Catastrophic Bolt Damage on my FNSPR

[19Scout77]

Re: Catastrophic Bolt Damage on my FNSPR

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: HasgunWilltravel</div><div class="ubbcode-body">This is what many say are the dangers with the old Mausers, usually blamed on hot loads.....guess what,....many were made by FN.

FN should be happy your face is intact, and there is not a injury/liablity suit, and I would figure, they would be happy to fix it for you... </div></div>

Right issue--WRONG CONCLUSION! If FN were to admit that they manufactured a flawed bolt or even worse, designed a flawed bolt, the NEXT TIME it happens, they will be screwed as they have ADMITTED knowledge of the defect.

 

[dhutch]

Re: Catastrophic Bolt Damage on my FNSPR

I'd pay the money to have them replace the bolt, BUT I'd make them gurantee you get the old bolt back as well. Then have a little research done by someone outside of FN.

 

[Kilosierra]

Re: Catastrophic Bolt Damage on my FNSPR

Just my $0.02, but based totaly on my habit of examining what's broke closely and breaking things that I know will fail: you had a bolt with a minor crack in it around the lug that eventually caused the remaining metal to shear. The dark area is the initial crack and the lighter area is where it was holding and finally failed. If you look closely at the lighter area you can see where the metal failed by shearing. I've seen a Remington 700 and a couple of Mauser bolts that failed the same way. Remington replaced the entire rifle free of charge.

 

[Derek Myers]

Re: Catastrophic Bolt Damage on my FNSPR

I'd call the CS guy and ask for his boss and mailing address. I'd then send a letter that begins with "After speaking to my attorney and my doctor at length..........." and go from there. It seems to me that afer sometime you have noticed some small metal flecks in your left eye.

Send a cross sample of your handloads to Sierra for testing at your own expense.

If they don't flinch at this have them send you back the whole deal and tell them you need it ASAP because you need to meet certain availability dates for for independent testing by varous labs and governement agency and a couple gun magazines want to take "their own" photo's of the damaged bolt for their articles instead of using the ones you took.

I would make this a very expensive mistake for FN if they don't do right by you.

Glad you are OK by the way..........to me it looks like MIM also and it also appears from the pics that there may be a density change in the material and maybe even a very slight void that has nothing to do with color.

Derek

 

[RGAmos]

Re: Catastrophic Bolt Damage on my FNSPR

Looks like a fatigue failure to me. The dark outer area is probably the area over which the crack propogated. The final catastrophic failure was apparently in the lighter inner area where the area became too reduced to sustain the final load. If you can see a clam shell effect (looks like clam shell outlines of increasing radai) in the darker outer area, it is almost certainly a fatigue failure. Of course, the crack had to originate somewhere.

 

[Hateca]

Re: Catastrophic Bolt Damage on my FNSPR

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: chops_are_in</div><div class="ubbcode-body">Well guys, I received a letter from FNH USA, Inc. Customer Service today, and its not what I was expecting...

Props to Lt. Arclight for calling it... It's a bill for $343.00 to repair the bolt assembly!

I have 20-days to send in the repair approval form and my money or they will return the rifle as-is.

I called Allan at their Customer Service number this morning, and he told me they had evaluated the rifle and determined that the damage was caused by "bad ammunition, meaning excessive pressure".

I explained to Allan that I did not agree with their conclusion... that I had carefully detailed the load I was using in my letter that shipped with the rifle, that the load was recommended to me by one of the Sierra Bulletsmiths, it was not over-pressure, and that I weighed every charge to within 0.1 grain on a Lyman DPS1200 digital scale.

Allan repeated himself in mono-tone...

Damn, was I naive to believe in that lifetime warranty.

I don't want to cut off my nose to spite my face at this point.

What do you think?

Chops </div></div>

That's the problem right there. You shoot anything other then factory ammo and the manufactures have a way out. Just about every new weapons manual will state something about factory ammo only. If you shoot reloads they won't cover crap when it comes to failures of this type.

Even if you tell them you only shot factory ammo even though you shot reloads they can still tell.

 

[rero360]

Re: Catastrophic Bolt Damage on my FNSPR

How are they to tell if you shot reloads or not? Especially if your reloads mimic your favorite factory load. I honestly don't know how they can tell.

