Benelli M1014

The Benelli M1014 is the civilian version of the shotgun the US Marine Corps fields under that same designation. Benelli offers it as a close match to the service gun, right down to an engraved United States flag on the receiver. Benelli's M4 family runs on the ARGO system, short for Auto-Regulating Gas-Operated. It uses two short-stroke pistons to cycle the action, and Benelli builds it to handle a wide range of 12-gauge loads.

This is a 12 gauge that takes both 2 3/4-inch and 3-inch shells, with a 5+1 capacity. The 18.5-inch barrel has a phosphate finish and a fixed Modified choke, and the receiver is anodized black.

The feature that sets the M1014 apart from the standard M4 Tactical is its stock. Benelli fits a black synthetic skeletonized stock with a pistol grip and a removable cheekpiece, the look many people know from the service shotgun. Length of pull is 14 3/8 inches, with 1 1/2 inches drop at comb and 2 1/4 inches drop at heel.

The sights are adjustable ghost-ring rear and front sights, and Benelli offers tritium inserts as an option. A Picatinny rail sits on top of the receiver, which is also drilled and tapped, so mounting a red dot is simple.

The M1014 is 40 inches long and weighs about 8 pounds. That weight helps it stay steady through a string of shots and soaks up recoil.

If you want a shotgun with a real Marine Corps connection, built the way the service gun looks, the M1014 is the most direct way to own one. It pairs naturally with the M4 Tactical or with modern service rifles in a collection.