By: Greg Chabot
Photos Sasha Steadman
Benelli Armi S.p.A, founded in 1967, has earned a reputation for making rugged reliable shotguns for military/police and civilian sales. The introduction of the Super 90 line in 1986 cemented that reputation with the M1 series becoming a top seller. Through the years, Benelli has kept developing the Super 90 line with the best known being the M4 series, which was adopted by the United States Marine Corps. The M4/M1014 proved itself on the battlefields of GWOT making Benelli a household name in the shooting community.
The focus of this article will be on the bastard child of the Super 90 line, the M3 dual-mode shotgun. The M3 first came to the market in 1989 offering dual-mode operating systems for end users. The M3, like the legendary SPAS-12, can be used as either a semi-auto or pump action. The dual mode was originally designed by Franchi to give law enforcement the option to use lower powered ammo and not have to worry about a malfunction. Due to its complicated manual of arms the SPAS-12 was not a commercial success. Benelli simplified the dual operating system for the M3, and it is the only dual mode that is on the market to my knowledge. There have been various stock options through the years for the M3. The sample came with a fixed stock and pistol grip. I won’t bore you with the specs of the M3, the current specs are available on Benelli’s webpage.
First Impressions
Being a gun geek I like to review odd-ball weapons. I own a SPAS-12 and enjoy shooting it; I have always wanted a Benelli M3. My local mom and pop got an older, slightly used one and after some haggling and horse trading, it was mine. The M3 ships from the factory with a 4+1 capacity. The sample came with an 8-shot tube for a total of 9 rounds.
The weapon had been well cared for and hardly shot. Upon initial disassembly there were no machine marks or defects detected. After cleaning and lubing it was ready for its first range session. I liked the sights and found them easy to pick up. Being made in 1999 the sample is not drilled to mount a rail to the receiver which is not a big deal to me. Current production models are drilled and tapped for those who want to mount a rail for optics.
The ergonomics are good for this shotgun. The forearm is smaller than the SPAS-12 and easy to use. I did find the pistol grip a tad large for my hands and I had to rotate the weapon to activate the crossbolt safety. No issues with taking the M3 off safe, it can be had with a traditional stock which I will probably change mine to. The stock length worked for me in both modes.
Operating System
Dual-mode shotguns are designed to run in semi-auto as the primary operating system. Pump is used for low-powered ammo. The M3 uses Benelli’s proven inertia system which has earned a reputation for reliability. The inertia system also allows for a smaller, more ergonomic forearm compared to the gas-operated SPAS-12. To switch the M3 to pump, depress the lever in front of the forearm and slide it back. You will feel the forearm go back; release the lever and you are now in pump mode. To put back to auto, do the opposite; unlike regular pump shotguns, the M3 locks in the open position after the last round is ejected. Requiring users to hit the bolt release to reload, the M3 comes standard with a cylinder choke on a 19” barrel with ghost ring sights. The Benelli M3 is chambered for 2 ¾” or 3” 12-gauge shells.
Range Time
I ran the M3 in auto mode for most of the testing as that is the primary mode. To be thorough, I did use pump mode with skeet and birdshot loadings. Contrary to popular belief, inertia shotguns do need a slight break-in and require proper lubrication. I started off with 2 ¾” defensive loads and some low recoil to test the action. The M3 cycled fine with high brass loads but failed to eject the reduced recoil buckshot. Switching to pump it ran fine and I stuck with full-powered high-brass loads for the rest of the session. After 150 rounds of various loadings, I fieldstripped and cleaned the M3, finding no unusual wear. Inertia guns run cleaner than gas guns and have fewer failure points than gas-operated shotguns.
The next session went great with the M3 eating everything it was fed. It reliably cycled some low-brass loads. I found the more it was shot the better it cycled with low-brass ammo. I switched to pump to run skeet loads and light birdshot.
The pump action was smooth and reliable with no issues with short stroking under stress. The only issue with pump mode was during reloads. The action locks back on the last round. I put a round in the chamber, hit the bolt release and got the dreaded Benelli click. The spring in this sample isn’t strong enough to do a reload like one would on a Mossberg 590. Not a deal breaker as semi is the primary operating system on the M3, which is how end users should be using it, keep that in mind. If you want a pump, buy a pump.
My other gripe is the charging handle, it is small and hard to manipulate in my opinion. I ended up installing an aftermarket one. The sights were easy to pick up and worked great for shooting slugs or buckshot. Night sights are available from Benelli if one wants them. Trigger is smooth and crisp and broke at 5.5 pounds on the sample, which made for fast follow-up shots. Benelli’s inertia system is faster than any gas gun and try as I might, I couldn’t outrun the trigger on the M3. I could get 8+1 rounds on multiple targets quickly and accurately. Felt recoil is a tad stronger compared to a gas-operated shotgun but manageable with training/practice. The rest of the range testing went great with the M3 being boringly reliable and accurate if I did my part.
Pros/Cons
Pros:
- Ammo versatility with dual mode.
- Fast cycling and cleaner than gas guns. Don’t rely on Inshallah maintenance, they still need cleaning and lubrication.
- Very reliable after break-in period.
- Lightweight, easy to maneuver.
Cons:
- The pistol grip is large for smaller hands.
- The charging handle should be bigger.
- Little more felt recoil.
- Not much for aftermarket support/accessories compared to other Benelli models.
- Older model receivers might not be drilled to mount a rail for optics. Be aware of that if buying on the secondary market.
Closing Thoughts
Overall, I’m happy with the Benelli M3, it ran great after a break-in for a total of 750 rounds of various ammo types. As I have written many times, if you are going to trust your life to a weapon, it is wise to run it hard. I call it a break-in, others call it familiarization. It is easy to use compared to a SPAS-12 and only requires minimal maintenance compared to other shotguns on the market. I have no qualms in trusting my life to this fine weapon. Though the bastard child of the Benelli line, the M3 is in service with various military and law enforcement units around the world. Should you buy one? That is up to you to decide if a dual-mode shotgun suits your needs. The M3 is the best of both worlds and for SHTF scenarios it could be a game changer for end users. Train hard, train to win! See you in the woods!
In memory of Jack Guenthner — Father, friend, mentor. See you on the other side, Pupa.
Big thanks to NorArm Tactical.