Hairline crack on receiver ring...safe to shoot?

[JohnD1]

I have a new to me Winchester model 43 that I haven’t shot yet. I just noticed a tiny crack on the receiver ring across the serial number. It’s barely noticeable on the surface, and when I look at it crosswise, it’s even less visible. The barrel itself looks fine. Aesthetically, it’s not an issue but would it be worth the risk to shoot it or should I have it repaired? I think I already know the answer, but I’m curious if anyone around here has seen something like this and could shed some light. Just a bummer that I didn’t catch it before I accepted the rifle.
I’ll try to get some pictures up soon.

 

[JohnD1]

Photos....

 

[Bronco72]

You know the answer! Get it repaired !

 

[NIGHTLORD40K]

Well, its not good, but, since the locking lug is on the bolt handle I would shoot it if it were my rifle.

Not sure if you could repair that. Welding it up may do more harm than good by messing with the heat treatment of the receiver.

 

[EMC45]

Also you'd be welding (whichever method you chose) right across the serial number.....

 

[JohnD1]

Well, now I'm more confused... Gunsmith says repairing is not practical, since it would involve moving the serial number and welding would ruin any collector value. He thinks the crack is most likely from over-torquing the barrel onto the receiver (replacement barrel possibly?) and shooting it is safe since the crack is behind the chamber, but just keep an eye on it and hope it doesn't get worse.


Wondering if anyone has had a crack like this before, and did it keep developing over time or stay pretty much the same?


At this point I'm inclined to only keep it if the seller is willing to refund (a significant) part of the cost. I do have the option of returning it, but it's from out of state so not as easy as just taking it back to the shop.

 

[Scooter22]

I wonder what caused the crack? Stress from to tight fit of the barrel/receiver or someone loading it hot. You might want to get the head space checked and check the specs of a fired case. Also get a good look in the chamber and make sure theres no crack there. If things look ok I'd just use it with starting loads. Thats JMO what I,d do. Good luck.

 

[243winxb]

I do have the option of returning it,

Before purchase, if the seller* told you rifle has a cracked receiver, would you still have bougnt it?

 

[Scooter22]

The OP posted while I was writing mine. I don,t know what you payed for the rifle but If I had a chance to return it for shipping and a FFL transfer I,d send it back. I,d also ask them to help pay for the return. Theres no way they didn,t see that crack when they were writing the S/N down for the transfer. Consider if you ever want to sell it who's going to buy a cracked receiver gun? No one. Good luck.

 

[JohnD1]

I wonder what caused the crack? Stress from to tight fit of the barrel/receiver or someone loading it hot. You might want to get the head space checked and check the specs of a fired case. Also get a good look in the chamber and make sure theres no crack there. If things look ok I'd just use it with starting loads. Thats JMO what I,d do. Good luck.



Yes, sounds like it was possibly from over tightening. Good advice getting everything else checked closely, thanks. I don't plan on loading anything over factory ammo levels.

 

[JohnD1]

Before purchase, if the sell told you rifle has a cracked receiver, would you still have bougnt it?

No, not at the price I paid for it. That's why I said I'm inclined to only keep it if the seller is willing to significantly discount what I paid for it. I'm just not sure what that number would be. Collector value isn't that important to me, I just want something I can keep and shoot for a long time. So I don't mind if the crack is a blemish to the collector value, as long as it's not a safety problem.

 

[Bill M.]

Send it back.

 

[PRD1]

The deeply-struck serial number is, itself, a stress riser in the receiver ring. It is not possible to say what, exactly, caused the crack, but it is unsafe, cannot be repaired, and should not be fired. If possible, it should be returned.

PRD1 - mhb - MIke

 

[Obturation]

No firearm should ever be fired if damage is present. I'm not a nervous guy but you know it's damaged and tempting fate is a bad idea. Say goodbye, it's all done for that one.

 

[DT Guy]

The world has many, many rifles-you have a single face.

Larry

 

[stringnut]

Chances of a catastrophic failure are probably low as the receiver is just holding the barrel. However that does not mean I would keep the rifle. You have a receiver that is stressed to the point of splitting. It now has a huge amount of flex approximately 180 degrees away. Every time you fire the rifle there is vibration . This causes a potential for the other side to start giving. The crack will open further and the barrel will then be loose. At that point I guess you could unscrew it and use it as a stake.

 

[JT-AR-MG42]

I would definitely return it, and very soon, while the seller is still in the mood to accept it back.
No way the seller could NOT have seen that.
Starting negotiations to buy/keep it for essentially scrap price will delay your refund
and possibly let him re-think the return.
You can always negotiate after you have a refund.

To me, whether the gun is safe to shoot now is irrelevant.
That gun will not get better with time.
And a later re-sale value is for parts.

JT

 

[243winxb]

The 22 Hornet runs at 49,000 PSI, in basically, a 22 LR action. (24,000 PSI). Bad idea in the first place.


View attachment 982616

 

[JohnD1]

Thank you all for the input and swaying me in the right direction.

After what the gunsmith told me, I wasn’t particularly worried about safety. But considering what I paid, I think I would have been too nervous to shoot it much and make the problem worse, so I wouldn’t really have enjoyed the gun. The seller offered a small partial refund, but we were several hundred $ apart on our valuation, so I decided to send it back. I now have a few hundred rounds of ammo and reloading dies I need to put to use, so I’ll be on the lookout for another 218 Bee.

 

[243winxb]

218 Bee

Pressure is a little lower, but not enough. Returning rifle, good choice, i think.

View attachment 982631

 

[jmorris]

I am with the “return” crowd, you paid for a rifle that didn’t have a crack in the receiver and didn’t get it, plain and simple.

That said, I would take and repair one in the same shape, if it were given to me. I wouldn’t take it to anyone though, would prefer to do it myself.

 

[skeeterfogger]

Yep, return.

 

[BreechFace]

I would return it. Those rifles have a reputation of growing headspace from high pressure reloaders. As was said it’s little more than a rimfire type receiver shooting center fire cartridges.

 

[Carl N. Brown]

A crack in a receiver ring is a huge red flag.
Imagine the Lost in Space robot waving its arms, blaring "Danger Will Robinson!"

 

[JohnD1]

That said, I would take and repair one in the same shape, if it were given to me. I wouldn’t take it to anyone though, would prefer to do it myself.

I’m with you there. I typically enjoy that kind of thing, but messing around with and probably aesthetically ruining an $800 gun, no thanks.