Benelli MR1: Not Actually an AR15!
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- Опубликовано: 12 сен 2024
- The MR-1 is a recently introduced 5.56mm tactical black rifle from Benelli, which is remarkably not an AR15 or AR18 in disguise. Instead, Benelli took the gas system from the M4 Super 90 shotgun and combined it with a 3-lug rotating bolt (akin to the Leader T2 and Barrett M82) and the handling of a Benelli shotgun. The rifle is being sold as a civilian rifle in the US and Italy, with no signs of serious attempts at military contracts (which makes sense, given that Benelli and Beretta are owned by the same company, and Beretta has a good lock on the current Italian service rifle). It seems to me that the purpose of the MR-1 is to grab that slice of the 5.56mm modern rifle market which is populated by sport shooters who are being dragged towards ARs by all the popular media surrounding them.
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These apparently ship with a box labeled with "Enjoy your new Benelli shotgun: Caliber 5.56"
I'm I'm identifying your reference correctly, I believe it's actually "gauge: 5.56".
Tripp426 gauge 223
TeamRetroWorld it's 2017 this gun can identify itself as whatever it chooses
Spartan Nick R192 secondary Right. That makes more sense.
Fireguy972 lmao
Aesthetically, it looks like a Benelli shotgun had a "range session" with a Beretta CX4 storm.
That's the first thing that came to mind when I saw this was the Beretta Storm carbine, a gun I find quite cool.
That's because it's actually part of the "Storm" family. Look up the Beretta RX4 Storm if you're curious.
The marines on the galactica decided that they needed an upgrade
Thanks i hate it
@Rem Max A plastic hammer... really?
Hey! Cheers from Italy! Just wanna point out two things about MR1 design: the absence of threading and low-capacity mag are consequences of Italian law. In fact, in the past (actually I don't know nowadays, but we had a short period of mag deregulation) hunting rifle mags (and that's how this rifle is classified in Italy) were restricted to 5 rounds, and the thread is illegal because of the possibility of mounting a suppressor (also illegal). Keep on with researches Ian, I think this is the best weapon channel there's on RUclips!
@Rob Kholar If you can't even understand how money works then I don't think you should collect firearms, mate.
Muzzle threads are no longer illegal in Italy for years. Suppressors are still illegal though.
bella fra
"the five round mag looked stupid" I chuckled sensibly
If I recall correctly that's because of Italian laws on semi-automatic rifles
5 round mag good shooting off the bench or in a leadsled
@WrathMachine I'm a liberal and I'm super supportive of gun rights. Look at me, I'm so special amirite?
@WrathMachine *BEHOLD! I DEFY YOUR FOOLISH STEREOTYPES! QUIVER BEFORE ME!*
@WrathMachine I... I was joking my dude...
I think you're wrong about what market Benelli is aiming for. In some countries especially in euroupe you can't own a rifle for hunting if it's a derivative of a military rifle, this rifle is therefore kind of an "undercover" ar15 that you can have without raising any eyebrows. The fact that it's marketed in the us i think is simply because it would be dumb not to market a gun in the us regardless of what gun it is cause the us is the largest market for private gun sales.
Simply there are markets that are not obsessed with AR15s even if they are regularly available. AR15s are mainly a north american thing.
Well that's mainly due to that "home defense" and "plinking" is not a valid reason to own guns in most of the world, Ar15s are mainly competition guns outside of the US. To surmise: the ar15 is not scarce in other countries because people do not like or want them; they are simply only allowed and called for when it comes to competition. And in most countries you cant just buy an ar15 and say: hey maybe some day i want to compete, you need to prove your need. And finally: i think some of it is that an ar15 is kind of pricey compared to the alternatives.
I said "regularly available", that means "abiding to the same rules". As strange as it may seem to a North American, there are markets where, having the choice between an AR15 and another design AT THE SAME CONDITIONS, the AR15 is not chosen nine times out of ten. AR15s are mainly a north american thing.
I disagree, if you look at IPSC for instance 99% of there rifles used by shooters are ar15s. And I don't really see what you mean by "AT THE SAME CONDITIONS" since the only time you can freely choose among rifles in most countries is in competitive shooting; where everyone chooses ar15s. They are generally not allowed for hunting and that does not leave much in most markets.
In IPSC shooters use the rifles of the manufacturers that make rifles specifically for IPSC. In IPSC pistols, in Europe, about 1/3 of the participants uses Tanfoglio, 1/3 CZ and 1/3 all the others. That's really not representative of the preference of normal buyers.
"at the same conditions" means "at the same conditions". In most countries, to buy a rifle, like to buy a pistol, you must have a licence, not compete wth it.
