Max-11 breaking forearms

[47_MasoN_47]

Hey guys, I've had my Max-11 for a bit over 7 years now. No telling how many thousands of rounds through it. Every Christmas a bunch of family gets together for a shoot, and I always bring the M-11 round. This year the original plastic forearm broke. I contacted Lage and Jackie managed to find me another one, though apparently parts for the old steel Max-11 haven't been in production for a while. Anyway, I took the gun out a few days after I got the new forearm and after about 5 mags, the new one broke in the same way

Is this a common failure with the plastic forearms? I did some googling and heard some other guys talking about them breaking, but since my original one lasted 7 years of heavy usage I'm a little concerned.

 

[gorillastomp]

Mine broke also I replaced it with a metal one. Unfortunately Richard said I got the last one he had. That was last year you can check with him and see if he can help you out.

 

[Concorde]

Mine broke also I replaced it with a metal one.

Same here... never regretted it.

 

[47_MasoN_47]

He said they didn't have any of the metal ones in stock. Would one of you guys mind taking some measurements on yours? I can probably fabricate one without too much trouble. It won't look nice but would work.

 

[A&S Conversions]

Why not take the parts to a local machine shop? I would think that they could make you one and have it anodized.

Scott

 

[47_MasoN_47]

I guess I could. I'm not real picky about the looks anyway though so some grey rattle can will probably do.

 

[Svelectric1]

This might be a replacement for you.
https://www.gunbroker.com/item/797024213

 

[47_MasoN_47]

That would work, I don't really want to keep buying the polymer ones if they're just going to break though (which sounds like what's destined to happen based on feedback here and other forums).

 

[lokifox]

I JB welded the last plastic part that broke on mine. That was a couple years ago... Still working!

 

[LawBob]

That would work, I don't really want to keep buying the polymer ones if they're just going to break though (which sounds like what's destined to happen based on feedback here and other forums).

You must have something in contention for it to stress out

 

[AmishEskimoNinja]

I would actually kind of like mine to get broken. I put an ASR mount on my Max11/a1, and now I can't remove the grip. It makes take down slightly more challenging, but I don't care enough to break the rokset on the mount.

 

[Concorde]

By the way, the metal foregrip allows you to use a standard retention pin (or a KNS like I do) instead of the MAX-11 specific Lage one.

 

[47_MasoN_47]

I see that. I looked up some pictures of the Lage one last night to start planning to make one. I think I can epoxy that plastic endcap piece of the handguard back together and use it on the end of my newly built one. I've got a sheet of 18g steel leftover from a car project that should have enough leftovers for me to make one. Debating on whether to go through the trouble of making a bending jig or just cut out sections and weld them together.

 

[Gaujo]

I guess I could. I'm not real picky about the looks anyway though so some grey rattle can will probably do.

To be honest i have to think to notice it's not right. I'd consider sanding the rounded edges smooth and calling it a day.

 

[Eric]

I bought my first MAX-11 in 2008 and another maybe a year or two later and shot both of them for years with no issue. Then one day back in 2014 or 2015, I think, the forward part of one of the foregrips suddenly broke off. I contacted Lage for a replacement and at the time, Jackie seemed surprised to hear about that happening (my impression was that it was the first case that she’d heard about). In any case, she sent me a free replacement (another example of their superb customer support). In the meantime, I epoxied the broken one back together using some sheet metal epoxied on the front side to reinforce the repair and it looked fine. Oddly enough, the new replacement broke in a matter of days.

My suspicion (that I never actually checked) is that the clearance between the front of the bolt (or the weight on top of the bolt) was very close. Perhaps over time, that clearance changed or perhaps some debris got caught in that upper channel area in such a way that the front of the bolt was hammering the front end of the foregrip.

After the replacement foregrip broke, I equipped both of my MAX-11s with the high mount metal foregrip that stays attached to the rest of the upper and makes installation much easier (and similar to the MAX-11 Mk 2) and I’ve had no trouble since.

 

[47_MasoN_47]

To be honest i have to think to notice it's not right. I'd consider sanding the rounded edges smooth and calling it a day.

The problem is that the plastic bit that broke off acts as a support for the front of the forearm, so right now while you're holding it the forearm can pivot on the retaining pin.

Eric, your contribution has sealed the deal. Reckon I'll be making my own forearm for this guy. I think I've settled on welding it together. It'll just be faster than building a press jig and all that jazz.