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Unhappy Day With My Latest Purchase...
- Thread starter mainegrw
- Start date
Well, its a mark against people who live there.
Not going to tell us where you bought it from?
Why not just wait to start this thread, until than?
I'd just like to know who offers warranty period on used guns.
Why complain if they had a 10 day warranty either take back or get repaired by S&W instead making a deal about it the guy that checked it in at the undesclosed store you talked about may not be no more of a gun smith than you. You didn't see it at store. And you said you throughly looked it over. If a store gives you a 10 day return policy then that's pretty good you know. I would like to know which store may buy my next gun there as all stores I been to in my area that I have experienced buying guns do not have return policies. Most will not even gunsmith on one either I guess due to liability. Anyway there maybe great buys on good used guns but I myself don't know enough gunsmithing knowledge to purchase one without knowing who had it before. I did however almost buy a used Kimber 1911 once but I decided to pay couple extra hundred dollars and buy new one with warranty sometimes it pays more to buy new that has warranty. Than buy a used worn out gun that doesn't. And be in your situation. If your so worried about repair costs I'd just return and get a new one somewhere else.
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samnev
Member
I agree with the above. Why should you have to go thru the angst of returning the gun to S&W and hope the don't charge you for the repair.
vmumford
Member
I can certainly understand why the OP doesn't want to state where he purchased the gun. There is a thing called slander and until he works this through in his own head and comes to a comfortable feeling about exactly what happened, he will reserve the name. I get it. I don't see the big deal in knowing anyway. It wont help him in this situation and it will only start another battle on this thread. IMOP
Nearly every gun store I deal with offers at least a 10 day guarentee, on both new and used guns, and will usually take the gun back or fix it if it is damaged or not functioning properly. I have taken advantage of this before, for example, I had a Beretta 21A that exhibited function issues (not an ammo problem) shortly after purchase, so the store took it back. Another time, a shop serviced, at their option, a Beretta 70S I had purchased because I found it missing a snap ring and spacer that prevent the slide release lever from being able to fall out. The gun operated fine without it, I even tried to source one on my own, failing that, I asked for the shop help in sourcing one, and they offered to take the gun in and have their smith take care of it for me, free of charge. The same shop that I dealt with the 70S with are a real stand up group, even offering to buy back an older firearm from me that was found to have a magazine modified to accept more than the 10 round limit we have locally, and that was long after my initial purchase. These are the types of shops I usually deal with, though there are several others that don't offer any kind of return policy, and with those places I am either more thorough on my initial inspections, or whatever I am buying is a good enough deal that it's worth the risk.
The store I am dealing with now, and if you must know it's Cabela's, also offers this guarantee, for function and damage, though I have never had to take advantage of this until now. I buy, sell, or trade used firearms at a rate of maybe around 15-20 per year, many through Cabela's and have never had an issue before. Typically their guns are in good shape, and I have had no reason not to trust their judgment when it comes to safety and function until now. Don't get me wrong, I harbor no ill will against them, though as I stated in my original post, I have seen them do some bone-head things before, usually calling things Colt Pythons, that aren't, mislabeling calibers, etc., but my understanding has always been that someone in the company is at least responsible for safety and function checking each firearm before it is put out for sale, and that obviously doesn't catch everything, as in my case. All I wanted in this case was to have the right of refusal based on their 10 day policy, and this is where I take issue with what transpired. The S&W sales rep, who is not a qualified gunsmith, essentially told me and them that I didn't know what I was talking about, and not to accept the gun back. As they won't take it back on the opinion of the rep, I don't have that as an option anymore, and despite my insistence there was something wrong, they were very reluctant to even send it to their gunsmith for evaluation. That is why I am a little upset. I have been in contact with S&W about the situation, and it sounds like they are at least willing help me out if my analysis of the damage holds true.
Regardless of what happens, am I going to stop buying guns from Cabela's? No. Will I be more thorough on my pre-purchase inspections when I buy from them? Absolutely. Do I harbor any ill will toward S&W, and will stop buying their products? Of course not, S&W makes a quality product, and will never stop buying them.
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From what you have said, the Sales Rep was letting his mouth overload his butt. Use that to your advantage if needed - such as if S&W balks about fixing it free. Hopefully you have his name.
As for the person who owned it before you, I agree with what others have said, which is he may not have been aware of the defect. I've shot with more than one person who literally could not hit the broad side of a barn if they were standing inside. How would someone like that know they gun wasn't shooting accurately? I've also seen guns that looked like the owner never cleaned them. Personally, I believe the chance of a squib causing the ring is quite low, given the caliber, and the ring was a manufacturing defect.
In any regard, keep us informed of what the factory says.
