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By Jeff Johnston, Senior Editor

   It’s established that Benelli makes great semi-auto shotguns. They are based on the company’s incredible inertia action that requires only three primary moving parts to function. Compared to gas- and recoil-operated actions, it has fewer parts to break, and because gases and residue are kept within the chamber and barrel, it’s cleaner than other semi-auto shotguns, a trait that increases its reliability. In essence, I believe this inertia-type action is superior for semi-auto shotguns.
   Over the last 15 years, Benelli has offered this action surrounded by various configurations. Each one specializes in purpose, from the do-it-all Super Black Eagle to the yuppyish Montefeltro Legacy. The company’s latest is the M2 Field ComforTech, a versatile, lightweight 12- or 20-gauge gun intended for the dove or quail hunter who doesn’t care as much about a gun’s aesthetics as its ability to fire quickly and reliably with minimal recoil.
   Lately we’ve noticed an industry craze: taking a proven gun design and placing as many plastic gizmos on it as it can hold, calling it “extreme” and charging more. The M2’s styling is fairly radical with its Batman-esk, black-on-matte-black flair. I can take or leave the futuristic look, but unlike the current spate of good-looking gimmicks, Benelli’s ComforTech stock offers tangible benefits to the hunter.
Molded plastic stocks (as opposed to Kevlar or carbon-fiber) are easier, less timely and less expensive to manufacture than wood. But if one doesn’t mind the lack of personality, plastic stocks (appealingly called “synthetic” by marketers) have advantages over wood.    Synthetic stocks are impervious to elements and they’re stronger and lighter. But with the ComforTech offered on the M2 Field, Benelli has created a stock that offers the additional advantages of a semi-customizable fit and recoil mitigation.

   The ComforTech system is comprised of three components: An interchangeable recoil pad molded to fit the shoulder pocket (various thicknesses alter length of pull); an interchangeable strip of gel-filled rubber rides atop the comb to soften blows to the cheek; and a series of gel inserts placed strategically along the buttstock is touted to dissipate recoil waves before they reach your shoulder. The company claims this system reduces recoil by 48 percent over the competition. I cannot prove or disprove this figure (although Benelli’s supporting methodology is worth looking at on its website). Keep in mind the term “perceived recoil” is a marketer’s dream. Perceived recoil, by definition, is what the shooter feels, or, more accurately, what he thinks he feels, and therefore is very subjective.
   So how does the M2 Field feel to me? Well, Benelli is not immune to physics, but the ComforTech definitely dulls recoil’s bite, much like a pillow softens your sleep or the way a soft recoil pad is easier on your shoulder than a hard one. By how much? Ten percent?    Probably. Twenty percent? Maybe. Thirty? I don’t know. What I can tell you is that by my perception, the M2 Field ComforTech is one of the lightest-recoiling shotguns on the market. This fact is made even more significant when you consider that the 20-gauge gun weighs only 5.8 pounds.

Even at a mere 5.8 pounds, the 20-gauge M2 Field is one of the lightest-recoiling shotguns on the market. Three days after receiving 12 stitches on his temple, the author fired 5,000 rounds with no problems.

   For doves it is an absolute dream, and to this I can testify. Last year I opted to use the M2 for a shoot in Cordoba, Argentina, where 2,000 shots per day is a possibility. I will not tell you how many doves I shot for fear of being exposed as a game hog and a bad shot, but I averaged 1,000 rounds per day, for five days. I did this with 12 stitches on my right temple three days after surgery. My doctor and I feared such a pounding would cause the wound to inflame or burst the stitches altogether. But the 20-gauge M2 was incredibly gentle on my face, and I had no problems. Had I chosen another gun, the outcome may have been much different.
   Like some of Benelli’s newer shotguns, the M2 sports a few features the company thinks significant enough to warrant trademarks. I’ve mentioned its action, which has been branded “Inertia Driven.” It’s fast, clean and reliable—during my entire Argentina hunt the M2 Field never had even one jam! Its AirTouch checkering pattern on the grip is touted to be superior for gripping the gun when wet, but it is really just another name for hashes cut into plastic. It is better than the alternative—slick plastic—but it’s hardly revolutionary. What is nifty is the new stock’s addition of studs for a sling. Additionally, a set of shims comes with the gun to alter the stock’s drop and cast. If time is taken to remove the stock and insert the proper shim for your body, this feature is very advantageous for wingshooters.
   The M2’s barrel and choke tubes are dubbed the Crio-System. They are cryogenically treated (frozen to minus 300 degrees). I’ve read some studies that report this may relieve stress points in metals, but Benelli also says it makes their guns pattern better. I can’t vouch for this, as I never had a problem with patterns of non-crio-treated barrels.
   The M2 Field was designed for upland hunting. Indeed, it is a quail hunter’s delight because it is light—I can carry it in one hand, all day long. It’s weight-back balance makes it desirable for point shooting, and it holds three rounds in the magazine. Considering its minimal weight, low recoil and stock-adjustment system, it’s also great for women and kids. With its five choke tubes, 3-inch chamber and proven reliability, I wouldn’t hesitate to recommend it for any practical shotgun use, including waterfowling, turkey and deer hunting, sporting clays and even home defense.