I'm sorry but I just don't get the "splinter forend" fetish. If the forend on either of my Chapuis was clubby I'd have an issue with them. But they are not that large. In fact, I have small hands and have a hard time keeping my fingers off of the barrels. The first couple of shots fingers on the barrels are no big deal and actually help with steadiness and recoil control. However, after the first R-L, if you fire off another R-L in short order, the barrels are too hot to hold. Not uncomfortable as in really warm, they are just plain too hot to hold. FWIW Pilgrim