Picatinny Rail Forend for Benelli M4

Fett Tracking · 2009-12-30 11:41:39

I have never malf'd because the Surefire, nevertheless I would surley SWAP it it for 100% gayroontee no problemas

i_wish · 2010-10-14 21:24:06

Resurrecting this old thread to see if this is still going to happen. I know Urbino is a priority but just wondering if this is still on your radar.

mitch · 2010-10-18 07:41:25

We keep playing with ideas from time to time. We are interested in using plastic instead of aluminum for the forend. So this idea isn't dead yet, but we will be working on other things before we get back to this.

i_wish · 2010-10-18 07:46:36

Thanks for the reply Mitch. Another question for you. Is the black plastic(?) forend on the bottom of the FCAM attachable to any picatinnay rail? If so could that be sold seperate?
TIA

eta clarification

Last edited by i_wish (2010-10-18 08:28:06)

mitch · 2010-10-18 09:09:16

The original FCAM featured a detachable plastic forend that could be installed in place of a Picatinny rail that could be secured directly to the aluminum forend. Also, a rail could be attached to the plastic forend as well.

But that is an old design we have abandoned. I am pretty sure that when we revisit this the entire forend will be plastic. We will retain the ability to mount a rail securely to the bottom of the forend.

The rail attachments are #10-32 inserts spaced one inch apart. This hole pattern supports our existing "Adapter Mount Picatinny Rails" that we make available primarily for our magazine clamp customers.

StrangerDanger · 2010-10-18 15:55:38

Retaining the ergonomics of the Benelli forearm is a priority. The failings of the Surefire M80 rail was primarily due to the fact that the rail system placed any mounted items right where your hand is meant to sit. It also made the forearm too thick. It was like holding onto a pringles can with spikes.

A replacement forearm would be a valued item for US made parts compliance. Additional colors would be a plus. I'd opt to have mounting holes on the forearm that allowed the option of short picatinny rails to be placed where needed. Preferably around the 10:30 and 1:30 positions, parallel with the barrel. This would keep the handguard area clear for your hands.

The key would be to minimize weight on an already heavy system. Adding long top rails serves little real world value. The mounting points between the receiver mounting bracket and the barrel hanger bracket are strong enough that a top support rail isn't needed.

Some tape switch pocket ideals could be explored. Maybe a wire routing option to limit exposed wires.

mitch · 2010-10-19 07:18:20

StrangerDanger wrote:

Retaining the ergonomics of the Benelli forearm is a priority . . . Some tape switch pocket ideals could be explored. Maybe a wire routing option to limit exposed wires.

Yeah, I am very fond of the factory forend. The ergonomics of the Benelli M4 stock and forend are so excellent it's amazing the same people produced that horrible sadistic collapsing stock with the pointy end.

When we were working on the FCAM we were getting informal advice from a fellow in Arizona called Boehm. He has elaborately customized his Benelli M4, and has come up with ways to hide switch wires. In fact, the Adapter Mount Picatinny rails mentioned above include transverse grooves in their bases we call "Boehm channels," after his suggestion for a way to secure switch wires under the rails. We don't know of anyone who actually uses them in this way, but they are standard with all our rails except the shortest one.

StrangerDanger · 2010-10-19 15:54:03

Mitch,
That's me. It was good to see you at SHOT this year.

I'm looking forward to cutting up some of your Urbino stocks.

Benelli_M4_11707 · 2010-11-30 21:59:27

Hello all -

I appreciate the good info and civil conversation on this forum.

As you might guess from my user name, I signed on here and am posting in this thread for one reason: interest in an American-made replacement for the Benelli M4 forearm.

I have limited rotation in both of my forearms/wrists, especially the left, which makes holding standard-grip long guns feel uncomfortable and not very secure. I never liked shooting them much until I held one with a pistol grip and vertical foregrip, and it was a revelation :-)

Thus, The pistol grip was a major factor in buying the Benelli M4 (along with it being a semi-auto with the ability to cycle light rounds, and its reputation for quality, reliability, durability, easy maintenance, and low felt recoil). All that's missing is a vertical foregrip.

I am anxiously awaiting the reinforced plastic Mesa Tactical forearm so I can have a VFG. The FAB Defense (or MAKO?) looks fine, but it's not American-made, and it's unnecessarily big and heavy (no need for the over-barrel coverage or extended top rail). The Surefire is overkill as well, with the full-length side rails, and it's aluminum, which I think is a mistake. I generally think plastic is over-used in modern manufacturing, but in the case of firearms, the plastic virtues of easy manufacture, strength, light weight, shock absorption, and comfort are hard to beat.

The ideal replacement forearm for my Benelli M4 would be the stock forearm with a rail on the bottom. From what I've read, it looks like that's basically what you're planning. Hurry up, would ya?
:-)

Last edited by Benelli_M4_11707 (2010-11-30 23:00:44)

mitch · 2010-12-01 09:23:15

As I think I have mentioned elsewhere we have no firm plans to produce a forend, but we have been interested in this project for a while. Thanks to the Urbino Tactical stock, we are being introduced to more and more Benelli users (especially agencies) and this might help us come to a justification for investment in a forend development.