I have one and it's reliable I heck. I've put thousands of rounds through it and it hasn't stopped, malfunctioned, jammed or failed to fire. Soft shooting, even for a 5.56. I like my ARs, but this thing is just neat as hell. And with a "regular" stock it's CA legal. Mine carries a small brake too.
Same here. Any weather, any ammo. Ultra reliable after broken in
Would this be a good precision type rifle?
I was wondering, if they used the same recoil spring length as they would for a 12gauge shotgun.
The MR1 would barely tap your shoulder every shot.
My theory is they exist because they're legal in California and Canada.
Ferguson101 idk about this rifle but an ar-15 you can get in Cali. Just one with its balls removed that's mostly useless..
No, you can get AR's in Sweden (and many other European
countries as well), but you need to get it on a competition license (IPSC),
which is a long and awkward process (multiple years), compared, to getting a
gun on a hunting license. In Sweden, semi auto hunting rifles are not allowed
to be of a "military design" and you can't have a pistol grip on your
rifle or shotgun while hunting, if it is a semi- or pump-action. Semi and pump
action shotguns on a hunting license, has to be permanently limited to no more
than 2+1 rounds. In my 870 by punching divots into the magtube.
Filipe Amaral You're thinking the Kel-tec SU-16CA
Latinpyro, It exists, there are videos of it on YT.
+latinpyro1287 There is a version of this rifle without a pistol grip stock too, it looks like the standard stock/grip for most Benelli shotguns. It is the version called "standard stock" as opposed to this one, the "pistol grip stock" www.benelli.it/en/products/semiautomatic-rifles/mr1/mr1
It's almost a shame to have that handguard there; The machining on the gas system is beautiful.
Cast a replacement handguard in clear resin.
Looks like AR15 and 970 shotgun spent a night together and this is the result.
And it is handsome af
Spid3rGod Daniel the graphics card
Vadim Kavecsky I'd say more of a benilli and Beretta storm.
Vadim Kavecsky yeah it's just a shotgun with a new bolt and a magazine.
I like it actually!! looks a damn site better than an AR!!! that's one tired design!!! kind of puts one in mind of a plastic surgery junkie that has went way to far with all the junk you can slap on it!!!!
Can you please call the Swedish police. They have this rifle as illegal to own, even as a Hunter or for sport.
The police hav ruled the rifle as a Military design, and 100% marketed for Military. As the name MR1.
One of the most bizarre ruling ever.
It isn't illegal to own, you're just highly unlikely to be granted a hunting license for it. Suck it up and get an Argo-E instead.
@@23Scadu or move to a country without stupid gun laws...damn. I mean as many stupid gun laws
Sweden is the place where Disney's cartoons and comics are forbidden.
Michael Srite Take your meds, gramps
Sweden has also effectively banned homeschooling, even if you happen to be a professional teacher. Technically not banned entirely but they won't ever approve it and will prosecute you if you try to fight it. Just a little friendly tyranny.
Just for a clarification, in Italy, and most Europe, this rifle can be purchased with a 12.5" barrel with flash suppressor and a telescopic stock (according to the EU law, a rifle must have at least a 30cm / 11.8" barrel and a total lenght of at least 60cm / 23.6". With the 12.5" barrel and the stock collapsed the rifle is 78.7cm long with the flash suppressor and 73.7cm long without it, so perfectly compliant).
Those features are not available in the US only due to US restrictions on imports.
So what’s the market this rifle is intended for? Essentially not the US market, but places where the AR15 is not so dominant among the “black rifles”. Not cause the law prohibits it, but simply cause the customers are not so obsessed with it.
In canada you can use this rifle for all porpoises but the AR 15 only at the range, because it's evil i guess.
So i think it could be popular in canada
I don't dislike the AR, but I've always like these. Those Italians sure do have a passion for their arts and it shows :)
WhiteDwarfVR4 Well, some of the best art in the world has come from Italy.
@@MrRenegadeshinobi Most*
@@enricocarlino7110, *a trifling amount
@@notahotshot lol, you need to go back to school my dearest friend.
Yes, there are a lot of minor firearms creators and builders in Italy. They do it "just because", driven by passion and not because they really have a business plan. It's more like a "hey! This this could be done better" feeling; and they try
The Benelli MR1 had a military/police version that was discontinued. The police contract version was actually sold by Beretta as the RX4, which even use to offer conversion kits. The police version used a heavier profiled 12 inch barrel with flash hider and collapsible stock. Development was started before the ARX, with the ARX replacing the RX4 in the Beretta lineup. The RX4 was part of the X4 program, along with the PX4 and CX4. Strangely enough, even though the RX4 was listed as a Beretta, they were always made by Benelli, and towards the end of the RX4, they were only offered as conversions to the Benelli and not as a separate rifle. The collapsible stock went on to be used with the supernova shotgun, and supernova stocks can be used with the MR1 with some minor modifications.
