Benelli M4 H2O: The Salt-Proof Fighting Shotgun
By Gearfarer Staff
The Benelli M4 has been the benchmark auto-loading combat shotgun for over two decades, and the new H2O variant is a straightforward answer to a very specific problem: saltwater eats guns. Every steel component — bolt, carrier, trigger group pins, magazine tube — gets a nickel-boron underlayer with a Cerakote topcoat, and the receiver is finished in a matte tungsten that hides holster wear.
Mechanically, the H2O is the same ARGO-driven M4 shooters already know: two self-regulating gas pistons, a 7+1 capacity with the extended tube, and Benelli's usual reputation for eating anything you feed it. What's new is the peace of mind that comes with knowing a weekend on a boat isn't going to turn the gun into an orange paperweight.
MSRP is $2,499 — a premium over the standard M4, but modest compared to what a corrosion-resistant refinish costs aftermarket. Expect limited early inventory; Benelli isn't known for flooding the channel on niche variants.