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Customer Care and Product Defects  

New2Midlo 54M
653 posts
9/4/2021 3:34 pm

Last Read:
9/5/2021 9:41 am

Customer Care and Product Defects

If you read my previous post, you know the barrel on my mid range precision rifle suddenly went defective, after less than a thousand shots fired through it (it should have lasted closer to thirty thousand). Although, no one would blame you for not giving a shit. Because I was both impatient and pissed that I couldn't engage in my favorite relaxation activity, I started looking for another barrel option that I could install. Then, I'd sell the replacement, when it arrived.

An online vendor had an amazing sale going on a Ballistic Advantage barrel that fit my needs. BA has a good reputation amongst those who know nothing. More importantly, I'd bought a BA barrel for another rifle build and was impressed with their quality.

When the barrel arrived, I immediately removed it from the sealed factory packaging and pulled out my handy borescope to examine it. For those who aren't familiar with this device, it's a tiny camera mounted on the end of a rod that allows you to see the inside of a barrel. It can also be used to perform your own colonoscopy on the cheap. The picture shows what I found. The stainless steel barrel had rust the whole way through it and the machining was abysmal.

What followed was a perfect contrast in customer care. When the company that made the first bad barrel saw my borescope pictures, they were prepared to immediately ship a replacement. This on a two year old barrel. However, when I sent pictures to Ballistic Advantage of their product brand new, fresh out of the package, they said I had to return the (completely fucking obviously defective) product for inspection before they'd ship a replacement. WTF??? When I called to say that, words were uttered about my borescope being set incorrectly and unknown storage conditions at the place I purchased the barrel. My reply included words such as shitty service and attempting to deflect blame.

While I await these fuckers bothering to inspect my barrel, I've done what any pissed off customer would in the twenty first century - posting my story and pictures to every place on the internet I can think of. Multiple subreddits, multiple shooting message boards. And I just remembered a big one that'll get some attention. I must address this oversite.

While waiting for all this shit to get cleared up, I did what any responsible jobless person would do; bought a new precision rifle. I've really wanted to try shooting on my club's six hundred yard range and my other gun won't reach that far, even with a new barrel. Ordinarily, one can't buy a rifle without needing a bunch of other stuff to fit it out, so the entire package can be quite pricey. However, in my case, I already had a high quality scope and solid bipod. Unfortunately, feeding it (ammo) is a bit salty at $2.50 or more per trigger pull. Depending on my job situation, I may sell it when winter hits; the nice thing about guns is they're practically liquid assets. It'll almost certainly go, once I'm back on the coast, as very few clubs have sufficiently long rifle ranges to use this.

Update - I arrived home today to find a long, slender package on my front porch, containing my replacement barrel from the not asshats. They even lived up to their promise to<b> upgrade </font></b>me to the best barrel they make for my gun. If you'll excuse me, I have a rifle to rebuild.


New2Midlo 54M
1075 posts
9/4/2021 3:35 pm

Male platypuses are venomous, jagging predators with barbs on their hind legs.


peninsula_ 53M
184 posts
9/4/2021 7:38 pm

That is definitely not new condition. I used a cheap microscope from radio shak and my smartphone to take a photo of the barrel of my Taurus G3 and it looked super sharp (triangular grooves and edges) and spotless.

Now if ammo prices would just come down from the heavens.

You can leave me a message here


mufdiver69er2 63M  
1953 posts
9/5/2021 6:28 am

are long guns your only passion or does handgun shooting appeal also?

woop woop


bustinout20202 67F  
1080 posts
9/5/2021 9:12 am

A barrel to rebuild and a nice review for the non-asshats??

~~~" Someone I loved once gave me a box full of darkness. It took me years to understand that this too, was a gift." --Mary Oliver~~~


New2Midlo 54M
1075 posts
9/5/2021 9:40 am

    Quoting peninsula_:
    That is definitely not new condition. I used a cheap microscope from radio shak and my smartphone to take a photo of the barrel of my Taurus G3 and it looked super sharp (triangular grooves and edges) and spotless.

    Now if ammo prices would just come down from the heavens.
It's definitely a new barrel; the grooves look shallow because of the angle I took the picture. It looked slightly better after I cleaned it, but the rust pitting goes much deeper than the surface.

The prices on range grade rifle ammo are coming back down. Not quite to where they were pre-pandemic, but getting there. The match grade stuff is still bonkers. I just dropped $230 on a hundred Federal gold match for the 6.5 Creedmoor I mentioned buying, and that was actually a solid deal. My original intent was to go 308, but made a last minute decision to go 6.5 because 1) a local shop had one in stock at a great price and 2) it'll be much easier to sell if I go that route.


New2Midlo 54M
1075 posts
9/5/2021 9:41 am

    Quoting bustinout20202:
    A barrel to rebuild and a nice review for the non-asshats??
New barrel has been installed and looks good.

As I mentioned, I've been posting that picture every place I can think of, with one big one to go. The responses of 'I was going to buy a BA barrel, but not after seeing this!' have pleased me.


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