Author Topic: Highly disappointed! (Read 2375 times)

cgturner7 · « **on:** November 15, 2009, 03:03:10 PM »

I had been mulling around which Handi to buy my son as his first deer hunting rifle. Found a .243 package with the BSA scope for a decent price. He was excited, to say the least, and couldn't wait to fire it (so was I). Didn't get to fire it for two weeks, it's football season here in TX. Finally, got some time today to get over to the range. We cleaned it inside and out before leaving. Get to the range and put 6 shots through it when the nice man next to us asks if we would like to clean it before the next round of shots. Clean it up, let it cool down. Put another 6 shots through it when I notice it's making a weird sound on lock up. After some inspection I find what appears to be a lose or too small hinge pin. When I put one hand on the barrel and one hand on the stock and twist, it visibly wiggles. I was shooting Remington 100 grain Corelokt. What should I do? I don't think a brand new rifle should do this. I've read and read about how fussy the .243 can be and thought I might take a chance. Now I have a rifle that is defective and a 7 year-old son that's REALLY disappointed.

poncaguy · « **Reply #1 on:** November 15, 2009, 03:05:11 PM »

How was the accuracy? If it's good...............shoot it!

myarmor · « **Reply #2 on:** November 15, 2009, 03:16:24 PM »

Which wiggles, the barrel or the stock? If it's the stock , tighten it... to see if it's a loose barrel fit take off the forearm and lock it up and then see if it moves side to side, if so you have a couple options..take it back or do a barrel shim. A loose, side to side play barrel ,is crap on accuracy.

-Aaron

cgturner7 · « **Reply #3 on:** November 15, 2009, 03:20:05 PM »

It is a definite barrel wiggle and it IS side to side. Funny thing is, it won't wiggle when open.

Accuracy was no bueno. All over the paper.

Do I send it back to H&R or take it back to Academy?

Swampman · « **Reply #4 on:** November 15, 2009, 03:30:45 PM »

If you clean while shooting it will be all over the paper. Call Academy first.

myarmor · « **Reply #5 on:** November 15, 2009, 03:37:39 PM »

If it is side to side play when locked up, no matter how clean or (with a Handi) how dirty the barrel takes to shoot well, it won't matter. I highly suggest you take it back and show them the side to side play and how badly it is shooting because of it. It wouldn't matter what cal you have, if it has play when locked up it will shoot poorly.
Hopefully they will have a replacement, at the store do a good inspection and see how tight it locks up for you.

peternap · « **Reply #6 on:** November 15, 2009, 04:12:07 PM »

I agree 100%

Why fix problems like that on a new gun. That's ridiculous. If luck holds, they'll have another one there.

26-t · « **Reply #7 on:** November 15, 2009, 04:19:53 PM »

Take it back, it sounds like it has a bad

hinge pin fit problem. 26-t

BrianB · « **Reply #8 on:** November 16, 2009, 02:11:19 AM »

I would certainly take it back if it is defective. I guess the argument could be made that it is a potential safety issue.

Academy will not replace a gun because of accuracy for obvious reasons. (Some people just can't shoot and always blame the gun, I'm sure you've met people like that before.) A defective gun is another matter, particularly when it is for your son. I would stick to the defect concerns and I feel certain they will replace it.

If they do or don't let us know. I'm sure a lot of people are interested in the outcome, including myself.

Sorry you are having that problem, no one likes to see a little boy disappointed.

wreckhog · « **Reply #9 on:** November 16, 2009, 08:24:11 AM »

Try to return it. If that fails, I'd try an aluminum can shim, and see how it does fixing the wiggle temporarily. Enough guys have done it that it is not a safety issue. Then after your son bags a deer, I'd call H&R for an RMA tag.

It is a shame that you can't buy new Handi insurance against all the little weird QC issues.

Spanky · « **Reply #10 on:** November 16, 2009, 10:24:10 AM »

A 243 is too much gun for a 7 year old.

Spanky

tykempster · « **Reply #11 on:** November 16, 2009, 10:30:42 AM »

"A 243 is too much gun for a 7 year old."

That's debatable, just depends how well they handle it. For some maybe it is, for some it's definitely not.

