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Posted: 11/11/2015 11:49:06 PM EDT
| Is it possible to Ghost Load a Benelli M3? |
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Yes, but for some reason I recall it being just a little more difficult to do than my M1 - like I had to press down harder on the shell on the lifter or something as it didn't seem to clear as much. Both were preban examples, so I don't know if later M3s had the bolt slot cut like the later M1s to prevent the ghost loading. Used them back in the '90s for multigun - stopped using the M3 due to its lack of chokes, and I'd moved on to other shotguns before I got around to getting it cut for chokes.
Don't have it handy to take pics or do again, but I'm sure I did it. It was also cool to use in pump class matches. It's the only pump gun I'm aware of that the bolt locked back on an empty chamber so you never got the unsettling "click" when you ran dry like with normal pump guns. 
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Quoted:
Yes, but for some reason I recall it being just a little more difficult to do than my M1 - like I had to press down harder on the shell on the lifter or something as it didn't seem to clear as much. Both were preban examples, so I don't know if later M3s had the bolt slot cut like the later M1s to prevent the ghost loading. Used them back in the '90s for multigun - stopped using the M3 due to its lack of chokes, and I'd moved on to other shotguns before I got around to getting it cut for chokes. Don't have it handy to take pics or do again, but I'm sure I did it. It was also cool to use in pump class matches. It's the only pump gun I'm aware of that the bolt locked back on an empty chamber so you never got the unsettling "click" when you ran dry like with normal pump guns.
If it has an anti-ghost load notch, you can grind one side so it will not catch. There's a YouTube video detailing the process. |
| Beretta did this with their later-imported 1201FPs. Although they didn't have to, they crimped the mag tube to only hold 5 shells, and then modified the lifter to prevent ghost-loading. Their reasoning had to do with their 1201s being able to accept a pistol-grip stock, and this was during the AWB years. |
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Quoted:
Why would a company make an anti ghost load notch? 1. While possible, I I think the company didn't want to deal with any issues from people doing it improperly. 2. Hunting, puts you one over the limit of warefoul with a 3 plug limit. That would be the big reason. |
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ARMALITE-FAN nailed it on the manufacturer redesigning to prevent ghost loading. The Benelli SBEs were really popular for a while due to hunters feeling they were getting one over by being able to load 4 shells total when they were limited to 3 per hunting regulations (mag plugged to hold 2, and then one in the chamber). Problem was the game wardens figured that out in short order and at least locally busted even hunters who had SBEs but didn't even know about ghost loading - it didn't matter they weren't aware of it as their guns were capable of holding more than 3 rounds. I had several hunters wanting me to be on the lookout for ghost-loadable SBEs in my travels and I was advising them against it without plugging appropriately.
Benellis after a certain date had the cross slot cut in the underside of the bolt that prevents ghost loading. Originally folks would weld up the slot and mill/grind to smooth, but then they figured that proper chamfering/ramping of the slot did the same thing. Both are options for "fixing" if you happen to have one. I've seen M1s done that way, and would assume that M3s were similarly cut, but just don't know personally if so - the few I've handled were pre-'89 guns. To address another previous comment, the '89 import ban is what drove Beretta and others to the 5 round magazine limit - doesn't matter if it had a PG stock or not, >5 rounds imported was bad. The Benellis came with 4 round tubes before addition of an extension (or complete tube in the case of the M3 as mine was a solid 7-rounder) so even ghost-loaded they'd not exceed the 5 rounds in a magazine (I don't think that was explicitly designed in them as their base tubes were always 4-rounders). |
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Quoted:
1. While possible, I I think the company didn't want to deal with any issues from people doing it improperly. 2. Hunting, puts you one over the limit of warefoul with a 3 plug limit. That would be the big reason. Quoted:
Quoted:
Why would a company make an anti ghost load notch? 1. While possible, I I think the company didn't want to deal with any issues from people doing it improperly. 2. Hunting, puts you one over the limit of warefoul with a 3 plug limit. That would be the big reason. This On a related note... I never understood the real case since this gunsmith was not "hunting" or loading the guns for his customers, Must have been more to it...but take a look at this from 2010 (happened just a few miles from me) Gunsmith modifying guns for ghost loading |
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I think the "more to it" is that this gunsmith accepted an ill-advised plea bargain. The state would've had to prove intent regarding his knowledge of his customers' intent, which (unless they had a recorded statement or something) is a massive burden. This sounds sketchy too... "Problem was the game wardens figured that out in short order and at least locally busted even hunters who had SBEs but didn't even know about ghost loading - it didn't matter they weren't aware of it as their guns were capable of holding more than 3 rounds." Anyway, I like "ghost loading" and routinely use it to cram 7 shells into my 14" M1 Entry. I recently picked up a used M3 with the anti-notch, and it will be rendered "ghost load capable". As a gunsmith, I would have zero concern with modifying a customer's gun to add this capability, unless they told me they intended to use the feature against waterfowl, of course. lol |
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