BigPsy

DMAC, I'm a little late to this party, but I too like JT's optic mount. Is it up high enough to allow removal of the upper receiver cover without having to remove the optic mounting bracket? --Gene

Now that just looks silly. Above comments aside, having a mag tube extend that far beyond the barrel just isn't right. You need a barrel from www.quietgun.com to match it. --Gene

After researching this and similar issues extensively in preparation for putting together an open gun, 10 rounds in the magazine is the maximum, as is 10+1 total (not 10 in the mag, 1 in the chamber, and 1 on the loading gate of a suitable Benelli). Somewhere on this board is a reference to building an open gun that will hold 11 in the mag tube, and using a magazine limiter to limit to 10 rounds for USPSA matches, so you don't accidentally load 11 and get disqualified. --Gene

I've been shooting USPSA matches and Trap/Skeet/Sporting Clays for years, but am just now really joining the two in a 3-gun match. I've done lots of reading here, and have come up with the following plan/reasoning for an Open Benelli M2 field gun: USPSA allow 10+1 in open, while SMM3G has no capacity limits in Open. Those are the two sets of rules that govern local matches around here. While "more rounds in the mag is always better" is tried and true USPSA reasoning <g>, I just don't see the reasoning in having a mag tube hanging out several inches beyond the barrel. If we want the quick swinging and maneuverability of a short-barreled shotgun, having 6" of loaded mag tube sticking out past the end of the barrel is about the same as having a 6" longer barrel, thus offsetting the alleged gains of a shorter barrel, right? And if I'm going to misjudge something and slam the end of my gun laterally into a port edge, I'd rather hit that edge with a steel barrel than an aluminum extended mag tube. So, with all that in mind, it seems that I want a gun that will hold 10 rounds in the mag tube, with a barrel mostly flush with that. By my read, that is a Nordic Components +7 tube, for a total magazine length of 26.723", which could then be coupled with a 26" barrel with an extended choke of 3/4" or so to bring it out to flush with the mag tube. That being said, I'm not seeing many references to 26" barrels (mostly 24"), so what am I missing? I can buy either one at my local gunshop, so before I spend a $1000+ on the wrong barrel length, tell me what part of the puzzle I'm missing or misinterpreting. Thanks! --Gene