What would you think if I asked you about a Benelli M2 with a 26 round capacity? Work of science fiction? Only if micro mini shells have been introduced? Did I smoke rock this morning? Such a thing exists and it’s brought to you by our friends at Roth Concept Innovations (RCI).
Photo Courtesy: RCI
Necessity Drives Invention
The Xrail system has actually been around for a few years, I remember seeing them on the 3 Gun circuit as early as 2011. Mark Roth, the inventor, is a friend and prolific competitor. For the shooters in “Open” Class in 3 Gun, there is no limit on capacity, which gave you two options before if you wanted a chance at winning. First was a magazine fed shotgun, all of which have proven to be unreliable to date. Second, was a system of tubular speedloaders, which allowed you to reload 8 at once. Roth had another thought. What if you just never needed to reload? Thus the Xrail was born.
SPECS
- Gauge: 12
- Capacity: 25+1 rds.; or 24+1 rds.
- Weight: 9 lbs. empty; 11.4 lbs. loaded with 26 rds. of birdshot
- Barrel Length: 21 in.
- Overall Length: 42.5 in.
During testing the author ran Federal Premium target loads, slugs and some miscellaneous rounds. The RCI XM2XI ran flawlessly. XRail advises shooters to run higher-quality premium rounds that travel 1,235 to 1,300 fps.
Design Details
In concept, the Xrail is relatively simple. Execution, well, I am glad my life doesn’t depend on my engineering skills to make one. In place of the normal magazine tube is four rotating tubes. These are housed in an aluminum shell, giving you something to hold onto. As one tube goes empty, with the last shell moving onto the shell lifter, the drum rotates to the next slot, and your shotgun feeds without a hiccup. It’s ingenious, and most importantly, it works.
The Xrail was available for many years as a bolt on. Shooters could simply unscrew the magazine cap and slide on the XRail. However, in 2018, it will only be available as an integrated part of a Benelli M2 in RCI’s package: RCI XM2XI. A solid move in my opinion. The M2 has proven to be one, if not the, most reliable semiautomatic shotguns around. In my testing of Federal birdshot loads, buckshot, slugs, and random nonsense 12 gauge I had laying around the house, I experienced zero malfunctions.
Article Continues Below
The author found that the increased weight made the Benelli M2 very flat shooting and felt recoil while shooting the Federal target loads was nonexistent.
A fully loaded M2 is a bit front heavy, which is kind of to be expected with 25-plus-one rounds in it. From playing the 3 Gun game though, I assure you I would take a little more swinging mass over the need to reload. It does happen, but it is rare if the shotgun stage is over 25 rounds. And if you do find one, you can still quad load with the Xrail attached. The weight does help dampen recoil, making this one flat shooting 12 gauge.
Why might one want such a gun, besides competition? It probably helps that RCI is based out of Wisconsin. Some places in the North have no capacity restriction when hunting snow geese, since they’re such a menace. You can take four shotguns to the field, or one Xrail. That sells itself. For a home defense gun, you could certainly do worse. I don’t think much of shotguns for this scenario, mostly because they are slower than Christmas to reload. The Xrail kind of negates that argument. Lastly, I am kind of surprised these haven’t caught on with law enforcement yet. One of the few things a 12 gauge does better than a rifle is offered less lethal options. Not only could a dedicated breacher handle an entire hotel hallway without pausing, full of ferret rounds or rubber balls, this is a one man riot stopper.
Photo Courtesy: RCI
This is one of the coolest guns I have played with this year. If you like shotguns, this is one system you need to get your hands on.
For more information about XRail, click here.
For more information about Federal target loads, click here.
For more information about 3 Gun competitions, click here.
To purchase a Benelli M2 on GunsAmerica, click here.
Fun for the hole family🙃
Now to put these into LE’s hands and out of the scum side!
Scum side? I guess to you that would be anyone who is not LE correct? Screw the 2nd Amendment right?
Think I’ll keep my Super 90. Never have emptied it in a 3 gun match. It works flawlessly and isn’t front heavy. Still, I like the design and if you want one have at it. Nice innovation on an excellent shotgun!
This comes under the category of race gun. Like race cars, it is impractical to be sure but gives advantages in very narrow competition situations. It should be looked at like a race car, that is, see what is possible and what new advantageous technology can we derive from this. This is a competitors gun, not a gunfighters gun. Pretty amazing too, if you keep it in perspective.
That doesn’t look heavy at all.
I WANT ONE\954-561-0025
. . . yet another stupid invention, probably created by the left, to help expedite the loss of all our gun rights! This is “Almost” as stupid as it gets!
Ever heard of a conservation hunt? Ever been to Cordoba Argentina? Ever shot team flurry in clays? Gun not stupid – Cyrus stupid.
2 hvy
Just another toy for kids to play with! Maybe needs 50 round capacity. Might be able to hit something then.
