Benelli M4
| Benelli M4 Super 90 | |
|---|---|
 The Benelli M4 Super 90 | |
| Type | Semi-automaticcombat shotgun |
| Place of origin | Italy |
| Service history | |
| In service | 1999–present |
| Used by | SeeUsers |
| Wars | War in Afghanistan Iraq War Libyan Civil War Syrian Civil War Second Libyan Civil War Iraqi Civil War Russo-Ukrainian War |
| Production history | |
| Designer | Benelli Armi SPA |
| Designed | 1998 |
| Manufacturer | Benelli Armi SPA |
| Produced | 1999–present |
| Specifications | |
| Mass | 3.82 kg (8.42 lb) |
| Length | 889 mm (35.0 in) (stockretracted) 1,010 mm (40 in) (stock extended) |
| Barrellength | 470 mm (18.5 in) |
| Caliber | 12-gauge |
| Action | Gas-operated,rotating bolt |
| Muzzle velocity | 408 m/s (1,340 ft/s) |
| Effective firing range | 55 yd (50 m; 165 ft)[1] |
| Maximum firing range | 164 yd (150 m; 492 ft) for solidslugs |
| Feed system | 5+1 (civilian) or 7+1 (Military, LE)tubular magazine(using2+3⁄4"shells) |
| Sights | Ghost ring,Picatinny railforoptical sights |
TheBenelli M4is asemi-automatic shotgunproduced byItalianfirearm manufacturerBenelli Armi SpA,and the fourth and last model of the Benelli Super 90 line of semi-automatic shotguns. The M4 uses a proprietaryactiondesign called the "auto-regulating gas-operated" (ARGO) system, which was created specifically for the weapon. Designed in 1998, the M4 was adopted by the armed forces of Italy, the United States, and United Kingdom, among others, and has been used in a variety of conflicts.
History
[edit]On May 4, 1998, theUnited States ArmyArmament Research, Development and Engineering Center(ARDEC) atPicatinny Arsenal,New Jerseyissued Solicitation #DAAE30-98-R-0401 requesting submissions for a new12 gaugesemi-automaticcombat shotgunfor theU.S. military.[2]In response to the request,Benelli Armi SpAofUrbino,Italy designed and built the Benelli M4 Super 90 Combat Shotgun. On August 4, 1998, five samples of the M4 were delivered toAberdeen Proving Ground,Maryland,and after intense testing, the M4 won the competition. In early 1999, ARDEC awarded the M1014 Joint Service Combat Shotgun contract toHeckler & Koch,U.S. subsidiary for importation of the Benelli M4 Combat Shotgun. The first 20,000 units were delivered to theUnited States Marine Corpsin 1999. During testing, the prototype was namedXM1014;,per U.S. military standards; after adoption, the "X" was dropped, and the weapon was officially designated theM1014.
Design
[edit]
The M4 was the firstgas-operatedshotgun produced by Benelli. Its function is designed around an entirely new design called the "auto-regulating gas-operated" (ARGO) system. The short-stroke design uses twoself-cleaningstainless steelpistonslocated just ahead of thechamberto function opposite arotating bolt,thereby eliminating the need for the complex mechanisms found on othergas-actuatedautomatics. The ARGO incorporates only four parts: two symmetricalfore-endshroudscontaining two small steel pistons that push directly against thebolt.
Additionally, the weapon is self-regulating for use withshotshellsof varying lengths andpower levels.It can fire 2.75 in (70 mm) and 3 in (76 mm) shells of differingpropellantloads without any operator adjustments and in any combination. Low-power rounds, such as less-lethalbaton rounds,must be cycled manually.
The sights are military-styleghost ringand are adjustable in the field using only therimof a shell. The MIL-STD-1913Picatinny railon top of thereceiverallows use of both conventionaloptical sightsandnight-vision devices,while retaining use of the original iron sights.
Themodularbasis of the shotgun means many of its features can be reconfigured as needed. It allows a user to quickly exchange the various assembly groups (barrel,buttstock,forend,etc.) without the use of additional tools.
Durability
[edit]Preliminary testing of the M4 suggests a high level of reliability. It can reliably function for at least 25,000 rounds without replacement of any major parts.[3]The steel components of the weapon feature a matte black phosphated corrosion resistant finish while thealuminiumparts are matte hard-anodized.These finishes reduce the weapon's visibility during night operations.
