New Winchester Model 70

[rhtwist]

Hello,
Just picked up my dream rifle. A new Winchester Model 70 Featherweight 30-06. Got it home and was doing the obligatory cleaning and lub. Unfortunately I found issues with the bolt and receiver. Contacted the Store who said they won't accept returns but will ship the firearm back to the manufacturer. This is a BACO made in Portugal rifle.Also contacted Winchester via email. No response as yet and I won't be able to get back to the Store to return it until later today or tomorrow.
Concerned about the issues an seeking opinions on severity of the problem. After cleaning the rifle I began on the bolt when I noted that the blue area of the bolt forward ot the bolt handle, prior to the jewelling, some of the bluing was scraped off and it had what looked like scrape marks in the metal.Looking for the cause I found a disfigurement of the metal about 1/8" or so, showing bare metal and a burr which I believe was scraping on the bolt when it was rotated and in battery, on the inside of the receiver. Also noted milling marks on the inside surface of the receiver away from where the rest was apparently polished down prior to bluing. I am worried about the condition of the metallurgy/tolerances and safety of the firearm!
Had the scope and rings sitting nest to it, waiting their turn......... Waiting.
Thanks

 

[BBBBill]

Actually sounds typical for most any off the shelf rifle. Got photos?

 

[rhtwist]

Hello BBBBill,
The chain that I bought the rifle from is currently going to send the rifle back to the manufacturer for inspection and hopefull resolution. I do have pictures but I have not yet figured out how to upload pictures to the forum. The item is in the process and the resolution is in motion. I would not have accepted the firearm if I had seen the issue before hand.
Thanks for your response!

 

[BigBlue 94]

Howdy there. See at the bottom of this screen shot where it says [Upload a File] ? Click that button if you are on the device with the pictures. Navigate to where the picture is stored and select it.





The website will load it and you will get the file attachment below like shown in in this next pic. Once uploaded, put your text cursor where you want that picture in the text and click. Then, next to the new attachment, click [Full Image] and your picture will be added to the text where you had the cursor.





This is on a mobile phone, i do not know if desktop is different or not.

 

[rhtwist]

Hello BigBlue 94,
Many thanks for information. Hopefully I will be able to follow it -) !

 

[rhtwist]

First attempt at a picture of the damage to the inside of the receiver that may be scraping. Also what are possible milling marks?

 

[earlthegoat2]

Very typical for production rifles.

When you get it back they will have probably dressed them down. Then it will be semi-custom.

 

[stillquietvoice]

As already posted it happens in production rifles, little flaws that get missed during milling that get missed at qc. It's not a pleasant thing to have to return a firearm for repairs especially before you've even had a chance to mount your optic let alone don't it. You're doing it right sending it back to be fixed though just crappy that you'll have to wait yo use your new gun.

 

[rhtwist]

Howdy earlthgoat2,
Thanks for the info, but that IMHO stinks. It is remniscent of the Mosin 91/30s that were being rushed into production because of a war. Plus the gouge that is noted in the picture. We will see, as I haven't been contacted as of yet in reference to the receipt and inspection.............

 

[rhtwist]

As already posted it happens in production rifles, little flaws that get missed during milling that get missed at qc. It's not a pleasant thing to have to return a firearm for repairs especially before you've even had a chance to mount your optic let alone don't it. You're doing it right sending it back to be fixed though just crappy that you'll have to wait yo use your new gun.

Hello stillquietvoice,
I am giving the Chain Store and Winchester/Browning/FN a chance to make this right. This is a Winchester Model 70 featherweight, new for heaven's sake.

 

[rhtwist]

Disappointment... The Winchester Model 70 did not get sent back. After info from the members and anxiousness, I retrieved the firearm from the store. I called the manufacturer and after a discussion it seemed as if the mentioned issues were not that serious and that I could always send the firearm at a later date. Brought it home and continued the cleaning. I wanted to test the free floating barrel and it was not...Upon removing the barreled action from the stock I noted that the barrel channel was not centered in the stock, and that the barrel was tight against the side of the channel. The mounting screws were tight and had some type of thread lock tite type application. The right side of the channel and snabel feature were thinner than on the left side (inside of channel to the outside of stock).. Now I was advised that the offcenteredness was probably not going to be addressed but that the non floating barrel would need return at a 6 to 8 week turnaround.
I do not find that this has been a good experience so far.
Is it possible that the action needs to be checked against the stock bedding material, although after reinstalling it the positions did not change? The stock seems to be very attractive except for the situation noted above. Any options or ideas that might help me from sending it off to another 2 months??
Thanks

 

[Mauser fan]

The issues you are describing aren't all that uncommon. Believe me I'd be as upset as you are especially when the purchase equates to what some people make as a month or more of wages. The problems are indicative of the modern manufacturing practices we have today. Which are related to the lack of genuine skilled labor, quality control and even poorer business practices. The lead time you are describing of 6 to 8 weeks is normal and will be up to a year if you take it to a gunsmith. They just don't make them like they used too.

