We Will Be Leaving A Day Early For...

...the 8th Annual Northeast Bloggershoot so, I have been filling ammo cans with what we will need for the guns we are bringing and then some. I figure have at least two calibers of ammo for which we are not bringing guns but have it because someone else will have something interesting to shoot in those calibers. It's like BYOB but for this shoot it's BYOA (the A standing for ammo). Sadly, one of the guys who brings truly neat guns to shoot each year will not be able to make it this time.

I have also been filling gun cases.The guns we are bringing this year will be:

Savage Axis in 308 WIN
Marlin 25MN in 22 WMR
Stevens Model 320 12 Gauge Shotgun
Mossberg 500 12 Gauge Shotgun
Remington R1 1911
Beretta 92SB 9mm (the Ballseye Gat)
Beretta 92FS 9mm
Glock 26 9mm
Ortgies Pocket Pistol 32ACP
Ruger MKII 22LR
Beretta 70S 22LR
Smith & Wesson Model 17 22LR

Well, I am bringing all of them if I can fit them and the ammo for them in my car. Besides ammo for the bloggershoot on Saturday, I also am bringing enough ammo for a range day on Friday. We are hoping to rent a Thompson and shoot a bit with it. I don't know if we have to buy range ammo or can use our own but I have about 1K rounds of 45ACP that I am bringing along. If they let us use our ammo, I figure to use 500 to 750 rounds of it with the Thompson.

More to do, so I have to run.

All the best,
GB

The New Rifle Blues

The new rifle I ordered from Sportsmansguide.com arrived at my FFL dealer today right on time. I knew that not because my dealer called or emailed me as they were supposed to have done but because FedEx sent me a tracking notification. The reason the dealer did not call me was because Sportsmansguide (and the dealer who sent it to my dealer for Sportsmansguide) must have thought it unnecessary to include my name on the shipping label. Anyway, I knew it was there and gave Volko Supply a call to see if I could stop by to pick it up and they said sure thing.

When I got there, I explained which rifle it was and Ron (who, I think, is the owner) got it for me. As I saw him walking to the counter with it I thought to myself "OH SHIT". I asked if they received it like it looked, which was smashed in and sort of peeled open like a sardine can lid at one end and he said "obviously". I hoped, just for a wee moment there, that they had opened the box like that for some reason, maybe to make sure of what was inside. No such luck! I said I did not want to accept it and Ron said okay but then I thought why not at least take a look inside. So, Ron opened the outer box and it was immediately evident that the inner box was also damaged.

Too bad I did not think to take a photo of the outer box, it was much worse.
 This box mattered more because if it was damaged there was a good chance
so to the rifle. As will be seen, that presumption was correct.

Upon further inspection it became woefully evident that the barrel had also sustained damage at the muzzle end. There was no way I would accept that and Ron was very understanding.


I might do that myself while hunting or otherwise afield but I'll be damned
if I pay almost $500 for a brand new rifle (and box) damaged like that!

Ron called the FFL holder who had sent it out for Sportsmansguide but that guy wanted nothing to do with it. I called Sportsmansguide (SG) and spoke to Shelley in customer service. She told me that SG would contact their FFL and arrange for him to contact Volko to arrange for the return. She also told me that once that was accomplished, SG would refund my credit card and I could order another one; they would not handle it as an exchange. She did not tell me to contact FedEx, so I am assuming (I know - that's dangerous) that SG will contact them about the damage. ( I later found out I need do nothing more.) How I wish they would have used UPS, I have had better results with them overall.
What utter disappointment. I really had hoped to surprise my son with this rifle up at the 8th Annual Northeast Bloggershoot this weekend. I knew he would love it and have a lot of fun with it, then again, so would I. This sucks.

All the best,
Glenn B