Choices For Good "Multipurpose" Shotgun?

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Brandi

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I currently have a Benelli M1 shotgun that I bought a couple years ago from a 3 gun shooter. He said it had been completely gone through and was full of upgrades. What upgrades I have no idea, I'm not that into shotguns but, at the time, I had some extra cash and I knew the M1's were good guns so I bought it.

I've taken it to the range once since then to make sure it ran well and I have to admit it was a very sweet gun. It ran perfectly and I was extremely impressed with my new purchase. However, recently I've started thinking maybe I need something that was more of a multi-tasker. Something I could use primarily as a tactical home defense gun but still be able to swap out barrels and whatnot to use for hunting purposes. My problem so far is, I love my M1, I really really love it. Not only does it shoot very well, it looks very cool doing it lol. Seriously, it's one of those guns I don't really need but can't make myself sell.

So I'm hoping y'all can give me some suggestions for a replacement (semi-auto please, I don't care for pump shotguns) that is as bad a$$ as the M1 as a tactical home defense shotgun and yet can easily be changed into something for dove hunting one day, duck the next and turkeys the day after (I'm exaggerating but you get the picture). I figure if I can find something to fill that role it'll make it easier to sell or trade the M1.

I know there's a few shotgun experts floating around here so any suggestions from them or anyone actually would be greatly appreciated. :)
 
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The M1 is the precursor to the M2 Field. The M2 field is a hunting gun we modify for 3 gun. My point is there is no reason to buy anything different. Unless you want a different sight setup or barrel length.

For a dual purpose gun I'd opt for a 21-26" vent rib barrel. Since most of us aren't likely to actually have to do any true home defending you don't really need a 14" SBS in the corner for clearing rooms. So get a hunting gun since that will be what you actually use it for the most. Your camo duck gun will shoot an intruder climbing through your window just as well as a ghost ring equipped riot gun. Just get a good light and/or laser setup bump the capacity up to 7-10 shells and out some federal flight control 00 buckshot in it.
 
The M1 is perfect for your needs. Get different barrels for the things you want it for and you're good to go.
 
Another gun won't do a single thing better than that M1 that's worth spending even $5 for. That's provided that your M1 has a barrel with a vent rib, screw in chokes and it's not like 28" or something crazy like that.
 
To actually answer your question, Chokes are the answer.

If you want to hunt Turkey, there are chokes made for that purpose.
Dove, the same.

Home defense the same.

I think you see where I'm going.

It doesn't matter what shotgun your going to use, make sure it has the chokes

I don't own a benelli so I can't say how easy it is to change barrels, but with the semi auto's that I do own, its a 5 minute process to go from an 18" to a 24".
 
Matt Rigsby said:
The M1 is perfect for your needs. Get different barrels for the things you want it for and you're good to go.
Click to expand...
Except that barrels are like $375-$400
 
My gun currently has an 18" barrel and it was my initial plan to just buy a longer barrel and swap the two as needed but I searched for the last three years for a longer barrel and got zip. I had "wtb" ads out on every forum around, Armslist, I called Midwest (or whatever they're called) because they were the ones that everyone kept recommending but they told me the barrels that would fit on their website are just sort of page filler, they didn't actually have any or could they even find any. So I finally gave up on finding a longer barrel and now I'm not in a financial position to pay $400 for a barrel if I even did finally find one. Which sucks because I love how this M1 performs.
 
I have an 18" barrel on a rem 1100, and I also reload shotshells.

Depending on the powder burn rate, you can get just as much velocity from an 18" as a 24" .

Did a lot of testing over a chrono back in the day.

Longer shotgun barrels give a longer sighting plane that some prefer for longer range targets.

Duck/Turkey hunters prefer long barrels, while quail/grouse hunters prefer short barrels for quick swings in heavy cover.

I'll say that I've killed all of the above with an 18" 1100, or Browning Citori upland which has one of the shortest barrel of all O/U's.

I just like short barreled shotguns.
 
I guess I'll just keep what I have and go from there, it is choked so that should help. I don't know much about shotgun ballistics so if y'all say it'll work just fine as is then that's good for me. If I ever run across a longer barrel I may still pick it up but I'm not going to search for one. Thanks guys! I really, really appreciate it! :)
 
Brandi said:
I guess I'll just keep what I have and go from there, it is choked so that should help. I don't know much about shotgun ballistics so if y'all say it'll work just fine as is then that's good for me. If I ever run across a longer barrel I may still pick it up but I'm not going to search for one. Thanks guys! I really, really appreciate it! :)
Click to expand...
I know a guy that will have a Benelli Montefello for sale here shortly. I bought it thinking it was an M1. It would be a great hunting shotgun in the cheap.
Here is a link to the auction.

http://www.gunbroker.com/Auction/ViewItem.aspx?Item=368652092
 
Midwest is who I contacted about finding a barrel. They told me they aren't able to or interested in dealing with M1 barrels since they are difficult to find and they are focusing on later models. I tried to buy the one remaining they had on the website but they said they didn't actually have one and that was up there for looks, which didn't make sense to me but oh well.

Maybe I'll go the M2 forend/barrel route someday but I've only shot it once since buying it and the only thing I'd really need it for skeet/trap which I haven't had a chance to do in 10 years so I'm getting bunged up about something that I don't even need.
 
That is kind of disappointing to hear about Midwest I ordered an M1 barrel from them and got an M2 barrel and there customer service was very helpful and offered to correct the mistake or give me a discount on an M2 forearm but I opted to modify my M1 forearm to fit the barrel.
 
I suspect that's probably why you got an M2 barrel to begin with. No doubt you made the right choice or you might still be waiting on the M1 barrel. Either way they're probably a good place for M2 and later barrels.
 
After seeing your experience that is probably the case as to why an M2 barrel was shipped to me if you ever decide to get an M2 barrel send me a message and I can send you some pictures on modifying the forend if you don't want to have to buy an M2 forend
 
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