Estimated reading time: 7 minutes
Same proven M4 heart with more of what matters: a factory 7+1 tube, a 5-position collapsible stock, and a bigger bolt release. We ran it hard, ghost loaded it to nine, and logged what broke in, what didn’t, and what Benelli should still tweak.
Table of contents
- M4 EXT = Classic M4, Now With Real Capacity And Faster Controls
- Benelli M4 EXT Video
- Controls, Ergonomics, And What I’d Still Change
- Reliability, Recoil, And Break-In: What The ARGO System Delivers
- Related Reads from GunsAmerica Digest
- Capacity Math: 7+1 From The Factory, Nine With A Proper Ghost Load
- Field Notes: Sights, Stock, Safety, And Maintenance
- Benelli’s Take
- Benelli M4 EXT Specifications
- Range Verdict: Where The M4 EXT Shines
M4 EXT = Classic M4, Now With Real Capacity And Faster Controls
Benelli didn’t reinvent the M4. They finally shipped the features that serious users kept adding. The M4 EXT brings a factory 7+1 tube, a five-position collapsible stock with integrated pistol grip, and an oversized bolt release that is much easier to release. Underneath is the same ARGO dual short-stroke piston system that made the M1014 a legend. Chambering is 12 gauge for 2 3/4 and 3 inch shells. Finish choices are H2O, FDE, and Multicam Black.
Benelli M4 EXT Video
Controls, Ergonomics, And What I’d Still Change
The new bolt release is the right move. It is drilled and tapped with a large paddle that speeds reloads and remedial action. The stock’s five positions give you real LOP solutions for armor, winter layers, or vehicles. The pistol grip is rubber over-molded with enough traction to lock the gun without tearing up hands.
Two asks for the next revision: the charging handle should be less sharp (more rounded), slightly larger in diameter, and project farther so you can get a full purchase without fighting the enlarged bolt release. Also, hog the loading port a bit. Many shotguns now come from the factory with a competition-style-tuned loading port, which speeds loading or emergency topping off.
Reliability, Recoil, And Break-In: What The ARGO System Delivers
Out of the box, dry, the gun had one stumble on the very first ghost-loaded round. Probably wasn’t a fair thing to do to it. After a few tubes, the EXT smoothed out and ran flawlessly. With standard buck, slugs, and birdshot, it chugs. It did not cycle ultra-light low-recoil 980 fps birdshot. That aligns with what I’ve seen on most semi-auto shotguns. After break-in and a little oil, borderline loads often move from “almost” to “yes,” but I don’t count on gamer ammo for duty. After the very first tube, I didn’t have a single malfunction with any bird, buck, or slugs.
Benelli’s ARGO system is a self-regulating, short-stroke gas design that uses two stainless pistons mounted close to the chamber. When a shell fires, a small amount of high-pressure gas enters ports near the chamber and drives the pistons a short distance. Those pistons act directly on the bolt carrier to unlock the rotating bolt and cycle the action, then excess gas vents without user adjustments. Because the gas ports are forward and pressures are higher and cleaner at that point, carbon and fouling are reduced in the receiver compared to long gas-tube systems. The result is reliable cycling across a wide range of 12-gauge loads, minimal parts count, straightforward maintenance, and a recoil impulse that feels smooth and controlled.
Related Reads from GunsAmerica Digest
- The Benelli M4: Gas Operated Goodness
- The Benelli M4 — the Definition of Tactical
- 22 SAS and the Benelli M4 Shotgun
Capacity Math: 7+1 From The Factory, Nine With A Proper Ghost Load
Factory capacity is now 7+1. If your policy and mission set allow, the EXT will also stage one round on the lifter while you chamber another for a total of nine. Nothing protrudes past the muzzle. The shell release lever enables cruiser-ready storage with a full tube and an empty chamber.
Field Notes: Sights, Stock, Safety, And Maintenance
The rear ghost ring adjusts for windage and elevation using a shell rim. The front post has a bright white dot in the center and a metal shroud protecting it. The crossbolt safety is large and easy to off-safe with the trigger finger. Re-engaging from a firing grip requires breaking the grip for most hands. Breakdown for cleaning remains simple: unscrew the cap, slide the barrel and operating system forward, drop the single receiver pin to remove the trigger group. Cleaning is relatively simple.