 

[Cartman]

Re: Catastrophic Bolt Damage on my FNSPR

Not an expert by any means, but it looks to me that the bolt is cast metal, not forged, and chipped off due to brittleness due to improper heat treating.

Is there any gun maker out there who would replace the bolt under similar circumstances when using handloads?

One could WRITE THEM A LETTER, NOT CALL, and explain that if they will blueprint the bolt and hand fit it commensurate with the original manufacturing, you will pay for the new bolt, but if you are going to be the one to pay for the bolt, you insist that they return the broken bolt and piece that broke off as your lawyer wants to send them to a metallurgy lab for independent testing to determine conclusively if it broke due to the overpressure of an improper handload, or failure due to a problem with the bolt itself as the lawyer wants to investigate whether there may be an issue that could be common on many of the rifles and hence suitable for a class action suit.

I am not your lawyer. I am not giving legal advice. I am not suggesting you lie.

 

[WDN-K-9]

Re: Catastrophic Bolt Damage on my FNSPR

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: chops_are_in</div><div class="ubbcode-body">Well guys, I received a letter from FNH USA, Inc. Customer Service today, and its not what I was expecting...

Props to Lt. Arclight for calling it... It's a bill for $343.00 to repair the bolt assembly!

I have 20-days to send in the repair approval form and my money or they will return the rifle as-is.

I called Allan at their Customer Service number this morning, and he told me they had evaluated the rifle and determined that the damage was caused by "bad ammunition, meaning excessive pressure".

I explained to Allan that I did not agree with their conclusion... that I had carefully detailed the load I was using in my letter that shipped with the rifle, that the load was recommended to me by one of the Sierra Bulletsmiths, it was not over-pressure, and that I weighed every charge to within 0.1 grain on a Lyman DPS1200 digital scale.

Allan repeated himself in mono-tone...

Damn, was I naive to believe in that lifetime warranty.

I don't want to cut off my nose to spite my face at this point.

What do you think?

Chops </div></div>


Funny how that mono-tone voice comes out. FN is very difficult to deal with. I followed the repairs to mine and I think the rifle took a trip around the planet before it made it to the right place, Browning is actually where the repairs are done to the SPRs and they are s-l-o-w.

 

[strick9]

Re: Catastrophic Bolt Damage on my FNSPR

Hell I couldn't even get them to send me the right action screws, best of luck brother and glad your safe, IMHO thats bullshit on their part.

 

[Hateca]

Re: Catastrophic Bolt Damage on my FNSPR

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: rero360</div><div class="ubbcode-body">How are they to tell if you shot reloads or not? Especially if your reloads mimic your favorite factory load. I honestly don't know how they can tell. </div></div>

Because powder blends that are used in factory loads is different in what you can buy to roll your own.

Chemical analysis of the powder or carbon can tell them what has been shot in a weapon. And no you can never clean it all off and if you tried they would still suspect reloaded ammo was used. Same goes for the chemical make-up of primers, do an analyses of the residue and you can trace it back to the maker. A lot can be accomplished and in a lab with the right information.

You got to know that ammo and gun makers know how to cover their butts don’t you?

 

[RGAmos]

Re: Catastrophic Bolt Damage on my FNSPR

I do not have a dog in this and am certainly not predisposed to FN. But you can be sure that FN has metalurgists and engineers who are very familiar with materials and fracture mechanics. If FN says the bolt was exposed to loads greater than the design load, I will bet on them. It is in FN's best interest to investigate failures like this and take whatever corrective action is necessary. If there were a manufacturing problem with this bolt, they would almost certainly replace it. The potential for litigation is too great for FN to try to save what to them is the negligible cost of the bolt.

That they are willing to return the bolt is to me evidence that they are convinced it meets design specs since you could always have your own analysis performed if you wished.

Whatever you do about a replacement, I suggest you look at the load you were using.

 

[hilbillee]

Re: Catastrophic Bolt Damage on my FNSPR

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: brand692</div><div class="ubbcode-body">I wonder if it had made any difference if it was factory ammo? </div></div>

Makes me wonder too. I guess that's why most manufacturers state in their owner's manual warning about using reloaded ammo. Gives them a way out.

 

[rero360]

Re: Catastrophic Bolt Damage on my FNSPR

Damn, I'd never expect a gun company to whip out the old mass spectrometer to see if you were shooting reloads or factory. Guess in todays world of lawyers it does makes sense.

