Close to Giving Up on Rifles

[Hunter270Win]

For whatever reason I have the WORST luck with firearms. In the past two years I have purchased and sold:

Marlin 1895 GBL
Marlin 1894 Trapper
Kimber Mountain Ascent Caza
New Super Grade M70
Sako 85
Browning X Bolt

All of these guns have had QC issues/design flaws that impacted the gun to the point where it was so frustrating to deal with them. You would think operator error, right? But every time I call the manufacturer I’m pretty much told “yeah that’s a known issue send it in”.

I am about just done. The last rifle I’m giving a chance on is a new Tikka T3X. I cannot go on with this torture anymore. Even the Mossberg 535 I bought is a joke.

Anyone else dealing with insane QC issues post COVID?

 

[bpeay4]

should've started with a tikka

 

[journeyman713]

nope

 

[Hunter270Win]

should've started with a tikka

I just wanted to be different lol

 

[cmert]

I just had an issue with a savage that I had to send back... Haven't heard anything from them yet and my buddy has to send a Ruger in twice. First time they said they fixed the problem and then the second time they said that it was messed up beyond repair and they'd send him a new one.

Hope that makes you feel better haha

 

[hereinaz]

That is crazy odds! You must have bought other rifles that didn’t suck?

Don’t buy a Tikka, cause if it is actually messed up, no one will believe you and you’ll have to quit Rokslide. I mean, Sako is the better version of Tikka…

Seriously, that totally sucks to get a lemon.

 

[mxgsfmdpx]

Was your Sako issue the shells hitting the scope windage knob and falling back into action?

 

[swavescatter]

Tikka is where the road of frustration led me after getting burned by Fierce, Bergarbage and Savage (AR-10). Savage was actually really helpful and responsive but that platform was just too complicated and unreliable so I sent it down the road.

Only risk with Tikkas is that you impulsively buy 2-3 every time they go on sale.

 

[CMP70306]

For whatever reason I have the WORST luck with firearms. In the past two years I have purchased and sold:

Marlin 1895 GBL
Marlin 1894 Trapper
Kimber Mountain Ascent Caza
New Super Grade M70
Sako 85
Browning X Bolt

All of these guns have had QC issues/design flaws that impacted the gun to the point where it was so frustrating to deal with them. You would think operator error, right? But every time I call the manufacturer I’m pretty much told “yeah that’s a known issue send it in”.

I am about just done. The last rifle I’m giving a chance on is a new Tikka T3X. I cannot go on with this torture anymore. Even the Mossberg 535 I bought is a joke.

Anyone else dealing with insane QC issues post COVID?

What was wrong with each of them? I’ve had an issue or two with an X-Bolt but that’s out of the dozen or so that my Dad and Brother have owned and they were fixed and work fine now. Haven’t really heard of any issues with the Model 70 or Sako 85.

 

[Turkeytider]

Knock on every piece of wood in sight, I’ve been well pleased with three Savage rifles ( 110 Storm in .223, 93R17 17HMR, and a Model 12 LRPV, also in .223 ). The LRPV has been a VERY accurate range rifle out to 500 and except for a somewhat stiff bolt lift has been rock solid. What has rapidly become my favorite, though, is my relatively new Tikka T3X Super Varmint in 6.5 Creedmoor. Will easily stack hits into 4 and 5” gongs at 500 yards if I dope the scope right and don’t mess up the shot. Last range session actually got multiple hits on a 3” gong as well ( missed it some, too! ). I’m a Tikka convert and recommend them highly.

 

[adamm88]

What was wrong with the rifles? I was at a gun shop last year this time and the counter guy was saying they saw issues on the Marlins with them being $1500 guns.....

 

[EdP]

Please tell us what was wrong with each of them.

 

[hiker270]

That's just plain bad luck. Don't play the lottery! Got in the habit quite a few years ago I buy a new rifle as a Christmas present to myself (yes I'm a Tikka fan). The last 5 years have been Tikka 6.5 CM., Tikka 300 mag.,Tikka 30-06, Ruger 350 Legend and a Christensen Ridgeline FFT 7PRC. Guess I'm lucky since I've had no issues with any of these rifles.