The weapon requires little maintenance and operates in all climates and weather conditions.[citation needed]
Collapsible buttstock
[edit]Thebuttstockis collapsible on the M4 Model (designated 11707) and on the M1014.[4][note 1]Collapsing the buttstock shortens the weapon by almost 8 in (200 mm), allowing easier storage and transportation; furthermore, it permits better maneuverability around tight corners and over obstacles. The M4 is also available with bothpistol gripand semi-grip fixed stocks, with these also being available for the M1014.[5]
Rail interface system
[edit]ThePicatinny railbuilt into the top of the shotgun acceptsscopes,laser illuminators,night-vision sights andflashlights.Most modern militaryfirearmshave similar structures. There areaftermarketaccessories such ashandguardsthat incorporate otherrail interface systemssuch asM-LOK.
Benelli Tactical and the M4
[edit]Benelli Tactical is a division of Beretta's Law Enforcement (LE) division. Benelli Tactical manages the sales of all tactical shotguns to law enforcement agencies, government and military entities. The M4 shotgun is sold in three configurations: M4 Entry with a 14 in (360 mm) barrel; M4 with an 18.5 in (470 mm) barrel; and M1014, which is an M4 with the "M1014" nomenclature on it for military usage only. M4 shotguns sold through Benelli Tactical are available with the collapsible buttstock.
Benelli Tactical and Beretta LE have maintained the belief that thecollapsible stock,while no longer illegal in the United States, is still only to be made available to law enforcement and government agencies, and thus does not sell them to private individuals; however, Benelli Tactical sells the stock piece for retrofitting the pistol grip stock, which can be shipped from Italy without restrictions.
Suggested retail price of the civilian version is around $1,899.[6]AnNFA stampis required to purchase or own the 14.5 "barreled model only since this model is considered to be a Short Barreled Shotgun or SBS. Standardmagazinecapacity of the civilian version is 5+1, although it is possible to fit 6+1 and two shot extension tubes are sold by Benelli as well as some other companies. 9+1 extension tubes are also available, popular in3-guncompetitions. Some LE models have become available to private individuals on the secondary market.
Users
[edit]
Australia[7]
Belarus:Used byInternal Troops,[8]OMON,Almaz,andKGB RBAlpha Group.Seen with Alpha Group, Internal Troops, and OCAM units deployed to Minsk during the2020–2021 Belarusian protests.[9]It is also allowed as civilian hunting weapon.[10]
Belgium:Adopted on November 17, 2023 for counter-UAS operations by the Belgian Air Force.[11]
Georgia:Used byMinistry of Internal Affairsand military special operation forces.[12]
Ireland:Used by special forces and special police units (Army Ranger Wing,Special Detective Unit,Emergency Response Unit,Regional Support Unit).[13]
Libya:Ordered 1,800 before theFirst Libyan Civil War.Used by special forces.[14]
Malaysia:Used by theRoyal Malaysian Customs Department.[15]
Portugal:Used byPortuguese Armed Forces.[16]
Serbia:Used by theSpecial Anti-Terrorist Unit.[17]
Slovakia:Used by theSpecial Defence Division and Intervention Group.[18]
Slovenia:Used bySlovenian Armed ForcesMilitary Police.[19]
Ukraine[20]
United Kingdom:Used by theBritish Armed Forces,designatedL128A1.[21]
United States:Used by theUnited States Armed Forces,designatedM1014.[22][23]Also used by civilianlaw enforcementandSWATunits, such as theLos Angeles Police Department[24]andCambridge Police Department.[25]
See also
[edit]Notes
[edit]- ^While the M1014 was first manufactured before theFederal Assault Weapons Banexpired, it fell outside the ban due to being produced under military contract, and the relevant Technical Manual explicitly describes the buttstock as being telescoping; the M11707 was first manufactured following the expiration of the Assault Weapons Ban and its provisions.
References
[edit]- ^"USMC Weapons".Archived fromthe originalon 2010-04-16.Retrieved2009-12-26.
- ^Scarlata, Paul (10 May 2018)."U.S. Military Combat Shotguns Part III: From Grenada to Afghanistan".Firearms News.Retrieved5 May2023.
- ^"HK M4 Super 90/XM1014".Club.guns.ru. Archived fromthe originalon August 18, 2008.Retrieved2008-09-08.
- ^United States Department of the Navy,Headquarters Marine Corps(2000).TM 10698A-10/1 Operator's Manual for Shotgun, Combat 12 Gauge, Semi-automatic M1014 1005-01-472-3147.p. 11.
- ^United States Department of the Navy,Headquarters Marine Corps(2000).TM 10698A-10/1 Operator's Manual for Shotgun, Combat 12 Gauge, Semi-automatic M1014 1005-01-472-3147.p. 10.