I think there was a TX4 shotgun also...
guessing the 5 rounder has something to do with it being a non restricted firearm in Canada... I think at least. If i remember correctly those are non restricted up here anyway
Yep. Also the fact that the estimated price at the auction is $900 - 1400 USD while market price here in Canada is roughly $1600 USD (2100 CAD) bothers me.
In Italy the law used to impose a 5 round mag for rifles.
If the rifle is imported from Italy it would make sense having a similar magazine.
I’d also think California restrictions would have more impact on decisions at firearms factories than Canadian gun laws.
AftermathOutdoors this rifle would be banned on california due to it having a detachable magazine.
AftermathOutdoors Not really - roughly the same population size, and similar rules (actually, Canada is slightly more liberal on firearms, but I digress) and this would service both areas similarly.
"It's not an AR-15, it's not even an AR-18."
Which is probably why it's here, today, on Forgotten Weapons.....
@@JinKee nope, you can actually legally buy and own an arx100 (not 160) here in Italy. You can even buy AR's, AK's, FAL's etc...
I believe that's to avoid soldiers to sell their guns or use them for personal reasons, maybe that's why some ammo is not for civilians
@@alessiom3859 Its law that prohibit civilian ownership of military weapons. Doesnt really matter because Europe have other cool civilian guns.
Looks pretty nice. I'm sick of the whole military tacticool looking rifle, I don't need a flashlight and I'm not going to need anything on the side of my rifle that requires rails. It's an aesthetic semi auto sporting rifle.
Also had a reciprocating charging handle which is a plus.
Don't need to see in the dark huh?
Stop lying bro 😆 you know a AR wit quads isent cool haha
for sporting its faster to aim when you can align your rifle with a laser sight. aspecially when you have a red dot
How is a reciprocating charging handle a plus?
@@aixide, you know, so it can remind you now and then, "don't grip it like that", and "lefties not welcome here".
Another reason is to sale in Canada. AR 15 and variant are classified as restricted weapons and therefore can ONLY be used in a gun range/gun club and required a restricted gun license to own them. By making the MR1 a non restricted rifle, people only need a non restricted gun license to own them and can shoot them anywhere it please them.
It appears to be still allowed in Canada while AR15s are not more allowed there.
Finally. A non AR-15 new rifle. I see so many "new" AR's and nothing really new. Well done benelli
@@tactical_sasquatchOnly contrarians dislike the AR platform
Actually looks pretty simple to operate and clean. I like it, if it's a bit of an oddity being entirely not-AR 15.
There Be Game
>simple?
Very simple to operate. Not that simple to clean... But you don't realy have to clean it as often as an AR. I'd say if you come from an AK this looks too busy and complicated, but if you come from an AR-15, you don't want to sacrifice accuracy and you love shotgun ergonomics (or AUG safety) it's realy good.
There was a non pistol grip version for sale in states with AW bans, the MR1 "Comfort Grip"
"It's not an AR".
". . ."
I'll take it.
AR stands for Armalite Rifle, or the general design of the AR15 or AR18.
This is indeed neither.
Thanks Captain Obvious!
Oh no. It's retarded.
Taking AR mags though really helps
@@toki89666 Oh shit
I’m watching this seven years later so it actually does qualify as a forgotten weapon.
That is refreshing. For a guy that can disassemble all mainline military rifles in my sleep, seeing something I have never seen before is truly nice.
When talking about a semiauto shotgun action borrowed to a carbine, it has to be taken in account that the semiauto shotguns' gas actions are the most "battle proven" actions existing.
The shotguns rented by the Argentine outfitters, for example, fire thousands of rounds a day every day, with sketchy manteinance at best, and using cartridges that are far "dirtier" (it's inevitable, due to the rapid loss of pressure in the shotguns' barrels) than any commercial bottleneck round.
All that ridges on the piston and the guide rod are not there for show. They are meant to keep the metallic surfaces clean from the debris of combustion in conditions where a typical "tactical carbine" action will get stuck every few hundreds rounds. To use that action to fire .223 Rem rounds is even an overkill.
I can see this becoming a forgotten weapon pretty quickly.
Not in countries like Canuckistan.
Nutz4Gunz45 I don't think the US is the primary market for these...
