The Cabela's in Rapid City has received, just within the past couple days, 3 or 4 returns that had been sent into EAA by Cabela's due to the cut barrel regulation problem. One, a 500 NE, belonged to a hunting partner who, like me, had sent it to JJ and had the same custom work done, including the installation of two recoil reducers to add weight to the too-light-for-caliber DR.

Here are his observations. All of the guns were returned from North Carolina. This seems to indicate that EAA, to whom Cabela's returned the rifles, has found a "gunsmith" in NC to work on them. No one knows who this person is nor what his qualifications are. The only observed work was a re-crowning of the barrels, which did nothing about the cuts inside the barrels. There was no new regulation target included with the returned rifles.

My partner just called after firing 6 rounds from the returned rifle. The barrels are still crossing at 50 yards and are still impacting wide apart, both vertically and horizontally. Also, EAA removed one of the recoil reducers and noted that due to the custom work, the rifle was out of warranty. He is on his way back to Cabela's to return it, again, this time for a refund. His Gun Library Mgr has been sympathetic and also had doubts about the "fix" from EAA and asked that the targets be brought in along with the rifle.

All of this comes as no surprise to those of us who have tried to deal with EAA regarding the Sabatti DRs. They are a give-a-shit outfit with the worst customer service, if you can even use that term with EAA, I've ever encountered in the firearms industry. We expected they would try a quick, cheap and unacceptable "fix" to the cut barrel problem; they did.

Cabela's, again, has been stand-up throughout this ordeal and once the guns were returned by them to EAA any correction was out of their control. They are not gonna like this latest news anymore than we clients do. It remains to be seen if Sabatti is gonna get directly involved in this issue and replace the barrel sets. That would be the only legitimate solution, IMO, but would be extremely expensive and time consuming.

My Gun Library Mgr from the Reno store, who has also been helpful, informs me that the Sabatti I returned for refund has been located as "out for repair". It will be interesting to see what they did to it once he has it back. At this point, I doubt Cabela's can do anything but make full refunds on these Sabatti DRs.

I will post more when and if I receive new information. If CCMDoc's rifle did in fact go back to Italy, it will be very interesting to see his report once it is returned to him.

I have had no experience with returns to EAA, however I own 5 EAA Witness handguns and have never had any problems with any of them. In addition I own an Izmash 22mag. Biathlon rifle (imported by EAA) that I have also had zero problems with.
I am sorry for your problems Mike, but I think your comments may be a little extreme given the rather specialized nature of double rifles.
Peter.

Thank you so much for the excellent report. Prior to your report, I had feared that this Sabatti work may be done by EAA, and that should put fear into anyone. I agree 100% with what you had to say about EAA, as it reflects, exactly, my personal experience with EAA (not involving Sabatti, however). I wouldn't trust EAA with anything. I do know that EAA has one or more guys working as "gunsmiths" for them, in house, I think. CCMDoc assured me that his rifle was sent to Italy for this work; I hope he is right, but I still cannot help but wonder, taking your report into consideration. I have found no fault at all with Cabelas, but I woulnd't trust crackerbox EAA with a thing. Cabelas needs to let Sabatti know that they will not accept any future phony regualtion practices on rifles they accept for retailing in this country, and I hope that is exactly what they have already done.

Agree, great report, sorry to hear not good news. It's a pity.
At least Cabelas are trying hard.

It just shows that EAA or whoever have no idea what is going on by just "re crowning" them.

Shame.

Jack,
Agree re Cabelas need to jump on Sabatti re what is acceptable.
If I was them, I would collect up all the "problem" guns and have them replaced from scratch.

.

quote:

have them replaced from scratch.

That's generous of you!

quote:

Originally posted by Will:

quote:

have them replaced from scratch.

That's generous of you!

Better than the miss mash crap they are up to ATM.

What would you do ? The way I see it, the less time they spend on them the better
as it is costing them time and money.

