BNIB Chiappa Alaskan Barrel Issues

[Piraci]

In January I bought a brand new Chiappa Alaska, 44 mag 16" carbine, online from a dealer. After cycling the action a bit I took it down to look at the bore. I couldn't believe what I saw. The barrel looked pitted or damaged in some way. I was angry. I gave it a clean and a brush with ballistol. It didn't do anything. I put it aside, got busy, and never got back to it until the last couple of days. I've tried a bunch of things to try to clean it, assuming it was leading or carbon fouling. Long soaks with ballistol, brass brush, brass brush with chore bore, hoppes, vfg felts and cleaning compound. The last one caused patches to come out black, and the bore looks better, but I have antiques that look better. This is only the second time I've bought a new gun. I've read there's residue from test firing, but I can't imagine it'd be this bad. Anyone else seen it this bad? Any advice?

I've got some pictures, best I can take with a crappy phone. It seems that when they chromed/finished the gun, the did it to the chamber and barrel. I can see some coming off in chamber, and the one muzzle pic looks like more is coming off. I've tried contacting Chiappa, but no response. I'm not surprised considering the world situation.

 

[Can-down]

Despite the Gucci price, Chiappa's seem to be hit and miss.

Looks like the chrome platting might be failing.

 

[wannabe]

any hard metallic flakes come off with a brush? soft flakes can be lead from firing lead bullets but that chamber pic looks disturbing

 

[josquin]

Oh dear.... I have a .357 Mag 12" and nothing like that. Unfortunately (as posted in another thread on Chiappa issues) Grech Outdoors is the Chiappa service centre (as they are for S&W) and I have yet to hear anything even vaguely good about them I'd be inclined to talk to your dealer first. I'd say they should replace it.

 

[Piraci]

I haven't noticed any flakes coming off. At first patches seemed slightly blue. But I'm colour blind so what do I know. After using the VFG paste, the patches are black. So I'm guessing it's all mostly carbon build up, but looking at the end of the muzzle I'd guess some of it's lead. I didn't think they would have done the inside of the barrel the same as the outside.

I bought it from rangeview sports. It was on sale, so I jumped on it. No complaints about rangeview. They have a final sale policy on firearms. It's possible they just got a lemon.

 

[josquin]

I haven't noticed any flakes coming off. At first patches seemed slightly blue. But I'm colour blind so what do I know. After using the VFG paste, the patches are black. So I'm guessing it's all mostly carbon build up, but looking at the end of the muzzle I'd guess some of it's lead. I didn't think they would have done the inside of the barrel the same as the outside.

I bought it from rangeview sports. It was on sale, so I jumped on it. No complaints about rangeview. They have a final sale policy on firearms. It's possible they just got a lemon.

"When life gives you lemons, make a gin & tonic." In the meantime, perhaps a nightly dose of Wipe Out or Kroil might get whatever's in there out.

 

[Piraci]

"When life gives you lemons, make a gin & tonic." In the meantime, perhaps a nightly dose of Wipe Out or Kroil might get whatever's in there out.

Don't have any. I've tried soaks with ballistol. If the world wasn't the way it is, I'd take it to someone or try ordering some other stuff. The whole thing just drives me nuts. For a few dollars more, I probably could have got a Winchester.

 

[josquin]

Don't have any. I've tried soaks with ballistol. If the world wasn't the way it is, I'd take it to someone or try ordering some other stuff. The whole thing just drives me nuts. For a few dollars more, I probably could have got a Winchester.

If it's any consolation, 50/50 acetone and ATF is supposed to be pretty good. Someone out your way might have WipeOut (?)

 

[Can-down]

Don't have any. I've tried soaks with ballistol. If the world wasn't the way it is, I'd take it to someone or try ordering some other stuff. The whole thing just drives me nuts. For a few dollars more, I probably could have got a Winchester.

Maybe try talking with the people that sold it to you..... you never know, maybe they will step up.

There was a beautiful case hardened takedown .44mag Winchester on the E.E. for quite a while not to long ago and the price got down to around $1400 or so shipped...... I was happy when someone finally bought it!

I've yet to hear a bad thing about the Japanese Winchesters.

 

[Thunderhog]

Chiappa is hit or miss, I had a bad experience with this company. My opinion, Chiappa is over priced junk, I will never buy that brand ever again.

I am sorry to hear about the situation with the OP....

 

[bcexmod]

These rifles are in short supply and high demand. Think about it, a stainless/chrome 44 mag takedown trapper in the 1892 configuration. There is no reason why the rifle would be on sale. Especially how the demand is. Maybe whoever sold you the rifle on sale knew about the problems. Was it sealed in the box never opened?

I haven't noticed any flakes coming off. At first patches seemed slightly blue. But I'm colour blind so what do I know. After using the VFG paste, the patches are black. So I'm guessing it's all mostly carbon build up, but looking at the end of the muzzle I'd guess some of it's lead. I didn't think they would have done the inside of the barrel the same as the outside.

I bought it from rangeview sports. It was on sale, so I jumped on it. No complaints about rangeview. They have a final sale policy on firearms. It's possible they just got a lemon.

 

[kg]

They have a final sale policy on firearms. It's possible they just got a lemon.

I've been there and found out that final sale shouldn't mean no service. Warranty still applies and they should accept to look at it and make it right, or tell you to contact the Service Center. You might contact Chiappa first with details and pictures to get things moving.

As an example, SFRC offered me an exchange after being unable to fix a gun.

 

[B.C.Jay]

Been there, fixed that. Same gun, same problem.

After nearly a years wait when I ordered mine I was a bit disappointed in it. I expected any kind of warrantee claim would take forever.

First off, the barrel is not chromed, but there is some over plating into the chamber. The barrel on mine looked licked it had been rifles with a hammer and chisel, and a dull at that, however, I found all was not lost. I slugged the barrel and found that it was pretty tight. like .428 to .4285. That's a good thou below spec and considering what marlin barrels are (I think 44 mag in RIFLES is .431) that leaves a lot of meat to 'open er up'

Initially mine leaded like mad with cast loads. The solution is to fire lap it. I wasn't nice about it when I did mine. I actually started with the regular (course) valve lapping compond and copper bullets because there was extra material and the galling was pretty deep. I toned the lapping process down after a bit and polished the chamber. I think most of the plating came out of the chamber because it wasn't really stuck.
Mine is great now and no complaintes about accuracy.

I expect getting a replacement barrel will only get you another crappy one. They only have to provide a barrel that goes bang safely with factory ammo and cast / handloading is entirely out of their realm and responsibility.

Overall impression of the gun: Nice fit and finish. Smooth action and definately a decent trigger.
They are over priced for what you get, but take down was the feature I wanted and obviously have to pay for.
I would take a marlin, even a bad remington marlin over a chiappa next time, but you take your chances and learn your lessons.


Warrantee is to get replacement parts for stuff you can't fix yourself...

 

[BCRider]

I hate to say this to you but I'm one of the folks that got bitten by Chiappa. And it's not just me. I know of 4 others that have had issues with Chiappa firearms. And heard a lot more fairly closely linked stories more than this. I won't buy any of their stuff even on a bet as a result.

Despite this I hope you can get this resolved. There's a lot of perfectly good Chippa guns out there as well. For me it's simply not worth the risk... again....