classis arms hex receiver mosin nagant handpicks...

[vincentvangerven]

just a heads up, the $10 handpick fee for bore condition at classic arms appearantly isn't worth it, at least not for the current batch of hex receivers they have.
I ordered 2 and received a piece of paper with them, stating that these were the "best 2 available"

Well, if these were the best 2 available (bore wise) then as a distributor i would be pissed about the condition of the rest.



Have to admit i did get a very nice round receiver 91/30 about a month ago, but i guess for me it's back to big 5, so that i'm able to handpick myself

[a1c]

just a heads up, the $10 handpick fee for bore condition at classic arms appearantly isn't worth it, at least not for the current batch of hex receivers they have.
I ordered 2 and received a piece of paper with them, stating that these were the "best 2 available"

Well, if these were the best 2 available (bore wise) then as a distributor i would be pissed about the condition of the rest.



Have to admit i did get a very nice round receiver 91/30 about a month ago, but i guess for me it's back to big 5, so that i'm able to handpick myself

How long have they had those?

The handpick is only worth it when the shipment just got in. After that, it becomes incrementally worthless.

[paul0660]

Classic's policy is that handpick is the best of the next ten out of the box. Some dealers say the next 5. It is a crap shoot.

[TheExpertish]

Keep in mind they give you the best out of 10, so out of the crate they were going through for your 2 may have just been a bad crate. However, never underestimate the power of laziness when no one is looking.

[land locked]

Years ago I ordered a Yugo K98 from Classic arms. After spending money on a hand pick and telling them what I was looking for they sent out a mismatched worn rifle. OK, no problem. Upon further inspection there was a very distinct bulge in the barrel just forward of the bayonet mount/ cap. It was sent back. I don't think handpicked is anything more than that. They pick it up, box it and ship it with their hands. Usually not worth the extra money. Heck, everyone wants a like new bore, no pitting etc., and they just aren't always available.

[vincentvangerven]

"Heck, everyone wants a like new bore, no pitting etc., and they just aren't always available. "

True, thing is though that if the bore conditions of their current inventory is getting to a point where there's no point handpicking any more, then it would be great if they'd let the customers know, instead of shipping out 2 with pitted bores and charging me $20 anyway..

Not that the worn or pitted ones won't shoot period; got two that do about 1.5 to 2 moa with surplus at 100 yards, but man they're a pain in the neck to properly clean. Takes about 3 times as long as one that has an 'as good as new' barrel, and i'm tired of all the black crud that i have to scrub out the pits.

ah well, lesson learned.

[big103]

Once ordered a k98 form aim surplus years ago. I had them hand pick it. Got the rifle the bore looked like a sewer pipe. Found out it was the last k98 they sent me.

So they hand picked the very last rifle out of the box and sent it to me.
Never hand picked a rifle option again.

[billybob_jcv]

I don't like the whole concept of "hand picking" for an additional fee. If a dealer were really examining the rifles, then it seems to me they could examine *all* the rifles once and simply put them into grade categories at different prices. This is what nearly every other "used" market does - whether it's cameras, golf clubs or whatever. I think the idea that we're getting a "deal" because the dealer isn't looking at the rifles is just marketing - and we fall for it. We like to think we have a chance at getting a pristine rifle for the same price as someone else does at getting a dog. Everyone likes to win...

[CEDaytonaRydr]

Means absolutely nothing...

They're not measuring headspace, throat erosion or grading the muzzle. Even if they send you the prettiest one in the box, that doesn't mean it's going to be a good shooter.

[vincentvangerven]

"They're not measuring headspace, throat erosion or grading the muzzle. Even if they send you the prettiest one in the box, that doesn't mean it's going to be a good shooter. "

Sure, but a good shiney sharp bore is great start. Try to find a mosin with a headspace that's off, and even if so then you can try different bolt heads. Things like bedding or a less then perfect muzzle can be corrected, and after that it's finding the right load / bullet for it. I have about 10 in my collection that have great bores. Some will shoot like a laser with bullet 'type A', but spray 'type B' all over the place. I however never had a mosin with a great bore that i could not get to shoot, for me the fun is in starting out with a crude but solid platform.

A corroded bore is still a corroded bore and will stay a corroded bore. Might still shoot but if paying extra for the ones with a nice bore i'd think that i'd prefer to get something decent, or get a call back saying that they don't have the ones with the shiny bores available. I would then certainly check back in with them in a while to see what they have now or look for an alternative at that same shop.

They also might be cheap and all, but i'm bummed nontheless. Called Classic Arms and the person on the phone said the the manager will call me back. Let's see how they handle this.

[CEDaytonaRydr]

Sure, but a good shiney sharp bore is great start. Try to find a mosin with a headspace that's off, and even if so then you can try different bolt heads. Things like bedding or a less then perfect muzzle can be corrected, and after that it's finding the right load / bullet for it. I have about 10 in my collection that have great bores. Some will shoot like a laser with bullet 'type A', but spray 'type B' all over the place. I however never had a mosin with a great bore that i could not get to shoot, for me the fun is in starting out with a crude but solid platform.

A corroded bore is still a corroded bore and will stay a corroded bore. Might still shoot but if paying extra for the ones with a nice bore i'd think that i'd prefer to get something decent, or get a call back saying that they don't have the ones with the shiny bores available. I would then certainly check back in with them in a while to see what they have now or look for an alternative at that same shop.

They also might be cheap and all, but i'm bummed nontheless. Called Classic Arms and the person on the phone said the the manager will call me back. Let's see how they handle this.

Yeah, but I'm pretty sure that's not what they're doing. Personally, I think it's just a way for them to get $10 more out of you. If you're having the rifles shipped to you, how are you going to know if anyone ever looked inside the bore? There's no way for you to prove that the rifle they sent you was the best of their selection at that point in time. Even if you called them on it, how would you prove/disprove that fact?

[vincentvangerven]

Alrighty, update, spoke to Rick, the manager. He thought that they might have shipped me the wrong guns; He said they had plenty of them and should be able to get me 2 with great bores. So i'll ship these back and see what they replace it with. Going to be expensive mosin nagants in the end, but if they get me 2 great ones then i'd be happy.

To be continued..

[vincentvangerven]

update; now it's getting interesting...

Waited for a week after the tracking number showed that the rifles were delivered back at Classic. Picked up the phone to ask whether replacements were on the way. The lady on the phone told that neither Rick or Ben had found a moment to look at them yet...(one week later)

She then also told me they were out of Hex receiver mosin nagants!

So i told her i wasn't going to wait for a backorder and asked for a refund. The tone on the other side then changed a bit, but she told me she was going to pass this on to have the credit card charge reversed.

Wasn't untill i told her that this all didn't make me feel very happy and that i'm keeping fellow calgunners udated about what's going on here that she promised to also refund the return shipping. This since i payed for something (2 hex 91/30's that should have a nice bore) and what i got were 2 worn out, crusty, bottom of the barrel specimens instead.

That was wednesday, it's now saturday, so far no refund..

[vincentvangerven]

update, got a refund for the mosins, but not for the initial shipping costs, and neither for the return shipping, which is about $60 total. (while this was promised to me over the phone)

Opened a dispute via my credit card company & will drag this all the way to the Better business Bureau and all over the net if i have to.

Truly disappointed in Classic Arms...

[paul0660]

They still show hex's available.