- ^"M4 Tactical Shotgun".Benelli USA. Archived fromthe originalon 2012-06-14.Retrieved2013-10-09.
- ^Tucker, Max R."Maxim Tucker on X: The past week I was in Vovchansk, Lyptsi and Kharkiv for @thetimes during Putin's new assault on a city once home to 1.5 million people. I witnessed some incredible heroism by its Ukrainian defenders. First, in a foxhole with the 'Peaky Blinders' as they killed 40 Russian troops-".X (formerly known as Twitter).Retrieved2024-05-23.
- ^"Помповое ружье Benelli. Как нетрудно догадаться, родом оно из Италии. Ружье пятизарядное, стреляет различными боеприпасами, начиная от дроби и заканчивая резиновыми пулями. Может выстреливать патроны со слезоточивым газом.... Выстреливает Benelli в том числе и резиновую картечь: в теории его должны использовать для пресечения массовых беспорядков, бунтов в колониях и т.д. Кстати, именно такие ружья часто мелькают по ТВ, когда показывают сюжеты о действиях европейской полиции. У нас, к счастью, из Benelli стреляли только на учениях"
Николай Козлевич.Обзор арсенала бойцов СОБРа внутренних войск// SB.BY от 15 июля 2014 - ^"Какое оружие из стран, объявивших Беларуси эмбарго, есть у силовиков | 42.TUT.BY".42.tut.by.Archived fromthe originalon 4 January 2021.Retrieved11 January2022.
- ^«2.1.1.2-2/145 Ружье охотничье Benelli М4 Super 90»
Указ Президента Республики Беларусь № 71 от 13 февраля 2003 года «Об утверждении Положения о порядке ведения и издания Государственного кадастра служебного и гражданского оружия и боеприпасов и Положения о порядке проведения сертификации служебного и гражданского оружия и боеприпасов» (редакция от 10 июля 2015 г.) - ^"Belgian Air Force adopts Italian Benelli M4 shotgun as counter-UAS solution | Defense News November 2023 Global Security army industry | Defense Security global news industry army year 2023 | Archive News year".27 November 2023.
- ^"ATI Upgrades for Benelli M4".hendonpub.com.Archived fromthe originalon 2014-12-19.Retrieved2015-04-12.
- ^"Garda Resources".28 November 2012.National Security Ireland. Archived fromthe originalon 21 February 2014.Retrieved9 February2014.
- ^Giorgio Beretta Mercoledì, 09 Marzo 2011 (2011-02-27)."L'Italia ha inviato 11mila Beretta semiautomatici al regime di Gheddafi / Notizie / Home"(in Italian). Unimondo.Retrieved2013-10-09.
{{cite web}}:CS1 maint: numeric names: authors list (link) - ^Royal Malaysian Customs Academy (2010)."Royal Malaysian Customs Academy: Firing range".Royal Malaysian Customs. Archived fromthe originalon 2019-07-06.Retrieved2011-08-22.
- ^Ferreira, Bryan (8 October 2020)."Portuguese Military – Special Operations and Elite Units".Spec Ops Magazine.Archivedfrom the original on 2020-10-14.
- ^"Specijalne-jedinice.com - Specijalna antiteroristička jedinica-SAJ".specijalne-jedinice.com.Archived fromthe originalon 2017-02-02.Retrieved2017-01-25.
- ^"Špeciálne jednotky Slovenskej republiky - zásahová skupina - úrad boja proti organizovanej kriminalite".www.specialunits.sk.Archived fromthe originalon 12 March 2010.Retrieved10 November2018.
- ^"Vojaški policisti uspešno izvedli taktično vajo z bojnim streljanjem Pest 2010".slovenskavojska.si.
- ^"x.com".X (formerly Twitter).Retrieved2024-05-23.
- ^"Combat Shotgun".Ministry of Defence (United Kingdom).Archived fromthe originalon 2010-11-14.Retrieved2010-01-28.
- ^ShotgunsArchivedAugust 22, 2009, at theWayback Machine
- ^"Weapons & Demo".Navy SEALs. Archived fromthe originalon 2012-12-31.Retrieved2013-10-09.
- ^Published on (2009-02-25)."LAPD Approves Benelli M4 Tactical for Individual Officer Purchase".Ammoland.com.Retrieved2013-10-09.
- ^C, Luke (26 February 2021)."Cambridge Police Commissioner makes Plans to Reduce Gun Inventory".The Firearm Blog.Archivedfrom the original on 2021-02-27.
External links
[edit]