Benelli M1 Charging handle.... options?

[Sim G]

There's a nice little market in Benelli charging handles......... At Phoenix I asked on the Midway stand if they had any amongst the shotgun bits. He reckoned they'd brought 25 and sold them all on the first day. Could be bollox, or could be very lucrative....

[ovenpaa]

They look OK build wise so now I just need to come up with a design that is pleasing and functional and at a realistic price.

[Blackstuff]

Could be interest in this Dave I bought a replacement enlarged one but i had to do some major dremelling just to get it to fit I installed it at the same time as i put a new shell lifter plate in which turned my M2 into a straight-pull shotgun :cool2: so removed the new handle and got the shell lifter sorted. Had never put the bigger handle back on and have been running the stock part for the last few years. Coincidentally i retried the aftermarket handle on my M2 at a comp yesterday and it was fine apart from the last stage where it caused the gun to misfeed 3 times so if you can get a good one going i'd have one! Not sure if the M1 and M2 use the same design though . . .

[ovenpaa]

Mark, if you have a spare handle you can measure I can see if there are any differences between the M1 and M2. I assume bigger is better and with a knurled finish?

[Blackstuff]

I'll have a measure tonight and let you know.

Personally i'd rather the handle be long and thin(ish), rather than a big drum type. I just need it long enough yo get a finger on it while avoiding my extended bolt release

This is the standard 'ear' shaped one;





This is the enlarged one i put on mine;



I think you have to be careful with the amount of weight the handle has as any additional mass can interfere with the Benelli interia recoil system

[Sim G]

28 gram 71/2's?!! Get a proper load in there, ya girl!!!!

Mark, what make is the bolt handle you've got there? I've been looking for something like that for mine. I've got the M2 Practical that has a long, thinish handle........ Wanna swap?

[Sim G]

And, did you have the old shell lifter welded up, or replaced?

[Blackstuff]

Me being a cheapskate is the reason for the 28g #7.5 loads, i loves the recoil i tells yer! :lol:

I have no idea what brand the bolt handle is, i bought it from an online US site along with the extended bolt release about 3 years ago and i've not been able find out who they were ever since :roll: :cool2:

I replaced the shell lifter initially but that one developed a crack on the weld, still perfectly servicable and it stays in my 'spares' pile, but i replaced that with the original one which i got welded up then trimmed down myself.

[Bunnyassassin]

SimG, I have one coming from the OP so it should be covered thanks.

Posted at 5am this morning, should be with you in the morning....

[ovenpaa]

Very good, I will get it measured up and no doubt ask some questions after..