Yeah this rifle is defenetly not for the US market. It is popular in Europe and Latin America tho since it is compatible with laws there (mostly). I live bot in the US and Mexico and i own this rifle in Mexico since its one of the couple 223 semiautomatics allowed here. When im in the US i cradle by beatiful ARs , AK and Tavor. But i purchased this nerfed rifle in Mexico purely out of principal and hopefully I will get my hands on a vintage AR or Mini 14 since those are allowed too.
Probably not because everything does not revolve around US which have unique firearm laws.
Ian, I think your description of the target demographic for this rifle is exceptionally accurate... In fact, that is precisely why I own a VZ58 chambered in 5.56! I want a cool rifle, I just don't want it to be an AR...
I dont think its fair to say that a person would need to dislike the AR-15 to buy this gun. If you love the handling of Benelli shotguns then you will likely love this rifle. You could easily own and enjoy both guns for different reasons.
MagPul Gen2 PMag magazines can overinsert on various lowers. They specifically fixed this in the Gen3 models, but rifles like this one will stop the Gen2 model as well.
That added front stoppage is indeed practical.
"Today we are taking a look at something that's actually not forgotten at all... YET"
😂😂😂 Y U so mean?
Here's my video plus a little shooting: ruclips.net/video/xjfKbzV2muY/видео.html
A lot of people, myself included, really get on well with the stock config, cheek weld and "pointability" of the Benelli pistol grip shotguns. If I was in the market for a 5.56 semi auto (I'm not, and it would be illegal here anyway), this might be high up on my considerations. Fast pointing, comfortable controls I'm already used to, sight axis low to the barrel, yes please.
It is a non restricted semi auto rifle .223 in Canada, so it does appeal to a lot of us. Not sure if that was considered during production, but it is a plus for us
Honestly this screams "Police and Visually civilian rifle that still does ar15 stuff." Plenty of reason to exist.
Isn't that what the Mini-14 is for?
@@AlexLee-dc2vbMini's don't take AR mags, and doesn't seem as refined/reliable as this MR-1
Rugers are reliable enough to have been adopted and used by countless police departments, while this rifle has no service trackrecord to point to for its supposedly superior reliability. The propriety mags are really only a problem for civilians because any police department that buys the rifles will also buy mags for them so it doesn't matter whether they're interchangeable with AR mags@@georgewhitworth9742
Benelli didnt design a rifle, they converted a shotgun to .223 and put a magwell on it! All jokes aside, its interesting to see how the design philosophy from a company who normally makes shotguns applied to a modern rifle. It does give me the vibe of the xm8, aug, and FN F2000 that cane out of the 90s military trials
I think this rifle is the Fudd Gateway Rifle. The Fudds get this because it looks "sporting" and then realize that firearms made in the last 80 years aren't so bad after all. Excellent work, Benelli.
The biggest selling point is that it is legal in those places that allow semi-auto rifles that are either not military rifles or that have restricted guns like the AR-15 by name, like Canada.
+forgotten weapons the MR1 is a bit more popular here in Canada because AR-15s are restricted meaning they can only be used at a firing range. the MR1 is not restricted and can be used and carried anywhere without restrictions.
XCR, ACR, Tavor, MR1, apc223, QBZ-97, these are all non restricted. but the AR is evil to some politicians so they decided to make it restricted. doesnt make any sense.
For a while I was a gun hipster looking for my first tactical rifle and wanted something different... This was one I considered since it was different from all the AR's and AK's out there... And at the time it was priced fairly reasonable for an AR alternative unlike the FS-2000 or SCAR or Robinson XCR etc.... In the end I got a steal on a BWK-92 (MAK-90 in .223) and it was edgy enough for me at the moment. A few years later I was about to get out of the military and really developed an AR itch, The damn AR grew on me while on funeral detail of all things...
The front end looks a lot like the beretta cx4 pistol caliber carbine.
Maybe Benelli is targeting markets outside US. In Canada, rifles based on AR-15 are restricted gun. You must take a course, pass an exam, get a special permit, register the AR-15 and you are limited to use it in a range. Before even doing that, you must already be a member of the range and send a proof of it. Benelli MR1 are not restricted in Canada, can be bought with a regular gun license and you do not have to register it. If you do not like Ruger Mini-14 or VZ-58, the MR1 is a solid option.
This looks dependable despite the civilian focused product that it is.
The gas system from the M4 is a good idea because it can handle large variations in pressure while still cycling and never destroying itself. And that's mandatory in a shotgun that can shoot 12/67 birdshots as well as 12/76 brenneke.
But is there such a variety in 5.56? I don't now.
At least that's a rifle that should chug anny ammo and thus be dependable indeed.
