Franchi affinity 3 20 gauge forearm issue

[slave601]

Just bought the franchi affinity 3 bottomland pistol grip 20 gauge and cannot get the forearm to seat properly. The barrel will seat alone, the forearm will seat alone but both together it will not. Contacted franchi and they are saying 4-6 weeks. What a bummer

[wyetterp]

Dang I hate that for you. Man I keep seeing more & more issues with the affinity 3's. Not just on here, but across the board of forums.

Makes me wonder what changed. They were pumping out some really good stuff for a while. 

Hope you get it figured out & they take care of you promptly. It should be a really good firearm.

Best of luck & keep us posted how it goes. Might help some other people out also.

[Dtrkyman]

With the barrel fitting properly I would think there is an easy fix to get the forearm on, not owning one or having one in hand I can't be of any specific help.

See if the forearm sits against the barrlel lug when you slide the forearm into it?  Maybe it is not getting all the way seasted?  The forearm should be put on the barrel and then both should slide onto the gun, have you tried it that way?

[Remington700]

I own 2 of them and they are a pain to put on, but fit properly. One of mine had issues from the factory with the spring and had to go back twice before they got it right. Good luck!

[BDeal]

I've gotten two of them in the past month. The first was returned for a refund without being shot. Unfortunately I shot the second one so cannot get a refund and I got a message from Franchi/Benelli that I should get it back in about 45 days. On the first one I eventually got it together but it took over an hour and  then it didn't cycle correctly and the bolt felt like it was catching on something and didn't move with ease. The second one arrived to the FFL and we worked on it together for about 25 mins and finally got it together but it was ridiculous how difficult it was. I should have returned that one for a refund as well but made the mistake of bringing it home and shooting it. I fired about a dozen rounds with 4 different types of ammo and had a malfunction on every single shot. I had loading issues, cycling issues, extraction issues, issues with the bolt not closing all the way and just getting a "click" when I pulled the trigger., etc.  With the first one there were visible scratches in the finish and places where the finish was rubbed off.  When I did actually get the piece of garbage to fire, the felt recoil was much worse than expected.

I couldn't be less impressed with a firearm than I am with this one. I'm hoping they can get it working properly so I can sell or trade it as I am kicking myself for not going with the Mossberg SA 20 which is lighter, shorter, gas operated resulting in less recoil, and $200 less expensive to boot.

[Greg Massey]

I feel sorry for the ones who have experienced problems. I've not had the first problems with my Franchi Affinity Elite 3 turkey model. I wouldn't trade it for 2 of those Mossberg gas auto guns ... Inertia driven system is awesome in my opinion ...  This shotgun is one of the best I've owned and carried in an auto gun...

[joeturkey]

Same here could not get the barrel with the forearm to seat the problem was the magazine was hitting the to rings on the front forearm used a common screwdriver to move the magazine up to clear now it seated and cycling smoothly will shoot it this week just got the gun this morning.
Affinity 3 turkey Elite 20 ga mod#41345

[slave601]

A little trim work with a knife on the inside of the forearm and a screw driver and I got it to finally seat. It's a messed up mold system in the forearms. I set my egw mount Burris fast fire 4 and Indian creek .562 choke and apex 9s. She's dialed in and cycles perfectly.

[JeffC]

glad you got it working. Took mine apart, still have to really work it to get it back together. But it slides together much better then when I 1st had it apart last year. Good luck this year.

[BDeal]

I feel sorry for the ones who have experienced problems. I've not had the first problems with my Franchi Affinity Elite 3 turkey model. I wouldn't trade it for 2 of those Mossberg gas auto guns ... Inertia driven system is awesome in my opinion ...  This shotgun is one of the best I've owned and carried in an auto gun...

I would gladly take that trade in a heartbeat. The trigger is really poor on mine as well. Very spongy and lots of creep but that would likely be an easy fix with a new trigger spring and one I have made on a handful of my rifles.

[Greg Massey]

I feel sorry for the ones who have experienced problems. I've not had the first problems with my Franchi Affinity Elite 3 turkey model. I wouldn't trade it for 2 of those Mossberg gas auto guns ... Inertia driven system is awesome in my opinion ...  This shotgun is one of the best I've owned and carried in an auto gun...

I would gladly take that trade in a heartbeat. The trigger is really poor on mine as well. Very spongy and lots of creep but that would likely be an easy fix with a new trigger spring and one I have made on a handful of my rifles.

Sounds like you got lemon... no creep in the trigger with the one i have ....  Killed a gobbler the first week using it ...

[BDeal]

A little trim work with a knife on the inside of the forearm and a screw driver and I got it to finally seat. It's a messed up mold system in the forearms. I set my egw mount Burris fast fire 4 and Indian creek .562 choke and apex 9s. She's dialed in and cycles perfectly.

Interesting- for the folks that had to trim a little to get it to fit-you wouldn't happen to have a pic you could post showing where you trimmed would you? It's great that you got it to work but disappointing that Franchi has such a common defect. It makes one question their quality control.

[slave601]

A little trim work with a knife on the inside of the forearm and a screw driver and I got it to finally seat. It's a messed up mold system in the forearms. I set my egw mount Burris fast fire 4 and Indian creek .562 choke and apex 9s. She's dialed in and cycles perfectly.

Interesting- for the folks that had to trim a little to get it to fit-you wouldn't happen to have a pic you could post showing where you trimmed would you? It's great that you got it to work but disappointing that Franchi has such a common defect. It makes one question their quality control.

I trimmed it close to the barrel close to the receiver. When I tried to seat it before trimming it flared out the forearm. That's when I noticed the mold wasn't correct

[joeturkey]

 Called benelli they are sending me a new forearm but are out of stock for the subalpine they will send me the right camo one when they get it can't beat that .

[Brillo]

I have the Affinity 3 Turkey also.  Even though mine works fine, I am distressed to learn about these problems in manufacturing.  Not good for recent buyers or the future value of my gun.  Value/reverse engineering?  Taking bids from unproven suppliers?  We are unlikely to ever know.  At least is sounds like they are owning the issues and trying to make things right.