Benelli M4 Tactical Shotgun Clone from AKSA Arms - The S4 in black - 5+1

Probably the best M4 clone available, and made by a top Turkish Manufacturer, Imported by Four Peaks

There is always the debate of the best tactical shotgun, and the M4 and the Beretta 1301 top the list.  But for those who are looking for near M4 performance, many have sought a clone of the Benelli M4, and there are 4 or 5 out there that are okay.  The AKSA S4 rises to the top of the heat of M4 clones, and is worth the money.

Now, set your expectations where they need to be.  Benelli makes some of the best crafted semi-auto shotguns on the market, and from Italy, which is known for great shotguns.  Buying a Turkish tactical shotgun is never going to be just like buying an Italian shotgun.  Not in this decade.  Remember when Japanese cars were known as knock-offs of European automobiles?  Well, Turkish firearms are better than when Toyota first entered the marked, and now Lexus gives Mercedes a run for their money.  Well, Turkish weapons are somewhere between 1972 and 2022, when comparing Japanese cars to German cars.

The AKSA firearms manufacturing facility is top-notch.  Four Peaks now imports the AKSA.  In the past, SDS did.  Four Peaks also imports the Copolla SA-1212.  This is not the Copolla.  The AKSA is a far better shotgun.

Now, back to expectations.  You will need to check every screw, and tighten it.  You might replace certain parts.  You should think of the AKSA as a project gun.  At 1/3 the price of the Benelli, you are getting 90% of the performance, and 75% of the reliability.  Those are Charlie's numbers.  Who knows.  What we do know is it is a great value, and you will be very happy and have enough money to buy shotgun shells.  Why do we tell you all this?  Because, some people might think they are buying junk.  You are not.  Others might think they are buying the same thing as Benelli.  You are not.  You are getting a great value and a gun you will want to learn more about, and keep it working and maybe replace a few parts down the road.

TFB Blog has done a Review of the AKSA S4 written by Daniel, known on Instagram as @fromtheguncounter.  His summation is:

“Is it just as good?” is the wrong question. A clone that costs 70% less than the original Italian masterpiece will never be just as good. This is true with Italian guns, motorcycles, and food.

The real question should be “is it good when judged on its own merits?” and my answer is yes. It is a lot of gun for the money. Unlike many budget-oriented guns in its class, there is an aftermarket thanks to the M4 parts interchangeability. And it just might make you pick up a Benelli to round out the set some day.

Parts are generally interchangeable, including common upgrades like magazine tubes or stocks. It is not a Benelli but is impressively similar to the original.

The manipulations are exactly the same on the Aksa S4 and the Benelli M4. I have shot Benelli shotguns in the past and there were no differences in the manual of arms. Both the M4 and S4 benefit from larger aftermarket bolt release buttons and extended bolt handles. 

I added a Vortex Crossfire red dot on the factory optics rail. Some reviews of similar guns reported that the optics rail came loose after firing. This gun did not have that issue.

Highlights

•  Compatibility:  All parts and accessories of the S4 are 100% compatible with Benelli M4.  You may use all of the parts including trigger group, rotating bolt, buttstock, etc. 

•  Durability:  AK-SA ARMS S4 is a direct clone of Benelli M4 with the same production techniques and technologies with the same materials which makes the shotgun your best ally in harsh Conditions

•  Improvements:  While keeping the main structure of the shotgun, AKSA made some changes in trigger guard and in the buttstock.  The trigger guard has been upgraded with a larger frame to be used easily with tactical gloves and CNC made aluminum l instead of plastic. Another upgrade is the stock with adjustable cheek rest which helps the shooter to align his/her eyes with the optics.