Bad Luck with new Guns

[38man]

Remember not so long ago when you bought a new firearm, and you didn't have to send it back to the factory for repair after using it only a few times. How about decent triggers, and not having to invest more money for trigger and a action job? Obviously I've had a run of bad luck with some new firearm purchases within the last 6 or 7 years. FTF, FTE, crappy finishes, lousy wood, what's the deal with this trend? It doesn't matter who the manufacturer is, its Taurus,CZ,Ruger,USFA, and sadly S&W. Had problems with all of them. Some I had resolved, some I sold. It makes me very hesitate to purchase anything produced in the last 10 years. Guess I'm better off with the older stuff.

 

[Art Doc]

With modern CNC manufacturing tolerances and fit should be near perfect. Unfortunately, guns still need to be assembled by human hands and I think craftsmanship is not what it used to be. Now it's all about manufacturing shortcuts and lowering the cost. Note the absence of the barrel pin as an example. The bean counters figured it was too costly. But to many of us, the guns are just a bit less for not having it. Also, that beautiful finish we love so much requires lots of polishing and that costs time and time is money. Plus, the chemicals that were used are now banned by the government as harmful.

Sadly, things tend to get worse with time, not better.

 

[Arik]

Some things like good triggers are a different to everyone. While you thought it was a horrible trigger i might have like it. Otherwise for the most part guns are massed produced, especially polymer guns. It all comes down to quality of the material, QC, and the overall design if the gun.

While they all have problems (and sometimes new designs while solid will need some bugs worked out) it will be a cold day in hell when i buy a Taurus (especially polymer), Keltec, Dimondback, Jennings, Larcin, DPMS, or any similar gun. Like anything else you get what you pay for. Lifetime warranty should not be the selling point.

Sent from my DROIDX using Tapatalk 2

 

[Titegroups]

Most people know junk but they buy it anyway because they want something for cheap. Don't do it. That extra money for quality will soon be forgotten.

 

[38man]

I would expect more from S&W and even Ruger,but it seems to be a common experience with many shooters. If your'e paying $600 plus for a gun I don't think expecting it to be right, out of the box is too demanding. Like someone posted awhile back, the new QC is customer service.

 

[PMRet]

With modern CNC manufacturing tolerances and fit should be near perfect. Unfortunately, guns still need to be assembled by human hands and I think craftsmanship is not what it used to be. Now it's all about manufacturing shortcuts and lowering the cost. Note the absence of the barrel pin as an example. The bean counters figured it was too costly. But to many of us, the guns are just a bit less for not having it. Also, that beautiful finish we love so much requires lots of polishing and that costs time and time is money. Plus, the chemicals that were used are now banned by the government as harmful.

Sadly, things tend to get worse with time, not better.

Very well put...

 

[tops]

There are still a lot of S&W pistols for sale with a good finish and first class mechanics but they are older guns and will cost more than a new gun. Very few people will pay what it takes to get good quality and then complain because what they bought is junk. I can remember when Colt and S&W made the Rolls Royce of revolvers and if you want a first class pistol you will have to get one of them or pay extra money to get a late model fixed. Two things to remember: good things ain't cheap and it cost more to go first class. Larry

 

[38man]

I do have S&W old versions 14,17,19,41. So according to some,you have to pay a high premium for a new gun to function properly. What is considered the new going rate for satisfaction with a new gun? I don't consider new guns 600 plus cheap. If you pay $250 for a Jennings, then of course you took a chance. Recently I've read too many stories of shooters having QC issues with major gun manufacturers. It seems that the only thing being accomplished is that the price of older guns increase, while the values of the new generation of guns won't retain their value in the future.

 

[Wyo]

I've been around long enough to know it wasn't always beer and skittles with the older guns either, especially Colts. Time was if you bought a 1911you had about a 50/50 chance that it would actually work, even with hardball. All the 1911 Colts I've bought in recent years have been excellent. I bought a Detective Special once that wouldn't fire at all. It had a burr in the firing pin hole that prevented the pin from even contacting the primer. How that one got out of the factory I'll never know, but someone might have gotten a rude surprise if they'd stuck it in a dresser drawer, expecting to use it in the dark in an emergency some night.
I've had a couple of junk S&W's over the years too. Point is, you can buy junk now and the older guns were often better (at least, the high-end ones were), but you could sure get junk back then too. Just 'cause it's older, doesn't necessarily mean it's better.

 

[Bat Guano]

Just bought a new Colt 6720 AR. In the process of inspecting it and cleaning it preparatory to firing it, I found the bolt carrier body to be pitted under the phosphate finish. To be fair I have an old Ruger .22 pistol that looks the same; but I bought it used and abused, draw filed the worst pitted areas, sandblasted it and threw it into a bluing tank. Same appearance. In the case of the Colt, I didn't have to do all that work--it came pre-pitted. It doesn't affect the operation, and the rest of the gun inside and out looks ok; but for what those things cost you'd think they'd be a bit more careful.

Heck, my son just had to put a new set of aftermarket rear springs in his '06 Toyota Tundra; one of the leaf springs in the stack broke; turns out that they were known for that. But then leaf springs are pretty new technology and still experimental.

I think it used to be called pride in workmanship.

 

[snubbyfan]

Gun sales are up and manufacturers are introducing more new models. I've worked in manufacturing for decades and I know that when there's a rush on a product management will make the decision to reduce quality control and push product out the door to try to meet demand. The result is more complaints and warrenty repairs.

Like SaxonPig said, It's all about manufacturing shortcuts and lowering the cost. No longer is there pride in the making of a quality product.