Freedom Fighter Tactical

Freedom Fighter Tactical does not include installation instructions with any product in an effort to go paperless.  As such, FFT has provided this page complete with installation instructions for the Hammer, Trigger, and Disconnector (these instructions apply to all shotguns).

FFT also includes installations below (scroll down) for installation of the Benelli M4 full length magazine tubes.  The installation is pretty much the same for the Benelli M1 and M2 as far as heating the shotgun to break the Locktite seal and allow the user to remove the original magazine tube.

The installation of the rest of our parts is either glaringly obvious or at least fairly obvious with the aid of your user manual, so instructions for the installation of each and every item we sell is not provided as it is unnecessary.

DOWNLOAD AND PRINT FREEDOM FIGHTER TACTICAL PARTS INSTALLATION INSTRUCTIONS RIGHT HERE:

TRIGGER KIT FOR ALL SHOTGUNS

7 ROUND MAGAZINE TUBE FOR BENELLI M4 SHOTGUNS

FOREND FOR BENELLI M4 SHOTGUN

Hammer, Trigger, and Disconnector Installation Instructions - All Shotguns

922(r) Complaint Trigger

922(r) Complaint Hammer

922(r) Compliant Disconnector

 Important Safety Considerations!

  1. Treat every firearm as though it were loaded.
  2. Keep your finger off the trigger until you are ready to shoot.
  3. Do not let the muzzle of the gun point at anything that you are unwilling to destroy.
  4. Know your target, and what is beyond your target.

 The FFT trigger components are premium replacements for the OEM Benelli parts. They are constructed with the finest materials and require absolutely no fitting or gunsmithing to install, even though we recommend installation by a gunsmith. Each part is completely manufactured in the United States and each is an additional part for 922(r) compliance.

Be sure to read Benelli’s manual on assembly, operation, and maintenance of the Benelli M4. See the manual for installation instructions in addition to this guide, as this guide does not replace or supercede the Benelli Owner’s Manual.

Suggested Order of Disassembly and Installation – When installing either a trigger or disconnector, or both, AND also a hammer, to make things easy, choose to either start and complete the uninstall and installation of the trigger and disconnector first, or the hammer first, but do not do it all at one time. If you start with the hammer, totally uninstall the hammer, and totally install the hammer, before moving on to the trigger and disconnector. Or vice versa. This will save you an enormous amount of time and trouble in this very simple installation procedure.

Additionally, it is recommended to complete the processes outlined below on a white towel or cloth, in order to have the ability to see the parts when uninstalled. The springs in the trigger installation are very easy to contend with, but they are small and hard to see on any surface that is dark.

Hammer Removal and Installation Instructions

  1. Check to see if the shotgun is loaded. If it is, unload it immediately.
  2. Cycle the bolt to cock the hammer, and then close the bolt. Locate the trigger group retention pin on the right side of the receiver, as it can be found just above the front of the trigger guard.
  3. Press the trigger group retention pin in from the right side of the receiver. Pull the pin out from the left side of the receiver until it stops. The pin will be retained by the receiver, and should not be fully removed.
  4. Pull the trigger guard down and slightly forward to remove the trigger group from the receiver.
  5. Pull the trigger to release the hammer. Do not let the hammer snap forward and hit the housing.
  6. Locate the external snap ring on the left side of the hammer pivot.
  7. Using external snap ring pliers (We used snap ring pliers with 0.038 inch diameter tip), remove the snap ring. The snap ring can be easily lost, so be sure to control the snap ring as you make this maneuver.   This snap ring can be VERY difficult to remove, so take care to not bend it and ruin it while removing it. Do not pry the snap ring off with a different tool, such as a screwdriver, as doing such may damage either the hammer pivot pin or the snap ring itself.
  8. Press the hammer pivot pin out of the trigger group from the left side only far enough to allow the hammer to be removed.
  9. Remove the hammer and replace with the new hammer.
  10. You may lightly coat the bore of the new hammer and the top of the hammer spring plunger with high quality gun oil, as well as lubricating the sear surfaces and hooks with a high quality grease.
  11. It is a little tricky, but the hammer must be in the appropriate position so as to align with the hammer pivot pin. Once the pin is through the hammer and the left side of the shell lifter, cock the hammer. When the shelf lifter and snap ring slots are visible on the left end of the pivot pin, use the snap ring pliers to install the snap ring onto the end of the pivot pin.
  12. If you are moving on to the trigger and disconnector, move on in the instruction guide to the “Trigger and Disconnector Removal Instructions.” If you are not moving on to the trigger and disconnector, continue on as directed.
  13. Hold the bolt release button fully in and install the trigger group into the receiver. Take care to ensure that the trigger group is fully seated to the rear. Then, push the retention pin into the receiver until the head of the pin is fully seated against the left side of the receiver.
  14. Perform a safety check operation. Cycle and close the bolt. Check the operation of the safety on and off. Pull the trigger ha+9rd to ensure there is no failure. Check the trigger reset by dry-firing the shotgun and holding the trigger all the way back. Cycle the bolt. Press the bolt release button to let the bolt close. The hammer should not fail. Release the trigger, and check to be sure the hammer is caught by the trigger and does not fail.

