250Z My Patience Has Ran Out With Barra Airguns.

[Billm]

They show having over 25 barrels when you go to their website. They could just send the rifle back with the new barrel in it. I believe they told you they were out?

Their operations manager just called me and spoke to me for or over half an hour.

 

[Billm]

I just had a long (over 30 minutes) conversation with the Barra Operations Manager. It was an extremely productive phone call. He called me. He acknowledged the issues that I was having with the rifle and how it was initially handled. I’ve said all along that I still liked the rifle and that I did not intend to replace it. I did ask if Crystal was an AI bot. The initial responses are a bot, but Crystal is a live breathing human being lol. I was asked for my honest input on the rifle. I covered the Picatinny rail alignment, the buffer tube thread, stock flex and their pellets. The current batch of rifles have already addressed the Picatinny rail alignment. The impression that I got was that they care, some of this was out of their hands. They intend to continue expanding their range and are listening to customer feedback.

 

[Pumacarl]

The current batch of rifles have already addressed the Picatinny rail alignment.

Bill, this is awesome news! Did he say if this fix is something that could be obtained for the early models? I'd imagine they just changed the rail pieces using new spacing. I'd really like to get that. Time to break out the paint again.

 

[Ezana4CE]

I just had a long (over 30 minutes) conversation with the Barra Operations Manager. It was an extremely productive phone call. He called me. He acknowledged the issues that I was having with the rifle and how it was initially handled. I’ve said all along that I still liked the rifle and that I did not intend to replace it. I did ask if Crystal was an AI bot. The initial responses are a bot, but Crystal is a live breathing human being lol. I was asked for my honest input on the rifle. I covered the Picatinny rail alignment, the buffer tube thread, stock flex and their pellets. The current batch of rifles have already addressed the Picatinny rail alignment. The impression that I got was that they care, some of this was out of their hands. They intend to continue expanding their range and are listening to customer feedback.

@Billm Sounds like my kinda customer service and support.

 

[Billm]

Bill, this is awesome news! Did he say if this fix is something that could be obtained for the early models? I'd imagine they just changed the rail pieces using new spacing. I'd really like to get that. Time to break out the paint again.

He didn’t say

 

[Billm]

@Billm Sounds like my kinda customer service and support.

Great turnaround, it just had to reach the right person.

 

[Pumacarl]

He didn’t say

Well, at least they heard the complaint and fixed the problem. That's more than most brands do.

 

[Pumacarl]

Maybe, just maybe, if they fix all the problems, I will buy another. My rule of one is none and two is one, saved my bacon on a 900 mile road trip this week. Mid-way back my GPS unit froze up, and I had a spare. I like my 250z so much that it just might warrant a stand by replacement. I am thinking the same thing for my tripod.

 

[Billm]

Maybe, just maybe, if they fix all the problems, I will buy another. My rule of one is none and two is one, saved my bacon on a 900 mile road trip this week. Mid-way back my GPS unit froze up, and I had a spare. I like my 250z so much that it just might warrant a stand by replacement. I am thinking the same thing for my tripod.

Their intention for the 250z was for it to shoot both pellets and slugs well. They’re aware of the issues with some barrels and are working to address the barrel while keeping the price point where it is.

 

[Pumacarl]

Their intention for the 250z was for it to shoot both pellets and slugs well. They’re aware of the issues with some barrels and are working to address the barrel while keeping the price point where it is.

This attitude really needs to change. People want their barrels to shoot great, not well. They should sell unchoked slug barrels and they should sell choked pellet barrels, both with their own appropriate spin rate.

 

[Powermonger1]

I was considering this in 25 but glad I got the FX Tactical instead after reading this. Was almost ready to get it before but some extra affirm made it possible. Here in Colorado there are going after just about all firearms!!!

 

[kcender]

I was considering this in 25 but glad I got the FX Tactical instead after reading this. Was almost ready to get it before but some extra affirm made it possible. Here in Colorado there are going after just about all firearms!!!

Good luck brother, but we are pushing back everywhere with challenges designed to support 2A in the states that are resisting SCOTUS rulings. I'll leave it there.

 

[Pumacarl]

I just had a long (over 30 minutes) conversation with the Barra Operations Manager. It was an extremely productive phone call. He called me. He acknowledged the issues that I was having with the rifle and how it was initially handled. I’ve said all along that I still liked the rifle and that I did not intend to replace it. I did ask if Crystal was an AI bot. The initial responses are a bot, but Crystal is a live breathing human being lol. I was asked for my honest input on the rifle. I covered the Picatinny rail alignment, the buffer tube thread, stock flex and their pellets. The current batch of rifles have already addressed the Picatinny rail alignment. The impression that I got was that they care, some of this was out of their hands. They intend to continue expanding their range and are listening to customer feedback.

The other night I went to the Barra website and sure enough I could see some of the changes in the gun. It is strange to me that they don't call it a gen 2, so that people know. What I could see that was different was that the rear pic-rail section does have different spacing, the trigger is different, the bolt handle is different. Obviously, they didn't have any pictures of the action out of the stock, but I have seen what others have posted and they did change the hammer adjustment. I liked the original bolt handle better, but the new trigger looks a lot better. If the pic rail is spec through the mag cut-out than they are really doing well. Unfortunately, they don't openly talk about the changes. There's no way of knowing if they changed the buffer tube threads to standard until someone here tries to mount an adapter. It's good to see the progress being made, thanks for posting the news that they should be putting out.

