Rem 870 Tactical or Benelli M4 - both SBS

[BigBear]

Hello good folks,
I may have an opportunity coming in a few months to update the home defense weapon to either a Rem 870 tactical or a Benelli M4. Both 12 gauge, both S.B.S., both more than 4 rounds, etc.

What are you're thoughts on these in a head to head competition?

Your expeirence with said weapons?

etc... More importantly, please explain WHY you think that way. Justify your thoughts instead of "Benelli M4 cuz it's looks cooler" or some other asinine comment. Thanks for your help.

Sincerely,
Big Bear

[Irving]

So either way you are going to get a tax stamp, or are you just talking about an 18.5" barrel?

[BigBear]

Either way I'll get a stamp. Most likely scenario is 14 inch. But I'm more interested in the bodies, reliability, best ammo choices, etc. and of course the "why" behind your (others) logic. Again, this is not something that has come to fruition yet, I'm just looking down the road a few months... so chalk it up as some research.

EDIT: No, I will NOT be shooting clays with this! HAHAHAHA.

[Irving]

I have an 870, and got it specifically to SBS, but I have no experience with the Benelli beyond reading about it on the internet, so I can't really comment. Maybe we can cut ours down at the same time and compare them.

As for my choice, I didn't really know anything about shotguns, so I started doing a lot of research. I picked the 870 just because it is tried and true (but so are Mossberg and Benelli) and because you could cut the 870 down to 12" easily with no extra gunsmithing. Oh yeah, also the cost. I put my used 870 together for $230. Being able to put together a 12" shotty for under $500 is too good of a deal for a poor guy like me; especially since it's not a payment of $500 at one time.

[GreenScoutII]

May I ask why you want an SBS?

I have an 870 with a 18.5 barell and it is pretty darn compact even with the fixed butt stock. If a guy was so inclined, he could mount a folder or collapsing stock on it to make it a bit shorter.

I am a huge devoted fan of the 870. It is my number one go to gun out here on the ranch. It was less than $350 brand new and very, very reliable. Also, there are tons of aftermarket goodies available for it if a guy wants to trick it out. I'm telling you you can't go wrong with the 870.

I looked at the Benelli (sp?) and they are good too. My good friend and duck hunting partner has one of their shotguns which will chamber 3 1/2 mags. Performs like a 10 gauge on geese. Also a great gun, but the Remington is less money for equal quality in my opinion.

[Irving]

Because a 12" pistol gripped shotgun fits REALLY well into a tennis racket bag or backpack?

[GreenScoutII]

Because a 12" pistol gripped shotgun fits REALLY well into a tennis racket bag or backpack?

Good Answer! Talk about intimidation factor causing a criminal to re think his plan of jacking you....

[BigBear]

Why I would want one? ... Well, you kind of answered the question. There is no "need". It is purely a "want" a desire. I currently have a long barrel (21 inch I think?...) berretta 390 that I use for clays, etc. But it is too long for my wife to balance. Justification number one. Justification number two is that I would like to upgrade the home defense from a handgun to a shotgun. My current shotgun seems to me too long to easily get around the small place we have.

Thoughts? I was also leaning towards the 870 but I've been hearing good things about the Benelli. Also, one is pump and other seems to be semi.

[Irving]

Cutting down a semi to SBS is more complex than cutting a pump just so you know.

You cut a pump and it will still cycle any round you put in it just fine. That's not the case with a semi though. You have to adjust it to either field loads, or buckshot and slugs. One or the other (as I understand it), but not both at the same time. I've heard that for a lot of money you can get a selector switch that automatically switches between three different settings, but that was for a Tromix kit on a Siaga, so I don't know if that is possible (without paying an arm and a leg) on other guns.

Also, for a HD gun, I probably wouldn't want to worry about which setting I had it on, unless I tuned it for buck and it never saw anything else.

[BigBear]

Hmm.. good points. Seems like the Rem is more "out there" in terms of feild experience.