OK, my dealer just called, and said my 338 MX is in! Have to say that I am very nervous about going to pick it up. I will keep everyone posted about quality issues. Is there a summary here on one of the threads of what too look for - especially barrel droop. I don't know if they will let me pull the bolt and do the bore sighting trick. Anyways, I'll be getting to the dealer next week. Anybody's fingers that can be crossed I would appreciate it. Thanks
338 MX is here
1 - 20 of 48 Posts
Joined
·
13,733 Posts
Good luck, we could all use some good news stories on this rifle!
Beacon, don't drool .....lol.............. Local dealer ......$526 .......Haven't picked it up yet so don't know if there are issues or what the serial number is. I believe it is "hot off the press" - because it wasn't in the dealer/distributor pipeline 2 weeks ago.BEACON said:
TmbrWlkr,
Not drooling, my friend...praying...that you got a good one, and that maybe the darkness is about to lift from Marlinland and that others will soon be following you, festooning us with tales of the wonderful and wondrous rifles they are receiving...assembled properly, aesthetically pleasing, and tack drivers all!!!
Not drooling, my friend...praying...that you got a good one, and that maybe the darkness is about to lift from Marlinland and that others will soon be following you, festooning us with tales of the wonderful and wondrous rifles they are receiving...assembled properly, aesthetically pleasing, and tack drivers all!!!
Hoping the force will be with me.................BEACON said:TmbrWlkr,
Not drooling, my friend...praying...that you got a good one, and that maybe the darkness is about to lift from Marlinland and that others will soon be following you, festooning us with tales of the wonderful and wondrous rifles they are receiving...assembled properly, aesthetically pleasing, and tack drivers all!!!
Well ...... I tried ........... In fact I am just back from my dealer. I took a scope and rings with me. When I got there I opened the box. The wood looked good. Nothing spectacular but nice grain and color. The finish and fit were nice. Then action cycled well. Not butter smooth, but I have never had a brand new Marlin where it did, usually requires some break in. I checked the serial number ... a 91 series, hmmmm. I looked closely at the wood to receiver fit and everything looked good. I laid the gun so the receiver was parallel to the edge of the counter. Well, you probably know whats coming next....yes.... the barrel looked "funny". OK, deep breath, I tell the dealer the long story about Marlin Owners, the experiences that I have read about here, etc. and how the best way to check to see if there is a problem is bore sighting. Well, they were great. He put a set of bases on, took the gun and my scope in the back room, and I paced the floor.
He came back in what seemed like an interminable time and said, "there is NO way that you can put a scope on this gun". I said, "now what". He tells me - " I am sending it into Remington right now, In fact I am calling my friend in Remington service and telling him to look for this gun". ( I am only about 2 hours down the NYS thruway from Ilion, NY). I had not put any money down on the gun yet, and I told him I didn't want to buy it until it was right, but I would put $50 down as a good faith gesture because he was so helpful with the bore sighting and responsiveness.
So - we will see what we will see. My advice at this point is to not buy a 338 that you can't see first, and to insist that the dealer bore check it. I told my dealer that I didn't think that it was fixable. His position was, that it was better to send it in and get it fixed or replaced with one we will know is good, than have to try for a pig in a poke by replacing it through the distribution system.
The saga continues - I will for sure keep you all up to date!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
He came back in what seemed like an interminable time and said, "there is NO way that you can put a scope on this gun". I said, "now what". He tells me - " I am sending it into Remington right now, In fact I am calling my friend in Remington service and telling him to look for this gun". ( I am only about 2 hours down the NYS thruway from Ilion, NY). I had not put any money down on the gun yet, and I told him I didn't want to buy it until it was right, but I would put $50 down as a good faith gesture because he was so helpful with the bore sighting and responsiveness.
So - we will see what we will see. My advice at this point is to not buy a 338 that you can't see first, and to insist that the dealer bore check it. I told my dealer that I didn't think that it was fixable. His position was, that it was better to send it in and get it fixed or replaced with one we will know is good, than have to try for a pig in a poke by replacing it through the distribution system.
The saga continues - I will for sure keep you all up to date!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
I got some wisdom off of a teabag once upon a time when Lipton was putting nuggets of wisdom on the little paper thingy attached by string to the teabag.
It was almost Zen-like: "The worst form of failure is failure to try."
Write him. You've got nothing to lose... (If I was only 2 hours away from him, I'd be inclined to load up and go try to get a face-to-face with him...or somebody high up. Nothing beats face-to-face. It's like the old Bob Seger song, "I Feel Like A Number." Sometimes it's good for these guys living and working at the top of the company to see a real live customer, a warm living human who wants desperately to buy their product if they would only sell something that works. Maybe you'd get somewhere trying to see somebody and maybe you wouldn't, but the worst form of failure...
And until you get the rifle back, you can at least admire and fondle the cartridges, stoking your anticipation of good times and seasons to come once you get'er back all fit and fine!!!
It was almost Zen-like: "The worst form of failure is failure to try."
