Anyone notice in decline in quality control in post election era?

[Kenneth Lew]

Anyone notice the decline in the quality control of firearms and especially ammunition in the post election era?

Last week, a couple with 3 brand X revolvers (serial numbers not too far apart) could not fire more then one round as the cylinder was not machined to spec. The cylinder would cycle unloaded, but when loaded with ammunition, the revolver would not close or if it would close, would not cycle more than one round.

I've also noticed the decline in finish quality in a brand Y rifle that was purchased last week by a friend of mine. When compared to my rifle, you can see a difference in quality of the finish. Mine purchased a day before the election, his for sure can in from a new batch from the distributor last week.

Ammunition has been interest to say the least. Some of my 5.56 and 9mm ammunition from brand a and brand b were terrible.

 

[ScotZ]

Post election We are talking 3 months! I can think of plenty of things to blame politics for but that isnt one of them. I do hope you arent discovering the beginings of some cheap manufacturing practices.

 

[BhmBill]

Don't most guns take a few months after its inception to actually land in a shooters hands?

 

[Kenneth Lew]

Post election We are talking 3 months! I can think of plenty of things to blame politics for but that isnt one of them. I do hope you arent discovering the beginings of some cheap manufacturing practices.

The election was November 4, 2008. A lot of stuff that was backordered since then have been slowly coming in.

Don't most guns take a few months after its inception to actually land in a shooters hands?

I'm talking about long established models.

 

[ScotZ]

No worries. I was speaking of January when he actually became president. I honestly dont think it has anything to do with politics ,was my point, but hey anything is possible. I just hope manufacturing practices are not deteriorating.

 

[DRYHUMOR]

A little thread drift...

There is probably a lot of things on the minds of numerous manufacturing workers with the economy the way it is. Distracted workers are more prone to accidents and mistakes.

I would be more concerned with things being made right now, that won't hit the street for several weeks or months.

 

[Apple a Day]

Maybe rushing production to meet demand after the November election = cutting corners and wear on the tooling

 

[Cannonball888]

Anyone notice in decline in quality control in post election era?

Yes, particularly in cabinet making.

 

[Rembrandt]

Doesn't have anything to do with the election....it's been on the decline for a few years now.

Whining public asking for lower priced goods has manufacturers scrambling to reduce costs, first place that gets cut is material quality (ie: from steel & wood to low cost polymers). Much of the skilled labor has now been substituted for CNC automation and cheaper assembly labor.

 

[harmon rabb]

There is probably a lot of things on the minds of numerous manufacturing workers with the economy the way it is. Distracted workers are more prone to accidents and mistakes.

I'm pretty sure workers in firearm factories aren't worried about their jobs If anything, they're dead tired from constantly working overtime!

 

[woad_yurt]

The "post election era?" It's only been 3 months! I don't think we've yet to see anything on the shelf that was made after the election.

I think an "era," in this context, is an inaccurate term. How about "trimester?"

 

[Bill of Ojai]

I agree with the automated manufacturing point. Quality of my recent purchases from major name manufacturers haas gone down. BUT it is not cost effective for a company to be constantly dealing with warranty claims.

I don't know what they're thinking.

 

[Avenger29]

It's only been 3 months!

It's been 5 months and nearly 6 months.

 

[woad_yurt]

OK, 5-6 months. I wasn't keeping a log book. Lately, my days have passed and blended in dull greyness. I'm in a rut and time went by, unnoticed. Sigh....

 

[fearless leader]

I didn't think it was that good PRIOR to the election. I bought an S&W snubbie that they didn't ream the forcing cone on. You can feel a razor edge on one side of the forcing cone, where it was cut off with a milling machine.

I have a Mossy 590 that had the same problem and I had to take it to a smith to get a spent slug casing out!

If it's gotten worse, I'm not sure I want to buy any NEW guns.

 

[Armed 24/7]

+1000 cannonball

 

[AirplaneDoc]

The decline in quality has been coming for some time. At a big yellow construction equipment manufacturer where I work, all the hourly quality inspectors were removed from each area and placed only at the end of the line as in the paint department. This was a cost savings. 1 quality inspector to check the whole machine rather than 15 or so to check each of the fabrication, assembly, machining areas. After this happened the number of defects found at dealers and customers went thru the roof. To attempt correct the problem we hired quality inspectors off the street to inspect machinery.