What in the hell does anybody need with a shotgun that shoots 26 rounds??? Another useless toy in my opinion! I’m sure I’ll be put down big-time for my opinion but I can care less. I use my guns to hunt and target practice,not to play with! Just another toy for some mentally deranged freak to use and stir up more shit!!!
Why does anyone need a magazine that holds twenty or thirty shots of rifle ammunition? Because it is our right to keep and bear arms. The 2nd Amendment is not about hunting or just target practice. These firearms are the last resistance of we the people against a tyrannical government should one ever seek to destroy our freedoms. These firearms are also useful in situations where chaos erupts such as rioting or in the aftermath of a disaster such as a major earthquake or hurricane. Some people think that when major disasters happen they have the freedom to rape, loot and murder other innocents.
Did you even read the article before running off at the keyboard? Snow Geese, feral hogs, 3-gun. Ignorant and Stupid, you’re entitled to your opinion, but it’s bad and you should feel bad for being so dumb.
I’m not a big fan of this item, but I don’t want to see capacity limiations. As a matter of fact, I pay pro gun organizations to ensure magazine limitation laws don’t happen. Sometimes I think FUDDS are worse than the anti-gun folks out there.
Seems like a great firearm for home invasion suppression or making a new door through the wall so you can get away. Lots of dead drywall and/or perpetrators trying to rob you in your house if you got one of these to ram 25 rounds of buckshot at him through the wall and avoid penetrating the neighbors house next to you in the process.
So when is hunting or target shooting not considered play? Just because we may be adults now doesn’t mean the word no longer applies to us anymore. I play with my oversized 4×4 truck. I play with my boat. I play with my firearms when I’m hunting or target shooting. Hmm … does sound kind of “off” when you say play in relation to firearms. Still, it’s the same thing nonetheless – just more rules and being careful.
Darren’s post hurt to read. Grammar and punctuation be a lost’s arrt.
As for the gun/magazine setup, I don’t have a use for it, but if it floats your boat, have at it. The whole ‘why do you need one?’ attitude immediately gets you thrown out of my digs. 2nd Amendment trumps stupidity every day in my book.
Where did everyone come up with prices of $3499 to $3999 when no price was mentioned in the article? If on Benelli Website you can usually find a gun about 10% cheaper than the MSRP sometimes way cheaper than that. Just curious if was on sale by an individual or a wholesale place.
The price was on the linked page. Early in the article he has a link to the shotguns pricing page.
It’s cool and all that assuming the mech doesn’t get all buggered up with various crud out there in the real world. For that price I can buy five Mossberg 930 JM Pro 24″ Tacticals and have 50 rounds of 3″ mag at my disposal. The whole family can open up on the one guy with the circus gun at once. The family can fire the 50 rounds as fast as the circus gun can fire 10.
If someone offered it to me or it was $1,000 I would love to have one. At that $3,400 price I will arm the whole family with my beloved 930 Mossbergs instead.
uh huh. And after 10k rounds you’ll have a stack of broken Mossbergs and a Benelli that runs like a scalded dog.
Where I live (1 mile from the Mex border) there are few cell phone towers so your best bet is a phone line.
On a good day, about 20 min’s for one cop to show up and up to 30 min’s for a 2nd back up.
Most of you don’t have to deal with drug runners or MS-13 on his way home south or on his way back here.
Long story short you may need to hold out till help arrives or the drug runners mostly six at a time are all armed so I could see something like this for the house.
I do have a M2 but I have a 11Inch SBR FN FAL I carry in my truck for Emergencies but who am I to tell someone what they should use.
Has no one heard of the DP 12?
Another circus gun novelty.
Fake news..
Sweet gun
Considering the time to load/reload and the additional weight this borders on a new 3-gun category: crew-served weapons.
Awesome shotgun, but I don’t think it’s worth $3,400
You apparently do not hunt for waterfowl. Were you to take more than eight Canada geese on any given day in Canada you’ll be fined and lose your shotgun. Snow geese are likely what you’re referring to with the daily bag ranging from 20 to 50 dependent upon province.
Awesome, way to make an entry for “Dumbest Canuck to Post” award. You’re sure to be a top contender.
Hahaha. We are not call dumb. Plain ol Canada geese are like ferrel hogs up here in the True North Strong and Free. Shoot more and feed homeless shelters i say.
crowd control with poison pellets.
Kinda reminds me of the bump-stock – I have the same reaction to this thing as I did the bump-stock !! Why would anyone need this kind of capacity? For what purpose?
I agree with ya. Why? Some wacko idiot will use this in a crime and that’s what you’ll see on TV for weeks.
Yeap! Exactly what will happen.
i agree. they should have reduced the overall capacity of the weapon to maximum one shot and made it extremely time consuming to reload. after all these two advancements alone would make the weapon far more effective for killing things and or target practice. WHY DON’T YOU AND THE NRA FUCK OFF. your clearly a commie shithead!
you are truly retarted.
You are absolutely right. Now turn in your carry gun and receive a two round 380 derringer. After all, that is all you need. Thus, that is all you will ever get, forever. Until, that too, is deemed too dangerous.
