Beretta's suck

[Caretaker]

This is what happened to my Sako A7 yesterday target shooting.  I've had two bad experiences with Beretta products, the first being a T3 that misfired, Beretta would not refund nor nor fix it, both factory and reloads.  Sportsman Warehouse manager made good on his sale and offered me store credit.  Later Sako released the A7, I liked what I saw and thought I'd give their products a second chance.  This rifle is barely over a year old.  Question is do I get a factory replacement or buy a custom stock?  Knowing their suckass product support I'm hesitant to contact them, I just don't want to go through the stress of dealing with them and risk another stock breaking.  I took a Elk and Deer with this rifle in the same day this hunting season, accuracy has always been tremendous and I like the smooth action, would like to keep it if at all possible. 

[Ratdog68]

Was a Bipod mounted to it?  If so... does the owner's manual mention whether or not bipods are ok to use?  (I'd be surprised if using one would be prohibited though). 

I'd give them a chance to replace the stock... if they won't... m'be you can find one on eBay. 

[jackelope]

I'd love to hear what lead up to that...

[WDFW-SUX]

yup...

[Caretaker]

Yes, a bipod was attached.  Obviously not a "reinforced" forend grip.  I was actually hunting bear in Copalis and as usual took a couple shots to stay in practice.  Would have made a better story if I had been shooting a bear and missed because of this 

[Bob33]

I think you're supposed to shoot the bear with the gun, not club it.

[Ratdog68]

Yes, a bipod was attached.  Obviously not a "reinforced" forend grip.  I was actually hunting bear in Copalis and as usual took a couple shots to stay in practice.  Would have made a better story if I had been shooting a bear and missed because of this 

From your pic... it looked a bit like a bipod had resided there.  What kind of temps were you hunting in... and/or... have you been out to shoot in any severe (cold) situations?  Just trying to get a handle on any potential contributing factors.

[Caretaker]

Temp was about 45 deg in Copalis, damp.  I've had the rifle in low teens while shooting.  Anyone ever have this problem with any stock?  I haven't, never in 30+ years with wood or fiber.

Funny Bob33

[Ratdog68]

Temp was about 45 deg in Copalis, damp.  I've had the rifle in low teens while shooting.  Anyone ever have this problem with any stock?  I haven't, never in 30+ years with wood or fiber.

Funny Bob33

I'm wondering whether the low temps (previously) may've stressed it (the plastic)?  The 45F temps shouldn't've had an affect, unless it was already fractured and those shots just finished it off?  Mine have all been with wood stocks... but I haven't had troubles with temps down to -10F while in the Alaskan Arctic. 

[bobcat]

Looks like a good excuse to get a good aftermarket stock like a McMillan.

[tlbradford]

I wouldn't be hesitant to contact them.  No need to send the rifle in, just email them the photos and a description of what happened?   

[ICEMAN]

Looks like a good excuse to get a good aftermarket stock like a McMillan.

That is exactly what I was going to post, almost word for word. Since you have fond memories with the rifle, keep the gun, avoid the frustration with their service staff, spend a little on a great new stock. Or, you could have bought a Savage, their stocks don't do that...

[jackelope]

I'd love to hear what happened...kind of a play by play. I don't doubt you for any reason...just have a hard time believing that there you were, just firing a couple rounds and a giant hole mysteriously appeared in the front end of your fairly expensive rifle's stock...
 
did you have it rested on some rocks or something like that, took a shot and the thing came apart or something like that?
just wondering.

[markts]

In his post it states that a bipod was attached, dont know much more

[Gutpile]

I'd love to hear what happened...kind of a play by play. I don't doubt you for any reason...just have a hard time believing that there you were, just firing a couple rounds and a giant hole mysteriously appeared in the front end of your fairly expensive rifle's stock...
 
did you have it rested on some rocks or something like that, took a shot and the thing came apart or something like that?
just wondering.

 

[jackelope]

In his post it states that a bipod was attached, dont know much more

right...I was wondering about the rest of the story. It just seems like one of those type of stories where there's more to it. Maybe I'm wrong.

[MtnMuley]

I've had the same thing (by looks of the picture) happen to an expensive Brown Precision stock on a .270 mountain rifle.  I bought the stock spefically designed for use with a bipod.  It worked fine for several years, then one winter I had the bipods down and buried in a snow bank shooting multiple times at a coyote.  I had a lot of tension on the bipod attachment trying to swing the gun on the third shot.  After the shot, the rifle fell to the snow and looked just like the pic posted above.  Nowdays, I make sure there is no stress between the bipod and the gun before pulling the trigger.

