Interesting training day

pete80 · December 13, 1999, 02:44 PM

I recently accompanied a certain Southern California municipal SWAT team on a shotgun training day. This particular unit just acquired new Benelli M1 Super 90 Entry guns. With a barrel length of 14", the guns handled extremely well in CQ environments. All M1's were fitted with 3 point slings, side saddles and Sure-Fire tac lights. Very sweet package.

The Federal 00 buckshot was full power and generated a lot of recoil in those little guns. Target aquistion was extremely quick with the rifle sights. Double taps at 7 yards was even quicker. The Benelli held an extremely tight group with the 12 pellet 00 buckshot load. At 25 yards, the gun I shot produced two fliers, with 10 staying center of mass. After 50 rounds of buck, we moved to slugs. At 50 yards the gun was low, shooting Winchester 1 oz rifled slug (1600fps?). Still good enough for center of mass shooting.

The most interesting part came with the practical application shooting. The instructor loaded up his M1 with buckshot and engaged a hostage target at 10 yards. He printed a 5 or 6 shot pattern on the hostage takers exposed head. The remaining pellets were off target. He stressed before you engage a hostage taker with your shotgun, you must be dead certain of the backdrop and the range from you and your target. This tactic was intended for a do or die situation in which the operator has no other option but to engage with his weapon at hand (in this case, it was the Benelli). It was pretty amazing to see someone engage a hostage taker with a shotgun. Before, if someone had said that they could end a hostage situation with a scattergun, I would have laughed. I really felt privileged to have been able to train with this team and to finally shoot a Benelli.

BTW, that little bastard kicks with slugs!

Sea Bass · December 13, 1999, 04:11 PM

Hey Pete80...did that SWAT team have any problems w/ the mounting of the side saddle's. I've heard that the side saddle affect the cycling action of the Benelli's because it tightens up the receiver area? I was going to get one for my Benelli but instead got a ext. mag tube.

pete80 · December 14, 1999, 01:24 AM

One operator did question the instructor about the side saddle/recoil action problem. The instructors response was that you must shoulder the weapon properly (shooting from the hip or other methods is not good with S.S. mounted) or tuck the buttstock with your armpit when firing from the hip. If the weapon does not have a sturdy backstop (your shoulder or some other part of your body) the action may fail to cycle shells.

pete80 · December 14, 1999, 01:25 AM

BTW, if you do mount a side saddle and tac-light, run full power loads through your gun just to insure full function.

Sea Bass · December 14, 1999, 02:31 AM

I did have some cycling problems w/ light field loads on my Benelli. I think it was 2 1/4 dram loads. I do have a Surefire light on it.

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December 13, 1999, 02:44 PM	#1
pete80 Senior Member Join Date: July 4, 1999 Posts: 454	I recently accompanied a certain Southern California municipal SWAT team on a shotgun training day. This particular unit just acquired new Benelli M1 Super 90 Entry guns. With a barrel length of 14", the guns handled extremely well in CQ environments. All M1's were fitted with 3 point slings, side saddles and Sure-Fire tac lights. Very sweet package. The Federal 00 buckshot was full power and generated a lot of recoil in those little guns. Target aquistion was extremely quick with the rifle sights. Double taps at 7 yards was even quicker. The Benelli held an extremely tight group with the 12 pellet 00 buckshot load. At 25 yards, the gun I shot produced two fliers, with 10 staying center of mass. After 50 rounds of buck, we moved to slugs. At 50 yards the gun was low, shooting Winchester 1 oz rifled slug (1600fps?). Still good enough for center of mass shooting. The most interesting part came with the practical application shooting. The instructor loaded up his M1 with buckshot and engaged a hostage target at 10 yards. He printed a 5 or 6 shot pattern on the hostage takers exposed head. The remaining pellets were off target. He stressed before you engage a hostage taker with your shotgun, you must be dead certain of the backdrop and the range from you and your target. This tactic was intended for a do or die situation in which the operator has no other option but to engage with his weapon at hand (in this case, it was the Benelli). It was pretty amazing to see someone engage a hostage taker with a shotgun. Before, if someone had said that they could end a hostage situation with a scattergun, I would have laughed. I really felt privileged to have been able to train with this team and to finally shoot a Benelli. BTW, that little bastard kicks with slugs!

December 13, 1999, 04:11 PM	#2
Sea Bass Senior Member Join Date: December 11, 1999 Location: CA Posts: 176	Hey Pete80...did that SWAT team have any problems w/ the mounting of the side saddle's. I've heard that the side saddle affect the cycling action of the Benelli's because it tightens up the receiver area? I was going to get one for my Benelli but instead got a ext. mag tube.

December 14, 1999, 01:24 AM	#3
pete80 Senior Member Join Date: July 4, 1999 Posts: 454	One operator did question the instructor about the side saddle/recoil action problem. The instructors response was that you must shoulder the weapon properly (shooting from the hip or other methods is not good with S.S. mounted) or tuck the buttstock with your armpit when firing from the hip. If the weapon does not have a sturdy backstop (your shoulder or some other part of your body) the action may fail to cycle shells.

December 14, 1999, 01:25 AM	#4
pete80 Senior Member Join Date: July 4, 1999 Posts: 454	BTW, if you do mount a side saddle and tac-light, run full power loads through your gun just to insure full function.

December 14, 1999, 02:31 AM	#5
Sea Bass Senior Member Join Date: December 11, 1999 Location: CA Posts: 176	I did have some cycling problems w/ light field loads on my Benelli. I think it was 2 1/4 dram loads. I do have a Surefire light on it.