Description
Upgrade to the Remington Original VersaMax action spring (F401305IMP)
EXPECTED INSTOCK NOV 2025!
If you are having light primer strikes, its always best to clean everything and inspect the parts. That would include the action spring (Typically this is omitted from service/cleaning by most as it isn’t mentioned in the owner’s manual). Remember to use appropriate gun oils/high quality lubes that do not gel when cold (for hunting guns). Competition guns sometimes can get away with thicker lubes if they won’t be fired in cold conditions.
Sometimes installing our “Remelli kit” and cleaning the action spring fixes light strikes, if it doesn’t (or you just want to be overly thorough), replacing the action spring is the 3rd item to check off. We examined the Remington original action springs (F401305) and found them lacking. So we improved them. We call our spring the “F401305IMP”. “IMP” stands for improved.
We improved the original by carefully examining its designed spring rate, and then changing the dimensions and components in order to preserve the original spring rate, but keep it at that rate for a longer period.
You may find other vendors claiming their springs are heavier/harder and therefore better. Some of their claims smell of “magic fairy dust” and “snake oil”. The shotgun functions well with all loads, hot or soft, with the original spring rate.: Changing rates, or making unrealistic claims just doesn’t make sense. The issue was the original springs just didn’t last. So we improved the spring life while keeping the proper spring rate, and fitting it in the same space. We basically just tuned up the Remington design to do the same thing just for longer before it gets too weak. Thus we improved it, and hence why we call it the F4011305IMP.
We cannot replace the action spring for you. Use the owner’s manual’s procedures to unload, make safe, remove the barrel, bolt assembly, and trigger assembly, then remove the butt-pad, then remove the buttstock with a 3/16 hex drive in order to access the recoil spring tube. The recoil spring & plunger are retained in the tube by a 19MM (3/4″) retaining nut. Be careful! The 19mm nut is under spring tension! Remove clean, and replace as desired.
To Fix light strikes on your Remington VersaMax there are 3 steps to follow:
First is to unload, make safe, and follow the owners manual to disassemble and inspect the bolt carrier for burs in the cam slot, wear and deformation of the Cam pin. Remove burs, and replace the cam pin if deformed.
Remington VersaMax Shotguns (note while the “Sportsmen” version doesn’t have the grey/black rubber inlays, mechanically these guns are all the same).
More details about why these parts are needed and why swapping in some Benelli parts is OK
The Remington VersaMax is at it’s heart, a USA made clone of the Benelli M4, with a wing-shooting stock, an improved gas system, and other changes. Some (but not all) of the VersaMax’s parts are interchangeable with multiple Benelli parts. Unfortunately some of the key Remington original parts don’t seem to last and can cause malfunctions. Typically the first sort of malfunction to pop-up is a Failure to Fire (light primer strikes).
The Benelli parts we sell are direct, higher quality replacements for the 4 pieces that (individually or together) fail first to cause light primer strikes (aka Failure to Fire) in the VersaMax. Whether a VersaMax has all 4 parts bad at the moment or not, it is recommended to upgrade all 4 to Benelli parts to ensure reliability (ie if you think your hammer is ok, just replace it now, before it isn’t and costs you). You can try just replacing these 4 before moving on to the action spring, or replacing the action spring as well. Its up to you.
I’ve personally seen two VersaMax’s with light primer strikes at the same time on the same waterfowl hunt, because they had bad hammers, springs, plungers, and cam pins. Both guns had over 500 shells through them… one was close to 1500 shells, the other about half that. The “Remelli Kit” plus a good cleaning of the action spring, plunger, and tube was the fix for about 100rounds, then the action spring required replacement (see picture above).
Remember a little light grease (when its hot out) or a lot of high quality oil (for hunting situations) is required on the cam pin to prevent galling & deformation (even on the higher quality Benelli pin we sell here). And on top of cleaning and lubing the trigger pack, you should remove, clean, and lightly lube the action spring very often to prevent it from gumming up in the cold. If cleaning doesn’t work on the action spring, it’s time to replace it. All springs wear out, but some will take more cycles before they become ineffective: that was our goal in redesigning this spring, getting more life out of it before it required replacement.
Feel free to read more about this here on our blog: Versa-Max light primer strikes and the fix
Reviews
There are no reviews yet.