Abstract: A firearm, such as a pump action shotgun, includes a barrel connected by a magazine cap to a receiver. A fore end assembly is connected to the receiver and includes a magazine tube positioned below the barrel. A tubular recoil buffer surrounds the magazine tube, and a slide bar arrangement extending from the recoil buffer connects the recoil buffer to the receiver. A cup-shaped fore end is adapted to receive the recoil buffer and is preferably fabricated of a light weight material, such as aluminum or plastic. The fore end has an internal shoulder, and a compression spring is positioned in the fore end in surrounding relation with the recoil buffer. The coil spring has opposite end portions and one end portion abuts the fore end shoulder and the opposite end abuts a spanner nut. The spanner nut is threadedly connected to the end of the recoil buffer.