454 92 cluster flub with Braztec
Posted: 31 Jan 2017 13:03
Here is one to ponder. I purchased a new 454 casull blued 92 back in approximatley August 2016, shot it a few times and low and behold the cases split into two parts front and rear about halfway when normal 454 casull ammo was fired in it. (normal meaning Barnes 250 and Hornady 240 and 300 grains). The cases split in half about 1/3 of the time and some show just a case head seperation crack or fissure. I did shoot some Winchester 250 grain and no problem. Not good. Did some minor lookin, checked the chamber (it was smooth no cases sticking), but the lever did appear to not quite close completely as the bolt and lugs moved slightly forward and up at the end of the stroke. The splits are not length wise but around the case.
I throught dam, and sent the gun and spent brass back to Braztec in October. Braztec fiddled around and said it needed a new barrel and that they would get one as soon as feasible, but had no date for when the barrel would be available. After many calls, finally in December they said they have a barrel and it would be installed and the rifle shipped back.
I got the gun back last weekend. Took the gun out of the box and inspected it. The barrel is an older Rossi stamped barrel in reasonable condition, although it was not the same quality as the one that was on it.
Then I noticed the forearm screw was stainless not blued. The sights were at least approximately in the 12:00 position. Then I noticed that the magazine band screw at the front had the screw missing. Subseqently I figured out it was broken off and half remained in the hole. The gun was dinged up and the screws were partially buggered.
So I figure this is normal for Rossi/Braz tech, I can fix those things, lets see how it shoots. Take the gun out to shoot it and low and behold the cases are still splitting with three types of ammo. *@#$%^&***! Then to boot, I find the forearm loose in my hand with the stainless screw sticking out. The screw I found out was too short and would only get appoximately a half a thread into the hole on the opposite side. The wood hole in the forearm is now rounded out, either from my few shoots or from the asses test firings.
Braztec states they test fired it nine times with Winchester 250 grain ammo, and everything was hunky. Well from reading and my experiance Winchester 250 grain ammo is mild to mid at best (more like a ruger level 45 lc). What kind of idot would test fire with sub standard (lite) ammo?
All I can say is what a bunch of a-holes. I am done with them. Add one more to the list.
My guess is they screwed in the new barrel and left it, never really tried to check headspace in any reasonable manner. Also the ejector is the new style with the fingers or wings that currently on most models extend into recesses in the barrel. They did not cut any new recesses into the barrel,so now I suspect maybe this is part of the problem as you can see where the fingers or wings are peening against the barrel, this may be keeping the bolt from closing all the way.
Regardless I will take apart and try to decypher this my self. No way in hell would I send this back for round two. My suspicion is the ejector is damaged, too high or pround, or maybe the fingers or wings are keeping the bolt from full closure, or maybe the bolt just wont close far enough regardless of the ejector and wings or fingers on it.
Any thoughts ?
I throught dam, and sent the gun and spent brass back to Braztec in October. Braztec fiddled around and said it needed a new barrel and that they would get one as soon as feasible, but had no date for when the barrel would be available. After many calls, finally in December they said they have a barrel and it would be installed and the rifle shipped back.
I got the gun back last weekend. Took the gun out of the box and inspected it. The barrel is an older Rossi stamped barrel in reasonable condition, although it was not the same quality as the one that was on it.
Then I noticed the forearm screw was stainless not blued. The sights were at least approximately in the 12:00 position. Then I noticed that the magazine band screw at the front had the screw missing. Subseqently I figured out it was broken off and half remained in the hole. The gun was dinged up and the screws were partially buggered.
So I figure this is normal for Rossi/Braz tech, I can fix those things, lets see how it shoots. Take the gun out to shoot it and low and behold the cases are still splitting with three types of ammo. *@#$%^&***! Then to boot, I find the forearm loose in my hand with the stainless screw sticking out. The screw I found out was too short and would only get appoximately a half a thread into the hole on the opposite side. The wood hole in the forearm is now rounded out, either from my few shoots or from the asses test firings.
Braztec states they test fired it nine times with Winchester 250 grain ammo, and everything was hunky. Well from reading and my experiance Winchester 250 grain ammo is mild to mid at best (more like a ruger level 45 lc). What kind of idot would test fire with sub standard (lite) ammo?
All I can say is what a bunch of a-holes. I am done with them. Add one more to the list.
My guess is they screwed in the new barrel and left it, never really tried to check headspace in any reasonable manner. Also the ejector is the new style with the fingers or wings that currently on most models extend into recesses in the barrel. They did not cut any new recesses into the barrel,so now I suspect maybe this is part of the problem as you can see where the fingers or wings are peening against the barrel, this may be keeping the bolt from closing all the way.
Regardless I will take apart and try to decypher this my self. No way in hell would I send this back for round two. My suspicion is the ejector is damaged, too high or pround, or maybe the fingers or wings are keeping the bolt from full closure, or maybe the bolt just wont close far enough regardless of the ejector and wings or fingers on it.
Any thoughts ?