Picatinny Rail Forend for Benelli M4

sonyman74 · 2008-01-02 18:46:26

I know Sure Fire has one but what are the chance of Mesa making one?

mitch · 2008-01-07 13:14:21

We began development of our FCAM system over two years ago:

Unfortunately, we ran into a hitch when the method we devised to secure the components together without the use of tools wouldn't work with the new barrel diameter Benelli started using. We have since come up with another mechanism, but other priorities have been getting in the way of our continued development.

We posted the entire development process on the Benelli forums: http://www.benelliusa.com/forum/showthread.php?t=9123

Our system would be more flexible than the SureFire and of course would include our famous SureShell carriers (you'd be able to carry up to 20 additional shells on a fully loaded FCAM). But it wouldn't be any less expensive than the SureFire.

We would like to continue development this year.

CivilianM4 · 2008-01-12 14:20:03

Mitch,

Please work the FCAM project back into the development schedule. Many of us Benelli M4 owners would rather purchase your product, which would be superior to the Surefire unit.

Thanks.

mitch · 2008-01-14 07:09:00

Thank you for the encouraging words. We will definitely try to get onto the project again. We have already manufactured many of the components.

NRAgen · 2008-04-01 22:12:47

I hope your new shop is working out for you and you are catching up with your backlog to catch alittle breathing room. I am sure you showed the new FCAM desighn at the 08 shot show, and I sure hope this provides a little more incentive to get back on the project we are all greatful for your desighn by far the best I have seen. I know you are geard more toward's Law enforcement and military but we civies love your product's as well. You guy's have a knack at making some of the badest component's I have seen, keep up the good work, really looking foreward to this forearm system, Thank's Jeff.

Last edited by NRAgen (2008-04-01 22:45:16)

adamlau · 2008-04-18 19:29:17

Any plans for a direct replacement, forearm only rail? One that does not require the top rail for interlocking, basically an MT version of the M80...

mitch · 2008-04-21 12:12:05

adamlau wrote:

Any plans for a direct replacement, forearm only rail? One that does not require the top rail for interlocking, basically an MT version of the M80...

No plans for now.

NRAgen · 2008-04-24 18:44:05

Any headway gentleman?

adamlau · 2008-05-06 02:53:04

CivilianM4 wrote:

Many of us Benelli M4 owners would rather purchase your product, which would be superior to the Surefire unit.

Absolutely. No way I am going to purchase a SureFire product with the possibility of a FTF occurring.

NRAgen · 2008-05-06 17:12:29

Just curious what is a FTF?, not that I am doing the Surefire route anyways.

adamlau · 2008-05-07 00:13:34

FTF = Fail To Fire

Last edited by adamlau (2008-05-07 00:13:45)

NRAgen · 2008-05-07 13:11:05

I have not heard about this they are haveing this kind of problems?, not only do they look bad they compromise the shotgun as well, wow.

ApexinM3 · 2008-05-21 10:38:28

I'm trying to hold out as well for the MT fore-end, however I am wondering just how much longer this project is on hold. I'd rather see MT get my $$$ than, say, Surefire or B&T!

BTW, keep up the good work, Mitch; your products are awesome!

NRAgen · 2008-06-10 22:56:19

Yea awsome but it yet seems to materialize, actually I don't know if I am going to wait for this product. First of all I orderd a 6 shell side sadle for my M1 and after I drill and tap my reciever I find out they have a different desighn now that uses the reciever pins, makes me wonder why they changed the desighn. And now I hear their new desighn is pinching the reciever and the gun is not cycleing properly. And now there is a issue with the M4 8 shot side saddle with the screws not holding properly and stripping out. I striped one out myself and did not have that much pressure on it. It's probley going to cost a 100.00 to 150.00 to fix and the money I wasted on the shell holder itself I think it's to much weight for the screw's. You know guy's these shotguns are not cheap and we put are trust in you to give us a quality product that we pay for. I have $2500.00 in two shotguns with your products are on and personaly Im alittle upset. So Mesa do you care to comment on why the desighn change on the M1 sidesaddle and what is the deal withe the screws. I here there is some incosistant lenths and is the pitch the same as Benelli's. And last but not least you know ther is a problem with the screw's are you going to pay for my damage to my M4 stripped scerw. Im sorry but intill these issues are solved I will not be buying anymore of your product's.

Last edited by NRAgen (2008-06-10 22:57:55)

MeanGreen · 2009-08-22 18:47:25

Mitch, Any progress on the development of your M4 forend. I would definitely love to get one once you guys have them available. I tried the KZ forend, but it doesn't really fit well at all on the M4. I could barely get the barrel flush with the receiver so I returned it. And I haven't heard great reviews of the Surefire forend.

If you could post any additional pictures of the prototype that would be great.

mitch · 2009-09-28 08:12:15

Now that we are developing some expertise in injection molding, we have revisited the FCAM idea by using a glass filled nylon forend instead of an extrude aluminum piece. I will admit it is not an urgent priority like the M4 buttstock, but it's something we are again noodling around with.

