Rust on a new-in-the-box gun?

[usmarine0352_2005]

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So I ordered a new Browning X-Bolt and when it came it had a good amount of rust on the bolt. About a 2 inch by 1 inch area. The dealer attempted to clean it off with a rag and oil and it left but you could tell that it was pitted in 3 spots.

The dealer said that this is not uncommon for new guns to have slight rust on them and it isn't a big problem. However, after spending nearly $1,000 on a gun I don't want rust on it. That's like picking up a new truck and having rust on it.

I talked to Browning and they have excellent customer service and will be exchanging the bolt for a new one. (Not just grinding down the old bolt).


My question is: Did I over-react? Is a little rust on a new gun not a big deal? Would there be problems in the future with the gun rusting?





Note: it's an all Stainless gun and I sent the entire rifle back so they could get the correct head-space.

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[rcmodel]

No new gun, especially a new Browning, should come out of the box with rust on them.

Where it I, I would rather Browning had simply re-polished the bolt that was matched to the receiver rather then replacing the bolt without a headspace check.

rc

 

[usmarine0352_2005]

No new gun, especially a new Browning, should come out of the box with rust on them.

Where it I, I would rather Browning had simply re-polished the bolt that was matched to the receiver rather then replacing the bolt without a headspace check.

rc

I sent the entire rifle back, so they can get a new bolt with the correct headspace.


But won't re-polishing just remove the surface problem, wherein there could be a deeper flaw in the metal?


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[menacingsquirrel]

I had a Rem 700 that had some light surface rust all over the barrel. Was able to remove pretty easily, but I agree, there shouldn't be rust on a new gun.

 

[JoeMal]

New guns should NOT have rust. Just like you said, it's like buying a new car and it having rust. I, too, would have raised hell. You spent good money on something and expect it to be factory new. They don't come off the assembly line with rust on 'em, no reason it should come to you with rust.

 

[jimmyraythomason]

I, too, would have raised hell.

That would have been an over reaction. It is reasonable to expect a new gun to be rust free no matter how much it cost. If the retailer/supplier is readily willing to make it good there is no need to "raise hell". That will only foster poor relations between the customer and supplier/retailer.

 

[rcmodel]

But won't re-polishing just remove the surface problem, wherein there could be a deeper flaw in the metal?

No.

It could be polished and never rust again, assuming proper care.

The problem stems for the trip from the factory, to the warehouse, to the truck, to the distrubrator, to the truck, to the dealer.

The gun may have set in a semi-truck trailer, then a couple of non-climate controlled warehouses for a year or more before you bought it.

High humidity & heat seeped through the factory packing and got it.

Or, maybe someone handled it at the gun shop and didn't wipe it down the day before you got it.

Some people have toxic sweat that would rust the chrome off a trailer-hitch ball while you stand there and watch it do it.

rc

 

[45Fan]

That is a little odd. A few years ago I picked up a new A-bolt, I spent almost 4 hours cleaning all the oil off of it from the packing. There was no way it would have rusted, unless it was packed that way, or dropped in a lake on the way to the gun store.

 

[usmarine0352_2005]

That is a little odd. A few years ago I picked up a new A-bolt, I spent almost 4 hours cleaning all the oil off of it from the packing. There was no way it would have rusted, unless it was packed that way, or dropped in a lake on the way to the gun store.

I too thought that it would be in so much packing grease that it would never rust either.



But there wasn't any grease on it.




And for those who responded, it didn't sit on a truck, this one was ordered and then sent from the factory. In fact they send the wrong gun first and I had to wait 2 weeks to get the right one.

 

[FLAvalanche]

Did I over-react?

No, you under-reacted. You still took the gun into possesion then sent the entire gun back to Browning.

I would have never accepted it from the FFL to begin with and let HIM send it back on his dime and time instead of me doing it because it never should have been accepted by him to begin with.

We look at ever rod and reel we receive and anything unacceptable is returned to the distributor or manufacturer. That way our customers never have to deal with it.

He should have done the same.

 

[husker]

"Some people have toxic sweat that would rust the chrome off a trailer-hitch ball while you stand there and watch it do it."
I am 1 of these peeps

 

[jimmyraythomason]

^^ is there an echo in here? ETA: okay now I see. Nevermind.

