What would you do if you owned a 577, a new rifle that had to be shipped back to the gun maker to be fixed. In fact been back to the shop a number of times.
Would you trust it to hunt DG?
Can it ever be trusted to work properly?
Dump it and get one that is reliable.

Mike

Confidence with a rifle is almost as important as caliber to me. Once you start second guessing a rifle, I think it is toast for dangerous game hunting. You will never get out of your mind the problems with the rifle at what could be a critical juncture. The only way to fix that is either trade the rifle off or once it is back from the shop have it go for a long period of many rounds down range with no problems. I belief shooting is as much a mental exercise as it is a physical one, and questioning your weapon is not what you want be doing or it will show up in the physical performance of the shooter and the rifle.

Depends what the problem (s) were and of all the same or different one's.

But as per poster above, you have to have absolute confidence in the rifle.

I have a gun that I still use that doubled on me (as in double discharged). Gunsmith, looked at sears, fixed it, gun did it once or twice more - but couldn't be sure it wasn't me this time touching the back trigger. So back to gunsmith, had a look at it, has never done it since and I love it.

So maybe need a bit more info on what the problems were.

I wouldn't trash it out of hand.

quote:

Originally posted by MJines:
...shooting is as much a mental exercise as it is a physical one...

Excellent point Mike!

Well the PH has your back but your rifle had better dam well have your front ! My feeling is if it did it once it will do it again. Doesn't make the roster cut on my team.

quote:

Originally posted by 4-5-0:
Well the PH has your back

I always think that is a dangerous assumption to make. Things happen so fast and he could be looking the wrong way just at "that moment".

If the dealer was a stand up guy, (which most are)he'd take it back and replace it with another one. (Kind'a like a lemon law for cars.)

No new rifle should need to go back to the repair shop several times. Sell it back to the maker. That is why I use only vintage doubles in my pursuits. They are well broken in and if they have worked for the past century it is a safe bet they will work tomorrow.
Just my two cents. Be gentle, fellas.
CAL
PS. As to the PHs having one's back, I've felt the past few I've employed would let me get killed and go off happily with my .600 Wilkes, stating to the judge it was my last request the PH take possession of my rifle!!

quote:

PS. As to the PHs having one's back, I've felt the past few I've employed would let me get killed and go off happily with my .600 Wilkes, stating to the judge it was my last request the PH take possession of my rifle!!

Cal

Then I'll introduce you to someone who had a running joke about getting me killed so he could keep my gun !!!

He's "instigated" a couple of charges
to try to finalize it

You can never be sure that a gun is not going to fail like any other mechanical part can. You get what you pay for is not always the case but most of the time it is. I have had several nice doubles that had to be sent back for repairs for some reason or another. I never felt good about them after I got them back even if completely reworked. I sold them and moved on. Once I lose faith in a gun I get rid of it. If I bought one knowing it had been repaired I'd make sure I got it cheap and the seller would have to give me a good waranty on it. One of the guns I had the barrels separated twice and was sent back to maker for repair. The problem was the way the barrels had been soldered. The maker told me they completely started over with the barrels the second time it went in for repair. I sold it when I got it back to a friend who really wanted it. I sold it for less than I had in it and my friend has never had any problems with the gun since. I had lost faith in the gun and would have nothing further to do with it. I think the best thing to do is buy a gun you feel comfortable in and not be worried about a repaired gun.

Never go into the field with a firearm that you do not trust!

Who is the maker?
A well known maker should be able to fix the rifle properly or offer you a new rifle (if bought new)

I normally put at least 200 rounds through any firearm that I am going to take hunting. Usually it is load development and just getting used to the rifle. If I encounter a problem, it has to be addressed and when I get the gun back, I need to run it through it's paces to make sure of it's dependability. If it's not dependable, it doesn't go with me and especially not for DG. Just my .02

Is this theoretical or real life? Mike: Is this a double rifle of yours?

I will not hunt DG with a rifle I do not consider reliable. In fact I will not carry a firearm if I question its reliability. Its your life - what's it worth ?

It is a new rifle. But a friends and not mine. Has had multiple trips to the shop.

Mike

this is a sad story. Doubles are meant for DG, the kind that bites back, or will gore or stomp you to death.

The rifle would have to go back for refund or replacement.

quote:

Originally posted by retreever:
It is a new rifle. But a friends and not mine. Has had multiple trips to the shop.
Mike

In that case, refund.

Brand new? Or used, but new to him? How long has he owned it? Where does he ship it to for the gun maker to repair it?

The is a new rifle.

Mike

What specifically needed to be fixed on the rifle? If it is related to fire and function, is the shooter using handloads?

quote:

Originally posted by MJines:
Confidence with a rifle is almost as important as caliber to me. Once you start second guessing a rifle, I think it is toast for dangerous game hunting. You will never get out of your mind the problems with the rifle at what could be a critical juncture. The only way to fix that is either trade the rifle off or once it is back from the shop have it go for a long period of many rounds down range with no problems. I belief shooting is as much a mental exercise as it is a physical one, and questioning your weapon is not what you want be doing or it will show up in the physical performance of the shooter and the rifle.

Nicely stated Mike, my convictions also with reference to DG rifle bolt or DR.

I 've wondered about this but in a different context: Many people say they wont hunt with a rented or borrowed rifle, but when buying a used rifle, that's essentially what we are doing. SO the question is, in regards to doubles, at what point do you consider the used double you just bought OK for a dangerous game hunt? Is if after a certain number of rounds or maybe after your specific gunsmith looked it over etc. Just curious where the 'line' is as to whether the rifle is 'ready' to go after DG.

When my gunsmith has looked it over, serviced it
and i have worked up regulating loads and
done enough practice with it that I am confident
with the gun.

It doesn't take much now for me to be confident
with a new gun if it works as I have found I quickly adapt to different stocks, actions etc.

I saying that, 2 years ago I was handed a bolt action, felt OK'ish, shot one thing with it but
literally turned around and said afterwards, I'd like to go back to XYZ gun that I had used previously.