Benelli's M2-G1 brings gas-piston reliability to the M2 for less than an M4

Benelli's M2 platform just got a new gas system, and according to a RECOIL review, it splits the difference between the inertia-driven M2 and the agency-grade M4 nicely enough to matter.

Key points

• New guts: The M2-G1 swaps the M2's inertia action for a rear-mounted dual-piston gas system Benelli calls RPO, which RECOIL notes is a scaled-down version of the M4's ARGO system.
• Pricing and config: MSRP starts under $2,000, with four variants covering synthetic, multicam, and FDE finishes, plus a choice of fixed stock or 5-position telescoping stock with pistol grip.
• Features: Every model gets ghost ring sights, an 18.5-inch barrel, a Picatinny rail, enlarged controls, a beveled loading port, M-LOK handguard, and 7+1 capacity in 12-gauge up to 3-inch shells.
• Range performance: RECOIL reports the gun stayed 100 percent reliable through slugs, buckshot, and suppressed fire with a Yankee Hill Victra-12, and found felt recoil nearly indistinguishable from the pricier M4.
• Where it loses to the M4: The ARGO system's self-cleaning pistons and auto-regulation make it more tolerant of dirty ammo and longer strings without cleaning, something RPO doesn't fully match.

Quick take

RECOIL's verdict is that most buyers don't need the M4's last few percentage points of refinement, and the M2-G1 delivers the bulk of that durability and smoothness for noticeably less money. For a tactical shotgun shopper who isn't outfitting a duty line, that's a reasonable trade to consider.

Read the full story: David Lane