35 Whelen(And 35 Remington?) Service Notice

[quickdtoo]

Also appears to affect the 35 Remington since the sku #72541 is for the 35 Rem/444M combo listed at Ellett and there are more sku numbers there than the 35 Whelen models made, there's the wood, syn and Handi-grip, dunno what the others are, one may be the 35 Rem embalmer883 bought this week.

I recommend anyone needing service for their H&R, 35 Whelen or otherwise, to call H&R and ask for a return shipping label so they can cover the cost of shipping to them, they don't advertise that they do this, but always do when asked, this is for any warranty service.

Tim

http://www.ellettbrothers.com/MSRP/MSRPItemview.asp?ItemID=208097

Tim

http://www.marlinowners.com/forums/index.php/topic,71940.msg712147.html#msg712147

Service Notice
9/13/10
To: H&R 1871 Dealers
Subject: 35 Whelen Handi-rifle
H&R 1871 has recently identified a small number of Handi-rifles in 35 Whelen caliber produced between
March 2010 and September 1st that could fail to fire under normal shooting conditions. This malfunction
presents no danger to the shooter, and the outcome is simply the firearm may fail to fire. The necessary
repair changes have been identified to correct this malfunction.
The affected guns are limited to the following H&R skus: 72540, 72612, 72412, 72614, 70705, 72541
If you have a customer return a H&R 35 Whelen rifle, and they have experienced a “fails to fire,” please
have the rifle returned to:
H&R 1871
Attn: Arm Service
14 Hoefler Ave
Ilion, NY 13357
We will make the necessary repair adjustments to the rifle at no charge and return to the sender as
expeditiously as possible.
Any rifles that you have received after September 15th, were produced with the corrective actions in place
and this malfunction should not be an issue on these rifles.
If you have any questions or if we can be of further service to you, please feel free to contact us at 1-866-
776-9292, prompt 4, Monday-Friday, 9am-5pm EST. Please check out our website at www.hr1871.com

Thank you,

Consumer Service Division
H&R 1871

[Ten Ring]

Thanks for the notice Tim. I have one of the numbers listed but haven't seen a problem yet. If you get any specifics of the fix please keep us informed.
Jim

[gendoc]

my new one is a 72701  ..
now i'm glad i held off till the last minute for the whelen..
and also did'nt make that trip to the casinos today, cus the wife had a shopping deal going with her friend,
and me not knowing the sku numbers of the 35 rem
thats in stock in MS.... there's always next week !!!!  embalmer, whats your sku ??

thanks for that info tim !!!

i have not received that notice yet. i'll be talking to them about a pardner pump issue next week.
i'll ask them about the notice.

[embalmer883]

My 35 is 72608

[quickdtoo]

The source of the notice(other than H&R) is the Ellett Bros website.

Tim

https://www.ellettbrothers.com/upload/HRServicenoticeHR35Whelendealer.pdf

[geezer56]

Mine is on the list.  I haven't shot it yet.  Now I have to decide whether to just try it first, or go ahead and make the call and see about sending it back.  With my luck, it will work fine at the range, then go click on a deer.  If I send it back, I am down for using it this year.  And I have a bunch of brass prepped and ready to load, and a boat load of bullets cast up.  This was to be my year to change over to cast bullets and the whelen.  I guess the 45-70 will still work.   DANG IT!

[Ten Ring]

I'm in the same boat, I have one on the list but it has shot a box of Hornady light magnums without a problem. I'm going to use it this year and then probably send it in.
Jim

[Rotten RJ]

  Now I have been told on occasion that I'm not the sharpest tool in the shed, however...if a feller was to come across one of these "problem" Handis in the future, just how would he know it as such.  Without the original carton/paperwork to look at and refer to, how would you check a SKU?  It would seem to me that publishing a serial number range for model and caliber would make more sense.  That way at least years from now, when encountering a complete gun or orphaned barrel, one could still I.D. it as such.
  Since I've been waiting (and drooling) for a 35 Whelen for quite awhile, now I have to be careful to find one one made after mid-Sept this year to ensure reliability.  Am I missing something here or simply  making much ado about nuthin'?
RJ

[Ten Ring]

A man from Mississippi posted on anouther forum that he had a problrm with the whelen and they told him send it in 5day turnaround.They also told him it was a transfer bar problrm.
Jim

[bighoof]

The one I bought earlier this year from Bud's is on the list, I've put over a hundred reloads with no problems yet. Another member (http://www.bullnettlenews.com/forum/yaf_postsm93847_35-Whelen.aspx#post93847) His is having FTF, he called H&R and they are stating it's a transfer bar problem not  a headspace issue, just what ten ring posted.

