Take a look at this bolt - does not look right to me.

All, can you give me your opinion? This is a new rifle to me that my FFL just got in. I bought this on Gunbroker where it was described as a "New in Box" purchase. The rifle looks okay, I can still see the factory shipping grease on the trigger group and elsewhere, the mags and other accessories are still in sealed plastic but this bolt looks way beyond that of the proof round. I need to go back and look in the chamber and barrel but I'm a bit concerned about this bolt. Any thoughts?

I have an email into them right now with the same photograph, if I don't hear from them today I will give them a call tomorrow. My other rifles looked nowhere close to this when I got them, and two of those are Rugers as well. It "almost" looks like it could be a bolt from another rifle put in with this one. I know that might be reading a little too far into this, but based on what the rifle looked like when I looked at it, it's the only thing that makes sense to me at the moment.

Cooldill said:

Is it just me or are there some small chips on the lower left of the bolt shoulder?

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Oh yeah, it's gouged and knicked all the way around, the pic I attached shows the worst spot.

The other thing that gets me is the brass rubbing/discoloration on the extractor. It's one of those things that makes me think it's seen a bit more use than that of a couple test rounds.

Just looked at it more in depth. powder residue down the bore, copper rubbing on the feed ramps and brass shavings in the chamber. At this point I think they (the shop) fired it a few times and then sold it as "new". Nothing that can't be cleaned or won't happen in normal use (with exception to the bolt) but the principle has me quite pissed.

exbrit49 said:

That bolt face sure looks like it's seen some use! More than a couple of test rounds. That's brass on the back face and you normally don't see that for a hundred or more rounds.
See what the seller responds with. I would want a full refund with ffl and mailing costs reimbursed.
That's just me but another reason I won't buy any firearm on the Internet
Wish you luck getting this resolved.

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Yeah, this was my first, and LAST time, ever. See my above post, I also had 3 other guys look at this at my FFL dealer, and they all unanimously agreed that this was in no way "virgin". I've sent the seller a couple messages and photographs, it will be interesting to see what they say.

WestKentucky said:

Just a thought, but I would check that box over really close to make sure it's not a factory refurbished gun. That would explain some of the small bits being new and the packing grease, and might also explain a bolt with a few rounds in its past.

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That's a helluva idea, I will do that. Will this information be on the label?

WestKentucky said:

Probably so.

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Thank you, I'll update this when I can.

Well the seller is standing firm by their statement of "it came to us from Ruger like this". Ruger took one look at the photograph and said that they need me to send it in asap, and they will cover shipping and make it right, no if's and's or but's.

Oh, they are showing on their records that it is a brand new rifle, made this month. Not refurbished etc.

LoonWulf said:

Now im even curious..er

I could see the rifle maybe having gone back for repair or something and getting put in the wrong place and reshipped. But id doubt it would happen within a month of its manufacture.

The ware dosent look like normal ware for that time frame either...curioser and curioser....

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Yeah, the only explanation(s) that makes sense is 1. the seller played with it or 2. it got skipped in the QC process at Ruger. Either way, they are adamant that they (Ruger) will take care of it. I've been waiting 2 months for this rifle, what's another couple weeks at this point.