Gunsmith RUINED my Model 70...

[Ridgerunner665]

Took it to him to drill out some stripped scope base screws (I used blue loctite :?: )....the moron drilled the front hole all the way through the barrel threads and into the chamber!!!!

4 years of work on that rifle...down the tubes...and the gun shop is trying its best to get out of making it right...they offered me a Douglas barrel, which I consider a rather "low rent" replacement part...If I wanted a Douglas barrel, I would have already had one on it to start with...it gets worse, in the process of drilling out the scope base screws, he also hogged out 2 of the holes in the receiver...too big to drill and re-thread to 8-40...its a total loss.

They are refusing to replace the rifle, Winchester won't sell just a barrel...and I'm just plumb sick at all of this...I have that new Zeiss scope, and no rifle to put it on!

To summarize...I have a McMillan stock, a Zeiss HD5 scope...and no rifle.


Trying to figure out what to do...buy a lightly used M70 and go full custom...thought about maybe buying a Nosler rifle, but I'd really like to have CRF....to be honest, right now I'm too disgusted to even think about it.

I just don't understand why its so hard for people to do the right thing...If I messed up somebody's Bartlein barrel, I wouldn't try to replace it with anything but another Bartlein...am I wrong to expect the replacement to be the same as the damaged part?

 

[DrMike]

Man, that stinks. It sounds as if an apprentice did the work. They need to make this right.

 

[LD375]

Oh man, I'd be really p****d off!...I sure hope they fix you up properly :shock:

Lou

 

[truck driver]

I would turn them into the better business bureau if they don't make good.

 

[FOTIS]

I would turn them into the better business bureau if they don't make good.

Bingo

 

[JD338]

I would turn them into the better business bureau if they don't make good.

And take them to court. With all the mental anguish you have to go through, I hope you get enough to buy a new Winchester and a Nosler M48.

JD338

 

[BK]

I would have been struggling to not start throwing heavy stuff around the moron's shop...

 

[BK]

Another thought... if you are a member at 24 Hour Campfire, I'd shoot Lee Christianson a PM, screen name 'Redneck', and see if he can fix the butchery...

 

[Dr. Vette]

I would turn them into the better business bureau if they don't make good.

The BBB is useless. It has no power to do anything except report you as "having issues" to the next guy who happens to ask them. I tried that route with a Corvette part I sent out to have repaired and found out first hand that they aren't worth a dime. In 2014's world the Internet and chat rooms have far more "power" than the BBB. Eventually got my parts back a year later, and banned the company from advertising in our club magazine (>15,000 members).

If they aren't willing to buy you a replacement have a lawyer send them a letter. Even receiving a letter is enough to kick most in the backside.

 

[Ridgerunner665]

I called my lawyer today...he was out of the office...but his secretary said he'd send a letter for $50.

He'll probably call me back tomorrow, probably going to have him send the letter...after all this, whats another $50?

And yes...if they don't make this right...I'll launch a smear campaign of epic proportions on them...starting with the 1,300 member gun club that is local to the gunsmith.

They've lied to me...tried telling me Winchester uses Douglas barrels...hogwash!

Tried telling me that hole was supposed to be in the chamber...LMAO...there from the factory, lol...60,000 psi with a hole in the chamber....Ummmm, here's your sign!

I think thats what made me the maddest...they talked to me like I didn't know anything about how Winchester/FN made their guns/barrels/etc...tried telling me all sorts of BS....and I knew it was BS!

 

[Anonymous]

Oh man... that simply bites.

Why not buy the M48 and leave these clods behind?

My single experience with Nosler's CS and a broken rifle was nothing short of fantastic.

 

[HOGWILD338-378]

Sorry to hear about your issues and good luck getting this problem resolved ! I just removed a set of Mark V 2 piece bases today that had red loctite but I use it sparingly and they had a little resistance to break loose but I only use 1 drop on each screw! Hard to believe that they would do you like that and not fix the issue? I sure hope you get something done that will resolve these idiots mistake!

 

[Ridgerunner665]

Oh man... that simply bites.

Why not buy the M48 and leave these clods behind?

My single experience with Nosler's CS and a broken rifle was nothing short of fantastic.

I've tried to talk myself into that...tried hard, really hard...but I'm pretty sold on CRF...I'm thinking if I can get a new rifle, I'm gonna send it to Long Rifles Inc., have them work their accuracy magic, screw on a Bartlein or Lilja or Hart barrel, rebuild the McMillan stock, get a professional bedding done, a good quality finish...and hope for the best.

EDIT: thats what I'm gonna do...the only question is who will pay for the new rifle.

I spoke to LRI on the phone today...he was very straightforward and knowledgeable, he knew model 70's...something thats hard to find...M700 smiths are a dime a dozen, model 70 smiths are not so common.

For the price of a Nosler Custom...I can have a full custom model 70.

 

[NYDAN]

What a screw-up! And then to tell you lies to try to get out of it cheap is simply criminal. You must be mad enough to spit nails (and worse). You have my condolences on this. I hope you can get some satisfaction out of the shop owner.

 

[Guy Miner]

I'm glad you called your lawyer. The $50 letter is money well spent and be prepared to take the moron to court.

You had a rifle. Now you don't. He owes you a very good rifle!

Guy

 

[Guy Miner]

It's not quite the same thing, but just this morning I cheerfully refunded money to several customers. They had booked some training with me. I fell and injured my back and couldn't conduct the training a couple of days ago. Called them all before they got to the range.

I'd never had to refund money via credit card before, so I had to figure out how to do so. Made it happen first thing this morning. Hopefully they'll re-book sometime down the road, but one thing I know they won't do: they won't be hollering about what a rotten guy I am about cancelling training and being slow to refund money or only refunding part of it or something.

When in business, treat the customer right!

Guy

 

[DrMike]

Yeah, better to take a bath on a business dealing knowing that you will have enhanced your reputation as honourable with those who pay to keep you in business. Good move, Guy. Shame on RR665s gunsmith.

 

[Ridgerunner665]

It was gonna cost more than it was worth to take him to court...with no guarantee of getting my legal fees paid in the settlement...my lawyer, a "gun guy" himself, didn't get around to calling me back until after I had already accepted the measly $150 today, but he said I did the right thing...this was a no win situation for all parties involved...it sux, but its a lesson learned.

I'm moving on...gonna build...err, have built...a rifle the way I want it.

Gonna keep it a 30-06...custom barrel, model 70 action, using the same McMillan stock as before...

Probably gonna let Long Rifles Inc. do the work...but not sure yet.

Who makes a good, accurate, long lasting barrel?

Also thinking about a heavier contour (#4 or #5) with flutes...not crazy about the look of flutes, but if I can get better accuracy and the same weight...why not?

 

[gerry]

Like everyone else said that is an awful situation, feel really bad for you. Good luck on the new gun however

 

[ScreaminEagle]

It's their fault they don't know how to properly work on a rifle. Sounds like their "machinist" needs to take a vacation. They NEED to make this right!

For what its worth, A good machinist can have the holes tig welded shut, re-drill and tap, and the action will be good as new. I do stuff like that every day.

Get a good machine shop to fix your action, then send it to Pac-nor for a barrel job. They really make an excellent barrel!

If you don't trust the action, DO NOT throw it out. I know someone that would love to have it.