New Fair shotgun

elkhunter11 · #1 08-17-2010, 11:00 PM

My new 20 gauge FAIR shotgun arrived,and after careful examination,I would give it a fair to good rating.Overall,the metal to metal fit,and wood to metal fit seems good,but there is a defect in the wood,and both the front and mid bead are off center of the rib.The mid bead is to the left of center,and the front bead is to the right of center,so lining them up,puts your aim off center.The metal finish is very good,and the wood finish is good.The recoil pad is too hard,and not shaped all that great.Compared to my Citori,the fit,and finish is not as good,and the recoil pad is inferior,but the off center beads clearly put the FAIR a grade below the Citori.On the plus side,the fair balances better,and has a better shaped fore end.It really is a shame that FAIR did not take more time with the beads,and install a better recoil pad,because the gun really does swing good and balance well.I will shoot the FAIR this weekend,and then I will likely keep the shotgun that I shoot best,and sell the other one.

redranger15 · #2 08-18-2010, 06:07 AM

If it was me and knew the beads are off, I think it would bug me too much.Can this not be fixed? I'm guessing you'll keep your Citori.

southernman · #3 08-18-2010, 09:25 AM

Thats a bit dissapointing,
I just shot my new Fair 16ga for the first time last two nights, It is without a doub't the finest shot gun I have ever owned, fit and finish are perfect.
Perhaps contact the dealer,

greylynx · #4 08-18-2010, 06:03 PM

Return the F.A.I.R. unshot and demand your money back.

If I bought that gun, I would be wondering what the heck else is wrong with it before trouble begins.

Years ago, I bought a new Winchester model 23 side by side that was in constant need of repair. The gun fit me like a glove, but the gun kept breaking down, although it had a good reputation for being mechanically reliable.

The trouble is that this little new addition to your gun family is so cute and inviting. I have been there, but now am a bit smarter.

"Caveat Emptor" Buyer beware

I am now into B guns. Berreta, Browning, and Benelli

elkhunter11 · #5 08-18-2010, 08:41 PM

I have examined the gun again,and other than the slightly misaligned beads,I can see no faults at all in the gun.As to the misalignment of beads,it is not something that everyone will even notice.In fact the front bead is very close to center,with the rear bead being about .020" closer to one side of the rib than the other.I saw it because I work in a field where I deal with very close tolerances.The reality is that many people would likely not notice it.
Comparing the gun to my Citori did reveal a very slightly better fit and finish for the Browning,but had the beads been perfect on the FAIR,the difference would be extremely small.The point of my review was not to bash the FAIR,but more to compare the fit and finish of the FAIR and the Citori.

kennedy · #6 08-19-2010, 09:02 PM

The Citori's are really nice guns. However, demand they fix your FAIR.