Factory quality?

Pathfinder76 · #1 10-26-2016, 07:57 AM

I picked up a Model 70 SS Ultimate Shadow yesterday for my 12 year old son. I went to take it apart for cleaning and it was glued tight into the stock. A 2X4 and some noise got it apart, but so much for better bedding in the new Model 70's. Oh well, a little epoxy has it going again.

Bushrat · #2 10-26-2016, 08:30 AM

Winchesters have a habit of that happening, often times they 'forget' to use any release agent on the receiver when they drop them in the 'bedding compound of the day'. + they seem to like to put bedding over paint, primer, camo dip or whatever the stuff they finished the stock with then put the bedding over it. Their whole process is kinda backward. Obviously you used some release agent so you can remove it. I hope you roughed it up so the bedding actually sticks to the material the stock is made from not whatever finish they used on the stock.

Pathfinder76 · #3 10-26-2016, 08:38 AM

I drilled holes to mechanically lock it in place.

double gun · #4 10-26-2016, 08:43 AM

Chuck, this was a new rifle - that's how it came from factory?

Pathfinder76 · #5 10-26-2016, 08:44 AM

Brand new.

Deer Hunter · #6 10-26-2016, 10:10 AM

Nice fix job there
I'm not sure I would buy a new gun these days. Prices continually increasing and quality going the other direction.

bobinthesky · #7 10-26-2016, 12:17 PM

Mass production at it's finest.....

Don_Parsons · #8 10-26-2016, 12:26 PM

Yes, frugal budget button barrels that they pull or push threw once don't seem to be the best of quality like the old method...

Way of the future I guess.

Don

PS: 1 pull threw botton barrel made it to the nationals last year. Very rare that happens.

Salavee · #9 10-26-2016, 12:44 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Deer Hunter

Nice fix job there
I'm not sure I would buy a new gun these days. Prices continually increasing and quality going the other direction.

That is definitely the trend and has been for the past couple or three decades.
Things have drastically changed in the firearms manufacturing industry.
Original Remington ... gone (to a Capital Management group) Original Winchester .. gone , Browning ..gone, FN.. gone with a few others, to the Herstal Group. Manufacturing and assembly is being sourced out to Japan,. Portugal and elsewhere. This is not to say it is all bad but it should be apparent that the quality and craftsmanship that we once depended from the big American production brands on is no longer available.
The used gun market is awash with many of the great rifles from earlier times and most are available for less than half the price of the current over-the-counter offerings of supposed better quality. The used market is where it's at ..IMHO

ROA · #10 10-26-2016, 03:15 PM

The amount of things I find wrong with brand new guns blows my mind. As far as Winchesters go I had a nice M70 that split the stock due to that crap bedding that was missing any support behind the recoil lug. Should hve pulled apart before shooting to check things out. Lesson learned.

A few years back I relized that a theroretically "lesser" product put together correctly with pride is better than the theroretical "best" with all the greatest features that is put together poorly.

mgvande · #11 10-26-2016, 03:16 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Salavee

That is definitely the trend and has been for the past couple or three decades.
Things have drastically changed in the firearms manufacturing industry.
Original Remington ... gone (to a Capital Management group) Original Winchester .. gone , Browning ..gone, FN.. gone with a few others, to the Herstal Group. Manufacturing and assembly is being sourced out to Japan,. Portugal and elsewhere. This is not to say it is all bad but it should be apparent that the quality and craftsmanship that we once depended from the big American production brands on is no longer available.
The used gun market is awash with many of the great rifles from earlier times and most are available for less than half the price of the current over-the-counter offerings of supposed better quality. The used market is where it's at ..IMHO

I agree. I won't buy a new gun again. A 30yr old rifle seems to be a better deal. My last 2 have been from the 50's.

Bushleague · #12 10-26-2016, 03:25 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Deer Hunter

Nice fix job there
I'm not sure I would buy a new gun these days. Prices continually increasing and quality going the other direction.

Another hearty agreement on that one. I picked up a Parker Hale for $275 a while back and it struck me that for under a grand I would probably not be able to find a new rifle of comparable quality. The blueing in particular on some of those old rifles is awesome, no wonder nobody needed a stainless barrel back then.

Twisted Canuck · #13 10-26-2016, 03:30 PM

Sad to see Winchester quality going down hill as well as others mentioned. I guess that is what a cold chisel and 24 grit is for....

I also lean towards finding nice older, gently used rifles, just for the cost savings. I picked up an early 70s Model 700 BDL in 7mm RM a while back, put a (used) Leica ER 3.5-14 x 44 on it in Tally one piece rings. All in I'm at around $1500 (with a Limbsaver recoil pad on it, those are always helpful on older rifles), and it shoots very nice indeed. I was thinking of putting in a new trigger, but it seems to be adequate for now. Try putting a Leica on a new 700 BDL or CDL and see what it costs new.

defleppardhysteria · #14 10-27-2016, 01:09 PM

I don't shoot anything newer that the 60s