Author Topic: Sidekick problem??? (Read 734 times)

MI.sabot · « **on:** January 09, 2006, 02:06:38 AM »

I took the new ss sidekick out of the box to have a look.

Opened up the breech, closed it, and it didn't lock.

It seems like if I close it slowly without much pressure it doesn't catch. If I close it with some force it locks up just fine.

So I pulled out my two UltraSlug Hunters to compare. They both have an audible clicking sound while closing up the breach and lock up just fine regardless of the speed or pressure apllied.

What's your experience with your sidekick's. This situation is making me a bit gun shy at the moment, especiallly since I was able to pull the trigger back without the breech being fully closed!

hunterwinco · « **Reply #1 on:** January 09, 2006, 08:07:22 AM »

Have you "degreased" the gun? You mentioned you pulled it out of the box. I spray mine with a little carb/brake cleaner. Maybe you just have some "sticky factory crud" in there?

JerryS · « **Reply #2 on:** January 10, 2006, 05:11:14 PM »

I had the same problem when I received my blued sidekick last year. I had ordered it from Cabela's after seeing one at my local gun store. The action had to be slammed shut for it to stay closed. After it closed the action could be opened with minimal travel on the release button which suggested it was still not fully latched.

I then discovered the hinge had a lot of slop which allowed me to move the barrel side to side. If I would twist the barrel to the left it would latch every time, to the right it would take much more force to get it to close.

I sent it back to Cabela's for another. When I received the 2nd gun the difference was like night and day. There is virtually no hinge play and the action closes every time. When closing the action, even slowly, the release lever pops up fully when closed. It is a pleasure to shoot and very accurate. (Don't ask me how I missed a deer this year at 25 steps)

I guess for the price of the sidekick there are going to be a few lemons. Even though all turned out well for me I have learned not to buy guns from a mail order catalog.

Jerry

MI.sabot · « **Reply #3 on:** January 11, 2006, 01:55:28 AM »

Well it's going back to Gander Mountain.

I found a local gun dealer who had a ss sidekick in stock and went there yesterday to examine it. This one locked up just fine with a pronounced click regardless if the action was closed slowly or gently or snapped shut.

I'm glad I found this other one because up to that point I think I had convinced myself that all was fine and that's just how they were designed. I may have found out the hard way that there truly was a problem all along.

Thanks guys.