New Rifle Might Be Wrecked Advice Needed

[Cab]

I bought a Howa 1500 (Kuiu partnership) on July 4th this year. I put a few hundred rounds through it over the last 3 months and cleaned it after each shooting session. I mostly used Rem oil, once in a while I would use a pad with a light amount of Rem action cleaner but then would clean it out and would finish with oil. I went out shooting this week and the first shot the casing wouldn't eject. It was stuck in the chamber and using a cleaning rod wouldn't push it out. I took it to a gunsmith, he got the casing out and then scoped it. There was pitting in the chamber that's why the casing got stuck. The gunsmith said the barrel was totally fine just the chamber had the pitting. He asked if I used heavy solvents and left any in, I told him no. He is now polishing the chamber to see if it fixes it but if the pitting is deep there is nothing he can do. The cost to fix it would be the cost of a new rifle pretty much. Anyone have any idea how a rifle that is 3 months old can have pitting that bad? I have no idea how that could have happened other then this rifle was on sale and they were trying to clear them out at Sportsmans so I have no idea how long it sat around(only theory I have). Not sure if this would be under warranty by Howa so I might be SOL. Might turn it into a project gun if it can't be fixed and isn't under warranty.

[jasnt]

new barrel would be cheaper and prob more accurate

[Stein]

If he can't fix it I would send it back to Howa.

Nothing you did should have done anything even remotely like what you saw.  You were using factory loads with the solvents you mentioned?  Nothing else?  It didn't get dropped in the ocean, shot old surplus ammo, fancy break in miracle homebrew solvent or anything like that?

[Bofire]

I agree contact Howa!!
Carl

[Timberstalker]

If he can't fix it I would send it back to Howa.

Nothing you did should have done anything even remotely like what you saw.  You were using factory loads with the solvents you mentioned?  Nothing else?  It didn't get dropped in the ocean, shot old surplus ammo, fancy break in miracle homebrew solvent or anything like that?

Here is some solid advice.

[Cab]

If he can't fix it I would send it back to Howa.

Nothing you did should have done anything even remotely like what you saw.  You were using factory loads with the solvents you mentioned?  Nothing else?  It didn't get dropped in the ocean, shot old surplus ammo, fancy break in miracle homebrew solvent or anything like that?

Nope all I ever shot was factory ammo and generally decent quality ammo never cheap stuff. All I have ever used on guns is Rem action cleaner lightly and then Rem oil. It's also stored right by a dehumidifier that runs 24/7 which is checked twice daily.

[andersonjk4]

Tagging as I bought one of these rifles a few weeks ago.  I'll have to take a good look into the chamber when I get home.  Hopefully you can get it cleaned up or Howa takes care of it.  Good luck.

[Cab]

Tagging as I bought one of these rifles a few weeks ago.  I'll have to take a good look into the chamber when I get home.  Hopefully you can get it cleaned up or Howa takes care of it.  Good luck.

Thanks! I have always heard Howa makes good rifles and I really enjoyed mine till this. Hope your's is free and clear of any pitting.

[Cab]

FINAL RESULT! I dropped the rifle off on thur and got a call fri at 4, they had fixed my rifle!! I went in and talked with them, it turns out it wasn't nearly as bad as they thought. They polished it up for about an hour and it was good to go. They were slammed with work but went above and beyond so that I could have the rifle to go hunting for opening day, they said " We never want to keep you out of the woods if we can help it." Tested the rifle and it runs like new! Thanks to them I got to go out opening day for mule deer. J. Beagle Rifles was the shop I went and I would HIGHLY recommend them to anyone as they truly care about their customers and do fantastic work! Now if I can just close the deal on a buck, I would certainly bring them some steaks as a thank you.

[Blacktail Sniper]

  Great news!  Good luck with your season!

[Cab]

Great news!  Good luck with your season!

Thank you and same to you!

[bobcat]

Probably wasn't even pitted, just needed a good cleaning. Good luck on your hunt.

[Bofire]

Great!!!!!
Carl

[Cab]

Probably wasn't even pitted, just needed a good cleaning. Good luck on your hunt.

Thats what the guy that cleaned it said, there was no pitting but certainly surface corrosion. So it all worked out thankfully.

[cardinalguns]

Probably wasn't even pitted, just needed a good cleaning. Good luck on your hunt.

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