Advice on How to Handle Defective New Barrel

[VTBrat]

Ok, had two 20 guage barrels fitted to my son's SB2 frame that was purchased as a youth model .243.  After waiting all summer, got the receiver and youth 20 gauge barrel last Thursday.  Picked up the missing package that didn't make it today.  It's a 20 gauge ventilated rib barrel with screw in choke tubes.  Right out of the box, the ventilated rib had two dented ribs.  The box showed no exterior damage.  Talk about poor QA processes.  From what I can tell, the barrel was fitted at the factory with the dented ribs.  I'm already pretty sour with the fact that I shipped them the receiver back in July to what was supposed to be in stock barrels and my son missed VA's first ever youth only deer hunt this past Saturday.  I'm not willing to send the receiver back to the factory for another 2-3 months for them to fit yet another barrel and my son not having a gun this fall for his first series of seasons as a shooter.  I'm not satisfied with the quality of the barrel I picked up from UPS today, but the youth 20 gauge barrel is fine.  I'm thinking either return the barrel to them and ask for a full refund or ask for a deep discount on the existing barrel.  Thoughts/advice?

[quickdtoo]

Have them replace, call em, ask for a prepaid return shipping label and get a new barrel fitted, if they have the barrel in stock, it should only take a couple weeks to get it back.

Tim

[searlock]

or try to find a lawyer to sue the crap out of remington for the crap they are putting us through. i would sign on to it, and give the lawyer any money i would recieve. or you can just take it in shorts and say as some here do, i think they are doing a fantastic job.

[kevinsmith5]

Take pictures of the barrel and the box. You'll need them when you e-mail Remington.  I'd ask for either a refund or a guaranteed top priority refit on sending it back on their shipping label.

[bigvarmnt]

This is SHAMEFULL!  Satisfaction Guarenteed used to mean something in this country. There is a guy here that says that on TV everyday and I have had two VERY Unsatisfactory experiences with his company. That is my fault though.

I looked at a CZ today. I may have to give up on the other 5-6 barrels I wanted. I'm not strong enough. You are too good a group of guys to be treated this way.

TIM, I "ASSUME" you have suggested to your contact at Remington that he read these horror stories.
So what does he say "Tough Nooggies" or maybe "We Are Trying" I think it's time.

[VTBrat]

Well, in preparation for doing battle, I took a ton of photos of the box and the barrel.  Noticed that the literature that came with the barrel was all Remington and not H&R labeled.  The number listed to call with issues was different than the one for H&R direct.  Before calling, I researched the web on how to pull dents from the rib.  There is a tool specifically designed to do this and sold at Midway for about $40.00.  Atleast I had a starting point to work from now.  Called the Remington number.  Lady that assisted me pulled my long and gloriously documented issues with the gun from the summer.  I explained the condition of the barrel and offered to email her the pics.  She politely declined the need to see the pics and indicated that she would take my word for it.  I asked if they could simply pull/repair the dents to the rib without me having to send the receiver back with the barrel.  She was gone awhile but came back with an answer.  They don't repair ribs.  They would simply make a new barrel which would require the receiver to be returned.  Told her it would be late May 2010 before there was enough of a gap in hunting seasons to afford the time to send it back and get it back without my son having to miss a hunting opportunity.  She said that they would do an RMA for the return then if needed.  She asked if I would be willing to keep the barrel and accept a discount in lieu of repair.  I said that depends on the discount.  She was gone awhile and came back with an offer to refund $55.00 of the $85.00 purchase price, effectively making the sale a $30.00 barrel plus fitting.  I took the offer.  Figure I can purchase the tool to repair for $40.00 and do the work myself.  First, I'm going to check with a local gunsmith to see if they can repair and at what cost.  Might be able to get it done cheaper than purchasing the tool. Anyway, I walked away from the barrel issue atleast feeling satisfied.  Can't say as I'll sent another receiver in to them any time soon, atleast not until I see a whole heap of improvement in the satisfaction polls. 

[bigvarmnt]

Since you have pics, lets see one. I once dented a rib and used a screwdriver to fix it just fine. Don't know how bad yours is. Sounds like a fair compromise and you still have your gun. This kind of stuff seems to happen to me all too often and I don't think it should but I'm trying to accept the world AS IS. At least they made an attempt. Go and enjoy your gun.

[VTBrat]

Here are a couple of pics of the dents in the rib. 

[kevinsmith5]

I say fixable.  But I haven't ever done it myself, so we may wanna hear form some others....like maybe Quick.

[dpe.ahoy]

Those look fixable, I think ya done good.  I would use some hard plastic shims to move them into a straight line using a rawhide or nylon hammer.  DP

[quickdtoo]

I think I'd use flat bladed screwdriver to tap under the rib and force the dent out, I just checked my TDC barrel, it should work fine with a little gentle persuasion, do it a little at a time from each side to force it up evenly. 

Tim

[bigvarmnt]

That's how I did mine years ago Tim. Wish that made me as Handi as You Just take your time and look it over good as you go. Good Luck! Let us know how it turns out.