The rifle you are describing sounds like a semi-custom in the first place. Free floating the barrel and a Snabel fore-end is a dead giveaway. Since you have taken the action out of the bedding you have just voided any manufacturers warranty there may have been. That is why locktite is placed on action screws during the manufacturing process.

I think and I could be wrong. Unless you have some form in writing at the time of purchase a manufactures warranty or money back guarantee. Such as a Sub-MOA rifle. You're pretty much out of luck.

All hope isn't lost some stoning, filing and a little further in-letting of the stock and you could have something very special. That's what I would do in this case but that is just me.



I hate to be the one to really burst your bubble.

 

[rhtwist]

The issues you are describing aren't all that uncommon. Believe me I'd be as upset as you are especially when the purchase equates to what some people make as a month or more of wages. The problems are indicative of the modern manufacturing practices we have today. Which are related to the lack of genuine skilled labor, quality control and even poorer business practices. The lead time you are describing of 6 to 8 weeks is normal and will be up to a year if you take it to a gunsmith. They just don't make them like they used too.

The rifle you are describing sounds like a semi-custom in the first place. Free floating the barrel and a Snabel fore-end is a dead giveaway. Since you have taken the action out of the bedding you have just voided any manufacturers warranty there may have been. That is why locktite is placed on action screws during the manufacturing process.

I think and I could be wrong. Unless you have some form in writing at the time of purchase a manufactures warranty or money back guarantee. Such as a Sub-MOA rifle. You're pretty much out of luck.

All hope isn't lost some stoning, filing and a little further in-letting of the stock and you could have something very special. That's what I would do in this case but that is just me.



I hate to be the one to really burst your bubble.

Hello Mauser fan,
Yeh, DISappoiinting. Still considering my limited options and their time period. Local gunsmith said he could without unforseen circumstances free float the barrel for about $100 and a month. From what the Customer Service rep said after being told how I removed the action to clean it, did not mention any problem with them free floating the barrel if I don't mind the wait, ( I DO). Think I will shoot it some and worry about the free floating later.
I very conceivably would have spent the money on a Ruger American or a Savage and had bucks in my pocket for ammo/reloading equipment and 2 weeks of shooting. Hindsight is 20/20.

 

[Nature Boy]

2 months is not a lot of time to get the rifle you deserve.

Send it back and give Winchester a chance to make it right

 

[shooter1niner]

I agree with the previous post. Send the rifle back with a list of the deficiencies and let them correct the issues.

 

[rhtwist]

Thanks for the let them fix it sentiment. Considering it very deeply. Having another question to discover in a new thread.

 

[rhtwist]

Finger's again crossed, the rifle is back to the manufacturer!!! ......................

 

[Nature Boy]

Finger's again crossed, the rifle is back to the manufacturer!!! ......................

excellent!

 

[rhtwist]

Positive reinforcement, thanks ;-))

 

[David Hoback]

Little late… but doesn’t look bad to me. There is nothing wrong with the Metallurgy. I’m guessing you are a newer shooter, gun owner?

Reminds me of people who buy a rifle a look down the bore with a scope. Then, without ever shooting a single round, they condemn the barrel & convince themselves a new one is needed! Often see this with new Savage 110 owners. They can look kinda rough in the bore with tooling marks, but shoot considerably well grouping. Reason I tell people DON’T get a bore scope unless you have some knowledge of rifling/throat surface looks.

 

[rhtwist]

No, been owning guns for over 60 years. Never purchased a new Winchester Model 70 or a new firearm of this cost. No other brand new, reputedly high quality firearm ever showed this much scratching and machine marks, as well as the barrel hitting on one side of the barrel channel. I guess I had expected a Miroku level quality that I have seen in other firearms. Taking a picture with a new cellphone that lets you blow up the pictures as never before, really made the issues more prominent.
But thanks anyway

 

[David Hoback]

Well, I wish you luck sending it back to be remedied. This is yet another reason I enjoy building my own Firearm, being my own GS, and applying my own Cerekote. It really takes away any sense of worry, urgency or otherwise.

Hope it all works out well for you.

 

[rhtwist]

I sure admire your skill and abilities. Wish I had them and the tools. Thanks for the good wishes, all could turn out well....

 

[Scout21]

Since you have taken the action out of the bedding you have just voided any manufacturers warranty there may have been.

Under the 1975 Magnuson-Moss Warranty Act it's perfectly fine to simply disassemble just about any product. OP should have absolutely zero issues due to removing it from the stock.

I pulled this from ifixit.com, a website mostly dedicated to electronics, but this applies to firearms as well.

...unenforceable and completely illegal thanks to the Magnuson-Moss Warranty Act of 1975. This law forbids companies from voiding the warranty on a device that the owner opened up and repaired or modified themselves. As long as a repair or modification doesn’t damage other components, companies have no grounds to void your warranty...

 

[rhtwist]

Cool, well my rifle is currently with the manufacturer. Time will tell on the outcome!?!! Was tole 6 to 8 weeks.............
Thanks for the info