 

[pre64marksman]

Re: Catastrophic Bolt Damage on my FNSPR

I also am nuetral regarding FN, and I never owned one. I will say that in in general, the best companies will cover something free of charge after the first incident EVEN IF IT WAS OWNER'S FAULT. There is a limit to this I guess but it's about creating brand loyalty. They will tell a buyer they're happy to help but be careful in the future. Besides creating brand loyalty, if a company believes in the strength of their product, they will see a failure as rare and so they can afford to cover rare rare events.
Again I guess there is a limit but I would think if it would cost less than the total product retail cost, than they should cover it for good will. If it is a load fault on the part of the shooter, sure logically FN shouldn't have to pay for it, but in good will/good business they should be seeking to ensure a happy customer where possible! Basically if they are a good product, they can afford to be charitable in cases like this as it should be a rare event if they truly stand behind the reliability of the product! A product should be able to withstand a lot more than is specd. Don't buy anything that is not overbuilt regarding firearms. This is in general about firearms, again I don't know anything of FN.

Glad your OK, and I hope things work out for you regarding FN!

 

[JSTARSZ]

Re: Catastrophic Bolt Damage on my FNSPR

Bad Press = lost purchasers - when you have a post come on this site about FN not supporting its warranty it loses potential buyers. Now take this conversation to numerous boards that cater to the bolt crowd and it will add to more potential non-buyers. I have read enough semi-bad press on this site about FN's being fickle and trying to find the peach rifle in the lemon tree that I probably wouldn't buy one. It is a shame that they would be willing to lose $300 to fix a bolt for a customer but in the end lose thousands of dollars of possible sales through bad "word-of-mouth." It is a Shame.

 

[CARRYAGLOCK]

Re: Catastrophic Bolt Damage on my FNSPR

Chops,

We are all sorry to hear about #1 the failure and #2 FN's response.
All these guys telling you to do this and that are just going to get you hyped up and spending more money.

When you broke the manufacturer's policy of loading reloads you lost right there. "If" you had a leg to stand on (which we all here believe you did) it got yanked out from under you with the ammo.

As HateCA put it "that was their out".

Be happy you're alive and can still shoot and be happy your whole rifle isn't ruined and in $300+ you'll be hammering away again with your favorite 210gr load for many thousands more with a good to go bolt. There is nothing you can do to that big company. Sorry man, that's the reality.

 

[Averagejoe]

Re: Catastrophic Bolt Damage on my FNSPR

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: chops_are_in</div><div class="ubbcode-body">Right off the bat I want everyone to know this post is not meant to be critical of FN in any way. I just want you guys to see what happened this past Saturday to my FNSPR in .300WSM.

As you can see from the photos below, the right bolt lug and part of the bolt face sheared away. This happened on round 2,015 through the rifle. The rifle had been shooting great for the past several years with never a problem. It's my favorite match rifle, and I'm just sick to my stomach.

There were no signs of excess pressure... no ruptured primer or ejector marks in the casehead. I was able to retrieve the case intact from the chamber once I got the pieces of the bolt out of the way.

I contacted FN this morning via phone, and I will be sending the rifle in for warranty service.

I have never seen or heard of anything like this happening to a modern bolt rifle in my 30+ years of shooting.

I'm thinking it must have been a flaw in the bolt. Do you guys have any ideas?

Matt </div></div>

Wow. Something very similar happened to one of my friends shortly after FN introduced this model back in I think 2003. The only difference is that his entire bolt had a hairline fracture nearly all the way to the bolt handle and when his lug sheered off it took over half of the bolt face with it.

He called FN and they asked for the entire weapon back and sent him a brand new one with a ton of extra stuff like shirts, hats, stickers, cleaning kit and a certificate for $ of his next purchase of an FN product. They were very proactive and handled the situation really quickly.

Now keep in mind, this was a stock weapon with no alterations what so ever such as bedding that would have made the firearm worth more so it was a good swap for him whereas for others it may have not been such a great deal.

 

[pre64marksman]

Re: Catastrophic Bolt Damage on my FNSPR

Still laughing at the signiture above!

I'd argue if it was a good gun, throw in the money to get a new bolt on it. If you still don't trust it, sell it on gunbroker and get something you can breath a sigh of relief over in regards to reliability.
This whole thing makes me cautious about getting into reloading, though I wouldn't be reloading for anything other than my sako varmint and a remington 280-both reliable actions.

