Benelli M4: Difference between revisions

On May 4, 1998, the [[U.S. Army]] Armaments Research, Development and Engineering Center (ARDEC) at [[Picatinny Arsenal]], [[New Jersey|NJ]] issued Solicitation #DAAE30-98-R-0401, requesting submissions for a new [[12 gauge]], [[Semi-automatic shotgun|semi-automatic]] [[combat shotgun]] for the [[United States armed forces|US Armed Services]]. In response to the request, [[Benelli (firearms)|Benelli Armi SpA]] of [[Urbino]], Italy designed and built the Benelli M4 Super 90 Combat Shotgun. On August 4, 1998, five samples of the M4 were delivered to [[Aberdeen Proving Ground]], [[Maryland]], and after intense testing, the M4 had beaten the competition. In early 1999, ARDEC awarded the M1014 Joint Service Combat Shotgun contract to [[Heckler & Koch]], USA subsidiary for importation of the Benelli M4 Combat Shotgun. The first units (count of 20,000) were delivered to the [[United States Marine Corps]] in 1999. During testing, the protoypeprototype was called the XM1014, but after adoption, the 'X' was dropped, and the weapon was officially designated the M1014.