Posted on 11/26/2007 9:14:50 PM PST by damondonion
I'm looking at something here which would cause me a certain amount of consternation, to say the least, if I were a person involved in procuring firearms for any sort of military organization:
That is Beretta's ultimate hunting shotgun, called the Xtrema. As far as I can tell, it appears to be a solid ton more sophisticated than any millitary firearm I'm aware of.
For starters, it's gas operated and very fast compared to semiauto shotguns of 30 years ago; you can't get ahead of it trying to pull the trigger fast. It totally solves the basic problem which the M16 attempted to solve without the side effects inherent in the M16. The gas piston is very light and only moves an inch and a half or two inches and THROWS the bolt carrier back rather than pushing it. In other words, not enough moving weight to affect accuracy.
Powder residue doesn't get back to the bolt or bolt carrier and the thing is advertised as self-cleaning and it's close to that. The piston actually has a ring like engine pistons and the ring inserts easily into the cylinder it moves in without tools.
The system includes a heavy spring bleedoff valve and adjusts automatically for loads i.e. you can shoot geese with it one day and quail or skeets the next without changing anything other than the ammo you're using. I don't know of any military weapon which can do that.
It's hardened against salt spray and water of any sort so that you can sit there shooting ducks off the Atlantic shore all day long and it doesn't hurt it.
They appear to be selling this item off at cost or not much more than that on gunbroker and auctionarms. My own guess would be that large Beretta dealers make their money on skeet/traps guns costing 5K - 30K and have to take a certain number of the less expensive guns including the Xtrema with the others, and then sell the cheaper guns off on auctions.
Even family members?
Nope, not them.
They're kinfolks.
Some things never go out of style.
You must drive like I do...
As I mentioned, the Xtrema can do a couple of things the others can’t do, regardless of who’s shooting them. One is kill geese with 3.5” shells one day and then shoot skeets the next without adjusting the gun in any way; another is lay at the bottom of a pond for two days and then work flawlessly or survive a day in salt spray without damage.
Comes with five chokes, C, IC, M, IM, and full, all steel capable although they tell you not to use the two IM and full with steel shot.
Ditto on the Benelli. I’ve got two of the H&K badged model M1 Super90s. There is no better defensive/tactical shotgun made IMHO.
Mark
My guess is that the Benelli M4 wouldn't have been the choice of the USMC and others if it couldn't do the same or more. Although I'll allow it might not handle the 3.5" shells. That's okay by me. The tradeoff is the collapsible stock on the M4 makes it easier in tight quarters like clearing rooms and such. Does the Xtrema come with a collapsible stock as an option? Does it offer Ghost Ring sights? How about a sling? I like to carry my Benelli slung muzzle down for a faster mount. But one needs a sling if one has to transition quickly to a sidearm for any reason.
What appears to be the case is that the Benelli the MC has adopted is not the normal inertia system Benelli uses for hunting guns but a gas system like that of the Beretta.
I want to thank you for not claiming the pictures as your own. I wish more posters were like you.
It’d be stupid to do so, since I have posted pics of my own before. :P It’s just that I couldn’t find it on my site. :P
They will not run superlight loads, but for any high brass, buckshot or slug, they are faster and more reliable than gas guns.
The USMC M4/1014 uses the ARGO gas system, because the USMC required a capability to fire non/less-lethal (light) loads, specifically riot control agents. Easy with a pump gun, tougher with a semiauto. It's a fine combat shotgun, but more complex than necessary.
For the majority of tactical/lethal applications, the current M2 is the heat.
Only advantage of the Saiga is reloading speed, which is useful but not decisive.
Extrema is sweet but has more parts to fail, more parts to clean, and a slower cyclic rate than Benelli's inertia system.
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