Spanky · « **Reply #12 on:** November 16, 2009, 10:35:32 AM »

Ty,

You're the exception to the rule when it comes to how much gun someone can handle.

Spanky

hillbill · « **Reply #13 on:** November 16, 2009, 03:12:41 PM »

buddy of mine purchased one, warned him, cheap price gits yu a cheap gun. he had to throw the scope away, finally got another one sighted in, he missed a nice buck with it. gun is a piece of crap.i think i could make a better one out of gas pipe.

wreckhog · « **Reply #14 on:** November 16, 2009, 03:49:19 PM »

Never know about cheap. Remington 788 was cheap once. The Crikett .22LR looks like the cheapest toy piece of crap ever down to the plastic knob, but has a rep for 1 hole at 25 yards.

myarmor · « **Reply #15 on:** November 16, 2009, 04:05:54 PM »

The Handi is an inexpensive rifle , I would never call it cheap. It has draw backs, no one will say it doesn't as with all other rifles.
With a Handi there are a few simple things to look for and will give you a pretty good idea if it will shoot well right out of the box, which many do. They are all mentioned in the FAQ's.

Swampman · « **Reply #16 on:** November 16, 2009, 04:07:29 PM »

Quote from: hillbill on November 16, 2009, 03:12:41 PM

buddy of mine purchased one, warned him, cheap price gits yu a cheap gun. he had to throw the scope away, finally got another one sighted in, he missed a nice buck with it. gun is a piece of crap.i think i could make a better one out of gas pipe.

The Handi is an excellent rifle. BSA scopes are junk but we all knew that. If your friend missed most likely it was his fault. 99 times out of 100 that's the case.

If you stick with rimmed cartridges you won't have problems, but that's always the case with single shot rifles.

peternap · « **Reply #17 on:** November 16, 2009, 04:24:50 PM »

Quote from: hillbill on November 16, 2009, 03:12:41 PM

buddy of mine purchased one, warned him, cheap price gits yu a cheap gun. he had to throw the scope away, finally got another one sighted in, he missed a nice buck with it. gun is a piece of crap.i think i could make a better one out of gas pipe.

There's something to what you say, but not a lot.
I can't imagine even bothering to sight a BSA Scope in.
The rifles do need a little understanding but in the end, they're reliable and accurate. They're also inexpensive so I don't mind taking it places I wouldn't take a thousand dollar gun.

I expect your Buddy's miss was his fault. Why would he hunt with anything regardless of price, that he doesn't know where every shot is going.
You're not supposed to buy them, sight them and go hunting...you know!
I think the term for that is "Slob Hunter"

Spanky · « **Reply #18 on:** November 16, 2009, 04:32:25 PM »

Quote from: hillbill on November 16, 2009, 03:12:41 PM

buddy of mine purchased one, warned him, cheap price gits yu a cheap gun. he had to throw the scope away, finally got another one sighted in, he missed a nice buck with it. gun is a piece of crap.i think i could make a better one out of gas pipe.

Tell him to come to a complete stop and hold the light steady next time.

If I had a nickel for every time I heard someone blame the gun for missin'.....

Just out of curiousity... what is your idea of a "good" gun??

Spanky

puma4440 · « **Reply #19 on:** November 16, 2009, 05:38:03 PM »

Quote from: Spanky on November 16, 2009, 04:32:25 PM

Quote from: hillbill on November 16, 2009, 03:12:41 PM
buddy of mine purchased one, warned him, cheap price gits yu a cheap gun. he had to throw the scope away, finally got another one sighted in, he missed a nice buck with it. gun is a piece of crap.i think i could make a better one out of gas pipe.

Tell him to come to a complete stop and hold the light steady next time.
If I had a nickel for every time I heard someone blame the gun for missin'.....

Just out of curiousity... what is your idea of a "good" gun??

Spanky

I'm rollin' on the floor spittin' dr. pepper all over the place!

petemi · « **Reply #20 on:** November 16, 2009, 11:48:54 PM »

Spanky, actually, he rolled into a pothole just as he fired.

I suppose some folks haven't been around here long enough to have seen some of the targets shot with these junk rifles.

