Can lemons be avoided?

[Library Guy]

Can lemons be avoided by careful shopping?

That’s what I wonder when I read some people's complaints of newly purchased guns.

Ever since I invented the internet (See, it wasn’t Gore), I’ve been reading frustrated and sometimes angry posts that go something like this:

I just bought a new Winnington 7000 and I get it home and I can’t even budge the safety…

Or My new KY Nurmgaard OSP has an awful trigger. Feels like there’s sand in it…

Or My new West-O-Matic’s barrel is canted 15 degrees to the left. Is it supposed to be?

Now, I’m not trying to defend the gun company’s QC records but I have to wonder if careful and knowledgeable inspection by the purchaser would catch some of these things before they cause buyer’s remorse.

What say you?

 

[Jim Watson]

This is true, if
1. You aren't on an adrenaline high at finding such a good deal.
2. If you are buying from inventory and not ordering off the internet and complaining about what the local FFL charges to register a mailordered gun.

 

[RKBABob]

Can lemons be avoided by careful shopping?

Do car buyers always bring along a diagnostic computer,
and check to see if the bolts are all torqued to factory specs!

No. They just take it for a test drive! Of course, guns are a little different...
most dealers frown on you taking it out to shoot around the block!

If a defect escapes the factory's QC guys, I wonder what chance Joe Average
has of finding the defect at the gun counter, without being able to actually
shoot the firearm?

 

[Hoppy590]

i think lemos can be avoided by asking to dry fire. working all the controls and working the action the entire time your holding it. i got to the point people would ask me why after i check the mag release, i racked the slide, after i checked the safety, i racked the slide, after i racked the slide, i racked the slide.

funtion checks, clear the gun first and get permission from shop owners, because some of them seem to have some problem with checking out guns

work the action, check the chamber.
drop the mag, work the action, check the chamber
activate the safety, make sure it works
deactivate the safety, check the chamber, with permision make sure the safety deactivated. check to make sure action recocks.

 

[Hoppy590]

double tap*

 

[Gustav]

Reduced yes totally eliminated no!

One can not ever totally eliminate a lemon even after checking visually each and every part for fit wear and function its the hairline crack or tiny air pocket or bubble in a casting that you don't see that can cause your firearm to break.

Factories could build and more carefully inspect each firearm and its individual part but would you want to pay the increase in cost to have each single part tested magnaflexed or x-rayed ?

I have had more than a few brand new firearms break parts its the luck of the draw, one can reduce ones chances of a lemon by careful inspection and choosing a top quality name brand but lemons still get by even among the best.

Always test any firearm before betting on it especially a used one as one never knows when the 500 pound gorilla put it back together with less than ideal care.