New from Benelli: Compact Versions of M2 Field in 12- & 20-Gauge

Let’s get one thing straight: “youth models” of rifles and shotguns are safer than “adult” versions for women, smaller men and children. They are much easier to safely hold, carry and shoot than “over-sized” firearms. The fact that an irresponsible gun owner let their child have access to a loaded firearm without adult supervision—a story that’s fired-up the gun grabbing community—does not change this fact. That said, Benellli’s at the NRA introducing their Compact Versions of M2 Field in 12- & 20-Gauge. As you’d expect, they’re not cheap, both in terms of construction or price. But asking a smaller shooter to use an ill-fitting shotgun with uncontrollable recoil is like asking Dudley Moore to marry Susan Anton. Only worse. Press release after the jump.

Benelli Offers Compact Versions of M2 Field in 12- & 20-Gauge

ACCOKEEK, MD (January 15, 2013) — Benelli’s venerable “workhorse,” the rugged and reliable M2 Field is now offered in a Compact model available in both 12 and 20-gauges, specifically designed for small-statured and young shooters. The M2 Compact features a short stock complete with ComforTech® and a gel butt pad ergonomically designed to fit the shoulder. The M2 Compact also comes with a set of shims for adjusting the buttstock’s drop and cast. Benelli’s M2 Compact 12-gauge comes in a 26-inch barrel and the 20-gauge model comes with a 24-inch barrel.

Compact guns, when properly designed integrate form and function in order to provide the perfect gun for small-statured and young shooters. These scaled-down guns are important because they play a key role in establishing how a smaller-framed shooter or beginner safely and effectively handles guns. In many cases, compact guns provide the first hands-on shooting experience for a learning shooter, and as such, that experience will influence their future participation in the shooting sports. The main feature of a compact gun, and which, determines its proper fit for a shooter is a shorter buttstock. This is what provides the shorter length-of-pull (LOP), enabling small shooters to enjoy and participate in all types of shooting sports, from hunting to clay target games. When the time is appropriate, a full-size buttstock can be fitted to the M2 Compact.

“Typically a youth’s gun is considered to have just a short stock in a sub-gauge, but the M2 Compact available in both 20 and 12-gauge will serve small statured shooters in every type of shooting or hunting endeavor,” said Stephen McKelvain, Benelli USA’s VP of Marketing. “Our customers asked and we responded with a gun that will serve beginner shooters as well as those that just need a gun to fit better.”

M2 Compact 12-Gauge

COMMON SPECIFICATIONS: Magazine Capacity: 3+1 Crio® Chokes: C,IC,M,IM,F Sights: Red bar front sight Length of Pull: 13⅛” Drop at Heel: 2⅛” Drop at Comb: 1½” (Includes shim kit to adjust drop and cast). Overall length: 46.25” Weight: 7 lbs. Minimum Recommended Load: Use 3-dram, 1-⅛-oz. loads in all Benelli 12-ga. semi-auto shotguns. MSRP: $1359

M2 Compact 20-Gauge

COMMON SPECIFICATIONS: Magazine Capacity: 3+1 Crio® Chokes: C,IC,M,IM,F Sights: Red bar front sight Length of Pull: 13⅛” Drop at Heel: 2⅛” Drop at Comb: 1½” (Includes shim kit to adjust drop and cast). Overall length: 44” Weight: 5.8 lbs Minimum Recommended Load: Use 2-½-dram, ⅞-oz. loads in all Benelli 20-ga. semi-auto shotguns. MSRP: $1409