It was, at one point, being sold in multiple civilian guises, one of which had a standard stock (ie. not a pistol grip) which was useful for sporting in more restrictive states.
it looks like a AR mixed with a shotgun
Faze DT that is exactly what it is
looks more like a cx4 mixed with a shotgun
AFAIK... Before Beretta started development of the ARX160 series, Beretta developed and made the RX4 series. They could not develope any Gov/Mil/LE sales for it, so they handed the project over to Benelli. Benelli then made it more civilian market friendly and marketed it as the MR1.
My theory on why this thing is sold with a 5 round magazine is that the "lucrative market" Ian spekks of is Canada. The Canadian gun laws are more lenient towards semi-auto long guns for every day use than one might think, many of them are "unrestricted" (examples of unrestricted black rifles are TAR21 and Norinco T-95, KRISS Vector carbines ) But the federal police have deemed the AR-15 and it's family as restricted, due to the rifle's tendency to molest children at the park or something. So, if you guys go to Cabelas.ca and look at thiere Semi's you can find the MR1, as it Is not a member of the AR-15 family you can do with it whatever you would do with a 22LR plinker. Lawful uses of a firearm in Canada would be: Range use (obviously), Plinking on government land, hunting, plinking on ones property, (if it is safe to do so), and defending your property from threatening wildlife (when it is safe to do so)
The rules on Defending yourself from wildlife when not on your property change not only from province to province but also on the municipal level, so check with your local police where and when you can carry a firearm for the purposes of wilderness deference when not on your own property.
I actually own a Benelli MR-1. I bought it because of my rational dislike of the direct impingement of the Ar-15. Also because I enjoy the quality of my Benelli Shotgun. The only magazines I use in it are P-MAG's . They insert and run reliably without any issue.
But can it take monkeytail Bergman clips?
That sure looks like a M4 shotgun and a CX4 carbine made a baby, while a FAL watched from the darkened corner, smoking a cigarette.
There's probably a fairly large market for, "I want a new rifle, I already have 5 AR-15s, I want something different just to keep things interesting" as well.
Benelli makes a version of the MR1 without a pistol grip, which makes it California-legal without any further modifications (specifically, to the magazine release). For a while I was in the market for this rifle for a number of reasons, that being a highly significant one. California has some very restrictive and poorly thought out centerfire rifle rules, so in theory there's a market for it here, but in practice it's nor readily available.
the five rounds mag is probably due to the italian origin of the rifle, actually here in Italy all the full lenght rifles in 5.56 (and other military calibers) are limited. Only 5 rounds in semiauto.
The limit is 5 rounds for hunting rifles and 29 rounds for sporting rifles, regardless of the caliber. IE the Nuova Jager LT12 is an AR15 in .223 Rem, with a 12" barrel, classified as a sport weapon, and so sold with a 29 round magazine. ;)
Hey Ian, I think you forgot to mention that the AR 15 is illegal in jurisdictions and countries in which the MR1 would be legal.
In California, as you know, it'd be impossible to own an AR15 in the original configuration. It's an "assault weapon."
In Canada, the AR15 is banned but the MR1 isn't.
It's a legal alternative for us folks out here in the less free parts of the world.
the firing pin retaining pin is normally accessible from both sides on all benelli shotguns it’s strange that they didn’t just use a M2 bolt and change the bolt head
It was originally called the Beretta Rx4 Storm.
I see it.
Also for the Canadian market ... AR-15's are restricted here meaning you can't hunt with t and can only fire it on an approved range where as the MR is Non-Restricted so you can use it anywhere that is legal as well as for hunting as long as mag. Restrictions are followed and the licensing is less strict for that class of firearms....
Sounds like he's trying to say, nicely and diplomatically that this is a .223 rifle for fudds.
I don't like the AR much, but it pretty much is a fudd gun lol
Its "civilian" look of it and its 5 round magazine made me cringe.
if they made a straight stock it would be ignored by government
A lot of guys at my range have this gun so it's pretty popular here in Canada.
Reminds me of a small FAL, I don't like ARs, i think they will do well!
Looks to me like that big spring is an engineered dampener spring and a functional part of the gas system. Its what suppresses the shock from the spool rod inside the gas plunger.
I would suggest the design makes the gas system resilient to exceptionally hot loads and full power suppression cans even if its not their intent.
This being the first .223 I'd actually want to own.
would it be possible to get your hands on an XM8? this reminded me of Ghost Recon and all the forgotten weapons from that game series
The Xm8 is pretty much just a G36 put into a different chassis. He has a video on the SL8 which is a G36 put into another funky chassis.
He just did a video about a month ago with Larry Vickers
It was the ghost Recon guns that brought me to his channel. Videos on the XM8, OICW etc.
I plan on getting one of these one day, Ian's reasoning hits home. I want a gun but not the same thing everyone else has.
