Over 20 years after being adopted by the U.S. military, the Benelli M4 continues to live up to its reputation as one of the most badass 12-gauge semi-automatic shotguns on the planet.
 

MILITARY ACQUISITION

In 1998, the United States Army opened a competition to find a new 12-gauge semi-automatic shotgun. Benelli, an Italian company well known for making fine shotguns, submitted a model called the Benelli M4 Super 90 Combat Shotgun.

After intense testing, the M4 won the competition. It has been in service with the U.S. and other militaries around the world ever since.
 

ARGO
 

The M4 was designed around a system developed by Benelli called the "auto-regulating gas-operated” system, or ARGO. The design uses two self-cleaning stainless-steel pistons located just ahead of the chamber that keep the gun’s internals very simple and reliable.

It is designed to be capable of reliably functioning for at least 25,000 rounds without the replacement of any major parts. The steel components and corrosion-resistant coatings mean that it requires very little maintenance and is at home in all climates and weather conditions.
 

CONSUMER MODEL

Not long after it was adopted by the US military, consumers could get their hands on a very similar model. The biggest difference between the military and consumer models was round capacity. The military model’s tube holds 7+1 rounds of 2.75-inch shells while the consumer model holds 5+1. However, there are aftermarket tubes that allow a 7+1 capacity.
 

FINE DESIGN

The first thing you notice when you pick up an M4 is its size and weight. It’s hefty at 7.8 pounds empty and 40 inches in overall length. However, the second thing you notice is the quality. This gun is beautifully built from high-quality materials and is designed to last.

Everything about it, from the lines and the fit and finish to the way it rests in your hands, is top-notch.

DIMENSIONS

Although there are many aftermarket stocks available, the M4 comes from Benelli with a black synthetic stock with a pistol grip and sling attachment. As an average 6-foot-tall male with normal-length arms, it fits me fine. It shoulders superbly, and I can quickly acquire the sights. It's as though this gun was custom-made for me.
 

GOBBLES UP ROUNDS

The M4 can fire 2.75 and 3-inch shells of most types and varying power levels without any operator adjustments. This is thanks to its auto-regulating gas system. However, very low-power rounds, often considered less lethal, may need to be cycled manually. This is easy to do, however, with the large side charging handle.

In general, this gun eats pretty much everything you feed it. I’ve put a few hundred rounds of all kinds of ammo through this M4, and I haven't had any malfunctions. The gas system also reduces the felt recoil of some of your heavier rounds, which is nice on your shoulder.
 

SIGHTS

The sights are a military-style ghost ring with a high-visibility front sight. They are designed to be adjusted in the field using the rim of a shell. A Picatinny rail up top allows you to mount optics or accessories of your choice. There are also aftermarket handguards that allow lights and lasers to be mounted up front. I personally think the sights on the M4 are some of the best iron sights I've used on any rifle or shotgun.
 

CHOKE

The M4 comes with an interchangeable choke. I personally thought the choke that the shotgun ships with patterned very nicely at 10 yards with the Winchester 2.75-inch No. 7.5 birdshot. The spread, as seen below, is well concentrated within a 7-inch circle. There are plenty of aftermarket options if you so desire.
 

CONCLUSION
 

It's easy to see why the Marines adopted the Benelli M4 in 1998, and why it continues to serve in militaries around the world to this day. It's a solid, well-balanced, dependable, and capable shotgun. The gun used for this review came from the Certified Used Gun Vault at Guns.com. Although it was used, it was in excellent shape. Buying a good-quality used gun makes a lot of sense because not only can you save a lot of money but a good quality gun will last a long time if you take care of it.