A shotgun that blends seamlessly into any terrain, Franchi’s Affinity 3 cloaked in Realtree MAX-7 is ergonomic, feature-rich, and hits a pleasing semi-automatic shotgun price point.
by Jace Bauserman
Franchi’s shotgun line isn’t new to me. I used the Affinity 3 Waterfowl Elite a few years back to bust doves and ducks. Chambered in 20-gauge, my youngest son and newest Bauserman Family waterfowl slayer, Brody, took his first limit of teal with it.
My next Franchi experience was with an upland model. The Affinity 3 Elite Upland, to be exact. Also chambered in 20-gauge, my bride and two of my boys used the shotgun on fast-flying doves and to turn flying orange discs into puffs of dust. After weeks of testing both Franchi models, my only complaint was the non-adjustable length of pull.
Currently, Centennial State waterfowl hunters are on the brink of opening day. My boys and I can’t wait. Though I’m not sure who will win the coin flip to tote Franchi’s Affinity 3 in Realtree MAX-7 to the duck blind on opening day, all three of us would be happy to do so.
First Impressions
I don’t typically start a gun review by highlighting aesthetics, but Franchi forced my hand with the MAX-7 camo. Look at the pictures in this article, and you’ll see that the shotgun disappears in the landscape. Franchi could take the Where’s Waldo idea and sell books in which hunters must spy the Affinity 3 in Realtree MAX-7 in hunting landscapes. This shotgun is camo-covered, with black no-shine on the charging handle/action, bolt release, trigger assembly, and forearm end cap.
Franchi’s Affinity 3 disappears in any waterfowl terrain.
Other immediate notices include the oversized controls. Boosting control function by beefing up features like the charging handle, safety, bolt release, and bottom magazine port are design staples for manufacturers wanting to make a waterfowl wrecker. Wintertime temperatures are frigid. The larger the controls, the more accessible and functional they are when wearing bulky gloves. Even when gloves aren’t required, more extensive shotgun control features are favored in a hunting situation.
Oversized control features boost ease-of-use, especially in a hunting situation.
While the Affinity 3 has a large, ideally shaped charging handle, bolt release button, and bottom magazine, the safety is small. I also wish Franchi would enhance the trigger guard. Neither are deal breakers for me, and they shouldn’t be for you. Still, I would like to see a larger safety selector and a more oversized trigger guard.
The safety selector is small, and the trigger guard needs to be bigger to allow for fat-fingered gloves.
The drop of the comb into the grip, which is narrow and gridded, enhances fit and feel. I also cheer the slim wing-style front forearm with gridded checkering. I don’t like a beefy grip or thick, odd-feeling forearm. This shotgun has neither. The slim forearm is perfectly rounded on the bottom. It’s long enough for the shooter to extend the hand further toward the barrel to promote shot-to-shot stability and proper shooting form.
The action is smooth, and the 26-inch barrel showcases a vented rib with a fiber optic red-bar front sight. The rib’s height pairs well with the stock for ideal eye-to-bead alignment.
Stock drop and cast, via the five included shims, are adjustable for a more customized shooting experience. This is an excellent feature. However, I want to see an LOP (length of pull) adjustment. The TSA recoil pad feels terrific against the shoulder, and with the shotgun’s magazine clear and pointed safely downrange, I swung it quickly left, right, up, and down. Franchi created a superb overall build and kept weight (6.8 pounds) down to ensure maximum swingability while providing a solid fit and feel.
Other must-mentions upon inspection were that the chamber is capable of handling shotshells with lengths of 2-3/4 and 3 inches. Of course, the shotgun sports an inertia-driven system (more to come on this). The receiver is drilled and tapped for those wanting to attach an optic and make the Affinity 3 a turkey killer.
Time To Go Boom!
Nothing tells you more about a gun than a range test. With waterfowl season not open in my neck of the Central Flyway, I opted to test the shotgun’s shooting ability and performance on crossing clay targets.
The Inertia Driven system uses the shotgun’s recoil to eject and reload the next shotshell. Needing no gas to manipulate the action, shotguns that utilize inertia-action designs typically stay cleaner and are easier to maintain. Their downfall is some inertia systems won’t cycle lightweight target and dove loads. That’s not the case with Franchi’s Affinity 3. I busted clays with 2-3/4-inch #9 low-brass shotshells with a 1-1/8-ounce payload. The shotgun cycled them as quickly as I could pull the trigger. I also tested the shotgun’s cycling ability with 3-inch goose loads, and while recoil increased as expected, the Affinity 3 kicked hulls far and wide.
Regardless of shotshell length or payload, recoil was highly manageable. I could keep my cheek welded to the comb and eye down the rib for increased target acquisition and faster follow-up shots.
Aside from the non-adjustable LOP, which prevented me from wrapping the first knuckle of my index finger around the trigger, fit and feel were solid. I found the shotgun extremely balanced and maneuverable. The lean forend let me keep my eye close to the bore axis for more intuitive pointing. I shot this shotgun remarkably well at fast-flying crossing clays as well as those coming directly overhead and flying straight away.
Over a week, I put 250 rounds through the Affinity 3. I experienced zero cycling issues. When I removed a single pin and dropped the one-piece trigger assembly, I was pleased with the assembly’s overall cleanliness. The hard chrome-lined chamber and bore, which boost longevity, were a breeze to clean. A hunter would have no issues giving this gun a quick bath back at the truck if they, like me, tote an on-the-hunt shotgun cleaning kit.
Final Thoughts
One of the things we need to do more of at Born Hunting is add to existing features. Franchi engineered this shotgun to dominate the fields and waters and withstand Mother Nature’s worst moods. Does it? I suspect it will, but in the coming weeks, I will add a “Hunt Report” to this review.
I must also mention that Affinity 3 comes with Franchi’s 7-Year Warranty. This guarantees repair or replacement of any defects in artistry or materials.
Another Affinity 3 must-mention win is the price point. You can get this shotgun in a black synthetic stock with anodized black receiver and blued, matte barrel for under $950. Jump up to the MAX-7 cloaked edition in this review, and you’ll pay $1,049. Finding a top-end semi-automatic shotgun at a reasonable price is challenging, especially when you expect the shotgun to hold up to the muddy, wet demands of waterfowl hunting. I firmly believe the Affinity 3 will, and I will report back on this soon.
