Benelli M2

About the Benelli M2

The Benelli M2 is a semi-automatic shotgun manufactured by Benelli Armi SpA of Urbino, Italy. Introduced in 2004 as the successor to the Benelli M1 Super 90, the M2 is built around Benelli's signature inertia-driven operating system, which relies on the kinetic energy of recoil rather than gas to cycle the action. A two-piece bolt with an internal inertia spring momentarily stays in place when the shotgun recoils; the compressed spring then drives the bolt rearward to eject the spent shell and strip a fresh round from the tubular magazine. This elegantly simple mechanism has only three operating parts, making the M2 exceptionally lightweight, easy to clean, and reliable across a wide range of ammunition from light field loads to heavy 3-inch magnums. The M2 is available in 12 and 20 gauge, with barrel lengths ranging from 14 inches (Entry model, LE/military only) to 28 inches (Field models). ComforTech models feature Benelli's progressive comfort recoil reduction system with gel cheek pad and sorbothane chevrons in the buttstock, reducing felt recoil by up to 48%. The M2 has become one of the most popular semi-automatic shotguns for competitive 3-gun shooting, upland hunting, waterfowl, and law enforcement due to its light weight, fast cycling, and proven reliability.

The Benelli M2's inertia-driven system traces back to Bruno Civolani's original 1967 patent that launched Benelli Armi as a firearms company. Exhibition shooter Tom Knapp made the M2 famous by breaking 10 hand-thrown clay targets in just 2.2 seconds, a feat that became one of the most-watched shooting videos on the internet.

Benelli M2 specifications

The M2's inertia system is fundamentally different from the ARGO gas system used in the Benelli M4. The inertia system has fewer moving parts and does not vent gas into the action, keeping the internals cleaner. However, it requires a minimum recoil impulse to cycle, meaning extremely light loads may not reliably operate the action. The M2 Speed and 3-Gun variants are specifically tuned for competition use with enlarged loading ports, oversized controls, and extended magazine tubes. Exhibition shooter Tom Knapp famously used a Benelli M2 with an extended magazine to break 10 clay targets thrown simultaneously in 2.2 seconds. The Crio barrel treatment involves cryogenically freezing the barrel to relieve stress in the steel, improving pattern consistency.