While I try to start with a level head, here is my first contact with Ruger. What really turned me from Ruger is their cavalier attitude that their product was OK and meeting spec, while the supplied pix to them tell the real story about where their quality has gone. Again, my 10-22 has a beautiful bore AND crown and the 8351, well, is just horrendous.. Here is my first contact - you tell me..... The second "pasted text" also set me off - From the PR MAN...
Sent to
[email protected]
Sent: 10/15/2017 4:28:38 AM
Subject: FORWARD IMMEDIATELY TO: MR. Christopher J. Killoy - President and Chief Executive Officer
FORWARD TO MR. Christopher J. Killoy - President and Chief Executive Officer - IMMEDIATELY... I WILL RECEIVE A REPLY FROM HIS EXECUTIVE OFFICE TO ENSURE DELIVERY....
Mr. Killoy,
I picked up my Ruger American Rifle Model 8351, S/N - 834-xxxxx from Florida Gun Exchange on 8-25-17. As of todays date(10-15-17), I have had other issues, hurricanes, etc. To deal with and have yet to shoot this new rifle. My previous Ruger purchase on 7-22-10, pix attached, was for two 10/22's, one to keep and the other for my son. I knew that MANY 50+ years ago that this is probably the best 22LR to have on hand when the SHTF.... Both of these were of exceptional quality, they shoot well, and I have no issues with these rifles. My thoughts were to obtain a bolt action 22 and it SEEMED like this 8351 would fill the bill to provide the capability to have a threaded barrel and try to keep my 66 year old ears from loosing any more hearing by being able to use a silencer.... (FYI, I have purchased a Ruger Silent-SR), and when the government gets off its lazy ass, I can pick it up maybe by mid next year.
As the attached pictures show, my reliance on my previous experience with Ruger "quality" was badly misplaced when I bought this rifle. I am on record(I gave the rifle's S/N), talking to CS weeks earlier about numerous metal shavings in/around the bolt itself and voiced my displeasure to the tech that fielded my call. OK, a cotton swab was all that was needed to clean these shavings, BUT, they should have not existed in the first place. And, just recently, I inquired about any needed barrel break-in and the lady's bucket of answers told me no. Now, after getting my scope mounted and having the weather being a bit cooler, I'm now ready to sight this puppy in.... Or so I thought. During the "just before shooting" cleaning, I noticed at the barrel end a sight that should make you cringe. I noticed what appears to be zillions of circular marks that I could see as far down as I could and imagine that they run down - circumferentially - the entire length of the barrel. These ring marks would promote BARREL LEADING to the max, shaving off much lead with EVERY INCH OF BULLET TRAVEL.... These circular "ring marks" are also evident on the crown, IF you may even call it that - TOTAL GARBAGE - (SEE PIX).... If I were the head of Ruger or ANY firearms company, I would be totally embarrassed and ashamed by the lack of quality that THIS firearm displays. This rifle should have NEVER BEEN SHIPPED.... MY feelings on this issue are miles beyond polite words, but I'm trying........
What needs to happen
NOW is for you to explain to me that this SEVERE QUALITY PROBLEM is not the norm, and provide me a TRUTHFUL explanation as to what the hell happened with YOUR Quality Assurance.... My modest retirement income will not be wasted on ANY substandard quality purchase and, as such, I politely demand YOU MAKE THIS RIGHT... BUT, if I am wrong to expect a somewhat smooth barrel and PROPER CROWNING, then tell me and start a REFUND PROCESS IMMEDIATELY.... I AM NOT GOING TO KEEP THIS POS.... The receipt is not "findable" at this particular time, but the attached xxxxx xxxxx Bank screen shots show the purchase deposit($100.00), made on 8-18-17 AND the balance paid($276.69), on pickup on 8-25-17 - TOTAL $376.69.... FGE CAN VERIFY this purchase(386-304-9499)... In any event, I will
NOT incur ANY ADDITIONAL COSTS to provide relief, either with a
PROFESSIONALY CHECKED OUT QUALITY REPLACEMENT - WITH A SMOOTH(ER) INNER BARREL - AND NO METAL SHAVINGS ON THE BOLT - OR REFUND... These are the ONLY two options that will be satisfactory. I do not expect a mirror finish inside the barrel, but I will not tolerate such a poor excuse for this workpersonship that is
proven by furnished pictures....
Mr. William B. Ruger would be "spinning in his grave" if he knew of and saw the pictures of this poor excuse of "Ruger Quality".....
My contact information is furnished below and I DO expect YOU to address and correct this blatant example of poor workpersonship in a MOST TIMELY MANNER....
Thank you for addressing my concerns and
maybe restoring my confidence that Ruger can and will provide me with a QUALITY PRODUCT...
REPLY FROM DEAN COUSINO...
Mr. White,
I am the customer service manager at the Ruger plant where your firearm was manufactured. Mr. Killoy forwarded your email to our plant manager, rimfire line manager and myself and told us to address your concerns.
There is no acceptable reason for there to be metal shavings anywhere on the firearm. We are reviewing this issue with the manufacturing line and will implement a correction.
The rings you see in the barrel are from our hammer forging process we use to produce the rifling in the barrel. We start with a metal bar that is shorter and bigger around than the finished barrel, called a barrel blank. This blank is then gun drilled down the center. We insert a mandrel, which has the rifling machined into it, into the hole. The blank is loaded into a hammer forge. The forge then hammers the blank around the mandrel imprinting the rifling onto the inside of the barrel. The rings you are seeing in this barrel are left each time the hammer strikes the blank. These rings are more noticeable on stainless steel barrels, than blued barrels.
We take steps to ensure that the barrel is finished so that the bullet travels in the same direction as the barrel was hammer forged, to ensure the barrel does not become leaded.
Just above the PR MAN tells me the bore marks ARE SUPPOSED TO BE THERE"..
NOW I'm awaiting a nice Savage MKII FV-sr....
Thanks for reading..
Hank