Pete

jeepmann1948 · « **Reply #21 on:** November 17, 2009, 01:34:48 AM »

A couple of you gentlemen seem to be very well versed in the finer points of roadhunting!

peternap · « **Reply #22 on:** November 17, 2009, 02:00:12 AM »

Quote from: jeepmann1 on November 17, 2009, 01:34:48 AM

A couple of you gentlemen seem to be very well versed in the finer points of roadhunting!

In Va, we don't call it roadhunting.

It' Dog Hunting. Gotta have a Truck, CB, Shotgun, Rifle, case of beer, bag of McDonald Burgers, bunch of starving dogs to run through someone elses property, ATV to get the deer on someone else property if you shoot one and an orange hat so the cops don't give you a ticket while on "STAND" (Parked on the side of the road).

Oh yeah...spare tire in case some property owner mistakes his tire for a mangy dog.

bajabill · « **Reply #23 on:** November 17, 2009, 06:46:23 AM »

is there a thread with help on a barrel that has side to side play. I have a 25-06 fitted by the factory that has a little play. I am not sending it back to be fixed by them. It is going to be something I correct, or I sell this and buy a 25-06 barrel for a savage.

Fred M · « **Reply #24 on:** November 17, 2009, 06:58:39 AM »

bayabill.
You can fix this play with my directions on my web site. It is really not too difficult to do. But it takes some time and patience.

http://www.angelfire.com/ma/ZERMEL/accuhandi.html

TxGun · « **Reply #25 on:** November 17, 2009, 07:32:15 AM »

Quote from: hillbill on November 16, 2009, 03:12:41 PM

buddy of mine purchased one, warned him, cheap price gits yu a cheap gun. he had to throw the scope away, finally got another one sighted in, he missed a nice buck with it. gun is a piece of crap.i think i could make a better one out of gas pipe.

This is mostly BS, IMO. I have some expensive rifles that shoot very well. I also have a Handi in .223 that will shoot MOA all day long with the Burris 2-7 scope I have on it. 99% of the time, it's the shooter, not the gun. Plenty of DAs out there who don't even know how to properly sight in a rifle, and even when they do, they can't hit a barn from the inside.

gstewart44 · « **Reply #26 on:** November 17, 2009, 08:05:18 AM »

Quote from: wreckhog on November 16, 2009, 03:49:19 PM

Never know about cheap. Remington 788 was cheap once. The Crikett .22LR looks like the cheapest toy piece of crap ever down to the plastic knob, but has a rep for 1 hole at 25 yards.

My daughter's Crickett was 96.95 at Wally World and she makes one ragged hole at 25 yds with 10 shots. The hole is usually about 3/4". Great little cheap gun.

Sourdough · « **Reply #27 on:** November 17, 2009, 08:16:47 AM »

The store will not do anything about it. That is between you and the manufacturer. Box it up and mail it back to H&R. Yes I said mail, US Postal Service. You can mail long guns between yourself and the manufacturer. They have been far easier for me to deal with than Fed Ex or UPS. H&R will fix it.

And I have to agree a .243 is too much gun for a 7 year old. I have never seen a 7 year old that was big enough to handle the recoil of a .243. Many of my 10 year old students are not big enough for a .243. We start kids in 4-H at the age of 10. My son shot his .243 when he was 10, and did not like it. He refused to shoot it again till he was 14. By then he had a 45-70, and liked it better. He got a Black Powder barrel for the gun and the .243 barrel has been laying on a shelf in the vault ever since. Doubt he will ever do anything with it.

peternap · « **Reply #28 on:** November 17, 2009, 09:18:50 AM »

Quote from: Fred M on November 17, 2009, 06:58:39 AM

bayabill.
You can fix this play with my directions on my web site. It is really not too difficult to do. But it takes some time and patience.

http://www.angelfire.com/ma/ZERMEL/accuhandi.html

That's a good tutorial Fred!

stalker1 · « **Reply #29 on:** November 17, 2009, 09:47:14 AM »

"buddy of mine purchased one, warned him, cheap price gits yu a cheap gun."

Ignorance can be fixed, stupidity is forever! Many of the folks on this site have helped fix some of my ignorance with my handi's, maybe they can help your buddy too.