Benelli’s Take
“The M3 has long been the standard by which all other tactical shotguns have been judged. Now, with enhanced capacity, greater adjustability and new colorations, the M4 continues to set the bar at the highest level for tactical shotgun performance and dependability.” — Timothy Joseph, Benelli Vice President of Marketing
Benelli M4 EXT Specifications
| Model | Benelli M4 EXT Tactical |
|---|---|
| Action | Semi-auto, ARGO gas system |
| Chamber | 12 gauge (2 3/4 and 3 inch) |
| Capacity | 7+1 (ghost load capable for 9 total) |
| Barrel Length | 18.5 in |
| Sight System | Ghost ring rear, windage-adjustable |
| Optic Compatibility | Picatinny rail |
| Stock | Telescoping, 5-position |
| Grip | Integrated pistol grip |
| Finishes | H2O, FDE, Multicam Black |
| Compliance | 922R compliant |
| Average Weight | 8.4 lbs |
| MSRP | $2,599 |
Range Verdict: Where The M4 EXT Shines
- Pros: Proven ARGO reliability with full-power ammo, factory 7+1 capacity, ghost-load friendly, five-position stock fits armor, oversized bolt release, easy fieldstrip, protected sights that print slugs on call.
- Cons: Charging handle should be bigger, loading port deserves a factory bevel, premium MSRP.
Reliability is a must and the M4 delivers. It is a proven system that passed the testing needed for adoption by the US Military and law enforcement. The gun I received got smoother the more I shot it and broke it in. I never added a drop of oil and it just ran. I still wish Benelli had milled the loading port and used a different bolt handle, but both are easy fixes for the end user. Overall, the M4 EXT is a great shotgun option from Benelli.
Available on GunsAmerica Now
As the Editor-in-Chief of GunsAmerica, Hunt365, Decoding Darkness, and Suppressor Academy, True Pearce brings a rare blend of legal expertise, competitive shooting credentials, and deep hunting knowledge to the forefront of the firearms world. A former professional sponsored 3-Gun and Multigun competitor with multiple championships and titles, True’s shooting career began in long-range and tactical sniper matches—and he still burns powder in precision competitions, now branching into Hunter NRL.
A certified firearms instructor who has trained over 10,000 students face-to-face, True has also served on both sides of the courtroom as an attorney and currently as an elected Prosecuting Attorney. He has prosecuted and defended high-profile self-defense and firearms cases, giving him a unique, real-world perspective on the Second Amendment.
Outside the courtroom and off the range, True is a true western outdoorsman. A lifelong hunter and rancher, he rides and hunts off his own string of horses and pack animals, chasing elk, mule deer, wolves, coyotes, and anything else in season. He’s a longtime reloader, producing both precision rifle ammo and, back in the day, handloading over 40,000 rounds of 9mm and 5.56 annually for competition.
He’s also a thermal and night vision expert, known for his obsession with high-end optics, and is rarely found without a camera or a guitar nearby. Whether he’s glassing a distant ridge, reviewing cutting-edge gear, or deep in legal research, True brings passion, precision, and grit to everything he does.
Experience:
– Professional Shooter – Sponsored 3-Gun & Multigun competitor with multiple titles and a foundation in long-range and sniper/tactical matches.– Firearms Instructor – Certified instructor with over 10,000 students trained face-to-face.– Elected Prosecuting Attorney – Attorney with real-world experience defending and prosecuting self-defense and gun-related cases.– Hunter & Rancher – Horseback hunter with a working ranch, passionate about elk, deer, predator, and backcountry hunting.– Reloading & Ballistics Expert – Precision reloader and former high-volume competition handloader.– Optics Authority – Known for his deep knowledge and unrelenting standards in optics, thermal, and night vision gear.– Outdoor Creative – Avid photographer, guitar player, and outdoorsman with a sharp eye for gear and storytelling.– 2A Advocate – Committed to protecting the Second Amendment and educating Americans about their rights and responsibilities.
Pardon, but what is ‘ghost-loading’?
Excuse me but these overrated over priced semi automatic shotguns that the my penis is bigger than yours crowd, raves about how fast they run when my Model 37 Ithaca Stakeout runs just as fast as necessary and it never has a problem ever, and never will, so this is all more big ball BS from a manufacturer pandering to that group of morons!
Vey nice Benelli but the price is not !