Author Topic: Problem with H&R (Read 2421 times)

GH1 · « **on:** September 07, 2011, 02:09:27 PM »

When I sent my .45-70 to be fitted with the .30-30 and .50 cal barrels the price on they're website was $96.00 each, plus shipping and labor. Well, when I received my barrels I found out I'd been billed $145.00 for the .50. So I called up to mention how the price I saw on the website didn't match the price I was charged and I was told I would be issued a credit on my MC account.
When my bill arrived the end of last week I didn't notice a credit had been issued so I called them today. The rep I spoke with had no record of anyone issuing a credit to my account and he asked me to send a copy of the credit card statement. I'll be doing that tomorrow, along with a copy of my order form that I'd submitted. I expressed my dissatisfaction of being charged 50% over their advertised price and although the rep promised to do what he could, he offered no guarantees. In addition, my .50 has a cheap plastic sight that will not keep it's windage adjustment, so he tried to send me out a new one, only to find they're on backorder.
I'll keep everyone posted on how this case turns out, but in the meantime anyone thinking of buying an extra barrel might want to double check the pricing. For the amount of money I'm being charged for this .50 barrel I could've bought an entire rifle. It's a bummer, no doubt.
GH1

quickdtoo · « **Reply #1 on:** September 07, 2011, 02:18:55 PM »

Price listed on the website is $145 for the huntsman barrel.

Centerfire rifle barrels are $96, but they don't come with a forend, ramrod, ect.

Tim

http://www.hr1871.com/Support/accessoryProgram.asp

MSP Ret · « **Reply #2 on:** September 07, 2011, 04:13:12 PM »

None of the cheap plastic sights are any good nor do they hold thier windage for long, if they hold it at all. Throw them away and get another sight. They should not even send those cheap plastic sights out with guns, they are pure junk. My .500 came with them and they just don't work at all....<><....

bubba · « **Reply #3 on:** September 07, 2011, 04:21:09 PM »

This is why I always send a money order. I prefer to pay upfront.

GH1 · « **Reply #4 on:** September 08, 2011, 01:37:09 AM »

Quote from: quickdtoo on September 07, 2011, 02:18:55 PM

Price listed on the website is $145 for the huntsman barrel. Centerfire rifle barrels are $96, but they don't come with a forend, ramrod, ect.

Tim

http://www.hr1871.com/Support/accessoryProgram.asp

I know that's what the website says now, but I promise you when I placed the order it was $96.00. In fact, the first time I called I had the website open while I talked to the rep. He then looked at it and confirmed what I was telling him. Unfortunately I didn't get the guys name, he seemed willing to correct the situation so I took him at his word. I understand prices need t ochange from time to time but 50%? That's a bit much.
GH1

GH1 · « **Reply #5 on:** September 13, 2011, 02:53:17 PM »

My replacement sight arrived yesterday. I tried to install it today only to find it's the wrong damned sight. It's WAY too small. Not even close. I guess I'll be calling them again tomorrow.
GH1

BBF · « **Reply #6 on:** September 14, 2011, 06:31:35 AM »

I hope they have a Toll Free number. If I ever need another single shot rifle it will be the Apex or if I win in the lottery a Ruger#1

GH1 · « **Reply #7 on:** September 14, 2011, 01:41:20 PM »

I called their toll free number today at lunch. LEft a message with the fellow that sent me the sight but I've not heard back yet. I'll keep trying.
GH1

BBF · « **Reply #8 on:** September 16, 2011, 06:57:22 AM »

I hope you have more luck getting a call back then I have for getting an e-mail answer from Leupold Optics.

GH1 · « **Reply #9 on:** September 17, 2011, 02:00:17 AM »

No word yet, I'll keep trying. I also have the mailing address of the CEO of Remington, I'm going to write him a letter as well.
GH1

hennypenny · « **Reply #10 on:** September 19, 2011, 04:22:05 AM »

I had a similar experience with the 50 cal. barrel I bought through the Barrel Exchange Program. Very fast (2 week) service, but the barrel had plastic Firesights which were hitting 2" left at 50 yards, despite the factory-set adjustments, and which moved with finger pressure. I couldn't put together a load combination which would stay in the black.
On my particular barrel, the rear plastic sight base seems to be pointing to the left, and most likely is the source of the problem. It was mounted with a standard slotted U.S. screw forward and a thin slotted screw in the rear. Not something I'd expect to see on a barrel fresh from the factory. But maybe it's not so fresh.
An order to Brownell's should be here within a day or so with a set of European (thin slot)screwdrivers and a steel Remington 700 sight base, which seems to be the match for the plastic one. I'm hoping it's just the base that's a ratty one from the bottom of the parts bin, warped off-center, and not an off-center screw hole.
It's not too expensive a fix, but I'd expect better from Remington for a $145 gun barrel. My guess is that they're cleaning house, using up old parts on an end of production barrel. We might just be buying the last remnants of the Huntsman line. Too bad. It's a nice, inexpensive, reliable little gun with a lot of potential, and it's finally getting an opportunity to be put to use this year in Massachusetts for the blackpowder deer season. This could have been a nice little moneymaker of a gun if more attention was paid to the quality of the sights and the breech plug design, another easy fix addressed much earlier in this forum.
Once the sight base issue clears up, I'll be giving the Williams Firesights another try. The metal ones this time, so the price of the fix will be climbing. I'll let you know how it turns out.