[quickdtoo]

I recommend anyone needing service for their H&R, 35 Whelen or otherwise, to call H&R and ask for a return shipping label so they can cover the cost of shipping to them, they don't advertise that they do this, but always do when asked, this is for any warranty service.

Tim

[reclown]

Just called H&R and have a shipping label inbound. Hopefully I will get it back in time for rifle season and this will take care of the problems.

[Ten Ring]

A friend of mine works at a gunshop and today he told me Remmington is recalling a lot of ammo with defective primers. A lot of 35 whelen. I looked at their site but didn't see any notice's. He said after several complaints his boss called them and after several days they faxed them lot no's to ship back.
Jim

[quickdtoo]

That makes a lot of sense since so many Whelens work just fine, both of mine included!! 

Thanks Jim.

Tim

[geezer56]

Well, I finally got time and ammo together to try my whelen.  Shot about 20 rounds, had 2 FTF's.  One with my reloads and the Lyman 358318 cast boolit, one with Remmy 200 gr. factory loads.  Both went bang on the next try, but still I am not a happy camper.  Call CS tomorrow, see how that goes.  The factory loads did shoot pretty well, the cast not so much. 

[Sourdough]

I like the part where they say "This is no danger to the shooter, just a fail to fire".  

I'm sorry Mr. Charging Hog/Black Bear/Moose/ Grizzly/Wolf/Lion/ or even Feral Dog,  but you can not run over me or eat me because it is no danger to me that the gun failed to fire.

We all run the risk of running into one or more of these animals each and every time we go into the woods.  In other words spend a lot of time at the range and make sure that thing is going to fire each and every time.  Your life or well being, as well as those with you could possiably depend on it.

I was 13 years old, hunting Deer with my Dad and a friend in Tennessee.  I was standing on the top of a Bluff looking out over the Cumberland River, when I was scared half to death by a shot behind me.  Turning around I saw a Billy Goat flopping around.  My Dad's friend Jim Johnson came out of the woods laughing saying "Boy, if I had not of shot that Goat he would have knocked you into the river".  Jim carried an old H&R 45-70, because it never failed to fire according to him.  I learned to swim the next spring.

My .35 Whelen has not failed to fire since NEF made the first repair, back when the gun was new in I believe 97 or 98.  When ever they came out with the RMEF guns.

I've been fortunate my life so far has not been dependent on the .35 Whelen, but my 30-06 has saved my bacon twice.

[ihookem]

Your 06 saved your bacon twice. Care to tell two more stories since the first one was quite funny?

[bikerbeans]

Sourdough,

I would like to read the other stories also, maybe a new thread?  BTW, how did the goat steak taste?

BB

[gcrank1]

Yes sir, SD, you do tell good stories. I bet sitting around a fire with you would be a great time. If you ever do a book let us know.
BTW, I enjoy Pat McManus too.

[gendoc]

i like the one where he is shoot'n beaver and turned around and a big'ol bear was look'n at him...
then he started talk'n to the bear !!! ... all he had was the 17hmr and wondering bout the thickness of
the bears nose!!!
i thank we need an experiance forum here. and SD be tha mod-author !!!
you can tell from his detail.. he's been there and done that.
always a pleasure read'n his stories !!!!!!!! thanks sourdough 

[reclown]

Ok finally sent my whelen in on Oct 13th I got it back on the 18th. So far I have put about a dozen primered casings through and all of them went bang. I hope to get out and put some live rounds down range later this week, hopefully all will go well. They installed a new transfer bar and my firing pin is protruding significantly longer I havent remeasured yet but it is quite obvious. So far so good!