 

[pre64marksman]

Re: Catastrophic Bolt Damage on my FNSPR

Update?

 

[kingston]

Re: Catastrophic Bolt Damage on my FNSPR

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: 65mm06</div><div class="ubbcode-body">through racing and building cars, i've seen lots of broken cast metal, and in what i've seen with breaks that look like this, the outer darker area has been broken or cracked for some time and the lighter colored area in the center is the fresh break that finally failed due to the longstanding broken area.
again these are my observations from experience in other areas, take it for what its worth

either way..glad you're ok</div></div>

X2 I've seen this on shaft fractures, this looks to be two separate fractures. The darker being the older. You may not have even been able to see it with the naked eye when the bolt was cold.

 

[GlockandRoll]

Re: Catastrophic Bolt Damage on my FNSPR

Interesting... looks like bad casting. I've had two FN SPR's, found them completely reliable, but this could be a manufacturing defect.

it's a shame, because these actions are known for reliability.

+1 on the glad you are ok part!

 

[jeo556]

Re: Catastrophic Bolt Damage on my FNSPR

This is BS, plain and simple.....And horrible business as well. Even if it was your fault(BTW, I do not believe that it is.) FN could have written you a letter stating that your handloads were overpowered and that they will cover the gun as a good faith effort. Then you're at fault legally, but they still keep the customer happy. Now they just look like assholes.

Now most of the people that read this thread will no longet purchase a FN because they do not stand behind thier product.

Too bad, I really like the idea of controlled feed in a rifle and I'd love to have a long range rig. Guess I'm gonna have to find a magician to make my Ruger shoot.

Sorry to hear that you lost your favorite rig but glad that you aren't hurt.

 

[GlockandRoll]

Re: Catastrophic Bolt Damage on my FNSPR

Chops... if I'm not out of line here, I'd like to offer some advice.

You will need to do a couple of things 1st.
1. Have some sort of correspondence (even if it's an email) from the bullet smith documenting the safe load data.
2. Get a $25/month pre-paid legal membership, that you can cancle after the 1st month if you choose.
3. Draft a free legal letter to FN's corporate offices, stating your case (if you tell the attourney's what to write, they will draft if formally as a free member service).
4. Send the leter certified, in triplicate, the custom shop, FN management, and the bulletsmith.

State in the letter that you intend to have a legal discovery done on the legality of them claiming the warranty was voided by hand load (even though it may be, they dont want to go to court)... and ask to have FN provide load data for the rounds they developed for the HRT, assuming they did.

Make it very clear that you arent going to do 3 things.
1. You arent going to pay $300.
2. You arent going to take no for an asnwer.
3. You will take this matter to task, and file in small claims court as they cant appeal it and an FN local council attorney will have to show up in person (depending on stata laws)

It will cost them VERY little, and you can even state that should they comply, you will say nothing ill of them in the future.

They will quickly realize that you are not happy and the "right" people will call the custom shop/customer serive/warranty depts and tell them to do X.

I've got a lot of experience with product escalations and let me ASSURE you this will not take much of your time and will produce astounding results.

Take my advice, or don't, but I can promise you they will treat you differently the next time you speak with them.

 

[Snakum]

Re: Catastrophic Bolt Damage on my FNSPR

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Quote:</div><div class="ubbcode-body">Bad Press = lost purchasers - when you have a post come on this site about FN not supporting its warranty it loses potential buyers.</div></div>

Yep. They just lost one.

I posted a "no longer needed" on my WTB thread because after going back and forth on a Savage 10 and an FN I had decided to buy an SPR and was waiting for my dealer to be open tomorrow to get his info to place the order (he does cheap transfers). Was already picking out a scope for it. I love my model 70s and was looking forward to a tactical rifle with that action, but I won't buy a new Remington anymore due to terrible customer service on a defective new rifle and two new shotguns. I'll be ordering a Savage this week instead, if I can't find a used one here.

Glad I read it ... and glad you're ok.

