The new Franchi Affinity is powered by a similar Inertia System as sister company Benelli. This means no bulky gas cylinders, valves, pistons, or hardware. Without that extra baggage, the Franchi Affinity has a slender, low-profile fore-end that fits the shooter’s hand for comfortable handling. However, the Benelli and Franchi inertia systems differ in one important way: the bolt return spring on the Franchi Affinity is contained in the forend, where the Benelli return spring is located in the buttstock. While the Benelli intertia system may be slightly smoother and more streamlined, the Affinity interia design differences allow it to be sold for approximately half the price of a Benelli. More importantly, the Franchi Affinity still shares similar strength, speed and reliability dynamics of the Benelli line of auto shotguns.