Home Forums Birds & Dogs Shotguns Benelli M2 chokes and shims

Just acquired a Benelli M2 12g. It’s a field grade 24” barrel. Used shotgun although looks unfired to me. Only received one choke, a flush Improved Cylinder. Other chokes that would have been included are missing as are the shims.

My use will be primarily field, mostly buckshot for coyotes. I might also use the shotgun for informal trap and three gun on occasion.

Before contacting Benelli to purchase additional chokes (and possibly shims) I wondered if they are any good or should I just explore aftermarket chokes. Opinions and thoughts welcome as are any offers for me to buy unused/unneeded Crio chokes and appropriate shims.

Rob

Yes, the Benelli Crio Plus choke system is very good. They are nice and long and pattern very well.

Regarding OEM Benelli flush tubes: I am not sure you can buy OEM Crio Plus 12g tubes. I see the 20g OEM tubes, but not 12g. Looks like the 12g flush chokes from ShopBenelli, they are made by Trulock. Briley makes flush Crio Plus tubes, too, and they look more like the OEM choke tubes than the Trulocks. Either are probably good to go as both Trulock and Briley make really good products.

Regarding extended tubes: I have extended Carlson, Trulock and Briley tubes for my M2 12 gauge and they pattern very well.

Whether you buy OEM flush or extended, or aftermarket chokes from Carlons, Trulock or Briley, you will get good tubes.

Thank you for the reply. Bought this without much knowledge. Price was right. Did not understand that my Beretta chokes were different. Once I figured that out I was further confused regarding the difference between Crio and Crio plus chokes. Pretty sure I understand now what will work and am on the hunt.

Shot around 50 today. Mix of factory and hand loads. Went very well except for some of my roll crimped 3” loads. They were too long. Patterns were OK with the IC. Hope to get them tighter at longer distances with other chokes.

First experience with inertia shotgun. Never really considered one nor paid much attention to others who shot them. Liking this one so far. Hope to get more chokes and the shims to get it right for my use.

Agree with getting the stock shims. They have them on eBay, if that's a viable option for you. Enjoy your very nice shotgun!

The Crio and Crio Plus thing is a bit confusing. This is from the Muller choke tube website:

- Benelli models that accept Beretta/Benelli Mobil Chokes: M1, M3, M4, Black Eagle I, Legacy, Montifeltro, Nova and Super Nova.

- Benelli models that accept Crio chokes: a few Super Sporting guns made between 2006/2007 (threads flush with muzzle).

- Benelli Models that accept Crio Plus chokes: all guns made from 2008 to present EXCEPT for M4, Nova & Super Nova, which still all accept Benelli Standard chokes.

- Benelli Models that accept Beretta Optima Plus chokes: Benelli/Briley Special Edition Super Sport (.733 bore).

Crio and Crio Plus are about the same length. On the Crio, the threads are at the muzzle. On the Crio Plus, the threads are in the center of the choke. It even more confusing because some choke companies just refer to Crio Plus as Crio, and technically they aren't the same. But crio hasn't been made in awhile. And everything I've seen from the aftermarket choke makers that are referred to as Crio are actually Crio Plus.

The various internet forums don't help. I've seen it claimed that you can use Crio Plus in Crio barrels. Nope. But you MAY be able to use Crio Plus in Mobil barrels if you don't mind the choke sticking way past the end of the barrel.

Here is a pic showing the chokes above. Your M2 to takes Crio Plus.

So I bought some Kaw Valley Precision chokes for the M2. Limited search of reviews online produced limited results. Seem positive though. Looking forward to receiving and will report results. Still need shims, continuing that search.
Thanks again for the help and advise.

Rob

Make sure you know which stock you have. The regular stock and the "Comfort Tech" stock take different shims.




Comfort Tech top, regular polymer stock bottom


This is what the Comfort Tech looks like:
https://www.benelliusa.com/resources/comfortech

From the link you provided mine compares to the comfort tech. Has the angled line of rubber inserts, removable cheek piece and improved recoil pad. Thanks for the explanation. Looking for a set now.

Rob

The Benelli M2 with the Comfor Tech stock comes with 4 drop shims and 2 drop lock plates, in addition to what is already installed.

The gun comes with a drop shim and cast shim and a compatable lock plate installed. In a new M2, the following is installed: the C drop shim, DX cast shim, and C DX drop plate. If you flip the DX cast shim over, it becomes the SX cast shim. The intalled drop plate is C DX and Z SX one side, and C SX and Z DX on thew other.

The included drop shims are Z, A, B and D.

The drop lock plate are:
1) A DX/B SX on side one, and A SX/B DX on side two.
2) D DX on side one, and D SX on side two.

Before you buy any shims or plates, see what is already installed on your gun. They may have been changed out by the previous owner already and there's no need to buy what you already have.

It might be a little spendy, but they all seem to be available individually on ShopBenelli.

Here is a good video on how to pair them up. On my first Benelli, there was not so much as a hint in the manuals that came with the guns stating how to pair them up. I know now, but it was a mystery early on, with all those letters and offset holes. Now it seems intuitive, but early on it was confusing as hell.

That video was very helpful. Many years ago I bought a new 391 Parallel Target (still have and shoot it occasionally) and recall experimenting with shims. If memory serves I got it close then had an adjustable butt and the comb cut. Never messed with shims again, just worked with those two modifications. Rod Stumbo did the work at one of the Ohio State Trap Shoots. I see Benelli offers a few comb and butt replacements of varying sizes. Quite pricey though.

I digress. Discovered this one has the “B” drop shim, “DX” cast shim and “B DX” plate installed. Also has the “Comfort Stock”. ShopBenelli lists replacements for the plates (metal) and drop shims(raised nubs), don’t see anything for the cast shims (thin w/holes)offered. Assuming there is only one type of these.

Shouldering I can see straight down the rib although when I press and lock my cheek down as I would shooting trap the front sight almost disappears. If I shoulder quickly as I might shooting sporting clays the barrel points to my left and the rib is fine.

I believe my competitive Trap days are behind me although I do enjoy a few rounds now and then and some “games”. Might get out to shoot more Sporting once retired. Primarily this was purchased for hunting coyotes and occasional informal 3 Gun. Uses may expand from there once I get more comfortable and familiar.

Looking around online it seems this one was made in 2019 (“CU”code). Interesting that it has the Comfort Stock as most retailers pics and even the Benelli site don’t show the M2’s so fitted. Other info describes the M2’s w/o the Comfort Stock as the American type. A bit confusing as to what specific model this one is or did the previous owner swap but stocks at some point. I doubt the later as the shotgun appears unused.

So, I have a Nordic +6 and three KVP ext. chokes on the way. Also a flush Benelli Cylinder choke to try with the included IC. My understanding of the shims is better. Thinking I’d like to try an “A” drop shim at some point. Also wondering if the thin “cast” shim (holes) is the only one available adjusting specifically for left or right handed shooters.

Rob

P.S. Here is a pic of what I have. Ignore the notes.

I have not seen any other cast shims other than the ones supplied with the gun. Keep in mind, the end plates are specific to THAT cast shim. If you come up with a shim that provides for more cast, you will need a compatible endplate. There's not a whole lot of room to move the end plate hole anymore to the edge. Not saying there aren't any, I just haven't seen any.