GForce Arms Gatlander GFSAS12GB 12 Gauge

Benelli’s patent on the M4 semi-automatic shotgun’s ARGO gas system expired around 2021, while Benelli’s inertia systems patents expired in the mid-2000s. This allowed other shotgun manufacturers to produce their own M4 and M2 clones. We have had numerous readers email us asking for a review on Benelli M4 clones, so we acquired three lookalikes: the 1014 Wood from MAC, an M4 from Panzer Arms, and the Gatlander from GForce Arms. These shotguns are made in Turkey by Özerbas Makine, Panzer Arms, and Radikal, respectively, and look like Benelli M4 shotguns. The Panzer Arms and MAC use the ARGO (Auto-Regulating Gas-Operated) system, while the GForce Arms shotgun looks like an M4 due to the fake extended magazine tube and ghost ring sights on an 18.5-inch barrel, but uses an inertia recoil system like a Benelli M2. We thought this would be a good opportunity to compare the M4 gas action to the M2 inertia action as well as assess the guns side by side. 

The ARGO system uses dual short-stroke pistons that operate on gas from a fired shell. Benelli located the gas ports just forward of the chamber, because, in theory, the gases are hotter and cleaner so there is less fouling, and the shotgun will cycle more reliably. Inertia systems use the shotgun’s recoil to cycle the action by employing a bolt head and a bolt body connected by a stiff, internal inertia spring. There are pros and cons to both systems. Inertia systems run cleaner and are ultra reliable, but produce more felt recoil. The ARGO system is also reliable and produces less felt recoil, but requires more maintenance because it runs off gases from a fired shell.

All three of these copycat shotguns are designed for defense work, though we could see using them for turkey and deer hunting. They are chambered in 12 gauge with 3-inch chambers, 18.5-inch barrels with screw-in choke tubes, and are equipped with traditional-style stocks made of polymer or wood. Capacities are 5+1; their extended magazine tubes are just for looks. Sights are also similar across the three shotguns: adjustable ghost ring rears, windage-adjustable post front sights with protective wings, and Picatinny/Weaver-style rails to mount red dots. Mounting a red dot means your cheek weld will be slightly higher so your eye can align with the dot. We opted to test these guns without a red-dot optic because the sights are very user friendly and robust.

The first thing we noticed is that the true M4 clones — the MAC and Panzer — are heavier and have thicker fore ends. The M2 clone — the GForce — is slightly lighter and has a much thinner fore end. The reason for the chubby fore end is because the dual-piston gas system is located under the fore end. There is nothing under the GForce M2 clone’s fore end except a magazine tube.

We read the manuals and found different ammo recommendations for each shotgun. The GForce recommended a break-in of 150 to 200 rounds and to only run ammo with a velocity of 1250 to 1400 fps. The MAC recommends a break-in of 100 rounds at 1350 fps and suggests using only ammo with 1350 fps minimum velocity and minimum of 11⁄8 ounce payload. Panzer states the shotgun may not run on light target loads, and no specific minimum-velocity recommendation was stated, but the manual did state not to exceed 1600 fps with any weight load or 13⁄4-ounce loads at any velocity. Despite the warning, we still fed these guns a light load to check for function. We saw the Fiocchi Shooting Dynamics target load clock in at 1165 fps, and the result was the shotguns had FTE jams. We also used shells with muzzle velocities within the guidelines of the manuals: Federal’s Game Load (1290 fps), two buckshot loads, one from Panzer Defense (1350 fps, and not related to the gun) and one from Hornady Critical Defense (1600 fps), and slug round, Federal Tactical Low Recoil ammo (1300 fps). We also threw in a bunch of orphan/widow hunting and tactical loads that were left over to see what kind of mischief they caused.