Everything about this gun screams Benelli, love it
I am pretty much the person you summed up Ian. I thought the AR was too bulky for my mostly, hunting, and occasionally range use. I also never had much use for a .223 having tons of options in that class of cartridges. So, never cared for one. Ever since they came up with other offerings in the AR (namely the .458 SOCOM, .50 Beowolf, and .300 BLK or Whisper) I have had a vague interest in AR's, but never bought one.
But, to the gun in question and to Benelli in general. I am an avid fan, particularly of their intertia systems in most of their auto shotguns. The ARGO system used in the M4 and now this MR1 was also used in the original classic R1 rifle as well. I guess the name of MR1 is "modern rifle 1".
There would be a lot more interesting designs of guns if it wasn't for the vast majority of people being so boringly predictable going for rifles like the AR-15
Grover Well the ar15 and ak platforms are so reliable that there's not much room for practical improvement.... both are so balanced as far as performance and cost that everyone else just decides they would rather copy instead of produce unproven but innovative guns.
Grover its hard to compete against a rifle who's r&d costs have been paid off decades ago and has unparalleled market support
hell that's all that's out there!!! if the dam companies weren't so lazy and just coping and making parts for it then we might have something else!!! you can't blame people for buying something when there's no other choice now can you?
I completely agree with you on that one. The A2 style fixed stock, carry handle, 20 inch barrel and triangle handguard just look so appealing to me.
tuck234 Would you prefer one over the other or are they both a solid choice?
@Forgotten Weapons The big thing about this rifle is that it is LEGAL in Maryland, where Beretta USA is HQ'd; the AR-15 is "not" (You can get a restricted license for a heavy barrel or a pistol AR, but no normal ones.)
I own an AR15 and great. However the sheer number of people I see with them at the range has completely dulled my excitement for them. I think my next rifle will be a Beretta ARX
I remember seeing this a while ago and wondering where they thought the market was. Your explanation sounds likely. I suppose that its one of the reasons the Ruger mini 14 ranch rifle still sells.
From the receiver back, it looks exactly like an M4 shotgun. Family resemblance, I guess.
Probably same designer.
Possibly the same tooling, as well.
Probably. More cost efficient to make arms that share parts.
It may have additional markets available that have restricted more militaristic firearms like the AR, AK, etc, such as California, New York or New Jersey.
I would imagine it’s not an AR-15 considering it’s a Beneli MR-1
MR1 is good in Canada because it’s not restricted like an AR. ITS BEAUTIFULLY MADE! Has a great trigger. Parts are heavy duty like my FN in the army. I havnt had any problems with a variety of mags. It’s reliable,was extremely dirty when I bought it used,still no problems. It’s a pain to strip and assemble. Point it at the ceiling when joining the upper and lower. Other than that it’s a great rifle. Odd scope mounting. I used a Nikon mount backwards. The Stoeger warranty in Canada is iron clad. I broke that big screw that holds the gas rod in. Replaced no problem. I like Benelli
I think the AR craze has some people's feathers ruffled. I'm one of those people who looks at an AR-15 and thinks.... "this is a great firearm that does most things really well. But like... Half of all rifles ever are AR-15s. And that makes it boring. It's like the pickup truck of guns. It has all the great features.... But it's boring as shit"
It's like it's not enough for a rifle to be an high quality firearm with a reliable and clean action. It needs a reason for "not being an AR15".
I purchased this rifle for coyote hunting using dogs. In Canada the AR-15 is restricted and can only be shot on a certified range. The MR-1 will accept most AR mags. Canadian gun laws restrict you to 5 round magazines but the 10 round pistol mag is legal for shooting and for hunting coyote in my province. This makes the Benelli MR-1 a great option for me with fast follow up shots on moving targets. I have shot hundreds of rounds and several coyotes with this rifle with little to no issues.
I wish the Italians would stop using sports car interior designers to design guns.
why? the MR1 is pretty sexy
avelasquez97 It's awkward as fuck
People actually buying guns disagree.
I actually le the looks!! definitely better than an AR!!!not as good as HK but still a good look!!!
It's a tactical shotgun chambered in .223 for all intents and purposes. The main spring and rotating bolt were made for some of their shotguns before this came along.
Canadians can't use AR platform rifles for hunting, they are forced to use them ONLY at a registered range. However, the Benelli MR1 CAN be used for hunting or plinking wherever safe. It hasn't been used in a Hollywood movie yet, so it hasn't been banned or heavily restricted yet. Benelli saw the opportunity to gouge people for a modern semiautomatic rifle so they made a big plastic shotgun in 5.56 and they charge $2250 CAD per rifle.