 

[ranger1183]

Re: Catastrophic Bolt Damage on my FNSPR

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: chops_are_in</div><div class="ubbcode-body"> I was shooting my match ammo loaded in Winchester cases with 67.0gr of Reloader-19 under a 210SMK seated 0.072" off the lands. I know that's a big jump, but the rifle liked it that way. This is the max suggested load given to me by Sierra when I called about reloading the 210SMK in the .300WSM. </div></div>

I'm not here to take sides or bust anyone's chops, <span style="font-weight: bold"><span style="font-style: italic">so please don't shoot the messenger!</span></span>

I just ran your hand load using Quickload software (twice). The end results the software spit out said your load was above 8,000 psi <span style="font-weight: bold">over MAX load!</span> Are you sure this load is the exact one that Sierra recommended? I can't imagine Sierra recommending such an over-spec load. I mean, if QL is right, you were running just a hair under 73,000 psi!

Something just sounds "off" here.

Edit!

I just ran those numbers again (.300 WSM loaded with 210 grain SMK's with 67 grains of Reloader <span style="font-style: italic"><span style="font-weight: bold">19</span></span>) using Reloader 22 instead. Those numbers are an EXCELLENT load <span style="font-weight: bold"><span style="font-style: italic">IF</span></span> you are using Reloader 22. In fact, those numbers are just under the max pressure for Reloader 22. Are you sure Sierra recommended 67 grains of Reloader 19 and not 67 grains of Reloader 22?

 

[GlockandRoll]

Re: Catastrophic Bolt Damage on my FNSPR

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: Snakum</div><div class="ubbcode-body">
Yep. They just lost one.

I posted a "no longer needed" on my WTB thread because after going back and forth on a Savage 10 and an FN I had decided to buy an SPR and was waiting for my dealer to be open tomorrow to get his info to place the order (he does cheap transfers). Was already picking out a scope for it. I love my model 70s and was looking forward to a tactical rifle with that action, but I won't buy a new Remington anymore due to terrible customer service on a defective new rifle and two new shotguns. I'll be ordering a Savage this week instead, if I can't find a used one here.

Glad I read it ... and glad you're ok. </div></div>

Snakum if I may... I've been a Salvage fan my entire adult life, had at least half a dozen of their bolt guns, several .308's and my hunting rig is a .270; needless to say "I get it"

That being said, please don't let this discourage you.
The FN Herstal SPR is a much superior rig in so many ways. It's as accurate, much more durable, and has a far superior action.

The Chrome lined 12 twist 24" BBL is going to push nice loads faster, and because it's heavier, it balances better and has less felt recoil.

Again, I love savage 10FP's, but they don't compare... and I've had a few problems with 2 of my accu-triggers, not too mention I worked my brass harder because the savage chamber tends to make the brass bulge more.

 

[Snakum]

Re: Catastrophic Bolt Damage on my FNSPR

Hi Glock ... I have no doubt the SPR is an excellent weapon. Every mfr lays an egg once in a while. I'm an ASQ certified Quality Control Engineer (impressed?

)and when younger I studied and practiced FMEA and MTBF and Ishikawa diags till my ass fell off. Been in mfg and IT QA off and on for 20 years.

What torques me is that FN refused to discuss it. They sent a robot with a repeatable monotone directive. That is simply unacceptable to me. After buying Remington only for many many years, their CS burned me twice in one year and I won't buy another new one. I'm a consumer. I vote with my money. I don't care if GAP or AI offered me 50% discounts, one dismissive CS fiasco and I'd never touch another new one (They don't treat customers that way, though. Just an example). I'd never again contribute to the company's bottom line. And FN's response in this case, refusal to even discuss it further, shows they went to Remington CS school. So ... no SPR order tomorrow. Even though I know the rifle is spectacular and I love the M70 action.

I'd still love to have a used one.

Know of one for sale?

 

[Paulus]

Re: Catastrophic Bolt Damage on my FNSPR

ive seen problems with rems, with savages, with winchesters. ive always seen those companies take care of the owner. ive never EVER seen a big company like this tell a legit customer to go get stuffed. No FN products for me, ever, now.


Paulus

 

[GlockandRoll]

Re: Catastrophic Bolt Damage on my FNSPR

Looking at the pictures again, it does appear to be bad casting... I'd pay pre-paid legal $25 to have them fix it.
It will be WELL worth your time.

May FN write you an apology also!

 

[jayph]

Re: Catastrophic Bolt Damage on my FNSPR

glad you posted cause I thought I was doing something wrong. To the OP if you didn't miss print your load data you were running very HOT loads. And yes it's possible to go over max loads and into dangerous pressures without ovious pressure sighns with the brass. If it was a missprint please dissregard this message. But like the rest regardless of the load I am happy your ok.

