Benelli M2 G1 review: new gas shotgun against the M4 and 1301 Mod 2

Key points: Benelli M2 G1 review

• The M2 name is the first complaint: apart from the M2 receiver the G1 shares no operating system or forward furniture with it, and Benelli's own explanation is that G1 marks its first gas gun on that receiver.
• The rear piston operated system copies the M4's twin rear pistons and low, cleaner gas position, but leaves out the two features that made the M4 forgiving — the autoregulating valve that bleeds excess pressure and the self-scraping piston.
• Without autoregulation it hits harder: he ranks the M4 softest, the Beretta 1301 Mod 2 in the middle and the M2 G1 hardest, while the G1 cycles visibly faster than the notoriously slow M4.
• Two durability faults surfaced on the test guns: charging handles worked loose and flew out of both samples under 1,325 fps buckshot and 1,600 fps segmented slugs, and the stock began unscrewing into side-to-side play when pulled hard into the shoulder.
• The upgrades are real — a simple collapsing length-of-pull stock he wants on the M4, an oversized bolt release, a notched magazine tube that stops the barrel clamp sliding, MLOK front and rear, a beveled loading port and a cold hammer forged barrel with screw-in chokes.
• Capacity and handling match the M4: seven plus one in the tube, eight plus one ghost loaded, and the same rack-and-swap drill for changing from buckshot to a slug mid-string.
• Price decides it: about $1,600 to $1,950 for the G1 against roughly $2,000 to $2,100 for a combat-proven M4 and about $1,600 for a 1301 Mod 2, so he recommends the other two until the street price settles.

About this Gun Review video

Benelli M2 G1 review from Garand Thumb, who argues the new gas shotgun shares almost nothing with the M2 beyond its receiver. Its rear piston operated system borrows the M4's twin pistons but drops the autoregulating valve and self-scraping piston, so it cycles faster and recoils harder. At 1,500 rounds he logs two faults: charging handles that flew out of both sample guns, and a stock that unscrewed into play. Against those sit real upgrades led by the collapsing stock and bolt release. Recoil and Bill drill runs against the M4 and Beretta 1301 Mod 2 set a verdict that turns on price.

Transcript: Benelli M2 G1