As for the person who owned it before you, I agree with what others have said, which is he may not have been aware of the defect. I've shot with more than one person who literally could not hit the broad side of a barn if they were standing inside. How would someone like that know they gun wasn't shooting accurately? I've also seen guns that looked like the owner never cleaned them. Personally, I believe the chance of a squib causing the ring is quite low, given the caliber, and the ring was a manufacturing defect.
In any regard, keep us informed of what the factory says.
I have never seen a policy of any kind of guarantee on a used gun at a gun shop, and I've been around the block many times. I've lived in several different states and even worked in gun shops over the years. New guns generally are supported by the manufacturers, even though some, like Ruger give no written warranty. You are very fortunate.
Yeah, I don't see a .22 squib causing a groove that deep, and that perfect.
Moreover, I don't see how you get something that significant inside the bore, yet without there being a significant bulge on the outside of the barrel.
In my opinion, that defect was in the bore from Day 1.
OP has good reason to be disappointed.
But let's be real. This thing aint the Hope Diamond.
It shoots OK as-is.
I'd probably stop losing any sleep over it, and just accept the fact that the used thing I bought is worth $50 - $100 less than I thought it was worth.
Then go shooting.
Moreover, I don't see how you get something that significant inside the bore, yet without there being a significant bulge on the outside of the barrel.
In my opinion, that defect was in the bore from Day 1.
OP has good reason to be disappointed.
But let's be real. This thing aint the Hope Diamond.
It shoots OK as-is.
I'd probably stop losing any sleep over it, and just accept the fact that the used thing I bought is worth $50 - $100 less than I thought it was worth.
Then go shooting.
S&WIowegan
US Veteran
I am not the least bit surprised that employees in Cabelas gun department don't know what they're talking about. You may have been dealing with the guy who accepted it in trade and is doing a CYA job on you. The S&W rep is not going to do anything to PO Cabelas...a very big customer.
I am strongly of the opinion that gun barrel was shipped that way from S&W. Manufacturing errors happen and many people working in the S&W factory are green as grass. I have owned a bulged barrel Colt 1917 for about 50 years and it took me half that time to realize it was bulged....bulged barrels aren't always inaccurate.
I shoot 617s in steel matches regularly and I have my doubts that a squib could bulge a 617 barrel.
Lastly, I wouldn't draw any conclusions about the accuracy of your barrel based on those two targets....
I am strongly of the opinion that gun barrel was shipped that way from S&W. Manufacturing errors happen and many people working in the S&W factory are green as grass. I have owned a bulged barrel Colt 1917 for about 50 years and it took me half that time to realize it was bulged....bulged barrels aren't always inaccurate.
I shoot 617s in steel matches regularly and I have my doubts that a squib could bulge a 617 barrel.
Lastly, I wouldn't draw any conclusions about the accuracy of your barrel based on those two targets....
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Slander?
He is not shouting it from the roof tops, nor is he a celebrity that someone would pay attention to what he said.
Its not slander if he is reporting as it happens.
Unless he locked that gun down in a good rest and tried more than one brand of ammo, he is only 1/2 way there.
I put a 10/22 in a lead sled. I was like wow, better than a sand bag. Had to remove my ego.
BigBill
Absent Comrade
Coming from background of military surplus interests I heard my share of buying guns with problems. Plus they became so expensive it wasn't worth the chance of taking a pig in a poke or not. Looks to me the odds are against us with modern used or even new guns we're taking a chance.
I say inspect everything before we make a purchase. Look it over good. I always carry a bore light. Maybe now a straight edge will be necessary to have handy too. To check the out side for bulges in the barrel too.
Mainegrw, thanks for mentioning this and bringing it to the forefront. This could happen to any one of us.
It's a piece of metal and can be replaced, returned or fixed, don't get too upset over it, it's not worth getting sick over it.
I say inspect everything before we make a purchase. Look it over good. I always carry a bore light. Maybe now a straight edge will be necessary to have handy too. To check the out side for bulges in the barrel too.
Mainegrw, thanks for mentioning this and bringing it to the forefront. This could happen to any one of us.
It's a piece of metal and can be replaced, returned or fixed, don't get too upset over it, it's not worth getting sick over it.
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Thanks for the reply, I am not too worried about it at this point, I had a fairly productive phone call with S&W on Monday, and they agreed to look the gun over, assess the damage, and look at fixing it. The gun has made its way back to the mothership already, the benefit of living about 20 minutes from the factory, and I was hoping to maybe hear back from them before the weekend or early next week. Whatever they tell me I will accept it, and go from there. At this moment I much larger challenges to deal with, i.e. the last few days and details to finish out my graduate degree, while also preparing a final exam to give on Monday...
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