Ok I'm pretty into guns, but what's an ar18?
The AR-18/180 is the ]Armalite rifle produced after Armalite sold the AR15 patents to Colt. It's a short stroke gas piston system that was copied to make the L85, G36, and several other modern military rifles.
baron1c to add to the above comments: the AR-18 has a stamped steel upper receiver and folding stock. The civilian AR-180 can often be found at gun shows in the us. Fun fact: in The Terminator, Arnold carries out the police station massacre with a SPAS-12 and an AR-18 with jungle taped mags.
Forgotten Weapons thanks!
the AR18 is the gun that the D.O.D. should have bought!! it's simpler, not as dirty with a piston system instead of that direct gas system and better in cold climates!! plus it folds down shorter with a true folding stock!! and you have the benefit of a side charging handle, the M16 if you hit a dead round you have to break your weld to cycle the bolt, the 18, just slap the handle back and continue firing!!!much better design!!!!
i'm with you AR's suck!! especially when you hit a dead round!!!and to many damn parts on that jam-a- matic!!!!!
Actually, it comes with a 5 rounds magazine because in Italy it's allowed to use this kind of guns, but with a max. mag capacity of 5 (so...)
It was never supposed to be a military rifle ,but a hunting rifle . To all that are putting this gun down. This gun will shoot when yours stops.
Unstoppable. With every ammo type
I checked the mail today and I saw that I received a magazine from the NRA. So I sit down on my sofa and I flipped through the pages. As i'm flipping through the pages I find an article on the sks. I then checked to see who wrote the article and to my pleasant surprise it was Ian. Ian I didn't know you wrote for the NRA. That was a very informative article, thank you!
"It's not an AR15" - uh yes there are a LOT of rifles worldwide that are not AR15s. Are American gun enthusiasts really so centered about the AR15 platform?
Yes, they are. And many of the mainstream guns that aren't AR15 derivates are actually AR-18 derivates.
Yes, It's actually pretty sad. The saturation of AR-15s has hit such a critical mass in this market that they are by a wide margin the cheapest and most versatile option available. This has had the unfortunate effect of gradually pushing everything else off the market. Back when your options were a ~$1,000 Colt or Bushmaster or a $800 Olympic Arms it wasn't too difficult to introduce a new and novel design at the ~$800-1,500 price point.
Nowadays with reasonably good quality ARs costing as little as $600, if you launch something at double the cost that isn't twice the gun it's going to be dead in the water. Even at the same price point it's going to be at a massive disadvantage of not having the vast aftermarket support that the AR-15 has. It's gotten so bad that well-established designs like the Mini-14 are sliding into oblivion and even the AK is clinging to existence outside of an expensive niche market.
Are you really that dense?
Funny Farmer
"are american gun enthusiasts really so centered about the AR15 platform?"
Buddy, you dont know the half of it.
Laird Cummings Bolt action is just so perfect...
When I watch your videos on old guns and think “wow this is confusing as heck to have a completely different design than we have today”
This is sorta like that. Except it’s happening here and now
I remember when Beretta was selling this as the RX4 Storm. It had a telescoping stock and an A2 flash hider.
Do you remember ever seeing them in stores in the US or Canada?
Yay! My beloved gun maker is featured by Ian! It started a lot like my M4 but turned out to have a completely different gas system.
Funny fact: Most people in Mexico with legal semi-auto .223 have a benelli MR1. That's because it's the only semi-auto .223 that it's sold new legally by the military armory.
Just something I thought of. This is a good alternative for people that cannot buy AR15's due to state laws. For example, I live in MD and there are quite a few gun shops in my area that will not even provide their FFL for you to have a stripped lower sent due to the restrictions on "you have to have 2 of these 3 requirements" to make it legal. They simply do not want to be associated with someone making an illegal AR config. While I understand this standpoint, it does really limit what the law abiding citizen can purchase. And it makes it so hard for some people to get what they want, they look at the restrictions and go, 'screw this, it's too complicated to buy the legal version so I won't chance making an 'illegal' AR and won't buy one at all'. I think this is kind of the market Benelli is approaching.
Dom Houtz Being a former Marylander and being aware of the gun laws the FFL's you deal with are cowards. Stripped lowers are perfectly legal and it is none of their business how one chooses to build their rifle. The burden is on the owner, not the store.
Depending on where you live I would highly recommend Engage Armament in Rockville or Duffy's in Sparks outside Baltimore who still have balls and are not afraid to sell you what is perfectly legal.
I completely agree with you. It's none of the gun shops business. Most of the ones around me here on the Eastern Shore just deal in bolt guns and over-under shotguns.
