FFT forend review

[TKTM]

http://flic.kr/p/9myhrY
<edited to add link to video above>

I test fit my new FFT forend on my M4 and found some differences in fit from the original. Visually the FFT forend looks good, but there is a difference in fit that might annoy some. The design/fit of the tongue and groove joint which runs along the bottom of the forend haves is not nearly as good as the factory forend.

The tongue on the FFT is narrower than the one on the factory forend, this allows for movement between the halves. Also, the fit between the tongue and groove is not flush when loosely pressed together. When installed on the rifle the fit visually looks acceptable and it feels okay when squeezing the grips together. However if you grab the forend in a manner that loads the tounge/grove perpendicular to the joint, the foreend halves will move slightly passed each other (perpendicular to the barrel) and squeak. On the factory forend, the tongue and groove are firmly locked together and won't move or squeak in this manner.

I have not shot it yet to see if it makes a difference there. But I when I grabbed the M4 to put it in the safe, I could definitely hear and feel the forend haves squeaking and moving.

Given that the tongue is too narrow for the groove, it is unlikely that it can be trimmed to fit better. But it might be possible to true up the fit between the tongue and grove and then bond them together to make a one piece unit.

edited to add link to video of issue

http://flic.kr/p/9myhrY

[StrangerDanger]

Good review. Thanks!

[KB Fab]

I have a few questions for you as I have one of these in transit. First, have you contacted Todd at FFT and shared these concerns with him. Having spoken with him on a few occasions, I know he would be interested to find out that one of these units might be problematic.

Second, do you have any photos you could share that show the problems you are having? I know that Benelli restricts forum privileges until you have a certain number of posts but there are ways around that. Pictures would go a long way in terms of helping to understand the issues you are having.

Third, how old is your M4 and what kind of condition is it in? I ask because if it's older or has been banged around a bit, there is a good possibility that the tolerances may be indeed off a bit and may account for the issues you describe.

As I said earlier, your best bet would be to contact Todd at FFT and describe what is happening. I would think that you might get better satisfaction from doing that as opposed to writing what I consider to be an incomplete review on an internet forum.

[TKTM]

I have a few questions for you as I have one of these in transit. First, have you contacted Todd at FFT and shared these concerns with him. Having spoken with him on a few occasions, I know he would be interested to find out that one of these units might be problematic.

Second, do you have any photos you could share that show the problems you are having? I know that Benelli restricts forum privileges until you have a certain number of posts but there are ways around that. Pictures would go a long way in terms of helping to understand the issues you are having.

Third, how old is your M4 and what kind of condition is it in? I ask because if it's older or has been banged around a bit, there is a good possibility that the tolerances may be indeed off a bit and may account for the issues you describe.

As I said earlier, your best bet would be to contact Todd at FFT and describe what is happening. I would think that you might get better satisfaction from doing that as opposed to writing what I consider to be an incomplete review on an internet forum.

(1st question) I haven't spoken with anyone at FFT; I literally fit it up and tested the fit a few minutes before I posted.

(2nd question) I didn't delay the post to take video or photos. The description is good enough.

(3rd question) has nothing to do with the gun (new). The retaining flanges hold the forend tight. There appears to be no axial movement or perpendicular movement at the the flanges. The movement is in the middle of the forends, perpendicular to the barrel. The purpose of the tongue and grove is to prevent that movement.

Its a complete review, has all the factual information required.

[KB Fab]

(1st question) I haven't spoken with anyone at FFT; I literally fit it up and tested the fit a few minutes before I posted.

(2nd question) I didn't delay the post to take video or photos. The description is good enough.

(3rd question) has nothing to do with the gun (new). The retaining flanges hold the forend tight. There appears to be no axial movement or perpendicular movement at the the flanges. The movement is in the middle of the forends, perpendicular to the barrel. The purpose of the tongue and grove is to prevent that movement.

Its a complete review, has all the factual information required.

Well then it seems like from your response you were more interested in starting a thread telling us the problems you had rather than checking in with FFT first. Maybe that's just the way you roll but I would have taken the step to contact them before getting on-line and writing up a review. That's just the way I roll. Have a nice day.

[azmaxfan]

Please post after you speak to FFT.
I just received mine, but will not install until others including FFT chime in on this matter. It should fit just like the Benelli's unit for $50.00 imho.

[TKTM]

Well then it seems like from your response you were more interested in starting a thread telling us the problems you had rather than checking in with FFT first. Maybe that's just the way you roll but I would have taken the step to contact them before getting on-line and writing up a review. That's just the way I roll. Have a nice day.

Why would one delay the sharing of information?

[TKTM]

Please post after you speak to FFT.
I just received mine, but will not install until others including FFT chime in on this matter. It should fit just like the Benelli's unit for $50.00 imho.

Its not an exact copy; and there are probably good reasons for that. If you look at the original and FFL's unit you can see that the tongue and grove are a slightly different design.

If you don't want to install it yet just hold both parts in your hand and put the tongue and groove together. Do they fit together flush? Does the tongue wiggle or move (non axially) inside the groove?

[LeoAtrox]

I just installed mine. I agree that it isn't as good as the OEM forearm, but my set is rock-solid with no movement whatsoever. Not because the tongue and groove are any different, but because one half (the left, I think) is slightly bowed. When pressing one end of the forearm halves together, the gap on the other end spreads more than two milimeters. Still, this gap can be squeezed together (with one hand) when installed, and the caps hold both ends together tightly. This slight bow will probably work out a little bit as it sits assembled at room temperature (it was freezing in transit) and the tension it causes is probably the reason why it fits so well when fully assembled.

[TKTM]

I just installed mine. I agree that it isn't as good as the OEM forearm, but my set is rock-solid with no movement whatsoever. Not because the tongue and groove are any different, but because one half (the left, I think) is slightly bowed. When pressing one end of the forearm halves together, the gap on the other end spreads more than two milimeters. Still, this gap can be squeezed together (with one hand) when installed, and the caps hold both ends together tightly. This slight bow will probably work out a little bit as it sits assembled at room temperature (it was freezing in transit) and the tension it causes is probably the reason why it fits so well when fully assembled.

put your palm on the barrel and place your fingers on one of the halves right at boundary between the two halves. Now make a kung-fu grip and see if you can feel one half move past the other (you'll hear a squeak too)