To check pattern sizes, we placed NRA D-1 tombstone-style targets at 15 yards and fired rounds off hand. For slug data, we moved the targets to 25 yards and used a rest to fire groups. Full-choke tubes were installed in each shotgun. We fired the shotguns from the shoulder and from the hip. We wanted to see if the lack of resistance when shooting from the hip would trip up the shotguns, and it did initially. The GForce inertia gun and the MAC and Panzer gas guns jammed with light loads early in the testing, with failures to eject or feed when we fired them from the hip. When fired from the shoulder, the guns ran perfectly. So we followed directions and ran a few boxes of higher-velocity Federal Game Loads and then went back to the light loads. All the shotguns cycled the light loads fired from the shoulder or hip. We also fired the shotguns so ejection was straight up or straight down. We didn’t baby these shotguns at all. After the very few initial jams with light target loads, the shotguns ran perfectly. There were a few pinched thumbs during loading, and we really appreciate the oversized charging handles. The shotguns were loaded from underneath with our support hand while grasping the pistol grip with our firing hand as well as flipped so the loading port was facing up. Trigger-pull weights were awfully heavy across all the shotguns, and we have come to dislike small bolt-release buttons. We also noted that the magazine caps loosened under heavy shooting, which is to be expected. In the end, we feel any of these shotguns would be a good home-defense option. We like the ability to get an M4-style shotgun for a song, and in our opinion, the manufacturers produced decent shotguns, but they missed an opportunity to improve on the classic M4 design. Here are the details. 

GForce Arms Gatlander GFSAS12GB 12 Gauge,

$387

Gun Tests grade: A-

The Gatlander is fast handling, with oversized controls that make it easy to operate. There was more felt recoil due to the inertia system. A short break-in period was needed. 

On the exterior, the GForce Gatlander looks similar to an M4 because of the barrel, sights, and extended faux magazine tube. Under the hood, so to speak, is an inertia system similar to a Benelli M2. In the cardboard box were five Benelli Mobil style choke tubes and wrench, all in a hard-plastic case.

Our sample wore a clean Cerakote bronze finish on all the metal, with an OD green synthetic stock and fore end. The polymer trigger group is matte back, as are the oversized controls and magazine cap. As much as we are tired of bronze finishes, we thought this shotgun looked sharp.

There was plenty of texture on the gripping areas of the stock and fore end. The recoil pad is ventilated rubber, which helped to absorb recoil. There is a sling-swivel attachment in the stock, and a loop on the magazine tube for a forward sling attachment.

The fore end is much thinner than the MAC or Panzer, with the balance between the hands. It is lighter at 6.6 pounds, making the Gatlander lively and fast to shoulder.

The adjustable ghost-sight aperture has two white dots on either side, and the bottom of the aperture is serrated and filled with white paint, under the auspice of reducing glare. We felt the white paint was a distraction. We would black out the serrations with a Sharpie. The front post with white dot is adjustable for windage. Arrows clearly mark the direction for rear-sight adjustment. The rear-sight assembly and rail are bolted to the top of the receiver, which is grooved, allowing the rear sight to sit closer to the receiver than on the MAC or Panzer.

The manual safety is a triangular button that is right-hand-shooter friendly. It blocks the trigger. The trigger pull averaged 6.7 pounds, double of what we would want. The oversized charging handle is round, so it comfortably rolls on your fingers as the bolt is racked. The bolt-catch button is also super sized to a paddle and takes minimal effort to engage. We liked it a lot. The loading port is standard size with fairly smooth edges. We think the Gatlander should have had the loading port beveled for faster, easier loading. Loading was very smooth, but we did pinch our thumb on the carrier a few times as we pushed shells into the magazine. 

Going hot, the Gatlander chewed through any shell we loaded and fired from the shoulder. When we fired from the hip, we had a few FTE jams with the light Fiocchi rounds. Running more 1300-fps ammo through the GForce allowed the shotgun to break in. The few jams with light loads were expected, but they cleared up after one box of higher-velocity Federal Game Loads. The light Fiocchi load then cycled when fired from the hip. After those initial FTEs, we could not get the GForce to jam. We tried to ease the bolt closed to produce the dreaded “Benelli click,” when the bolt accidentally comes out of battery and the trigger is pulled only to produce a click and not fire, but the gun just worked. 

With slugs, the average group was 1.5 inches, which was darn decent and made us think the Gatlander might do well in locations that require slug guns for deer hunting. Recoil was slightly more than that of the gas-system MAC and Panzer guns. 

Our Team Said: The Gatlander was a fun shotgun to run, especially with the oversized controls. A beveled loading port would make this shotgun even more user friendly. We expected jams with light loads and expected the Gatlander to run smoothly, which it did. If you want a lighter shotgun with a bit more felt recoil and the reliability of a pure inertia system, then the Gatlander is a solid choice. 

To collect pattern data with shotshells, we fired offhand at 15 yards using a Full choke tube. With slugs, we fired three-shot groups from a bench using a rest at 25 yards with Cylinder choke tubes.

Written and photographed by Robert Sadowski, using evaluations from Gun Tests Team members. GT