 

[XxWINxX94]

I would have been really ticked off. New In Box should mean in beyond Excellent condition. However, if the issue was delt with and corrected, all should be fine.

 

[22-rimfire]

A new gun should have no rust and should be mechanically sound. I would not have accepted the rifle from the dealer even though the dealer had nothing to do with it.

Rusty gun out of the box sure shoots a hole in the frequently used NIB condition.

 

[sig220mw]

Hell no, you under reacted. I would not have accepted it and the dealer should have been embarrassed and not wanted to accept it either. He should have sent it back if he saw it first before showing it to you.

 

[usmarine0352_2005]

Hell no, you under reacted. I would not have accepted it and the dealer should have been embarrassed and not wanted to accept it either. He should have sent it back if he saw it first before showing it to you.

The dealer didn't notice the rust either until I pointed it out.

 

[jonnyc]

I bought a "brand new" Century-built AK; new receiver, barrel, and some other parts. Looked beautiful in the box. Unfortunately, they had test-fired it with corrosive ammo and then packed it for shipping. Left me looking at a totally trashed barrel and orange primer seal on the bolt face. I had the FFL send it right back. I would never accept a problematic gun via an FFL, let them deal with the problem vendor.

 

[CraigC]

Unacceptable!!! That's one thing I can say for Uberti, you might have to spend an hour cleaning the oil off but at least there's zero chance of finding any rust.

 

[Guns and more]

The gun may have set in a semi-truck trailer, then a couple of non-climate controlled warehouses for a year or more before you bought it.

And if we know that, then surely the manufacturer knows that, and should pack the gun with more grease/oil, plastic, paper.
I'd never accept a gun with rust.

The dealer said that this is not uncommon for new guns to have slight rust on them and it isn't a big problem.

Maybe, but I paid for a perfect gun, so why would I accept a lesser gun for the same price?

 

[TexasRifleman]

Maybe, but I paid for a perfect gun, so why would I accept a lesser gun for the same price?

You shouldn't. I don't blame you a bit for sending it back. Doubt I'd get mad at the dealer, they see a lot of guns come through and I wouldn't expect them to give a detailed inspection to all of them. Plus there are probably lots of customers who could care less.

I would expect the manufacturer to make it right even if you already took delivery from the dealer if it was called to their attention immediately.

Sounds like that's what you got, a plus for Browning it seems.

 

[BADUNAME37]

There is a local store that sells new guns. They are in a damp glass case against a basement foundation wall. Moisture gets in there as, every time I look at the guns there is rust on them. One barrel was pitted on the entire exterior. Another one had rifling that you could see was brown, another had the main stock screw head, completely rusty!

I hate to tell the owners, but someone should tell them that that case should be away from an outside wall!

As to the OP question, you absolutely did the right thing! I bought a brand-new Winchester 338 Magnum a number of years ago, and on the stock where the bolt handle goes into a U-shaped cutout, there was a tiny crack in the wood.

I thought about it, then thought, if that crack should get worse, I will be responsible for it. If it happens years down the road, how can I prove that is the way I bought it? The question to me would be something like "if you saw it was cracked when you bought it, why didn't you notify us?"

The next day, deer hunting started. I arranged to drive to the manufacturing facility and had them install a new stock the Friday before (day before).

 

[Uncle Mike]

It happens, we see it from time to time at the shops.

No need to go 'high order' over it, get it replaced, either from the dealer or the manufacturer.

There is not a 'problem' with your rifle, that is to say that the rest of the rifle does not exhibit a unique 'rusting' problem, the bolt probably didn't get a good coating of oil before shipment, or the oil got removed somewhere between the factory and you.

BTW, want to keep your Browning shiny and rust free, try this stuff, it is what the factories use before shipping...www.brownells.com/.aspx/pid=1124/Product/RUST_PREVENTIVE_No__2_trade_

 

[Jackal1]

A year or two ago I was at a FL gunstore and saw a Remington 700P. At the time I saw it was on the verge of buying it on the spot. Fortunately I noticed it had rust inside the barrel and it gave me pause... Enough pause to realize I would rather have a stainless barrel! I passed on it.