Another big problem is many manufacturing plants have a ageing workforce in hourly skilled labor positions machining, welding, maintenance etc. Guys that have been on the job for 20+ years have several things going fo them

1 work experience
2 want to work
3 pride in their piece of the action
4 appropriate compensation for all of the above

They are being replaced rapidly with 18-20 year olds that
1 have no work experience
2 have no desire to work in factory jobs
3 have the attitude its just a job
4 are getting paid signifigantly less than more senior employees

I let go more people for just attendance issues in the last 3 years, than I diciplined in total 7 years previous

My prediction is that the quality problem will get a lot worse in all goods and services when the recession turns around. Where I work, the hourly we have held on to thru the layoffs are all our most senior employees. Some itching to retire, my guess is when the recession turns around and things are moving up again these guys are all going to bail and then the company is stuck with no one that knows how the little things that are needed to build product. This is going to leave 1 big void to fill.

The same is true in the automobile industry, aircraft, firearms, ammunition, appliances etc. I am friends with a mailman, We were talking the other day that I had noticed all the mail carriers seemed to be in the 45 + age range. He told me that 85% of the mail carriers in the local could retire in the next 5 years. I got thinking about it, if all of them retired in a 2 year time period, it would colapse the mail system in the area where I live.

Hopefully the ride wont be too rough

AD

 

[gwillys]

ammo seems just fine, but everything else is noticably declining in the post election era.

 

[feedthehogs]

Can't blame Obama for this.

Its a rain slick road that America is running on with bald tires.

I'm glad I'm an old fart and remember what real quailty was and have many guns that were built when pride meant something.

It sucks to be young.

 

[mljdeckard]

You know what? I flat disagree. The overall quality of gun product is better now than I ever remember it being it. The volume of manufacture, amount of competition, plus the immediate response time when there is a problem has created a climate in which manufacturers are working harder than ever to get it right the first time.

 

[Flame Red]

Another big problem is many manufacturing plants have a ageing workforce in hourly skilled labor positions machining, welding, maintenance etc. Guys that have been on the job for 20+ years have several things going fo them

1 work experience
2 want to work
3 pride in their piece of the action
4 appropriate compensation for all of the above

I agree. In my industry's case, I can directly relate this to the influx of H1B visa's that are filling job traditionally held by Americans. Not any more. I look at the list of service anniversaries being published.

Gone are all the people that have more than 30 years of service. There used to be lots of people with 30 to even 40 years of service.

Used to be that they just sent the jobs overseas. Still happens quite a bit but now the new trend is to bring them here.

All the people that have less than five years of service are from India. It has been made clear to me that Americans need not apply. And the proof is in that list.

The trend started with Klinton, and went nutz under Bush and will continue unabated under the Obomination. They ALL SUCK!!!

 

[Dr. Tad Hussein Winslow]

Why are we hiding the brand names?

 

[Wes Janson]

Why are we hiding the brand names?

Okay then, let's not.


I personally have seen direct, noticeable differences in quality levels of Bushmaster, Sig Sauer, Kimber, Springfield Armory, HK, S&W, Taurus, and other companies.

In some cases, the difference is something minor, like substituting a lower-quality case, or shipping with fewer magazines. In other cases, I've seen examples of firearm finishes that were clearly done sloppily at the factory and never cleaned up properly, or parts assembled improperly, or simply defective components.

 

[Walkalong]

Everything I have bought post election, was made years ago.

As far as workers? Yep, a great deal fewer employess take pride in their jobs, or even want to learn to do it well these days compared to 20 & 30 years ago.

The trades around here are desperate for workers, much less qualified workers, and will half jokingly tell you "if they have a DL license, and can pass a drug screen, we'll hire them"

 

[essayons21]

What make and model were the revolvers? Care to elaborate on some of the problems with some of the other manufacturers you listed? Many have a reputation for industry-leading quality control.