[jackelope]

I guess I'm trying to decide if there's enough of a reason to eliminate bipods on my hunting rifles...that's really all I'm getting at.

[Caretaker]

Seriously, nothing much to add.  I slept in my truck bed Friday evening in Copalis, got up, coffee and breakfast, glassed the hillsides next to me, didn't see anything, set my target out and on the second shot prone with bipod attached it felt kind of funny after the shot, picked it up and the bipod kind of just flapped.  I swear I wasn't Whacking the barrel saying "love you long time" or anything like that, seriously.  I called Beretta today, transferred me to their authorized service center in Westminster CA to mail the entire gun back, guess they want to see if I abused it.  Here is a another pic of the parts that came off.  While the gun is being repaired I"m out one of my 17 guns, I am sure I have extra's to use.  I'm leaning to just buy a custom stock at this point.

[jackelope]

well thanks. it sounds like it's a good thing you've got 16 extra guns laying around.

[Ratdog68]

  While the gun is being repaired I"m out one of my 17 guns, I am sure I have extra's to use. 

You need a few more guns !   

[Caretaker]

"need a few more guns".....Seriously I know, that's why I'm buying a new one next month.  My co-worker has 47 guns, I feel so inadequate.  Can anyone make suggestions on custom stock names?

[carpsniperg2]

mcmillian is one of the best out there for sure. i know berreta is a pain in the ass to deal with and liked sako better when they owned it. i am very suprised to see this one of the only problems i have seen one thing is that i know a lot of the guns out there if you shoot handloads threw them that voids the warrenty from what i have read in many of owners manual. so if you deal with them don't say anything about that or you won't get far. very crappy for sure that this happened the only reason i could see is that the bipod was aginst somthing and with the recoil of the rifle could not move and there for broke but i don't know and was not there. hope it works out for you.

[high country]

any stock can break from a bipod being over tightened. the good news is if it is a BC or a mc millan they make it right.....I dunno on the turn time though. a custom mc stock ca take months. you will love that gun more in a mc millan......guraenteed.

[whacker1]

Thanks for sharing - I would say go through the hassle with Beretta and get a replacement stock from them.  But I would also buy an aftermarket stock.  Get the factory produced stock in case you should ever want to sell it that way you will have both stocks, and you are only out the shipping (hopefully). 

McMillan is supposed to be the cats meow.  Stay away from Ramline, I bought one, because it is the only manufcaturer that I could find that made an aftermarket stock for the Savage 110C.  It isn't a horrible stock, but it is definitely bottom of the line.  I have a Hogue, and they are O.k., but they definitely get better as you get to Bell Carlson, and McMillan. 

Glad you have other rifles to finish the hunt with.

[chrisb]

After hearing all of this i'm seriously reconsidering getting a T3.

[markts]

Mine is holding up fine with a bipod Could have been a bad stock to begin with Mark

[Cascade_Sherpa]

Keep the Sako barreled action and look into a Manners or Mcmillan stock. I also like HS precision stocks but I'm not sure if they have a stock that is inletted for that model Sako.

[Karl Blanchard]

www.stockysstocks.com.    buddy of mine just put one on his savage and they are pretty nice.  use shooting sticks and you will eliminate this problem.  Lighter and cheaper, problem solved forever.  More versatile as well

[Caretaker]

Spoke to "Butch" at Beretta, said the A7 stocks are not designed for bipods, so my problem may not be covered under their warranty.  The manual says nothing about using a bipod, nothing.  Think I"m going to sell the action.  I bought a Savage 270 wsm Accustock the other day to replace the sako.  Damn Beretta, these people have caused me a lot of pain over the last few years, never again.

[Elk-aholic]

Spoke to "Butch" at Beretta, said the A7 stocks are not designed for bipods, so my problem may not be covered under their warranty.  The manual says nothing about using a bipod, nothing.  Think I"m going to sell the action.  I bought a Savage 270 wsm Accustock the other day to replace the sako.  Damn Beretta, these people have caused me a lot of pain over the last few years, never again.

You should just buy a Bell & Carlson stock for that rifle and call it good. If you want to sell the action let me know I will take it off your hands