 

[Warmsy]

Ruger Alaskan "guide gun" in 30-06, barrel was touching stock. Had to remove material and epoxy bed. Couldn't hit paper at 100 yards. After bedding, it's still finicky on ammo, but I found a round that's accurate.

Remington 870 wingmaster. I got the nicer version because I like nice things. Machining Marks along the entire barrel. I'm pretty sure those were both 2019.

 

[Fatcamp]

What exactly were the "QC issues/design flaws"?

Of probably 50 firearms over a lifetime I have had very few issues I couldn't quickly resolve with a phone call or a little wrenching.

Actually, a Savage 12 and a Glock 17 were my most troublesome guns. Both considered highly reliable and trouble free. Who knows?
Sold the Savage but that 17 is like an old friend.

 

[Hunter270Win]

Was your Sako issue the shells hitting the scope windage knob and falling back into action?

Yes sir even after rotating the scope!

 

[Hunter270Win]

What exactly were the "QC issues/design flaws"?

Of probably 50 firearms over a lifetime I have had very few issues I couldn't quickly resolve with a phone call or a little wrenching.

Actually, a Savage 12 and a Glock 17 were my most troublesome guns. Both considered highly reliable and trouble free. Who knows?
Sold the Savage but that 17 is like an old friend.

Model 70 did not have proper control round feed. Claw extractor was out of spec and Winchester kept saying it was fine but myself and others who are knowledgeable enough about the action all saw that it wasn’t feeding properly.

Kimber Mountain Ascent Caza was a complete disaster and the internal mag did not feed the rounds at all and once again the claw extractor was out of spec. Stock on the gun also began to fall apart immediately.

The Sako 85 had the dreaded design flaw where rounds would not eject and would fall back into the action. Gun was great other than that, but if I wanted a single shot I would have just bought that.

The X Bolt had a thing where in order to feed the rounds I had to push the bolt home and then slightly lift it up and wiggle it in order to feed. Was annoying and once again out of spec.

The Marlins both did not feed and had the dreaded “Marlin Jam” per Ruger customer support.

The only rifle I’ve owned that’s flawless is my LWRC AR15. That thing is incredible and has not jammed no matter what I’ve put it through in training or just regular range use.

 

[ljalberta]

Model 70 did not have proper control round feed. Claw extractor was out of spec and Winchester kept saying it was fine but myself and others who are knowledgeable enough about the action all saw that it wasn’t feeding properly.

Kimber Mountain Ascent Caza was a complete disaster and the internal mag did not feed the rounds at all and once again the claw extractor was out of spec. Stock on the gun also began to fall apart immediately.

The Sako 85 had the dreaded design flaw where rounds would not eject and would fall back into the action. Gun was great other than that, but if I wanted a single shot I would have just bought that.

The X Bolt had a thing where in order to feed the rounds I had to push the bolt home and then slightly lift it up and wiggle it in order to feed. Was annoying and once again out of spec.

The Marlins both did not feed and had the dreaded “Marlin Jam” per Ruger customer support.

The only rifle I’ve owned that’s flawless is my LWRC AR15. That thing is incredible and has not jammed no matter what I’ve put it through in training or just regular range use.

I’ve had fairly good luck with Tikka so far. One issue with the cocking ramp galling, but I was sent a replacement firing pin assembly, hit the bolt body with some fine sandpaper and have been good to go since.

 

[WeiserBucks]

Yes sir even after rotating the scope!

What is this supposed to mean? I don't understand.

 

[Kurts86]

Marlin lever guns are known to be jam nightmares even with improved lifters and manufacturing.
Kimber Roulette is a well known thing, but 3 keep the best one.
Sako 85’s have well known ejection issues since fixed with dual ejectors on the 90’s

I have not seen a lot of Xbolt issues but Browning is a pain to deal with on repairs.