Posted: 6/21/2010 5:40:13 AM EDT
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Hi guys! As some of you already know, we did get in a bad batch of bolts. They were not properly heat treated. They came with the certifications from our heat treater which we require on every bolt that comes in. They were too hard and the case depth was too deep. We’ve found that this causes the lugs to crack. We test fire every upper and rifle that goes out, but shooting 10-15 rounds is not enough to show the problem. Since this happened during the peak sales of AR’s (after Obama got elected) , we know about when they went out, but they were mixed in with the other bolts that we had in stock at the time, which makes it nearly impossible to know who got them.
So, here’s what we’re doing to make it right. When someone calls now with a problem, we’re replacing the bolt, no questions asked, because we do know there was a problem with some of them and we’re doing everything we can to make them right. We’re trying to get the new bolts out ASAP to get the rifles up and running the quickest we can. We have since gotten rid of that heat treater and will no longer be using them as well. We are also doing everything with lot numbers now, so if there is every a problem, we’ll know exactly which bolts it happened to so we’ll be able to contact the customers who received them and get them new parts. We have also put in additional quality control checks in at the shop to ensure the products we receive and ship are of the upmost quality. We do apologize for these bolts going out this way, and for making you second guess the quality of your parts or rifles. We strive to have the best quality products at a reasonable price and want you to feel secure in your purchases. Please know we’re doing our best to make this right and make sure it never happens again. Feel free to contact us with any questions or concerns. Thanks, Tony & Kassandra |
| No I do not have any, I am shipping the bolt back to the factory this week and have them inspect and see what may have have happended. I only ran about 200 rounds of Winchester and Remington through it, I did not shoot reloads or steel cased ammo. I did notice that my last mag of ammo did want to cycle through the chamber. |
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Quoted:
Do you have a specific date range of when the suspect bolts MAY have been shipped? Or, any statistics on MTBF? In other words, how many rounds fired before bolt is GTG? Thanks for the 'heads up' I'd like to know a date range also. My order shipped out on 7/9 and it doesn't have an MP stamped bolt. I've only run 100 rounds through it so far. I didn't see any cracks or anything while inspecting the bolt. |
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Alrighty, guys...
1- IM sent to DaveyJonesLockerUSN and Lowtrac for possible bolt inspection. 2- We don't really have a specific date range for the bolts, but of the ones we have found were manufactured 8/09-12/09. NOT ALL BOLTS THAT LEFT OUR FACILITY AT THIS TIME WERE EFFECTED, hence why we cannot pinpoint specifics. 3- In the past several months QC has been tightened and we have had no issues. 4- There really isn't a way to tell that you have a "bad bolt" by looking at it. It was a heat-treating issue. 5- The ones that we have seen began having issues before 150 rounds. If you have concerns about your bolt, please call us. Thanks! Laura |
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Thanks for the heads-up on this. I have a 20" AR that I received in 08/09 and two 16" AR's that I received in 09/09. ALL have been safe queens so far and I am concerned that if I don't go out ASAP and run a minimum of 200 rounds through each of them to get some idea if I have a possible "bad" bolt that I will miss out on the free replacement. What is Del-Tons policy on time-frame on this? Do I have to go out and spend 600 rounds "testing" my bolts or is there the option of getting the free replacement in advance?
One of the reasons I went with Del-Ton originally was your reputation for customer service. This thread is a good example of a company acknowledging an issue and going out of their way to treat their customers right! Kudos! |
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We don't really have a time frame, but the sooner you can get them to us the better. You don't have to shoot 600 rounds through them. I don't think they are lasting that long anyway. If you are suspect of your bolt(s), send them into us and we can test them. If they are indeed "bad bolts", then we will ship you replacements ASAP. Just supply us with some information....account name, phone number, order number (if you have one), what the bolt was in (RKT, Upper, BCG, etc), how many rounds have been shot with it, and a ship to address. We will take care of the rest.
Thanks, Laura 
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Since they have been safe queens thus far, all three have ZERO rounds through them. If you "test" them and they turn out to be "good" bolts do you just return them back to me? Like I said... I only "suspect" them because they were shipped to me during 08/09 and 09/09 which is the time frame that you mentioned. I am assuming that the bolts in question are the "standard" bolts and not the chrome or Ti bolts correct?
If I ship them to you do I have to completely disassemble them down to just the stripped bolt or can the whole assembly be sent in for testing? How much are stripped bolts currently? Is it possible to just order three new bolts and then send in the "old" ones for testing and possible credit (if they turn out to be "bad") or return to me (if they turn out to be "good")? Sorry for all the questions, but thanks for taking the time to respond! |