hunters lodge military rifles.

[1marty]

In shotgun news Hunters Lodge was advertising a Ishapore Enfield which looked good. I read some postings on other internet sites which said they had bad experience with them however, most of the postings were old. Has anyone dealt with them recently  and can you give me your experience.

[rvtrav]

1Marty,

  I hate to badmouth anyone, but I have had an experience with Hunter's Lodge.

  Several years ago I ordered (through a friend and  FFL Dealer) some Brazilian M1908 Mausers (basically German made '98 contract rifles for Brazil) they were listed as condition "good" shootable with "perhaps minor handling dents or cracks to the stock".

  None of the rifles even had stocks, I had to soak the actions in solvent for days to begin to take them apart to look at what parts were missing, let alone work the bolt at all, The barrels were so poor I could barley distinguish rifling after several passes with a wire brush and solvent patch. They were anything but "shootable".

 I salvaged one of the actions by canniblizing the other four to make a custom rifle instead of having five complete actions to build from as planned.

  Naturally they were bought "as is" when I called to complain about their sorry condition.

  My advice is that there are many other reputable surplus dealers, and you could likley find one of the ishapores at a gunshow or pawn/gun shop every bit as cheap, and you would have the chance to look over the gun. If I could give you any info it  would be to steer well clear of Hunter's lodge.

  Just my personal opinion, Rvtrav     

[torpedoman]

do not order from them.

[1911crazy]

They have a very, very, very bad reputation on all the forums.  Guys have bought the mexican 7mm barreled receivers and got stuff worst than tomato stakes.  Even Century Arms is pretty much like them too with there ratings of good when there rusted crap too.  This only leaves us with aim surplus, samco global arms,  allans armory and empirearms to be trusted dealers on the net.  Then its the auction gun sites after that.

After being burn't a few times, but i have been lucky it wasn't more i'm leaving it with the gun shows and my list of good dealers.  But as the garbage flows down hill i'm not sure were the century arms crap will end up.

But keep in mind the better quality stuff will cost us more.  But really how much more will we pay?  I have my limits on what these are worth too.  If i was looking for quality military surplus guns i'd go after the swedish mausers, the finnish mosins,  russian mosins and what ever is offered in 8mm mausers.  There are some britts now and then being offered too but we need to jump on them if a quality dealer has them.  The supply is running low......

I'm sorry to say it but the modern guns are looking much better lately with the surplus military crap some are offering.  If i'm going to pay $200+ for a surplus military gun i might as well go after the used modern guns and pay a little more. I need to think about it more when i look at a buy now.

[cbxboy]

Nothing recent, most recent was about 3-4 years back.......I do Believe people/companies CAN change but have you ever seen a SPOTTED Zebra?  How about a Striped Leopard?  Ever seen a turtle walk on 2 legs?

I believe they CAN change......but I wouldn't send MY money to find out

I'd personally pass and wait until the "internet opinion" changes for the positive. 

I wouldn't send them .44 for a stamp....I'm not sure what I'd get back......hows that for a comparison?

[1marty]

Thanks for your help. I figured as much. "you get what you pay for". The only one I really trusted through the years was Empire-he's been the most honest when I order over the internet.

[30-30man]

I've been burnt by AIm too when ordering more than one rifle, so don't include them just yet.  They make one an absolute dream and the other pure crap.  They have done that every time I've ordered more than one rifle.   I've had the best luck with Simpson Lmtd/Empire.  They are a very honest bunch and you see a picture of what you are buying.

[Merle]

I've been burnt by AIm too when ordering more than one rifle, so don't include them just yet.  They make one an absolute dream and the other pure crap.  They have done that every time I've ordered more than one rifle.   I've had the best luck with Simpson Lmtd/Empire.  They are a very honest bunch and you see a picture of what you are buying.

Only once have I ordered two rifles at a time from AIM - a pair of 91/30's.
Both were pretty much equal, and somewhat better than advertized.

 

[Foxfire Rod and Gun]

I would like the url for Simpson Ltd. and Empire if anyone would be kind enough to share them.

FR&G