functions fine I can live with it. One could also have it re-camoed if need be. I think my 24" is long enough for anything I plan to hunt.

jed1894

· #7 · Dec 10, 2007

jugchoke said:
A 28 inch barrel on a Benelli is like a 29 1/2 inch on other autos, or pumps, because of Benelli's longer receiver to accommodate the rotary bolt head's extra length. (The receiver is almost 1 1/2 inch longer on the Benelli.)

The Benelli 26 inch barrels compare favorably with normal 28 inch guns, at about 27 1/2 inches.

Clyde

Yeah, I heard that rumor too, until I measured them in the gun store. I went in the store to buy the 26 inch because I had heard that the M2 26 was like other 28 inches. But, the M2 is no longer than any Beretta with the exception of the Walmart 390 with the flat cheap butt plate (I measured that one at home). Even the 390 28 inch is only 3/4 inch shorter (I have both). No 28 inch gun I compared it to was 1 3/4 longer so I went with the 28 inch barrel. (The salesman was just grabbing guns off the rack and I only kept up with the Beretta models). The M1 may be shorter because of the different butt plate.

I suggest you do your own measurement in the store if this is an issue for you. One other thought, I have a Ruger RRl with 26 barrel and after shooting my other 28 inch barrels I decided that to make it a 28 inch. I bought after market extended chokes (approx 2 inches long) and made it into a 28 inch gun. So, if you get the 26 inch and don't like it, just buy you some extended chokes.

JED

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jugchoke

· #8 · Dec 10, 2007

jed1894 said:
jugchoke said:

A 28 inch barrel on a Benelli is like a 29 1/2 inch on other autos, or pumps, because of Benelli's longer receiver to accommodate the rotary bolt head's extra length. (The receiver is almost 1 1/2 inch longer on the Benelli.)

The Benelli 26 inch barrels compare favorably with normal 28 inch guns, at about 27 1/2 inches.

Clyde

Click to expand...

Yeah, I heard that rumor too, until I measured them in the gun store. I went in the store to buy the 26 inch because I had heard that the M2 26 was like other 28 inches. But, the M2 is no longer than any Beretta with the exception of the Walmart 390 with the flat cheap butt plate (I measured that one at home). Even the 390 28 inch is only 3/4 inch shorter (I have both). No 28 inch gun I compared it to was 1 3/4 longer so I went with the 28 inch barrel. (The salesman was just grabbing guns off the rack and I only kept up with the Beretta models). The M1 may be shorter because of the different butt plate.

I suggest you do your own measurement in the store
JED

Rumor? I said receiver! What does the butt plate have to do with the receiver?

The receiver on the Benellis are an inch plus, longer than on the Berettas, thus making it a longer sighting plane. Same thing as lengthening the barrel! Also more weight farther out front, same reasoning.
That puts more actual length in front of the trigger, not behind it at the butt plate! :roll: :roll: :roll:

Clyde

claydoctor

· #9 · Dec 10, 2007

jed1894 said:
jugchoke said:

A 28 inch barrel on a Benelli is like a 29 1/2 inch on other autos, or pumps, because of Benelli's longer receiver to accommodate the rotary bolt head's extra length. (The receiver is almost 1 1/2 inch longer on the Benelli.)

The Benelli 26 inch barrels compare favorably with normal 28 inch guns, at about 27 1/2 inches.

Clyde

Click to expand...

Yeah, I heard that rumor too

I'm with Clyde on this one. It's a bit more than a rumor. A 28in barrel is a 28 in barrel but the M2 receiver is definitely longer than a 391 Beretta receiver. Simple math says the M2 will be longer overall than the Beretta with the same barrel length. The M2 with the 26 in barrel is only about 1/2 in shorter not 2 in shorter than the beretta with a 28 in barrel. I have both guns. I chose the 26in barrel and all I shoot is clays with it. With an extended choke tube it is just about right

sputterbug

Discussion Starter · #10 · Dec 10, 2007

I guess I should have stated this was part of the reason for my initial question. Yes, if you compare overall length they are very close. For instance:

Rem 11-87 with 28" barrel = overall length of 48"

M2 with 26" barrel = overall length of 47.5"

I assumed most folks knew this when they bought the M2, so my question was did you go with a 26" barrel to approximate the length of other guns, or a 28" for a longer sight plane?

Also, any input on how the camo wears on these guns would be helpful.

Thanks!