EDIT: Dont know what to say. There is either a error in Quick load or the sierra manuel cause I just looked through mine and they list a max load of 68gr for RL-19 and that bullet.

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: ranger1183</div><div class="ubbcode-body"><div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: chops_are_in</div><div class="ubbcode-body"> I was shooting my match ammo loaded in Winchester cases with 67.0gr of Reloader-19 under a 210SMK seated 0.072" off the lands. I know that's a big jump, but the rifle liked it that way. This is the max suggested load given to me by Sierra when I called about reloading the 210SMK in the .300WSM. </div></div>

I'm not here to take sides or bust anyone's chops, <span style="font-weight: bold"><span style="font-style: italic">so please don't shoot the messenger!</span></span>

I just ran your hand load using Quickload software (twice). The end results the software spit out said your load was above 8,000 psi <span style="font-weight: bold">over MAX load!</span> Are you sure this load is the exact one that Sierra recommended? I can't imagine Sierra recommending such an over-spec load. I mean, if QL is right, you were running just a hair under 73,000 psi!

Something just sounds "off" here.

Edit!

I just ran those numbers again (.300 WSM loaded with 210 grain SMK's with 67 grains of Reloader <span style="font-style: italic"><span style="font-weight: bold">19</span></span>) using Reloader 22 instead. Those numbers are an EXCELLENT load <span style="font-weight: bold"><span style="font-style: italic">IF</span></span> you are using Reloader 22. In fact, those numbers are just under the max pressure for Reloader 22. Are you sure Sierra recommended 67 grains of Reloader 19 and not 67 grains of Reloader 22?
</div></div>

 

[Lt. Arclight]

Re: Catastrophic Bolt Damage on my FNSPR

Bottom line-it went BANG just fine 2014 times before the final shot. Its mechanical,its made of metal and metal can fail. You can piss and moan about it until you are blue in the face. Post pics on every gun website on the internet. All you'll get is experience.

The fact that a handloaded cartridge was fired gets the manufacturer off the hook. Thank GOD the op wasn't injured.It will make you think twice about continuing to increase the charge until you get a "sticky bolt".

 

[89t295k]

Re: Catastrophic Bolt Damage on my FNSPR

You can't sue when you admit you were hand loading. Too may things could have caused that anyway. It does look like a old fracture though.

I think they should have just fixed it for you as others have said. Too bad you did not mention something like this.... "others on snipershide have never heard of this, hope you can fix it." I think you may have gotten a better responce that way.
Too funny though , I was just thinking about buying one of those or a TRG. That made that easy.

Did you get it back?

 

[GlockandRoll]

Re: Catastrophic Bolt Damage on my FNSPR

All true - but again - I'd certainly spend the $25 to have PPL draft a legal demand letter.

It lets them know you are serious.

True story.
In 96 I had an HK USP .40 that I dropped one morning half-asleep putting it in my IWB holster as I worked at a pawn shop and always carried for work.

The gun was kept chambered, with the hammer in DA mode and the safety on.

It fell 3 feet from my waist and landed on the carpet and discharged... the gun slid across my bedroom with the brass still in the chamber.

I called HK and they treated me like a jerk, so I had my attorney write them a letter.

I sent them mine and they over-nighted me a brand new one, at no cost.

 

[GlockandRoll]

Re: Catastrophic Bolt Damage on my FNSPR

Something else you could try, is what this guy did when United broke his guitar. He made a pretty viral video and they made amends, or so the story goes.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5YGc4zOqozo

 

[chops_are_in]

Re: Catastrophic Bolt Damage on my FNSPR

Okay guys,

It's time for an update...

I received that original letter response from FN's service department on January 29th. I waited until February 19th to decide what to do. I sent the Quote Approval and Repair Authorization back to FN with the following transmittal:

"ATTN: FNH-USA SERVICE DEPARTMENT

Please reference the attached service authorization form for the rifle I sent in for repairs.

FNH-USA has declined to make these repairs under FN’s Lifetime Warranty. I am paying for all costs, and as a result - all of the broken parts, the rifle, and the repaired bolt assembly belong to me. When the repairs are complete, return the broken bolt and sheared lug to me with the repaired rifle and new bolt assembly.

I will be sending the broken bolt and lug to a metallurgical laboratory for independent testing to determine if there were manufacturing flaws.

Please call me with any questions you may have.

