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Work order — Franchi Affinity

Taking the firearm apart for a job such as refinishing, and putting it back together to specification. Generated from the Pew-Takedown entry last updated 2026-10-29. Confidence: medium.

Shop difficulty: Tier 2 of 3

Benelli-pattern inertia action: about 79 keyed parts (143 rows across five assembly tables, 12 ga column) that come apart without timing, but with the same traps as the M2: inertia spring that must be present, bolt head orientation, stock nut and spring washer on a tension rod, and the barrel extension that must not strike the locking head on reassembly. 79 parts (Franchi spare parts catalogue TAV 1-5 (Affinity/Intensity), rows with a 12-gauge code only; keys restart in each table (79 keyed rows), and several rows are kits or variants). Pew-Takedown's rating, not the manufacturer's.

Bench time: strip ~50 min, rebuild ~70 min (estimate). Actual: strip ______ rebuild ______

Special tools:

• Long 13-17 mm socket on extension — Buttstock nut on the tension rod
• Padded vise and heat gun — Freeing a thread-locked recoil spring tube
• Punch set incl. 3/32 in. — Trigger group and bolt pins

Watch for:

• When the barrel goes back on, the barrel extension must not knock against the bolt locking head; the bolt has to be fully forward and the extension fully home. (reassembly; Franchi USA / Benelli Armi S.p.A.)
• The stock is held by a nut, lock washer and spring washer on a tension rod, and a stamped drop shim must go back the right way round. (both; Franchi USA / Benelli Armi S.p.A.)
• Freeing the buttstock and recoil tube (needed to coat the receiver bare) means breaking a buttstock nut on a tension rod; on Benelli-family inertia guns owners report thread-locker, heat and a real risk of crushing the tube in the vise. (disassembly; Canadian Gun Nutz)

1. Clear and make safe

1. Point the muzzle in a safe direction and keep your finger off the trigger.
2. Engage the crossbolt safety.
3. Pull the bolt handle rearward to eject any chambered shell and lock the bolt open.
4. Cycle the action repeatedly, catching each shell, until no more feed from the magazine tube.
5. With the action open, inspect the chamber and look up the magazine tube with a light.
   Warning: The chamber AND the tube.
6. Physically confirm the chamber is empty and remove all live ammunition from the work area.

2. Disassemble

Field Strip

1. Complete the Clear and Make Safe procedure.
2. Unscrew the magazine cap and remove the forend.
3. Pull the barrel forward off the magazine tube and out of the receiver.
4. Pull the bolt handle out of the bolt.
5. Slide the bolt assembly forward and out of the receiver.
6. Push out the trigger group pin and lift the trigger group out.
7. To separate the bolt, remove the firing pin retaining pin, withdraw the firing pin and spring, then push out the locking head pin and separate the bolt head from the bolt body.
   Warning: The inertia spring sits between the bolt head and bolt body. Note it and keep it.

3. Refinish

The components the procedures above separate. Coating, masking and cure are outside this database; follow your coating system's instructions. A part the manufacturer marks "factory fit" should not be swapped or reworked.

The manufacturer's full parts list (143 parts) is on the reference page.

4. Reassemble

Reassembly

1. Seat the inertia spring in the bolt body, fit the bolt head over it, and insert the locking head pin.
   Warning: Without the inertia spring correctly installed the shotgun will not cycle.
2. Install the firing pin, its spring, and the retaining pin.
3. Install the trigger group and its pin.
4. Slide the bolt assembly into the receiver and install the bolt handle.
5. Seat the barrel fully and install the forend.
6. Hand-tighten the magazine cap firmly.
   Warning: Check it before every use.
7. Cycle the action several times and perform the function check.

5. Torque

No manufacturer torque values are recorded for this firearm.

Notes: The manufacturer's documents give no torque value. They say: "Fit the spring washer on tension rod (4), nut (3) and tighten firmly." (Franchi Affinity / Intensity manual (2013), PDF p. 33 (drop/deviation change, step 7)) "Refit the under butt plate (2) and butt plate (1), so they are perfectly aligned with the stock and then tighten the screws." (Franchi Affinity / Intensity manual (2013), PDF p. 33)

Fit or check on rebuild

• Recoil tube support and torque — The aluminium recoil tube is easily crushed or bent; refit square and tight without clamping the tube.
• Link seated on the recoil spring plunger — If the link misses the plunger when the bolt goes in, the gun will not cycle.
• Function check: safety, trigger/sear release, disconnector and feeding with dummy rounds — Standard after any detail strip; a mis-assembled sear or disconnector can double or fail to fire.

6. Function check

• Verify the shotgun is unloaded — chamber and magazine tube — before each step.
• Cycle the action fully and confirm it locks closed.
• With the hammer cocked, engage the safety and press the trigger. The hammer must not fall.
• Disengage the safety and press the trigger. The hammer should fall.
• Load two dummy shells into the magazine and confirm they feed and eject one at a time.
• Confirm the magazine cap is tight.

If any check fails, the firearm is not safe to fire. Stop and see a licensed gunsmith.

Sources

1. Franchi Affinity Use and Maintenance Manual — Franchi / Benelli Armi S.p.A. primary
2. Franchi Affinity / Intensity manual (2013) — Franchi USA / Benelli Armi S.p.A. primary
   https://www.franchiusa.com/sites/default/files/content/media/manuals/2020-08/affinity_intensity_manual_2013.pdf
3. Affinity 3 | Franchi Shotguns and Rifles — Features — Franchi USA (Benelli USA) primary
   https://www.franchiusa.com/semi-auto-shotguns/affinity-3
4. Benelli Super Black Eagle recoil spring replacement — Canadian Gun Nutz anecdotal
   https://www.canadiangunnutz.com/forum/threads/benelli-super-black-eagle-recoil-spring-replacement.1117189

Educational guide only. Some information comes from non-authoritative sources. Always consult your manufacturer's manual and a licensed gunsmith. Verify your firearm is unloaded before every procedure. Full disclaimer: https://github.com/Fundamental-build-LLC/Pew-Takedown

Legal notice: this material is third-party information compiled from sources of varying reliability and is provided for general informational and educational purposes only. It is not gunsmithing, technical, safety or legal advice, it is not verified or endorsed by any manufacturer, and it must not be taken as fact. Any work on a firearm beyond the routine field stripping described in its own owner's manual should be performed only by a licensed and insured gunsmith. You use this material entirely at your own risk. Fundamental Build LLC and the project's contributors make no warranty of any kind and accept no liability for death, injury, damage or loss arising from its use. Full terms: LEGAL.md.