GH1 · « **Reply #11 on:** September 20, 2011, 02:34:28 PM »

Please do henny. I may have to buy a new sight so let me know what you bought and how well it works.
I placed another call to Customer Service today, left a message with no return phone call. I just finished writing a letter to the CEO, it'll go in the mail tomorrow. We'll see what that does for me.
GH1

hennypenny · « **Reply #12 on:** September 20, 2011, 03:29:28 PM »

Made a bad call! The steel Remington 700 sight base looked good, but the hole spacing was off. I might have been tempted to try it with one screw, just to see for now, but i ran a taught thin string along the top of the barrel, and both holes for the rear sight are 1/2 a screw diameter off-center to the left. The gun's going to shoot more and more to the left as I raise the sight, no matter what kind gets mounted in those holes.
It's either have new holes drilled right, or go with a receiver sight. Sounds like the quickest and easiest (and cheapest) way to go is with a reciever sight. The three holes at the breech and the two for the front sight all line up fine.
The plastic base was good and square, and it had a slot so it would fit either the Huntsman or a 700.
I hate the idea of battling with the factory and killing time that would better be spent practicing for the upcoming season, but maybe I'll drop them a little letter, just in case mine's not the only one out there with this problem. Good luck with yours.

GH1 · « **Reply #13 on:** September 21, 2011, 06:04:35 AM »

Thanks henny, I will definately keep eveyone posted on how this works out.
GH1

GH1 · « **Reply #14 on:** September 22, 2011, 08:46:50 AM »

A customer service rep called me back this morning and promised to credit my card and send me a replacement sight. We'll see.
GH1

hennypenny · « **Reply #15 on:** September 23, 2011, 12:46:06 PM »

Hope it works out for you GH1. I put in an order to Williams sights for an FP receiver sight. They seemed very helpful, and we'll see how it works out after it comes in.

GH1 · « **Reply #16 on:** September 23, 2011, 02:05:38 PM »

The same rep called me again today to tell me my account had been credited and to ask if I wanted a steel sight of a plastic one. I told him steel and he said he'd send it out, I expect it to arrive sometime next week.
GH1

GH1 · « **Reply #17 on:** September 28, 2011, 02:34:21 PM »

I checked my credit card account after the customer service rep followed up with me today and my account had indeed been credited. He also mentioned my replacement sight had been shipped but I've yet to receive it. I'm thinking it will be here by the end of the week.
GH1

GH1 · « **Reply #18 on:** September 30, 2011, 01:27:29 AM »

I received my replacement rear sight yesterday, two of them actually. One was identical to the plastic sight I already have and just about as worthless. The other was a metal Williams sight and it is quite god. However, the Williams has a lower profile than the OEM unit and will not work with the front sight, so I sent another e-mail to customer service asking them to address the issue, I expect they'll contact me sometime today. I'm thinking a new front sight will do the trick.
GH1

hennypenny · « **Reply #19 on:** October 01, 2011, 03:54:31 AM »

Got the sights in from Williams and I almost had them fully mounted, but I got a little pressed for time and tried tapping in the front sight blade with a screwdriver handle. Bad call on my part. The upper red part of the firesight didn't take kindly to a sideways tap. I'll take my time on a quiet day and use the right tools when the new one gets in.
I've found Williams very helpful at resolving sight height issues. If H&R doesn't work out, try Williams. They're listed by H&R as one of their repair facilities, and should be very familiar with their products. Check out their website, take the measurements they ask for, and give them a call. Their shipping's a bit slower (1-2 weeks) than other companies, and they've got the usual frustrating phone system, but they send out the right stuff. Good luck.