Clay mentioned it more than once. The system was designed for OPEN 3 gun competition. Handgun, AR15 rifle and shotgun.
That’s exactly what I’m wandering! Play-pretty!
$3400?
If that price is accurate, how much did Clay get paid to advertise this overpriced piece of metal and plastic?
Look though I might, I failed to spot a price listed anywhere except in the reader’s comments . . . ? Looks interesting though. One could shoot a whole round of trap without having to reload. Will the one tested for the M2 fit my M1 Super 90?
i like your new shot gun. i will have to wait till the price comes down. please let me know when that will be. thanks bobby
I have. UTAS AND A KEL TEC, that hold 15 each and 25 each with mini shells. Paid 1,600 for both, not each and I would have enough $ left over to buy two more. And for you Utas haters, I don’t have problems with it. You just have to know how to shoot it. 🙂
Right there with ya Mark! Agreed!
Did you get them new or used? If new, where did you find them for that price? That’s awesome!
“Infestation of Canadian geese …”
ROTFL
Laugh all you want. Go to the Humboldt Valley in N California when the Canada geese are there grazing the dairy farmers pastures to nothing. Last time I was there, my client and I lost count at 200 something…..in one 20ac field!
way,WAY overpriced gun with or without the overpriced mag. nothing here for workin’ folks.
For that price I think I will run out and grab two of them. The little wife would like one I am sure.
Ouch! $3400 for a completed gun M2. A bit too high, but I’m sure innovation will kick in and the market will spit out alternatives driving the price point down.
Pretty cool though!
Nice they used to sell the mag for $699 and you can get the M2 for MSRP of $1449 so you could buy them separately and assemble yourself for $2148. So they now want $3399 for M2 with installed mag, and wont sell you the mag separately. OK $1251 to install mag system. In this economy? #GFY
I CAN’T Think Of A Person I Knows Of With This Much Money Just Laying Around There Able Waste On A New Toy Doesn’t Make Sense To Buy Waste just 1/2 $ On Such Of A High Price Tag What Are You Buying ? For Gun Maker Offer Shot Gun Now Today w/ Such of A Over Priced Toy w/ The Cost of Living & Taxes Lack Jobs Makes It Impossible For So Many Of Us Who Enjoys Shooting Don’t Gets Use The Guns We Already Owns If This Is The Cost I Seen in Post Above $3399 One Could Pick Up Other Semi-Auto Much Cheaper Model Shot Gun Still Offers A High Capacity There Few Guns I Seen Not Sure Names I Seen Offering 20/25Rd Drum & or 5Rd 10rd Stick Mags & You Still Has A Nice Gun Some is Chambered In 12 Ga & U Shoot 2.75” & Also The 3” Magnum w/ A Hell Of Lot Cheaper Price Tags Any Gun Cost This Much You Better Make Your Living w/ It With Today’s Market Not A Lot Folks Able Afford Those Added Cost On Ammo & Newer Added Prices On Powder Primers & Biggest Cost Is Lead Shot w/ All Time High s/h & These Added Hazmat Fees It Makes Ur Cost Vary Hi To Reloads Ur Vary Own Hammer Loads & Buying A Semi Auto Shotgun or a Rifle w/ Today Who Wants To Be Only Able Afford Buy & Shoot $0.20-0.30 Each Round For Those Cheap-O Field & Trap Small Game Loads w/ #7.5 or #8 Bird Shot 1-1/8oz Shot or Try Buying Cases of These 1 oz Slugs Ur Paying Avg $0.40-$2+ Each Shot-Shell #9 Pellet 00# & #4 Buck shot $.30-$1+ Per Rd Me Personally I Would Not Wants Gun Offer Any More 9# Rds Like my $400 Moss 590 Not #26 Rd Gun & All That Extra Added Wt It’s Vary Dumb For Any Gun Maker Now w/ Today Market Just To Come out w/ A Gun Price Tag Be So Salty Some Must has More $$ than Brains
Darren wins the prize for the longest run-on sentence on a gun-related post….EVER. Congrats!
He probably stutters a lot. Lol
Lay off the CAPS DUDE. You teased me into thinking I was getting ready to start a new sentence…but nope, just more CAPS!
No Slug & Buck dump?
Anti-gun nuts just fainted face down in their Cheerios.
I don’t personally need this, but I know stuff like this is going to drive the liberal anti Second Amendment people absolutely NUTS, which makes me LOVE it even more!
If you watch the video, he says that the main shotgun tube can be extended even more for additional capacity .
That would be 26 plus shells.
Weeee what fun! Rock n’ Roll Auto Loader Benelli
“I can hear them say”why do you need a shot gun that holds so many shells?”
Well, I remember a while back Vice President Good Ol’ Uncle Joe Biden said no one needs an AR15, all they need is a shotgun.
Well, Uncle Joe, here’s the shotgun I’d pick if I had to give up my AR15 (which won’t ever happen in my time)!