[stonepony]

Just an update on my 35 whelen! I sent it off over a month ago after they said they would have it back in 5 days after they recieved it.  They had me send it to there repair place in kentucky. I called monday to see what the holdup was b/c or season opens november 1st, and I was told that they didnt even recieved the parts to fix the 350 rifles they have to repair? They also told me that they had no idea of when they would recieve them? They told me that they would get a rush on the rifles when they recieved the parts!  I am highly dissapointed and about had it with them!

[geezer56]

Since there is such a delay with repairs, I found one of my other receivers that fit the whelen barrel like it was made for it.  Longer firing pin protrusion, and closer to on-center primer strikes.  It is going to south carolina tomorrow night for a 3 day excursion, we'll see how it goes.  The 308 shorty is also going along, but that's another story.

[max1138]

just found this thread, great, my new handi in 35 whelen is at the shop being repaired for FTF issues. sku72540
it fired fine till the shop lightened the trigger, then snap snap
 the trigger was crap. I bought it and fired 12 rounds thru it and realized I wasnt going to be able to shoot well with a creepy
7 lb trigger and put it in the shop for a trigger job.  it hasnt fired since.
theyve got it back now and are waiting on a heavier hammer spring, or so im told.
muzzle loader season starts next monday and my new gun is in pieces at the shop.
 this isnt how its supposed to go, probably going to get a encore  sooner rather than later.

[max1138]

OK, got the rifle back today, lug shimmed and lowered barrel .003", new heavier trigger spring, transfer bar replaced and firing pin return spring trimmed a bit, made better than new, it works now. he worked on the the lug and lip to get it even, the shelf looks perfect after 20 rounds. also the trigger job he did is sweet, right at 2 lbs
 a box of 250 Remington ran thru it and no misfires and the primer marks are centered and much heavier than before.
total cost $0.00 the smith I use fixed it at no charge to me tho I offered to pay him(the gun wasnt even purchased from him, I feel bad he got stuck fixing a lemon)
so anyone who needs a recommendation for a  gunsmith/dealer check richeys in algoma ms. he went out of his way to help when it wasnt his deal to begin with. prolly gonna be a regular customer myself, I think a new handi in 7-08 would be a good way to celebrate 

[quickdtoo]

Welcome to GBO!! I like the way your gunsmith thinks!! He's not listed as one of the factory service sites, how did you come to use him, or is he just missing from the list? I've been thinking on the offcenter pin strike issue for quite a while, best I've come up with is to mill the pivot out to 10mm, then silver solder a steel shim in place, then mill the pivot to .375" just a tad off center from the original pivot so it raises or lowers the barrel to move the pin strike closer to center, I have two barrels that are really bad about misfires due to offcenter strikes, both are custom rebores than aren't eligible for factory service.

Tim

[max1138]

I havent pulled it apart yet to see just how it was done but from what he said  it sounded similar to your idea, which afik is the only really practical way to do it, PITA from what he said.

[quickdtoo]

It's not hard on a milling machine, just time consuming since after each cut it has to be checked for fit, even more if he did it by hand. Can you answer my questions, please?

thx,

Tim

He's not listed as one of the factory service sites, how did you come to use him, or is he just missing from the list?

[max1138]

It's not hard on a milling machine, just time consuming since after each cut it has to be checked for fit, even more if he did it by hand. Can you answer my questions, please?

thx,

Tim

He's not listed as one of the factory service sites, how did you come to use him, or is he just missing from the list?

he used to be the smith at hunters haven in tupelo, I started using him after the other 2 smiths I went to (skeet hill of verona ms,and paul jaeger of lagrange tn) both retired on me, he has done several triggers and action tuning on bolt guns for me plus the assorted trade guns I would buy that needed extractors,magazine floorplates ,refinishing and other parts that can be missing or abused on guns that are bought cheaply.  about 12-14 years ago I forget exactly when he left hunters haven and opened his own shop in the community of algoma, south of pontotoc ms. and has done well outgrowing the original building plus the expansion of that structure and now has a very nice and well appointed place of about 3500sq feet or better showroom plus the shop in back and the original building.  he even put in a lunch counter and his wife does very well with it. good food, if you go try the the smoked bologna and the armadillo beans that they have on friday.

[quickdtoo]

Ok, so he wasn't an authorized H&R/Remington service point, your original post appeared that you were sending it to one which is the topic of this thread. Glad ya got it fixed tho. 

Tim