Have you ever had a gun "checked by a gunsmith" before you shot it?

[Gewehr98]

Yup, when it was an odd caliber rifle...

And he could do a Cerrosafe chamber cast for me. Turned out to be a 6.5x53R Dutch Cavalry Carbine, so ammo choices were somewhat easier. Did the same for an old sporterized Arisaka, which turned out to be rechambered for 6.5x257 Roberts.

 

[cratz2]

Most of mine (Enfields, K31, M44) have been in pretty tip top or unissued condition so I haven't really felt the need. Haven't shot the VZ-24 yet. I will probably either have that one checked out or do the string pull test. I just really don't have a burning desire to shoot it for some reason.

 

[Destructo6]

I had both of my CMP Garands checked by a local M1 RKI. Both passed timing, throat erosion, and headspace checks with no problem.

I didn't take my SMLE No4 Mk2 in to be headspaced until the bolt became stiff to operate after firing. It needed to go up two increments on the bolt head.

 

[Unisaw]

When I was a teenager, my minister gave an 8 mm Mauser to my brother and me. He couldn't recall when it had last been fired, so we took it to a gunsmith for a checkout and test firing. It checked out fine. (This minister was a cool guy. He ended up joining the Army reserve, then the 82nd Airborne Div. as a chaplain. He was also a member of the Old Guard for several years.)

 

[Sven]

Yes. Had headspace checked on an M1 Carbine by an experienced smith before firing.

 

[Harold Mayo]

I don't do so but I don't buy anything but new or near-new firearms, anyway. I DO have a story, though...

A gunsmith in the town where I grew up, an old, retired Marine armorer, checks guns out in the following manner: he takes them and shoots them. That's it. He's had several old surplus guns blow up in his face. He still has his eyes and no obvious facial scarring but DAMN!! I've seen him with his face swathed in bandages before after one of these blow-ups and I just have to shake my head...

 

[standingbear]

i only go by their word,unfortunatly i have found many willing to sell disgused junk to make a buck then dissappear or shift blame somewhere else..live and learn.if you can have it checked out first..by all means,do it,though some may find it insulting that they may sell junk and very arrogant about not selling junk.can happen with both new and used guns.