Trigger and Disconnector Removal and Installation Instructions

  1. If you have already removed the trigger group to install the hammer, and have replaced the hammer, jump to item 7 below.
  2. Check to see if the shotgun is loaded. If it is, unload it immediately.
  3. Cycle the bolt to cock the hammer, and then close the bolt. Locate the trigger group retention pin on the right side of the receiver, as it can be found just above the front of the trigger guard.
  4. Press the trigger group retention pin in from the right side of the receiver. Pull the pin out from the left side of the receiver until it stops. The pin will be retained by the receiver, and should not be fully removed.
  5. Pull the trigger guard down and slightly forward to remove the trigger group from the receiver.
  6. Pull the trigger to release the hammer. Do not let the hammer snap forward and hit the housing.
  7. Locate the trigger pin. On all trigger groups we have seen, this pin is a clear/natural pin, as opposed to a black pin. Remove this pin. Take great care to control the trigger, as this pin is the only part that holds the trigger into place. Ease the trigger out, being sure to control the trigger spring. This is the only spring that, upon removal of the trigger, you must contend with.
  8. Use care in controlling the hammer spring and hammer spring cap when removing the trigger.
  9. Note that the disconnector is held in place by a pin, called the disconnector pin. Remove this pin. This pin is extremely small and great care must be taken to ensure it is not lost. Be sure to take great care in controlling the disconnector spring and disconnector plunger upon removal.
  10. Replace the trigger and/or disconnector with the new trigger and disconnector. Take the new trigger, and new disconnector, along with the disconnector spring and plunger, and fit them into place. It is very likely that this procedure will take two people, as a second person would make inserting the disconnector pin into place much easier. This is a very easy procedure, but very difficult for only one person. The disconnector pin must be completely seated into the trigger. If it is not fully inserted, apply pressure to see that it snaps into place. Inspect to be certain it is fully seated before moving on.
  11. When installing the trigger, be certain the hammer spring and hammer spring cap are in place. Install the trigger, ensuring that the rear of the trigger sits on the shelf on the interior of the trigger guard. Once the trigger is lined up properly, insert the trigger pin.
  12. Hold the bolt release button fully in and install the trigger group into the receiver. Take care to ensure that the trigger group is fully seated to the rear. Then, push the retention pin into the receiver until the head of the pin is fully seated against the left side of the receiver.
  13. Perform a safety check operation. Cycle and close the bolt. Check the operation of the safety on and off. Pull the trigger hard to ensure there is no failure. Check the trigger reset by dry-firing the shotgun and holding the trigger all the way back. Cycle the bolt. Press the bolt release button to let the bolt close. Neither the hammer, trigger, or disconnector should fail. Release the trigger, and check to be sure the hammer is caught by the trigger and does not fail.

Benelli M4 Full Length Magazine Tube Installation and Removal of the OEM Tube 

We strongly recommend having a gunsmith install your new magazine tube, as it is difficult for those who are not accustomed to working with a heat gun. It is very easy to damage your shotgun, or more importantly, hurt yourself, as improper procedure could result in severe burns to the arms and hands.

Always maintain the 4 basic firearms safety rules:

Treat every weapon as though as it loaded.
Don't point your weapon at anything you do not intend to destroy.
Keep your finger off the trigger and outside the trigger guard until you are on target and ready to fire.
Always be aware of your target and what is in front of it and beyond it.


The following tools are required for Removal/ Installation:

Heat gun with a setting that will allow a maximum of 400 degrees (some heat guns only have higher settings or a single setting in the 600-900 degree range. **Please DO NOT attempt the use of a torch, they are much to hot**.

Brass or nylon gun cleaning brush with stiff bristles.

Blue Loc-Tite (you don't have to use Loc-Tite but some do)

Vise with rubber vise pads

Acetone

Cotton Swabs and/or cleaning patches

Rubber Jar opener or gripper. **Please DO NOT use a pipe wrench it WILL damage your tube and your receivers threads**.

