Beretta 1951 bulged barrel?

[budman93]

So I just got my Beretta 1951 from Coles distributing. I was really happy with it until I noticed what looked like a slight bulge in the barrel which corresponds to what to me looks like a slight ring in the barrel. I'm not sure what to do. Their return policy says it can be returned within three days of receiving it if it isn't fired. Is it possible that I could be mistaking a worn barrel for a damaged one? This sucks. Other than that it is pretty nice.

http://www.gunbroker.com/Auction/ViewItem.aspx?Item=459636840

If you look at pictures one and two. Notice the one brighter spot of bluing wear. That is where it looks like there is a bulge. Now that I've noticed it in person I think I can just barely see it in the pictures. Very easy to miss though. Should I return it? Its not safe to fire correct?

 

[somd_mustangs]

Short of getting a gunsmith to look at it, when in doubt send it back.
It may also be a sign of other abuse (hot ammo etc) and likely a lock block or slide about to fail...
that's just my opinion though. IANAGS

 

[CasualObserver]

Bummer. I don't have any experience with a bulged barrel before, but sure sounds like you have one if there is a ring inside that corresponds to the marking on the outside. If it were me, it would be going back.

 

[somd_mustangs]

a somewhat extreme case....
after a new barrel and a lot of internal fixes it's now one of my favorite shooters.

I also wound up with a Colt 1903 Hammerless with a ring about halfway down, you couldn't really see a bulge on the outside but it was pretty obvious in the bore. Tossed that barrel out.


Not sure what a Beretta barrel costs but probably better to return/exchange anyway.

 

[Docster]

Just to be safe, send it back. I've been following Beretta 1951s for a while now and the CDI offers have been the worst of the lot. Mine came from Numrich mostly. Numrich does a safety inspection and test firing and provides the documents along with the gun(s)

 

[budman93]

I think I will send it back. I'm just so disappointed. I've never had a handgun before.

 

[Boom Boom]

It happens. I see it in the photos. Just send it back and don't sweat it. It's your first stinker. Probably won't be your last.

 

[budman93]

I haven't heard from them about how to return it yet but what is the usual procedure for returning something like this? I have heard that handguns can only be shipped by FFLs. Will a C&R FFL qualify for that?

 

[somd_mustangs]

best bet is to see if they will supply the shipping label.
FFL-03 can't legally (under current interpretation) send handguns via USPS,
but CAN send via UPS or FEDEX (which will require overnight air by their own policies, not ATF's).
I'm sure "cdi" has had to deal with this situation before so sit back and follow their lead

BTW - an unlicensed individual can also send a handgun via UPS or FEDEX (and long gun via USPS).
It's the destination that needs to be licensed (although some exceptions apply regarding sending to yourself).

 

[budman93]

best bet is to see if they will supply the shipping label.
FFL-03 can't legally (under current interpretation) send handguns via USPS,
but CAN send via UPS or FEDEX (which will require overnight air by their own policies, not ATF's).
I'm sure "cdi" has had to deal with this situation before so sit back and follow their lead

BTW - an unlicensed individual can also send a handgun via UPS or FEDEX (and long gun via USPS).
It's the destination that needs to be licensed (although some exceptions apply regarding sending to yourself).

Yeah hopefully they will cover the shipping since they sent me a bad gun.

 

[budman93]

Do I need to log in in and then back out of my book before I send it back or is that unnecessary since I'm not keeping it?

 

[CasualObserver]

Do I need to log in in and then back out of my book before I send it back or is that unnecessary since I'm not keeping it?

I would since you took possession of it. I'm sure they logged it out of theirs when it was shipped to you. Best to have offsetting log entries in your book as well.

 

[Clark W. Griswold]

Do I need to log in in and then back out of my book before I send it back or is that unnecessary since I'm not keeping it?

When I returned a star b to j&g because of a cracked frame, I logged it in the disposition section as transferred to j&g. When they sent me a new one with a different serial number, I logged it in the same as I did the first time.

I would do the same in this case. Worst case, they replace the barrel and ship it back to you and you re-enter it in your blind book.

 

[Machodoc]

Coles should be OK to deal with. The "ring" in the bore is a pretty classic indicator of a problem. You don't want that one.

BTW - I think that Coles got hammered just before they went on vacation. I got an email from them yesterday, somewhat curtly reminding me that I needed to pay for a pistol that I'd bought. I sent a polite reply with a copy'n'paste from my online bank statement, showing that I'd paid for it. I also told them that I had the gun on my desk, so it was shipped and received.

I got a very nice apology note from them.

 

[budman93]

I may try to go to a few gun shows and find a good shooter before I look on GB again.

 

[amoebicmagician]

So I just got my Beretta 1951 from Coles distributing. I was really happy with it until I noticed what looked like a slight bulge in the barrel which corresponds to what to me looks like a slight ring in the barrel. I'm not sure what to do. Their return policy says it can be returned within three days of receiving it if it isn't fired. Is it possible that I could be mistaking a worn barrel for a damaged one? This sucks. Other than that it is pretty nice.

http://www.gunbroker.com/Auction/ViewItem.aspx?Item=459636840

If you look at pictures one and two. Notice the one brighter spot of bluing wear. That is where it looks like there is a bulge. Now that I've noticed it in person I think I can just barely see it in the pictures. Very easy to miss though. Should I return it? Its not safe to fire correct?

If you see a ring in the bore SEND IT BACK. Tell them about it and hint that they should find you a pristine one to make up for this.

 

[budman93]

I got a couple shots of the bore where you can see the ring. The first is from the breech side. The second two are from the muzzle.

 

[Machodoc]

NOPE!! Not satisfactory!!

Call them and tell them why you want to return it. DON'T try to shoot it!

 

[budman93]

NOPE!! Not satisfactory!!

Call them and tell them why you want to return it. DON'T try to shoot it!

I would never shoot one with a barrel like this. I emailed on friday so I notified them within their stated inspection limit and I will call them on monday.

 

[Abulg1972]

I may try to go to a few gun shows and find a good shooter before I look on GB again.

Gunbroker is not the only place to find a handgun. Many great guns can be purchased from SOG, Aim, J&G, Classic and other, frequently ignored, auction sites.