And thanks for the suggestions, they are a bit out of the way for me, but I am planning a trip into D.C. for some museum visits soon. Might have to go over to the one you mentioned near Baltimore.
I'm originally from PA, and the laws here are SOO confusing. It's a wonder why I meet so few enthusiasts here.
legal in n.y state as well.there is a sporter stock model as well..
To me, the bolt and bolt operation look more like an AK, but with a short-stroke gas operating system. Only a bit more complicated. But that said, it does seem like it was designed to skirt gun laws as mentioned in some of the older comments.
Everything in the video is correct, in fact Benelli is under Beretta and the front of the hand guard is VERY similar to the cx4 storm from Beretta. For the magazine of five rounds: in Italy, our laws allow to feed only 5 rounds in a magazine for EVERY use, sport, hunting or whatever, so for the Italian market "big" magazine capacity are useless because even with a standard ar 15 mag you can only use 5 slots. It might look stupid to Americans but it's made for safety and more control for our military forces. In particular this rifle is thought for sport use (practically) only, because ar15 style rifle are not friendly looking for some people here so they had to avoid the "ar15 profile"
The MR-1 is a variant of the R-1 (available in Black Synthetic and Walnut) I have the R-1 20" Carbine in walnut cambered in 300 WM. It is very accurate with a very fine MOA. Well balanced and very smooth. Quick to shoulder and quick target acquisition. Due to the ARGO recoil system, the felt recoil is minimal compared to other rifles chambered in the same round. There is however, substantial muzzle lift with that caliber and barely any with the .223. From what I understand, the MR-1 was a variant of the R-1 designed for the U.S. Marines. (the "M" indicates Marine not Military). It is only available in Semi-Auto and does not compare to an AR-15 nor an AR-18 nor was it intended to. The MR-1 is very comfortable and shoulders quickly and easily.
In Canada, the MR-1 is classified as a NON-Restricted firearm just like most rifles and shotguns. The AR-15 and it's variants are classified as Restricted the same as hand guns and many short barreled center fire rifles. Being a Semi-Auto center fire, the mag. is restricted to 5 rounds regardless of classification. Full Auto firearms are Prohibited in Canada. It is a nice versatile rifle but no where near as versatile as an AR-15 or 18. In Canada, there are many rifles regardless of their action that are chambered in .223 and 5.56 Nato.
The MR-1 has a very nice feel to it and is easy to sight/acquire targets either with optics or with just the iron sights. I would recommend that the next time you are in a gun shop that has one, shoulder it and check it out. Besides, who says you can't have both an AR and an MR-1?
In Canada, it's one of the few semi-automatic, .223 black rifles that is actually practical to get and own (And cheaper in that market than popular stuff like Tavors and XCRs). AR15s are specifically regulated more stringently on account of being well known and scary-looking.
Quite popular here in Canada. But I would agree the are not a tactical marketed rifle. The thin barrel and gas system both get vary hot even under casual sustained firing. I heard of a lot of shooting competitors using the MR1 go to a forward pistol grip as the plastic handguard becomes unbearable to hold after a few bursts of rapid fire. Also the "diverter" in the gas system get subjected to some pretty impressive erosion. Be careful with powder selection as some are more abrasive than others and can cause dangerous gas cutting in the area of the diverter after a 4-5 thousand rounds
Looks like a Beretta CX4 and Benelli M4 had a love child
with the restrictions on Ar's here in Canada. alternative black rifles are incredibly popular. may be a potential idea on benellis part
Very interesting. The Ares SCR has a similar recoil systems but still uses an AR15 style upper and bolt head. Thanks for the content Ian!
Honeslty might get one of these sometime later. Not because I have any issue with ARs but because it is an interesting looking rifle and just because this looks cool as hell.
The rifle shares a lot of visual similarities with the Beretta Cx4 Storm
An unmentioned pro: the way that gas piston impinges on the bolt carrier, i would say, has a longer life than something like Vz rifle where 1 light operating rod slams quickly into a bolt carrier which leads to dents & even cracking of both surfaces.
Hey Ian, I was wondering what weapons were issued to the "Free" forces that served with the Allies (Free French, Polish, Norwegian, Belgian etc). I would really like if you could make a video on it and/or review the weapons that they used compared to other allied weapons used by the major powers.
Love the Channel and keep up the good work!
The barrel nut even sounds clicky like a mag tube cap.
This thing is a shotgun through and through.
I see these all the time on gun shop shelves here in canada, as the AR 15 is restricted class, which means you can't shoot it anywhere but a "government approved" shooting range, among other things.
this on the other hand is non restricted, meaning less restrictions, and you can hunt with it as well.
Weird looking - I love it.
Nice and interesting video as always Ian.