Not sure what the laws are in the US but we have consumer protection laws, one of which is "not fit for purpose".

And frankly, these aren't fit for the purpose they were intended for.

It is a lot easier to do the whole lot in one go than in dribs and drabs. After all, every gun needs a heap of paperwork to export it and get another one back in so why not do the lot in one go.

Simple guys..

With the information available about these rifle. I wouldn't touch one with a ten foot rental pole!! Avoid at all costs, save your money and buy a real rifle these are simply poorly constructed sub par imitations of a double rifle.

They should be marked D.M.O. (Display Model Only)

quote:

Originally posted by surestrike:
Simple guys..

With the information available about these rifle. I wouldn't touch one with a ten foot rental pole!! Avoid at all costs, save your money and buy a real rifle these are simply poorly constructed sub par imitations of a double rifle.

They should be marked D.M.O. (Display Model Only)

That about sums it up.

quote:

Originally posted by John Frederick:

quote:

Originally posted by surestrike:
Simple guys..

With the information available about these rifle. I wouldn't touch one with a ten foot rental pole!! Avoid at all costs, save your money and buy a real rifle these are simply poorly constructed sub par imitations of a double rifle.

They should be marked D.M.O. (Display Model Only)

That about sums it up.

I am not surprised by this outcome.

Gentlemen,

Is it possible that the three rifles that where imported to my country are from a different production time ??

None of them have barrel problems or recrown work.

Mine shoots ok at 50 yards and some more with open sights. I noticed that the right barrels shots are crossing the vertical axis at 100 yards but for a couple of inches. But maybe is just me, shooting at 100 yards with open sights in a double rifle has been much more difficult that what I have expected.

So it's possible that the problems has been with the ones sent to America ? Does these rifles have had problems in Italy also?

I don't know maybe I have been lucky but I am very happy with mine. in my country is not possible to import calibers bigger than 6,5 mm so the offer of these 9,3x74 was just take or leave it, it' not a question of price, it's just that it's impossible to get a permit for import another ones...no matter price or brands..

L

I have handled four Sabatti double rifles here in Canada and none had the butchered rifling at the muzzles. A friend bought one last summer in 7x65R. It shoots beautifully, has no buggered muzzles, and IMHO was a darned good buy at $3000.

I live near a gunsmith here in North Carolina that does quite a bit of work on doubles. I will try to call him to see if he knows who might be doing the work for EAA. He was sent to Europe to learn how to work on Holland and Hollands and other doubles that a local multi-millionaire owned.

What happened to you is exactly what I suspected might happen to me when Cabelas offered to send "it back" for regulation. Hence my immediate return and refund on both of them. Note that mine did not have any grinding on the muzzles. I await what ultimately will come of this debacle as I really did like both rifles.

Lorenzo

I think you MIGHT be correct. I have only had one look at the Sabs in Australia and hope to have another look in about 3 weeks.

I will see if they have buggered crowns.

Thanks for the report. I was in the Reno store about a month ago and looking at some doubles (including a Chapuis that they wanted about 12K for) and asked them about the Sabbatti. The sales guy told me that all of the ones they had sold had been fine and they had not had any returns. It's interesting given your history. It wasn't the manager I was speaking to. I did buy a high grade Fausti 16 gauge from them and they were very easy to work with on that. I appreciate them.

im glad i back out when i asked eaa who would do the warrenty work they said they would but i knew they could not handle doubles when a company wont stand behind its purchase order i new it was a red flag and trouble was brewing.this all started with EAA greed will never deal with them or cabelas

I'm not sure I would throw Cabelas in with EAA. I have never been disappointed with Cabelas customer service.

From the sounds of it, Cabelas is doing right by those who have demanded refunds - at least it seems that way from those who have written here on AR. It's possible I could have missed a post that stated otherwise though.

We'll see what happens with my Sabatti which I am told is in Italy right now. If what I've been told is true and my Sabatti is returned with new barrels properly regulated, then I would have all that I could ask.

We'll see ...