 

[Northeastbeast]

I’ve posted about some of the interactions that I’ve had with Barra Airguns over my defective .22 250Z. They told me it was defective like many of the .22 250z rifles. They offered me three options: wait for a new barrel, receive a new tested rifle or a full refund. I opted for the perceived quick remedy of a new rifle. They told me to let them know when I shipped the rifle, so that they could watch for it and get a rifle out to me. I got it to them two days later and notified them. After a week or so I hadn’t heard anything from them and so I asked for a status. They responded and said they would let me know when they ship it. They’ve had my return for almost two weeks and so I asked for the full refund. They told me no, they do not have any barrels or rifles to test or ship and when they receive some they will test one and ship it to me. I’m a little confused because their website indicates that the rifles are in stock, but the barrels are not. If they don’t have them and they offered me a refund, why can’t I get a refund? I have no idea what to believe from Barra at this point. Well I do: not much.

This is becoming an on going issue with Barra. I get 50 emails a week to people looking for help with there 250z because barra is unresponsive. Its a shame because the rifle has potential

 

[Pumacarl]

This is becoming an on going issue with Barra. I get 50 emails a week to people looking for help with there 250z because barra is unresponsive. Its a shame because the rifle has potential

Whatever happened to having a "Company News" thread on a website's homepage? An easy way to inform people what's going on, and changes being made and completed. Everyone used to have one, and now it seems nobody does. It could save them a lot of grief to just openly inform people what is going on.

 

[Billm]

The other night I went to the Barra website and sure enough I could see some of the changes in the gun. It is strange to me that they don't call it a gen 2, so that people know. What I could see that was different was that the rear pic-rail section does have different spacing, the trigger is different, the bolt handle is different. Obviously, they didn't have any pictures of the action out of the stock, but I have seen what others have posted and they did change the hammer adjustment. I liked the original bolt handle better, but the new trigger looks a lot better. If the pic rail is spec through the mag cut-out than they are really doing well. Unfortunately, they don't openly talk about the changes. There's no way of knowing if they changed the buffer tube threads to standard until someone here tries to mount an adapter. It's good to see the progress being made, thanks for posting the news that they should be putting out.

They have not changed the threads as of yet, but it is under consideration

 

[Billm]

At this rate, I’m starting to feel like a brand ambassador LOL

 

[Cantona256]

This attitude really needs to change. People want their barrels to shoot great, not well. They should sell unchoked slug barrels and they should sell choked pellet barrels, both with their own appropriate spin rate.

Agreed.

 

[Jaabaa]

It should not surprise me. But once again, known issues not being resolved. Slugs or Not.
Do Thier guns specifically say no slugs.
It has already been admitted by a Company Rep right here that they are aware of the small number of complaints. If 2 barrels don't fix it, send a 3rd, 4th, 5th till you make it right or offer a 100% refund.
This continues to turn me off as a customer and is hurting Brand reputation.
Enough of the Rant.
Good Morning all, it's raining but 54 degrees and I'm heading to the Range anyway.

 

[Billm]

I think Barra will need some time to resolve their issues with the 250z. I have been very vocal about my displeasure with the barrels on three of my rifles. One of my barrels that I’m not happy with sells for $600. All three rifles are manufactured by different companies. Of the three companies two have acknowledged that they are aware of the issues with their barrels. One told me that they haven’t sold enough of the rifles to be aware of the issue yet, but will discuss it internally - don’t bank on that. One major player told me that although their barrel has issues, 95% of customers will find them acceptable and I believe that is true. I am in that 5% that won’t. I don’t want to pay almost $2500 for a rifle that has acceptable accuracy in spite of its defects. I’m taking some nasty heat elsewhere over my comment about the groove diameter of the Microstrike. That is because the accuracy is adequate for a lot of owners, but I feel that a manufacturer should at the very minimum provide the customer with an airgun that is manufactured to at least the minimum specs for the caliber. In other words if it is a .22 caliber airgun,then the barrel should at a minimum have a bore diameter that falls into the industry standard for that caliber. My point is: that it is not unreasonable to expect a certain level of quality for $400 plus. You don’t have to guarantee me accuracy, just guarantee me that your quality control won’t inhibit the maximum accuracy- seems reasonable to me.

Back to Barra. They have acknowledged that the 250z has issues. They say they are working on it, but it will take some time. I believe that they are in that same frame of mind that the barrels perform well, enough for most of their customers. User reviews back that perspective up. My 250z shot pellets very well. But, it would not shoot slugs for crap. @Pumacarl and @Cantona256 have rifles that are very accurate with both pellets and slugs. But, they sold it to me as slug capable rifle with no choke. I slugged the barrel and it was very tight at the breech and the muzzle. Once I got past the gatekeeper Barra told me that my barrel was defective and that they were aware if the issue. They assured me that the barrels were not choked, but a manufacturing issue had caused some of the barrels to have varying diameters throughout the length of the barrel. At least they are admitting there is an issue and are trying to remedy it. By no means am I saying anyone should accept a defective product as part of the hobby.