Where's the Venting Dept.

TwoPoundPull · Post by **TwoPoundPull** » Tue Feb 17, 2009 2:40 pm

I shoot in and call for our 22 Rimfire National Gallery Match Course league.
I am tired of jams and alibis.
Tired of loosing matches because of a good shooter getting DQ'd because of two stovepipes in the timed or rapid phase.
Finished finding a loaner gun for a shooter when his or her gun won't work, and then the loaner fails.
I can't recomend an entry level gun to a new shooter because there are few if any Mark I's or II's out there.
I've recruited new shooters, they show up with a brand new Mark III, we clean it, go to the line, shoots two or three.....than quits....
It's not just new Ruger's......The Hi Standard's, Hamerili's, 41's, 1911 conversions, they've all got issues.
Wrong ammo, bent mag lips......Whatever.......
I've got a Mark II slabside, I have yet to find a 22lr cartrige it won't cycle.
I press the trigger, it goes bang, makes a hole under where the dot was, and there's another in the chamber...
I've mounted a 30mm UD on my 617 as another loaner, (remember wheelguns) It goes bang every time too.
I'm tring to promote the shooting sport in our area, get new shooters to start with rimfires, on a team, don't have to shoot well, just shoot!!!
I'm new to this forum, and I'm venting, but I "almost" remember bullseye matches when there were these "round things" in the frame of the gun, and nothing to jam or FTE or FTF or anything else. The iron sights didn't have batteries, and you couldn't drop a mag.
I've got nothing agains progress, but things should improve, not get more frustrating........Where Are The Guns That Work!
I know there is no quick fix, or magic potion, but if there is a little bit of helpfull advise, it'll be in this forum......Thanks.......2#

Athena · Post by **Athena** » Tue Feb 17, 2009 3:28 pm

HI TwoPoundPull , I agree that it seems that the quality of firearms has been slipping recent years past. They are not all bad. My recent purchase of a mark III was a positive experience but, I also have seen this a my local club too. Latest was a S&W model 41 new out of the box. this poor guy waited to get his 41 & his first night at the bulls eye league bang, bang, click, click, click. Gun was sent back. I have not seen him since. Has to be about 4 or more weeks now. The problem buying an older sidearm is you must know about the make & what your buying. Sometimes you never know what could be wrong with it unless you know & trust the seller. I have seen this before also. As far as getting new folks in to shoot, join leagues or clubs is our fault at large. Ex; not bringing in the younger generation of today & the last 15 years or so. Sorry the bulls eye league type shooting is just too slow for most younger people today( in my opinion of course). If they cant open up & shoot like in todays video games they just are not interested for the most part. Too much of a learning curve to take the time & develop the skills that often take years to master. Hopefully the gun makers will go back to making guns with pride. Now its just a business. Remember when banks were actually there for customers. Now its a business nothing more nothing less. $$ Profits first, Profits 2nd & customers???
Well I feel better venting too!!!!!!!
Best,
Athena

KAZ · Post by **KAZ** » Wed Feb 18, 2009 10:02 am

First, let me say that my comments don't apply to either of you as I can tell that you know your beans. At my range I'm amazed at the shooters who invest in a new or new to them used 22 autoloader and show up with a giant box of Wally World bulk anxious to enjoy. Sometimes this is an older, more experienced shooter who has just now discovered the 22RF due to rising ammo prices. I had two experiences just last week. One was an accomplished shooter with a new Walther SP22 "Target" that when fed a mag of bulk functioned with zero FTFs,but fired a disapointing 8" group at 15yds. I gave him 10 rounds of CCI SV and he shrunk that down to 2". Another shooter sold me a nice High Standard Hamden SK-100 with the warning that it was a "jamamatic". Imagine his surprise when I fired a full box of CCI SV without issue

However, to your point we have also been the victims of exactly what you describe. I recall the SIG Trailside that cracked frames before being dropped by SIG. The Walther P22 that was rushed to market with bad magazine/extractor designs that took until 2006 to fix. We all know that some "improved" designs are blatant cost reduction efforts at the expense of reliability. Regards