The biggest challenge we have at the moment is working out some method of attachment of Picatinny rails to the upper rail forward of the forend. One reason we sort of hung up this project in the past we because we discovered that newer M4 barrels were wider at the base than ours is, so we couldn't install the FCAM on these shotguns with our original threaded fasteners. We want to use some kind of nutserts now, but will have to experiment with them to see whether they are compatible with the wider barrel.

If we can finalize that, finishing up the forend design will be relatively easy and we might have something on the market within a few months.

But we want to get this stock finished first.

xamoel · 2009-11-05 12:10:30

just one quick question: will this rail-system have true picatinny-spec rails? or those Benelli-type stubs like the original rail?

mitch · 2009-11-05 13:53:11

xamoel wrote:

just one quick question: will this rail-system have true picatinny-spec rails? or those Benelli-type stubs like the original rail?

All our Picatinny rails are true MIL-STD-1913 dimensions. I'm not sure what issue is with the factory rail.

xamoel · 2009-11-05 14:09:36

the benelli-type rails have some kind of channel in the middle, which sometimes seems to be a problem with mounting accessories, as stated in this thread:
http://www.benelliusa.com/forum/showthread.php?t=17908
i just wondered what kind of rails you would be providing on your fcam system, because i think many would prefer a "full" rail.

mitch · 2009-11-06 07:23:06

Oh, all our top rails also have that channel. It's a weight savings and also allows operators to sight down the center, if necessary.

We have never heard of it causing any compatibility problems with optics mounts.

xamoel · 2009-11-06 09:24:45

but side rails on the fcam would not have it?

mitch · 2009-11-06 11:22:23

No, accessory rails don't have the central slot.

They look like this one:

Last edited by mitch (2009-11-06 11:26:33)

xamoel · 2009-11-06 11:36:24

alright, looks good! will the fcam look something like the sidearmor-rail? i mean will i be able to keep the original handguard, and mount accessories on both sides?

mitch · 2009-11-08 07:18:31

Any future FCAM design will include a replacement forend. With our design, the forend is necessary to support the front of the rail, which will not be secured to the barrel in any way (the F in FCAM stands for "floating").

However, now that we are thinking about using an injection molded forend, we will attempt to make the FCAM forend as similar ro the factory forend as possible.

xamoel · 2009-11-08 11:09:37

sounds like a good plan, because i quite like the original one.

Mesa Tactical Forum

#1 2008-01-02 18:46:26

Picatinny Rail Forend for Benelli M4

#2 2008-01-07 13:14:21

Re: Picatinny Rail Forend for Benelli M4

#3 2008-01-12 14:20:03

Re: Picatinny Rail Forend for Benelli M4

#4 2008-01-14 07:09:00

Re: Picatinny Rail Forend for Benelli M4

#5 2008-04-01 22:12:47

Re: Picatinny Rail Forend for Benelli M4

#6 2008-04-18 19:29:17

Re: Picatinny Rail Forend for Benelli M4

#7 2008-04-21 12:12:05

Re: Picatinny Rail Forend for Benelli M4

#8 2008-04-24 18:44:05

Re: Picatinny Rail Forend for Benelli M4

#9 2008-05-06 02:53:04

Re: Picatinny Rail Forend for Benelli M4

#10 2008-05-06 17:12:29

Re: Picatinny Rail Forend for Benelli M4

#11 2008-05-07 00:13:34

Re: Picatinny Rail Forend for Benelli M4

#12 2008-05-07 13:11:05

Re: Picatinny Rail Forend for Benelli M4

#13 2008-05-21 10:38:28

Re: Picatinny Rail Forend for Benelli M4

#14 2008-06-10 22:56:19

Re: Picatinny Rail Forend for Benelli M4

#15 2009-08-22 18:47:25

Re: Picatinny Rail Forend for Benelli M4

#16 2009-09-28 08:12:15

Re: Picatinny Rail Forend for Benelli M4

#17 2009-11-05 12:10:30

Re: Picatinny Rail Forend for Benelli M4

#18 2009-11-05 13:53:11

Re: Picatinny Rail Forend for Benelli M4

#19 2009-11-05 14:09:36

Re: Picatinny Rail Forend for Benelli M4

#20 2009-11-06 07:23:06

Re: Picatinny Rail Forend for Benelli M4

#21 2009-11-06 09:24:45

Re: Picatinny Rail Forend for Benelli M4

#22 2009-11-06 11:22:23

Re: Picatinny Rail Forend for Benelli M4

#23 2009-11-06 11:36:24

Re: Picatinny Rail Forend for Benelli M4

#24 2009-11-08 07:18:31

Re: Picatinny Rail Forend for Benelli M4

#25 2009-11-08 11:09:37

Re: Picatinny Rail Forend for Benelli M4

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