Write him. You've got nothing to lose... (If I was only 2 hours away from him, I'd be inclined to load up and go try to get a face-to-face with him...or somebody high up. Nothing beats face-to-face. It's like the old Bob Seger song, "I Feel Like A Number." Sometimes it's good for these guys living and working at the top of the company to see a real live customer, a warm living human who wants desperately to buy their product if they would only sell something that works. Maybe you'd get somewhere trying to see somebody and maybe you wouldn't, but the worst form of failure...
And until you get the rifle back, you can at least admire and fondle the cartridges, stoking your anticipation of good times and seasons to come once you get'er back all fit and fine!!!
Here is the letter I am sending:
Mr. Stephen Feinberg, CEO 2/16/2011
Cerberus Capital Management, L.P.
299 Park Avenue
New York, NY 10171
Dear Mr. Fienberg,
I am writing this letter to you in the sincere hopes that it will be a benefit for both of us. My immediate self interest is that I have recently purchased a product manufactured by one of your companies that was grossly sub-standard. It was a Marlin rifle, and I will include all the pertinent information in an addendum. I know that this is not the first letter you have received on this subject because I obtained your contact info from another customer.
Please bear with me here for a few minutes as I would like to express some views that I hope will be of value to you in making decisions about the management of Remington and Marlin. We obviously don’t know each other, and I have no idea what your experience is with firearms, or more importantly firearms owners. Myself, I am a lifelong firearms owner, and sportsman. I also am a small business owner, hold an MBA, and am a student of human nature. For what it’s worth here are some observations on the industry and the customer base. In many ways, from a technological perspective, the sportsman’s gun market, which is the target market for Remington/Marlin, has been flat for the past 80 – 100 years. The technological improvements have been incremental, and there is little that sporting firearms can do today that they couldn’t do numerous decades ago. The question becomes then, how do you distinguish yourself in this market.Most sportsman don’t “need” more that a few guns to be able to accomplish their hunting goals. However, many own several guns, and often these are of the similar style, type, caliber, etc. I am probably not telling you anything your market research people don’t know, however, there are some unquantifiables in the gun owners purchasing decision. The two biggest of these are brand loyalty and quality perception.
Marlin rifles in particular appeal to more than the rational decision making process of technical capabilities and price point. They have an intrinsic emotional attraction to American gun buyers because they invoke our frontier history and national values. These perceived values are Made in America, and QUALITY. Gun buyers are emotional and finicky. They identify with their firearms more so than even automobile owners. The most valuable asset that a firearms brand has is the goodwill associated with its image. Unfortunately that is a fragile thing.
I would strongly recommend that you review the history of Winchester firearms, particularly in the 60’s 70’s and 80’s. The brand, and the company’s value, was virtually destroyed by a series of decisions that decimated the perception of it’s quality in the shooting public's eyes. I fear that what is happening with Marlin may be history repeating itself. Please take this letter in the spirit it was intended, not as a rant or attack, but as red flag from a very concerned lifelong customer, who wants your company to flourish and continue to deliver a top notch product into the market place of which both the manufacturer and consumer can be proud.
Addendum
*******
*******
Naples, NY 14512
Firearm – Marlin model 338 MX serial # : 91091650
Purchased at:
Biekirch’s
P.O. Box 151
930 Linden Ave
East Rochester, N.Y. 14445 – 0151
585-248-3660 – Attn Dave
Problem – The receiver and barrel are misaligned. This is the result of the receiver not being properly machined. Because the receiver does not align with the barrel it is impossible to mount a scope on this gun.
I know from perusing the internet that they are many 338s and 308s out there with this problem. I think you should SERIOUSLY consider a recall or at least a notice to dealers/distributors concerning this problem before it becomes a very public issue.
Current status – the gun is being sent by the dealer to the Remington service center in Ilion, NY. It is my belief this problem is not “fixable” and requires a replacement gun.
Thank You for your time and consideration.
Mr. Stephen Feinberg, CEO 2/16/2011
Cerberus Capital Management, L.P.
299 Park Avenue
New York, NY 10171
Dear Mr. Fienberg,
I am writing this letter to you in the sincere hopes that it will be a benefit for both of us. My immediate self interest is that I have recently purchased a product manufactured by one of your companies that was grossly sub-standard. It was a Marlin rifle, and I will include all the pertinent information in an addendum. I know that this is not the first letter you have received on this subject because I obtained your contact info from another customer.
Please bear with me here for a few minutes as I would like to express some views that I hope will be of value to you in making decisions about the management of Remington and Marlin. We obviously don’t know each other, and I have no idea what your experience is with firearms, or more importantly firearms owners. Myself, I am a lifelong firearms owner, and sportsman. I also am a small business owner, hold an MBA, and am a student of human nature. For what it’s worth here are some observations on the industry and the customer base. In many ways, from a technological perspective, the sportsman’s gun market, which is the target market for Remington/Marlin, has been flat for the past 80 – 100 years. The technological improvements have been incremental, and there is little that sporting firearms can do today that they couldn’t do numerous decades ago. The question becomes then, how do you distinguish yourself in this market.Most sportsman don’t “need” more that a few guns to be able to accomplish their hunting goals. However, many own several guns, and often these are of the similar style, type, caliber, etc. I am probably not telling you anything your market research people don’t know, however, there are some unquantifiables in the gun owners purchasing decision. The two biggest of these are brand loyalty and quality perception.
