Ever buy a new "premium" rifle and be disappointed in the wood and/or metal finish?

The Kurgan

The Kurgan

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Ever buy a new "premium" rifle and be disappointed in the wood and/or metal finish?

I am debating on whether or not I should strip the utilitarian polyurethane finish from my Brno's wood stock and properly finish in tung or linseed oil. The walnut is beautiful, but the current finish is lacking! Maybe I've become too picky and should leave well enough alone.
 
CZs and Brnos often have nice wood under varnish finishes because apparently they don't sort the blanks. I don't find it disapointing though, they claimed a varnish finish and delivered one. The un-utilized potential is there for guys like you, and its free.

What I find disappointing is when a maker fails to deliver on fit and finish that got priced in. An example is a Winchester supergrade I bought years ago. It had beatiful wood, a premium price and looked like it had been put together by a onehanded retard. Not much you can do with that, except keep your eyes mostly closed.
 
Yup i agree, i like my CZ 452 but the trigger guard needs reshaping badly. The stock is not bad, but won`t take a lot of truck riding, finish seems soft. For the money it could be poshed up a bit at the factory. I`ll have a go at the stock, but i really hate wood work. Prefere metal if i screw that up i have a real nice mig welder.;)
 
Biggest disappointment ever was a Rem 700 from their custom shop. I have seen dozens, literally, of BDLs that had better wood, at least as good or better fitting, and better finish.

Dealer sent it back to the distibutor, who sent it back to Remington, were so embarrassed they reimbursed the distibutor, .......at least that was what we were told.

Ted
 
Probably cost cutting and mass production which results in this.

I have had very good luck, actually just picked up a Savage 93 , the seller said I better look close at the one boxed up that he gave me, opened it up and to my amazement the wood was far better than the floor model I had handled.So I guess it can go both ways.

Wasn't exactly a Cooper rifle but will still very nice.
 
Dogleg said:
What I find disappointing is when a maker fails to deliver on fit and finish that got priced in. An example is a Winchester supergrade I bought years ago. It had beatiful wood, a premium price and looked like it had been put together by a onehanded retard. Not much you can do with that, except keep your eyes mostly closed.
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Both my Supergrades were like that too from the 90s. Epic fail.
 
I bought a Cooper Jackson hunter about a year ago in .280 AI. Although the rifle shoots amazingly well the cheap POS Bell and Carlson stock leaves a lot to be desired.I would have hoped for more from a $2000.00 rifle. I'm really considering having a stock made for it. The other complaint I have is that it is heavy....stinkin heavy.
 
All guns mentioned here are production guns, perfection unfortunately starts much higher. Depending on one's standards and means, that ranges from $5,000-unlimited. Until you get out of production guns, regardless whether they're European or North American, there will be imperfections. Anything off a mass production line, be it 'Supergrade', 'Premier', or any other moniker shares the same liabilities. Wish I was wealthy enough to have all customs!
 
My shot show experience bears up much of what has been said so far.
Most manufacturers had examples of very poor craftsmanship on display. I have to say though that Winchester was superior to all in this regard at least amongst the big companies.

Now you'd expect that going to a big show like SHOT, all the companies would hand pick product.
But this didn't appear to be the case. Perhaps Winchester was the only one that did.
They are trying harder right now, as they are recovering from the loss of the New Haven facility, and the various buy outs.
Remington and it's various acquired companies seemed about the worst.
Mostly what I looked for was warped barrel channels poor fit wood to steel, etc.
I was surprised to find as much as I did.

Morpheus 32 mentioned that he had cut his hand on the lever of his Marlin. I thought .. noooo can't be. But when I visited the booth and handled the rifle, it was obvious that this was possible, the edges were that sharp.
Warped barrel channels were most everywhere. Remington, Ruger, Browning, Marlin, various European imports.
A Sad reflection on mass production and cost savings IMO.
Even the 'tuperware' showed evidence of poor quality. They just don't fit as well as they could.

Now it has to be said, that I was purposely going about with a critical eye. I was looking for problems. What I found was 100% cosmetic. Nothing that would affect the shooting ability of the rifles in question.

I did find a loose screw in a rifle but that company, (I can't remember it) does not import to Canada.

Kimber, and other smaller guys also had superior fit and finish.
 
Ardent said:
All guns mentioned here are production guns, perfection unfortunately starts much higher. Depending on one's standards and means, that ranges from $5,000-unlimited. Until you get out of production guns, regardless whether they're European or North American, there will be imperfections. Anything off a mass production line, be it 'Supergrade', 'Premier', or any other moniker shares the same liabilities. Wish I was wealthy enough to have all customs!
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Thanks Ardent. I too was wondering when the CZs became "premium" rifles.
 
I ordered a Sako full stock in 375 H&H, the fit & finish was so bad I refused delivery when it came. Nice piece of wood that was inlet ed via skill saw. Barrel channel was tight on one side & you could fit a looney on the other.
 
Pudelpointer said:
Thanks Ardent. I too was wondering when the CZs became "premium" rifles.
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Indeed premium is dropping $15,000-$25,000 with Ralf Martini to build on a Satterlee or Hagn action. A Titanium Satterlee based Express rifle is my dream project, and my kinda perfection. One day I'll convince my wife a bare action only is worth $7,200 landed in Canada... Or maybe I'll stay with Rugers, and happily married. Call a Satterlee Titanium my temptress.
 
Ardent said:
Indeed premium is dropping $15,000-$25,000 with Ralf Martini to build on a Satterlee or Hagn action. A Titanium Satterlee based Express rifle is my dream project, and my kinda perfection. One day I'll convince my wife a bare action only is worth $7,200 landed in Canada... Or maybe I'll stay with Rugers, and happily married. Call a Satterlee Titanium my temptress.
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Too funny. I see your point. I suppose we need to be happy with decent quality when spending only a few grand :redface:

$7200 for an action? I would rather put my coin towards a new motorcycle, but I guess different strokes for different folks. :)
 
Yep, I'm strongly considering selling my motorcycle to fund it and keep a relationship of some tolerable status quo! A true double square bridge Mauser with everything machined of titanium- only a few springs are steel. Totally rust and corrosion proof, light as a feather, and truly premium machining and materials... takes a year to have the action completed too. Oh jeez I shouldn't talk about it, getting hot and bothered and might do something stupid.
 
Ardent said:
Indeed premium is dropping $15,000-$25,000 with Ralf Martini to build on a Satterlee or Hagn action. A Titanium Satterlee based Express rifle is my dream project, and my kinda perfection. One day I'll convince my wife a bare action only is worth $7,200 landed in Canada... Or maybe I'll stay with Rugers, and happily married. Call a Satterlee Titanium my temptress.
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That girl is far too smart to let 7200 go to a rifle action. FS
 
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