SIMXHeretic · 2011-03-03 14:15:32

This is a project that needs to happen.

Underarmor has a good system for the M1014 but it does get heavy and is not cost effective.

Surefire's rail requires the use of gloves and/or rail covers to use. I've had to return two of them due to the rail not holding up to the recoil.

You would have a TON (no exaggeration at all) of people that would buy one. Hell, I'll be buying 3 if they are ever produced.

mitch · 2011-03-04 07:47:40

We are a lot more interested these days in doing this forend. We are waiting, however, on some developments from Benelli.

SIMXHeretic · 2011-04-05 11:45:49

Mitch,

What kind developments is Benelli making? They changing the M4 design?

Don't want to stick my nose where it doesn't belong . I'm just curious.

mitch · 2011-04-06 09:06:44

Nothing, we are just trying to get actual dimensional specifications from them before starting this project. We aren't sure they are willing to part with them.

Tactical73 · 2011-06-10 00:34:41

when you think that you have the forend is ready?

mitch · 2011-06-16 07:20:34

Tactical73 wrote:

when you think that you have the forend is ready?

This project is on hold because we are getting no cooperation from Benelli at this point. They aren't returning our calls and e-mails.

Sorry.

SIMXHeretic · 2011-09-04 13:50:09

mitch wrote:

Tactical73 wrote:
when you think that you have the forend is ready?
This project is on hold because we are getting no cooperation from Benelli at this point. They aren't returning our calls and e-mails.
Sorry.

Crap.

Any luck at all?

Last edited by SIMXHeretic (2011-09-04 17:31:54)

mitch · 2011-09-06 07:20:24

No. Still no returned call from last week. Will keep trying.

SIMXHeretic · 2012-01-23 21:59:31

Happy new year!

Any luck with this project?

mitch · 2012-01-27 10:49:10

No progress with Mossberg. Will revisit in in a week or so when SHOT Show stuff calms down.

SIMXHeretic · 2012-04-13 16:57:39

You can't get rid of me that easy.

Any word at all?

:\

mitch · 2012-04-17 09:39:35

We aren't going to get any cooperation from Benelli.

However, we are examining the possibility of a new forend, based on some other work we are doing on other platforms. As with the Mossberg 930 stuff mentioned in the other thread, this is an active project, it's just a ways down on the list compared to some other more urgent things we are doing.

SIMXHeretic · 2013-01-09 13:12:18

Happy new year everyone!

Any news on this project going forward?

Mesa Tactical Forum

#26 2009-12-30 11:41:39

Re: Picatinny Rail Forend for Benelli M4

#27 2010-10-14 21:24:06

Re: Picatinny Rail Forend for Benelli M4

#28 2010-10-18 07:41:25

Re: Picatinny Rail Forend for Benelli M4

#29 2010-10-18 07:46:36

Re: Picatinny Rail Forend for Benelli M4

#30 2010-10-18 09:09:16

Re: Picatinny Rail Forend for Benelli M4

#31 2010-10-18 15:55:38

Re: Picatinny Rail Forend for Benelli M4

#32 2010-10-19 07:18:20

Re: Picatinny Rail Forend for Benelli M4

#33 2010-10-19 15:54:03

Re: Picatinny Rail Forend for Benelli M4

#34 2010-11-30 21:59:27

Re: Picatinny Rail Forend for Benelli M4

#35 2010-12-01 09:23:15

Re: Picatinny Rail Forend for Benelli M4

#36 2011-03-03 14:15:32

Re: Picatinny Rail Forend for Benelli M4

#37 2011-03-04 07:47:40

Re: Picatinny Rail Forend for Benelli M4

#38 2011-04-05 11:45:49

Re: Picatinny Rail Forend for Benelli M4

#39 2011-04-06 09:06:44

Re: Picatinny Rail Forend for Benelli M4

#40 2011-06-10 00:34:41

Re: Picatinny Rail Forend for Benelli M4

#41 2011-06-16 07:20:34

Re: Picatinny Rail Forend for Benelli M4

#42 2011-09-04 13:50:09

Re: Picatinny Rail Forend for Benelli M4

#43 2011-09-06 07:20:24

Re: Picatinny Rail Forend for Benelli M4

#44 2012-01-23 21:59:31

Re: Picatinny Rail Forend for Benelli M4

#45 2012-01-27 10:49:10

Re: Picatinny Rail Forend for Benelli M4

#46 2012-04-13 16:57:39

Re: Picatinny Rail Forend for Benelli M4

#47 2012-04-17 09:39:35

Re: Picatinny Rail Forend for Benelli M4

#48 2013-01-09 13:12:18

Re: Picatinny Rail Forend for Benelli M4

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