GH1 · « **Reply #20 on:** October 01, 2011, 12:11:34 PM »

Thanks hp.
GH1

GH1 · « **Reply #21 on:** October 06, 2011, 02:38:36 PM »

I heard back from H&R today, and the news wasn't good. It seems the metal sight I was given was a leftover and all they offer now are the worthless plastic units.
I sent a reply asking if I could use the sights from a .30-30 or .45-70, hopefully I'll get the answer I'm looking for.
Needless to say I'm pretty disgusted, muzzleloader season opens at the end of the month and it's entirely possible I'll be using jacked up sights.
GH1

hennypenny · « **Reply #22 on:** October 07, 2011, 01:33:12 PM »

GH1, give Williams a call. They've got steel shorty shotgun sight ramps that'll fit a Huntsman barrel and a variety of front sights heights, and they'll determine the right sight height combination for you. I've had my best luck getting a call through to their tech assistance on weekday mornings. Wish there was a cheaper way around it, but it works.
Got to the range today with my Huntsman with the new sights and breech plug. It's shooting better, but finding a good primer/powder/bullet combination's going to take a little more work. Think sights are expensive? I've already spent as much on ammo as I did on the gun. All part of the game. Good luck and keep at it.

quickdtoo · « **Reply #23 on:** October 07, 2011, 01:37:34 PM »

If you look at the Peep and Firesights link in the FAQs sticky, you'll see the Williams shotgun shorty ramps that Midway carries, I have a few of them for H&R big bores, gonna do some shooting with one tomorrow on one of my 45-70 Handis.

Tim

GH1 · « **Reply #24 on:** October 08, 2011, 03:06:50 PM »

I've visited the Williams website and was impressed by their selection. I have no doubt they can provide me with a solution, and I may have to go that route. I just think it's kinda lousy that I have to pay for a set of sights when it should've come with a working set.
I have every intention of keep after H&R, if I can't get a good set of sights out of them perhaps I can get reimbursed for the set I have to purchase. I'll call them Monday.
GH1

GH1 · « **Reply #25 on:** October 13, 2011, 02:32:02 PM »

I sent an e-mail and left a voice mail at H&R but have had no reply. I talked to a rep at Williams and he assured me he'd have no trouble setting me up with sights, but it would cost me $70.00 for standard sights and $90.00 for Fire Sights.
I've got a very serious problem shelling out another $90.00 to pay for something the barrel was supposed to come with from the get go. According to their website, "Muzzleloader barrel fitting includes Williams Fire sights, ramrod, forearm, breech plug wrench, and five primer carriers".
Let's see, $96.00 for the barrel, $25.00 for fitting, and $19.00 shipping equals $140.00. For not too much more a fella could have an entire rifle, if you tack another $90.00 on to the total for a set of working sights, you've easily bought yourself a rifle with starter kit. It's even more ridiculous if you've paid $145.00 for a barrel.
I may end up buying a replacement sight set, but I'm going to hound those folks to make this right.
GH1

BBF · « **Reply #26 on:** October 15, 2011, 12:19:40 PM »

GH1

Tongue in cheek, You wouldn't be a Bill Collector by any chance ?

GH1 · « **Reply #27 on:** October 17, 2011, 01:21:13 PM »

No, I'm not!

Actually, I'm a mechanic. After much web searching I've decided to try a different approach. At one time I'd considered contacting H&R and inquiring about returning the barrel for a refund. My thoughts were I could spend a few more dollars and pick up a Traditions or CVA.
However, as I was looking at and pricing rifles I recalled an incident that occured while walking the woods last year. Many rifles have a bolt type set-up that closes over the cap and nipple, and the one I used last year was no exception.
Being left handed, I snagged the bolt on my coat, popped it open, and had my cap fall out of position. I didn't fall out and I was able to reprime, but under the right circumstances it might've meant a lost deer.
So after comparing the prices of comparable break action rifles, I decided the most cost effctive solution was to keep my H&R, bad sights and all, and upgrade to better sights.
I'm thinking about some sort of Red Dot, but I'm still doing research. I was able to jury rig some sights out of some old parts I had laying around and according to my bore sight they should work, but I definately plan on upgrading.
I hope to get it done this weekend. Kind of an anti-climatic ending to the story of me vs H&R, but after looking at all the options I feel it's the most practical solution.
GH1

bubba · « **Reply #28 on:** October 18, 2011, 03:35:12 PM »

if legal in your area throw a scope on it and be done with it.

OldSchoolRanger · « **Reply #29 on:** October 18, 2011, 06:41:40 PM »

Quote from: GH1 on October 17, 2011, 01:21:13 PM

I'm thinking about some sort of Red Dot, but I'm still doing research. I was able to jury rig some sights out of some old parts I had laying around and according to my bore sight they should work, but I definately plan on upgrading.
I hope to get it done this weekend. Kind of an anti-climatic ending to the story of me vs H&R, but after looking at all the options I feel it's the most practical solution.
GH1

Make sure the Red Dot that your thinking about buying will fit the scope rail on your Handi. Otherwise, we'll probably see another post about why the rails weren't cut properly for a Red Dot scope to be mounted.

Seriously, check on this first. You might have to buy a universal picatinny rail, and either drill additional mounting holes to fit your Handi or cut additional slots on your current scope rail.
Anyone have a recommendation for a picatinny type rail that fits Handis?