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vonny571

· #11 · Dec 10, 2007

My dad just recently bought an M2. We handled both the 26 and 28 inch models. It was difficult to feel a difference between the two in the stores. He eventually bought a 28" model because that was the barrel length he'd always used. He's been more than happy with it and has shot very well with it in the field so far.

aiken

· #12 · Dec 10, 2007

I like the 28" Barrel. The longer barrel helps me slow the gun down ever so slightly and, it the extra weight out front feels good for follow through. Extra weight will also reduce recoil as well (a whole 1.4%). The weight difference is 0.1 pounds or 1.6 ounces. At the end of the barrel even that small amount is exaggerated.

If I was picking it for shooting at ranges under 30yds I would go with a 26" but, if there is a mix of close and far or just far then I go with the 28".

It really all comes down to splitting hairs because both are fine and it is almost not noticeable.

crazyhair

· #13 · Dec 17, 2007

i toke the 28 on the sbe2 because the gun is so light the longer barrel still swings like any other gun 26,

so I went the benelli 28

DUCKMAN1985

· #14 · Dec 19, 2007

GO WITH THE 26''. WANT IS 2 ''. THE ONLY TIME YOU MAY NEED THAT 2'' IS IF YOU ARE GOOSE HUNTING OR IF YOU HAVE SHOTS IN THE BLIND WERE YOU MAY HAVE TO REACH OUT THERE AND TOUCH SOMETIME, AND IT IS NICE TO HAVE WHEN YOU NEED IT, BUT YOU GOT TO THINK THATS IF YOU DUCK HUNT THATS JUST 2 MORE INCHES TO GET STUCK IN THE MUD OR TO GO THOUGH THICK BRIAR PACHES. IVE HUNTED WITH BOTH A 26 AND 28 IN, AND I LOVE THE 26. PLUE IF YOUR A GOOD DUCK HUNTER AND CAN CALL THEM IN CLOSE YOU WILL NOT EVEN NEED THEM EXTRA 2 INCHES.

DCx2

· #15 · Dec 19, 2007

For the reason jugchoke noted above (m2 has longer receiver to accommodate the rotating bolt), I opted for the 26" m2, although I usually purchase 28" guns. Never regretted the 26" bbl., but did sell the m2 recently in favor of a Urika2 synthetic....

DeGriz

· #16 · Dec 19, 2007

DUCKMAN1985 said:
GO WITH THE 26''. WANT IS 2 ''. THE ONLY TIME YOU MAY NEED THAT 2'' IS IF YOU ARE GOOSE HUNTING OR IF YOU HAVE SHOTS IN THE BLIND WERE YOU MAY HAVE TO REACH OUT THERE AND TOUCH SOMETIME, AND IT IS NICE TO HAVE WHEN YOU NEED IT, BUT YOU GOT TO THINK THATS IF YOU DUCK HUNT THATS JUST 2 MORE INCHES TO GET STUCK IN THE MUD OR TO GO THOUGH THICK BRIAR PACHES. IVE HUNTED WITH BOTH A 26 AND 28 IN, AND I LOVE THE 26. PLUE IF YOUR A GOOD DUCK HUNTER AND CAN CALL THEM IN CLOSE YOU WILL NOT EVEN NEED THEM EXTRA 2 INCHES.

Duckman,

Please stop yelling at us. :roll:

sputterbug, I got the 28" wood stocked M2 only because it was a birthday present from the wife.

It is easily the longest gun in the safe, and it has quickly become my favorite clays gun.

Swings and shoots superbly, but make sure you keep your cheek on the stock or it will smack you good. :wink:

sputterbug

Discussion Starter · #17 · Dec 19, 2007

Thanks for the great comments, everyone. It sounds like good news; slight advantages to either barrel but can't really go wrong either way.

I've ordered my M2, LH black syn with 26" barrel. It should be at my FFL late this week or early next! Can't wait to get after some clay birds with it and then try it out on the real thing

Great forums here full of nice people. Thanks for helping me out, and Happy Holidays :lol:

MN Tonester

· #18 · Dec 19, 2007

I had a 26" M1 that I foolishly traded for a 28" M2. Not that the M2 isn't a good gun, but I could hit what I aimed at with that M1 and suckered for whatever "improvements" the M2 supposedly offered. I learned that a 26" barrel is more than adequate for the upland hunting I used it for.

claydoctor

· #19 · Dec 20, 2007

DCx2 said:
For the reason jugchoke noted above (m2 has longer receiver to accommodate the rotating bolt), I opted for the 26" m2, although I usually purchase 28" guns. Never regretted the 26" bbl., but did sell the m2 recently in favor of a Urika2 synthetic....

Ditto, at least up to the part about selling the M2.

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