Snap ring or small needle nose pliers.

Safety glasses

Before starting the removal and installation process make sure the firearm safety button is engaged, all ammo is clear of the chamber, and the magazine tube is empty. Remove all ammunition from the area you are working in.

Lock the bolt group to the rear.

Remove the factory magazine cap/fore-end cap and set aside.

Remove the barrel assembly, limiter and forend and set aside.

Remove the receiver bolt by pulling it straight out and set aside.

Remove the bolt group and set aside.

Pointing the firearm away from you, with the snap ring pliers or small needle-nose pliers, remove the magazine spring seal ring that retains the factory magazine tube spring at the same time making sure you control the spring with your other hand as it is compressed in the tube.

Tilt the gun down and allow the Magazine spring and follower to come out.

Clamp the receiver lightly in the vise making sure the rubber vise pads are in place (you may choose to add additional padding in the form of a towel or soft cloth) so you do not damage the finish.

At a temperature setting of not more than 400 F, focus the heat gun directly on the factory magazine tube where it meets the receiver, heating all the way around the around the tube until the tube and the end of the receiver until it is more than unbearable to touch (a little over 250 degrees if you have an infrared thermometer). When you reach this temperature, you should be able to start twisting the tube off (Lefty-Loosey) using the jar opener/gripper to create friction between you and the tube while preventing the heated tube and receiver from burning your hands. Once you get the tube turning…DON'T STOP…keep turning as it will get easier to turn with each twist (you can have an assistant keep the heat gun focused on the tubes threads to make it a little easier).

Remove the factory Benelli forend retaining band and set to side.

Here is where you use the Acetone. Clean the internal threads of the receiver with the Acetone, cotton swabs, cleaning patches, and nylon or brass cleaning brushes until the old white Loc-Tite residue is gone.

Replace the factory Benelli forend retaining band on the receiver.

Thread on the new FFT magazine tube and hand torque tightly. If so desired, use one VERY small drop of Blue Loc-Tite on tube threads.

Finally, replace all of the components in reverse order, substituting the original Benelli spring with the premium FFT / Wolff spring, and leaving out the original factory magazine tube and the limiter.

 

Freedom Fighter Tactical Benelli M4 Forend Installation Guide 

Thank you for your purchase of the Freedom Fighter Tactical 922(r) Compliant Forend for the Benelli M4 shotgun. Your satisfaction with your company and with our products are for great importance to us, and we provide you with this installation guide to assist you in working with your new forend.

Before even considering installing your new forend, be absolutely sure the firearm is not loaded.

The forend we have manufactured is of a stronger, harder, glass-filled nylon than what is used in the OEM forend. Because of this, you may notice a more pronounced “flare” or “warp” to our forend prior to installation. The OEM has some flare to it as well, but it is not as pronounced as our forend. Because of this flare, our forend is a tad more tricky to install than the factory forend, but once you get the hang of it, it is very easy, actually.

The best way to install your new forend is to first install the forward ends of the forend into the barrel-end retaining ring. To do this, slide the entire forend with the halves put together into the barrel-end retaining ring. Once that end is securely in place, carefully move your hands to the receiver-end of the forend and gently slide the barrel and forend into place against the receiver with the forend halves securely in the retaining ring.

Once the forend is in the retaining ring on the both ends, be sure to check to see if the barrel of the gun is properly seated firmly against the receiver. If there is a small gap, you may need to adjust everything by starting from scratch and re-installing the forend and barrel.

However, some Benelli M4 shotguns have a slightly smaller distance between the front and rear retaining rings that hold the forend in place. If this is the case, you can simply take a Dremel or some sand paper and remove a little material, but be sure to remove a little material at a time so as to not end up making the forend too short.

If you have to remove material to get a proper fit, simply choose an end of the forend to work on, and remove material from both sides of the forend but on the same end. That is, do not remove material from the barrel end of one half, and then the receiver end of the other half.

Again, be very gentle with removing material so as to not remove too much material. FFT does not accept returns on forends where too much material was removed, so please remove material with care. It will not take the removal of too much material to ensure a proper fit of the forend and allow the barrel to install firmly against the receiver when the magazine cap is installed.

Before loading or firing the firearm, be sure to thoroughly inspect the barrel to ensure that it is properly seated and firmly rests against the receiver with absolutely no gap. Do not load or fire the firearm if there is any gap whatsoever!