Customer service test - USRAC versus Beretta

[tominboise]

Well, I just sent two rifles in for factory service work:

One is a USRAC M70 featherweight 6.5X55 that won't eject. I sent it to USRAC in New Haven, CT. The other is a Tikka M595 .22-250 that also won't eject (what are the odds that two rifles I purchased new would have similar problems). I sent it to Beretta in Accokeek, MD. Both were mailed USPS priority today. I will let you know the outcome of each.

[KN]

I hope your experience with Winchester is better than mine. It took 6 months to get a new M70 coyote replaced that they acknowledged was defective. Finally told them to either send me a new rifle or send me a check. Rifle showed up a few days later and it wouldn't shoot worth squat. Thats the last Winchester I ever buy.  KN

[mountainview]

T-Boise, I had a problem with my 7-08 where it was not feeding. Was convinced the gun was at fault. Tried a different box/lot of shells. Problem disappeared and never happened again. Might have been the shells and it could have been worth it to try a different box of ammo before undertaking the frustration and heartbreak of sending your gun in for repair/service (?).

Also what kind of cartridges were you shooting and was the extractor grabbing the shell?

[Rogue Ram]

Office partner brought his rifle in to show me. Got out of the car, slung it over his shoulder, and suddenly CLANG.  Sling stud in forearm pulled out, Winchester Mod 70 Classic with Leupold scope crashes barrel first into the concrete.  Brings it to me in the office......crown destroyed, barrel and scope scratched up.........told him it appeared the barrel was bent.  He took gun to the range (against all advice) and shot it. Rifle that used to group 1/2 inch at 100 now sprayed 6" group low and off to one side.  Local smith offered to fix it, he would have straightened barrel if necessary, bead blasted, bedded, tuned action and recrowned for 100 bucks. He refused, saying he wanted to give Winchester the chance to make it right.

What a freaking joke.  We expected a new rifle back.  After many weeks, he finds out the gun has been sitting there untouched.  Then they shipped it back after he made some calls.  Sling swivel put in with a backer, and thats it boys.  Bent up barrel, destroyed crown, gun won't shoot worth squat, and they fix his sling swivel.

I am in a quandry what to do for my elk rifle.......because I want controlled round feed, but it appears its either do it yourself or take your chances with a factory gun.

RR

[rickyp]

I sent it to Beretta in Accokeek, MD. Both were mailed USPS priority today

 If i had to send back a beretta I would drop it off in person :grin: . I pass by them almost every morning on my way to and from the station. I have had a chance to do a walk trough with the accokeek Fire department It was quite intresting.

[tominboise]

Well, if they give me the run around, I will send you over with you citation book..... :wink:

[rickyp]

I would have a hard time with that, The time I went trough it everything was in very neat order

All trash cans empty ed no trash or even scraps in the work stations. everything put away. granted this was on a Saturday and they had advanced notice we where stopping by

[oldelkhunter]

I am in a quandry what to do for my elk rifle.......because I want controlled round feed, but it appears its either do it yourself or take your chances with a factory gun.

   Look at a CZ and forget the Winchester if your looking for a controlled round feed gun. Unless you can find a good pre-64

[swecology]

I went through something similar with Winchester a couple of years ago.

Brand new, out of box (my present to myself for getting accepted to grad school) .30-06 (hadn't even fired it yet) was shaving brass off of the sides of the cases.  W. told me it was the extractor, and to send it to them.  I did, and told them I would like to swap the gun for a different one.  For eight weeks, they acted like they had no idea what I was talking about.  Then, after calling them continuously for two days while I was doing my lab runs (try testing soil samples with a cell phone in your ear!), they suddenly got over their amnesia.  There was no way in hell they were going to swap the gun, either.

Got the gun back, and it has worked without error for the past two years.  Getting them to listen, though, was like clay to go through a No. 2 filter - it will happen, but in it's own sweet time.

BTW- I didn't think you could ship firearms through the USPS?  I had to go through UPS.  How did you do it?  I'd like to know for the next time I have to ship.

Good luck to you, and thanks.

Matt

P.S.  Ruger (M77MkII) makes a really good CRF gun, really similar to the original Mauser action.  I have one in .25-06 and won't part with it.