New Benelli Montefeltro issue - should I warranty / RMA it or leave it be?

[MrAceJD]

So I picked up my brand new shiny Montefeltro Silver yesterday. I go to assemble it and the forearm won't fully seat. I determine that the little plastic forend cap that sits between the wooden forearm and the spring knob is catching the metal that is supposed to neatly go through it. I try gently pushing, that didn't work, it just popped out the forend cap. So I remove the forend cap, take a file, and smooth out the jagged piece of plastic that's catching. I go to assemble and it all fits nicely. I don't worry to much about the forend cap because as long as it's seated it's filling it's purpose.

However, because I am not good with even slight defects, I decide to scour the internet for the $15 replacement part. Everyone is out of stock with no backorder (thank you Benelli).

I then notice that there is a scratch or crack on the forend near the spring knob. See photo.

It looks like it's more a scratch and not a crack that goes through and through. Honestly, I cannot tell. So just for fun I go to see if spare forearms are available. All out of stock...

I actually do think it's through and through, but it looks like it was sealed over?

What would you do? Would you warranty it? Would you live with it barring some other failure?

Returning the shotgun us not a convenient option. I got it from Buds online.

I am not happy with the defect but I also hate doing RMAs because they can take forever. I just don't think this is acceptable.

 

[SVT_Tactical]

To much money for it not to be right. I'd call benelli.

 

[MrAceJD]

Blows my mind that it looks like the finished the forend over the crack...

 

[SmokinJoe]

Would definitely contact Benelli with your pics but, like you, wouldn't want to have to return my new toy for an indeterminate amount of time, not to mention unwarranted expense. I'd contact Bud's also. Maybe they would take it back and send you another one if that would be acceptable. BTW, I'm interested in your thread because I bought a 20ga Silver Montefeltro 2 weeks ago. So far it's been a nice experience, just a bit short for me so using a slip-on butt pad until I can get a 1" pad that fits or have one ground. Also looking for an easy close bolt release for it. I use it for sporting clays. Good luck with getting help and let us know the outcome. One other thing you might want to do is join "shotgunworld.com", great site for shotgunners.

 

[MrAceJD]

Would definitely contact Benelli with your pics but, like you, wouldn't want to have to return my new toy for an indeterminate amount of time, not to mention unwarranted expense. I'd contact Bud's also. Maybe they would take it back and send you another one if that would be acceptable. BTW, I'm interested in your thread because I bought a 20ga Silver Montefeltro 2 weeks ago. So far it's been a nice experience, just a bit short for me so using a slip-on butt pad until I can get a 1" pad that fits or have one ground. Also looking for an easy close bolt release for it. I use it for sporting clays. Good luck with getting help and let us know the outcome. One other thing you might want to do is join "shotgunworld.com", great site for shotgunners.

Thanks. I did send an email to Buds. Of course, on this purchase I decided to not buy the Buds lifetime warranty...

Their policy requires any defects to be caught before accepting transfer. Who knows, maybe they will take care of me given the number of firearms I have purchased from them over the years.

Thank you for the tip onshotgunworld.com, much appreciated.

"1. Firearms - It is solely the customers responsibility to thoroughly inspect the firearm(s) at the FFL prior to accepting the transfer. If there is a noticeable defect of any kind to the firearm, or associated case/contents, please simply refuse the transfer and we will arrange to have the firearm returned to us, at our expense, and issue the customer a full refund or replacement firearm if available. If the customer accepts the transfer from the FFL, we can then only refer the customer to the manufacturer for warranty consideration."

 

[DumpHollow]

Benelli should have been your first contact. I've had great response from them. They replaced three sets of synthetic stocks on a M2 20 ga and two Cordoba's with simply a phone call and the S/N's. They mailed me the replacements for stocks that had started to dissolve.

 

[FNSafari]

Remington, in my experience, was famous for cracked wood right out of the box or down the road in use, especially in the semi autos I owned. I had the forend on a new 11-87 replaced by them and the new one cracked first time out. I bought a 3200 and the ejector trip rod on once side was in two holes that did not match so the rod became bent. Remington replaced the entire shotgun. Out of the box on receipt the darn forend was cracked. I boxed it up and traded it for a used Krieghoff 32 and never experienced one issue with the Krigehoff. I would get the forend replaced.

 

[MrAceJD]

Thanks all! I will be calling Benelli in the hopes that I don't need to ship the whole shotgun back.