Sincerely..."

In their original letter to me FN stated the repairs would cost $343..00 and it would take 5-9 weeks to make them. After sending the correspondence above I received my repaired rifle in ten days for no charge, ...and of course there was no damaged bolt either.

It seems all they did was throw a new bolt in it to see if the headspace was still in spec and return it to me. I'm sure that couldn't have cost them much.

I have had a chance to develop a new accuracy load for it using the 208 AMAX (I'm outof 210 SMK's right now), and I shot it in a local match the first Saturday of March. She still easily shoots sub-MOA.

All's well that ends well... FN did finally honor their warranty.

I really appreciate everyone who chimed in with advice and well wishes.

Chops

 

[Belisarius]

Re: Catastrophic Bolt Damage on my FNSPR

Good news!!!

 

[brand692]

Re: Catastrophic Bolt Damage on my FNSPR

Glad to hear it chops.

But, I hate to say it, I'll never consider a FN, and its because of how they handled this.

I wasn't really considering one anyways, but when the time comes for something new, they will not be on the list. I have no time for BS like the way they treated you.

Nonetheless, I'm glad it ended well for you.

 

[AXEMAN]

Re: Catastrophic Bolt Damage on my FNSPR

lol, you know why that guy is monotone? i bet its his duty to make that first call to and say what he said...thats why he sounds that way. he knows he is doing a suck job and a suck thing to everybody that he is going to talk to on that phone. they gotta at least try i guess. they almost made $343.00 and lost a customer. i had to do the same thing to verizon customers all over the east coast when i was a service rep for them. deny all credits for roaming charges (remember them?) and then i was promoted to "escalations rep" and took the calls from people that wouldnt take no for an answer. then if it was roaming, you got credit. if it was over your minutes, i either re-rated your bill based on a plan that fit your usage and you got a break... sometimes. sucks, but it was my job, and after a while, monotone was all you could manage on most days, lol

glad you got it fixed

 

[lanwickum]

Re: Catastrophic Bolt Damage on my FNSPR

Funny how that works. Moral of another story, Always ask for the old parts when warranty is turned down. It suddely can change things...

 

[sickeness]

Re: Catastrophic Bolt Damage on my FNSPR

So were you using reloader 19 or 22?
As stated a few posts ago, if you were using 19, then your load was way over max pressure.

Not trying to insult your intelligence, but I would hate to see FN get bad press over their hesitance to fix something that may have been your own accident.

 

[GlockandRoll]

Re: Catastrophic Bolt Damage on my FNSPR

I think the primer would have flowed had than been the case?

 

[89t295k]

Re: Catastrophic Bolt Damage on my FNSPR

I'm impressed with you letter...very tactfull but, yet firm.

Turns my gut for a gun owner to sue a firearms industry when they have to fight off so many other lawsuits from the "other side".

Glad it all worked out.

 

[BigMahi]

Re: Catastrophic Bolt Damage on my FNSPR

Just came across this thread, but the information is still good - one theory why the OP's lug sheered off is that it was cracked, as evidenced by the darker areas encircling the lighter area wheere the lug sheered off.

Is there a generally presribed method to examine for cracks around the lug area?

 

[MAGUA]

Re: Catastrophic Bolt Damage on my FNSPR

What the hell is a "generakky"

 

[BigMahi]

Re: Catastrophic Bolt Damage on my FNSPR

Edited. lol.

 

[KYS]

Re: Catastrophic Bolt Damage on my FNSPR

So what type of powder were you using?!

Reloader 19 or 22 ?

 

[LRS_Ranger]

Re: Catastrophic Bolt Damage on my FNSPR

I also am interested to know what powder was used... the thread is a year old though. I have an SPR in 308.. this makes me a bit nervous, though this is the first I have heard of this happening. I think I will go look at my bolt under a magnifying glass..

 

[MEDICGORDO]

Re: Catastrophic Bolt Damage on my FNSPR

No reason to spin our wheels analyzing what happend,Im sure the merkins over at MSNBC will sort this out in a hour long show just like the R700.

 

[matt33]

Re: Catastrophic Bolt Damage on my FNSPR

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: MedicGordo</div><div class="ubbcode-body">No reason to spin our wheels analyzing what happend,Im sure the merkins over at MSNBC will sort this out in a hour long show just like the R700. </div></div>
Funny, sad, and probably true.