Marlin rifles in particular appeal to more than the rational decision making process of technical capabilities and price point. They have an intrinsic emotional attraction to American gun buyers because they invoke our frontier history and national values. These perceived values are Made in America, and QUALITY. Gun buyers are emotional and finicky. They identify with their firearms more so than even automobile owners. The most valuable asset that a firearms brand has is the goodwill associated with its image. Unfortunately that is a fragile thing.
I would strongly recommend that you review the history of Winchester firearms, particularly in the 60’s 70’s and 80’s. The brand, and the company’s value, was virtually destroyed by a series of decisions that decimated the perception of it’s quality in the shooting public's eyes. I fear that what is happening with Marlin may be history repeating itself. Please take this letter in the spirit it was intended, not as a rant or attack, but as red flag from a very concerned lifelong customer, who wants your company to flourish and continue to deliver a top notch product into the market place of which both the manufacturer and consumer can be proud.
Addendum
*******
*******
Naples, NY 14512
Firearm – Marlin model 338 MX serial # : 91091650
Purchased at:
Biekirch’s
P.O. Box 151
930 Linden Ave
East Rochester, N.Y. 14445 – 0151
585-248-3660 – Attn Dave
Problem – The receiver and barrel are misaligned. This is the result of the receiver not being properly machined. Because the receiver does not align with the barrel it is impossible to mount a scope on this gun.
I know from perusing the internet that they are many 338s and 308s out there with this problem. I think you should SERIOUSLY consider a recall or at least a notice to dealers/distributors concerning this problem before it becomes a very public issue.
Current status – the gun is being sent by the dealer to the Remington service center in Ilion, NY. It is my belief this problem is not “fixable” and requires a replacement gun.
Thank You for your time and consideration.
Joined
·
1,082 Posts
Thanks for letting us know. I went to the gun show last w/e and did not see one. And although I made arrangements with my FFL to mount a scope and use my Bushnell bore sighter, I decided to hold off and not order 1 online so that he nor I would have to go throught this hassle. I suspect it may take a couple of months before the production line problem is resolved, and I'm willing to wait, unless I see one at BassProShop, Dicks or another delar available for inspection. If you can, please post Mr. Feinberg's response.
Joined
·
215 Posts
Sorry about your situation.
Our troubles rhyme.
As a practical engineer, I cannot think of any true fix for this that would not require using a new receiver.
Our troubles rhyme.
As a practical engineer, I cannot think of any true fix for this that would not require using a new receiver.
Joined
·
12,270 Posts
That was a well written letter, stating the problem without the emotional tones of many I have read. I think they got a bad batch of receivers possibly do to bad tooling, and instead of melting them down and starting over, a decision was made to use them.
I think this decision was probably made at a much lower level than the top brass we are targeting. A production manager, QA/QC manager, or engineering manager probably made the call. Hopefully if the information gets to the correct people they will put a stop to it. It may be such that all of the defective pieces are already out there. Could it have been a disgruntled employee who was being displaced with the move? We probably will never know. But it is quite evident that several folks had to know about the problem and gave it their blessing. Why else would shims be included with a firearm.
I just hope the defective parts get recalled and no more get sent out to the public.
I think this decision was probably made at a much lower level than the top brass we are targeting. A production manager, QA/QC manager, or engineering manager probably made the call. Hopefully if the information gets to the correct people they will put a stop to it. It may be such that all of the defective pieces are already out there. Could it have been a disgruntled employee who was being displaced with the move? We probably will never know. But it is quite evident that several folks had to know about the problem and gave it their blessing. Why else would shims be included with a firearm.
I just hope the defective parts get recalled and no more get sent out to the public.
Joined
·
6,606 Posts
I bought a 308XLR in 2007 or 08 can't remember right now and it came with shims. Was there a problem then? I mounted a scope on it and bore sight it myself with a Bushnell bore sighter without the shims it came with. I had no problem at the range out to 100 yards. I did however have a problem with my 338MX bought in 2009 and it was a cycling issue. I also scoped the 338MX without the shims it came with. At the range this 338MX shoots a 3/4" 4 shot group dead X center at 100 yards.
I always thought the shims were supplied so to adjust the elevation as close as possible without running out of adjustment. Not to over come a manufacturers defect.
Does anyone know which years this defect accrued?
Is this defect limited to 308 XLR, MX and 338 XLR, MX or others too?
This is truly a shame.
TmbrWlkr
Well writing letter. good luck.
TO NY
I always thought the shims were supplied so to adjust the elevation as close as possible without running out of adjustment. Not to over come a manufacturers defect.
Does anyone know which years this defect accrued?
Is this defect limited to 308 XLR, MX and 338 XLR, MX or others too?
This is truly a shame.
TmbrWlkr
Well writing letter. good luck.
TO NY
1 - 20 of 48 Posts
