bought a new SR-556, I think they sold me a used gun

[BamAlmighty]

I cleaned my new Ruger SR-556 today... it has never been shot, at least by me.

I noticed in the chamber what appeared to be brass shavings all over and after dissembling the gas piston heavy fouling which in my opinion would have taken several rounds. The bolt face has what appears to be brass residue and shavings on the face and around the extractor. The feed ramp on the chamber looks to have copper fouling.

Does Ruger run several mags through the gun before shipping their SR-556s out?

Am I just freaking out? I want to make sure before I ask the gun shop what the heck.

 

[Mags]

That's why if I can't dissasemble a gun in the shop I won't buy it. I don't care if it is used or a new, if I don't check out the guts I walk. That's the number one reason I don't buy firearms from the big box stores, they generally have a no return on firearms policy and a no dissasembly policy.

 

[Zerodefect]

That only looks like a couple mags. Yes, they often do get shot alot at Rem.

My favorite gun shop has a good rep. But they shoot alot of rounds at their range through Kimbers and Kahrs. Those guns are known to have alot of lemons. That way they can save thier customers the hassle of a bum gun.

Can you post pics of the carrier? You can tell the age of a carrier by the wear of its annodizing.

 

[M1key]

I am sure the factory test-fired it a few times before released. The piston looks pretty dirty, though I have no experience with the piston guns.

 

[clem]

That looks like a LOT more than "a few mags" went through that rifle.

 

[BamAlmighty]

this wasn't from a big box store, this was from a shop I have bought before and trusted at least up until this point.

I sent the owner an email and I am awaiting his response.

 

[Mags]

Well now you know, check out the innards before buying.

 

[Alabama2010]

Ruger does indeed test fire all their firearms- whether they're new or have been sent back for repairs. They'll keep repairing/tweaking/firing them until they pass whatever in-house criteria they have to be sold or returned to their owners. I spoke with a customer service rep about this because I sent my older Ranch rifle in for rebarreling, and it was taking a while and I was told it was being fired at that time- as they did with all firearms produced there. In my case, they "upgraded" it to that new tapered barrel and also had to switch out a bunch of new parts as well.
However, I do not believe that they clean them. Mine was sent in clean as a whistle, and returned fouled. They let you have the privelege of cleaning it.

 

[RyanM]

If that's from test firing, it must have been very extensive. Though Ruger does seem to test their guns a lot. My old SP-101 had multiple marks stamped on the back of the cylinder, corresponding to chambers with just the tiniest bit of play, that must have been within spec. 2 chambers were rock solid and had no marks next to them, 2 had a teeny bit of play and had dots, 1 moved the tiniest bit more than those and had a couple letters that I forget.

 

[Onward Allusion]

The piston wear and grit would indicate as such.

Not sure what your recourse would be though. It becomes your word & theirs.

BamAlmighty
bought a new SR-556, I think they sold me a used gun

 

[61chalk]

Could this of been a rifle that a few customers test fired....an then
didn't buy? Do they have a range there?

 

[Zerodefect]

Looks like 100 rounds using flaky brass ammo. My AR's usually don't get brass flakes like that but my Glock 23 loves to fill itself up with brass flakes.
My bolt faces usually look just like that after 100-200..... I think.


I'd expect more carbon on that bolt and barrel........
Flash bulb camera making it look worse than it is?

 

[mp510]

However, I do not believe that they clean them. Mine was sent in clean as a whistle, and returned fouled. They let you have the privelege of cleaning it.

Yup. A family member sent an Old Army BP revolver in to be worked on, and it came back from Ruger with plenty of fouling on it.

 

[Juice Boxes]

I'd expect more carbon on that bolt and barrel........

Its a piston operated gun, all of the dirt goes into the piston instead of the action

 

[MarineOne]

If you look closely at pictures 4 and 5, there is extensive brass build up on the feed ramps. I hate to say it but even 100 rounds shouldn't show THAT much build up. I've fired upwards of 300 in a days worth of shooting with my boys and have NEVER had that much build up on my feed ramps.


-K

 

[stubbicatt]

The bolt face exhibits the annular ring that indicates leaking primers. That bolt has seen many rounds.

 

[highorder]

The bolt face exhibits the annular ring that indicates leaking primers. That bolt has seen many rounds.

Agreed. That bolt has seen likely hundreds of rounds.

 

[Uncle Mike]

Could be those roughly finished parts in those Ruger 556's scrubbing off more than the fair share of brass....

Seriously though, while some factory 'new' firearms look as though they have been through a few rounds in Fallujah, your particular rifle is just plain ol' "too dirty to sell as a new unit", I should think you to return it and get another one, which you will examine with extreme prejudice at the counter! lol hehehe

 

[Al LaVodka]

Yeah, those are a little too dirty for new as tested by the factory for sure. Let me be clear though -- I am really only looking at th bolt face. I have fired so many rounds and NEVER had a face that looked like that. Tested at the shop? OK, if they admit it. Its probably fine though uncleaned except with a bore snake. If they don't admit it, I'd ask for another but they might give you a hard time. Still, its probablt fine.
Al

 

[Mags]

Once you leave the shop with it, it is your problem. How does the shopkeep know you didn't fire the gun?

 

[Zerodefect]

Since your stuck with it anyway......is there anything else wrong with it?

Chrome lined barrels can go for thousands of rounds.

 

[Mp7]

if they "were" a good shop, give them a smile
and tell them to clean it.

and make sure they will sell u the next gun
... without shop charge.

This way no one will lose their face, all learn
and you will have an excuse for your next gun
and can brag about it here

just an idea of a way u could go.

i like good shops and bars.
like here on THR imho a good customer
has some responsibility to make things better ...

 

[BamAlmighty]

Thankfully I am not stuck with it, I ran into the shop owner at the gun show and he said he would make it right.

To bring it in tomorrow and they will either swap it out for the other one they have in the store or if I don't like that one order me a another one.

 

[Al Thompson]

Considering most rifles aren't broken in for a hundred rounds anyway, I'd shoot it first. Then if it sucks, you have options. Buddy of mine had a gunsmith "fix" a handgun that was not "built right" by another gunsmith - it shot much worse after getting fixed.

Shoot it and see what you think before making a decision.

 

[tactikel]

Unless the gun has any obvious flaws (scratches, dents, dings) clean it really well, and be thankful that some one else has broken in the gun for you.
50 rounds thru a gun designed to fire 15K rounds is nothing IMHO.