roundball and anyone else's advice

[roundball]

why didnt gm make nipples to fit the threads put in by mistake instead of using heli coils ????? :hmm: :hmm: :hmm:

The threads were actually the correct 1/4" x 28.
Per GM, the issue was that they went to a new "roll-cut thread tapping process" instead of the old "cut thread tapping process".

Then discovered after the fact, that the new process produced threads that were not tall enough, and had round tops instead of sharp ones...announced a big recall, my .58cal Flint barrel was one of them...installed a new breechplug with properly cut threads.

They ran out of on-the-shelf breechplugs with properly cut threads and went to the helicoil repair approach to avoid losing money by having to buy replacement breechplugs...I suspect by now they've realized a far greater loss through the helicoil backlash from customers than the new plugs would have cost them.

They don't deal in thousands of ML barrels made up ahead of time, just dozens and scores depending on model, so I'm really surprised they didn't just suck it up, eat the cost of some new plugs and protect their reputation...must have been a pure bean counter decision for sure.

 

[brubincam]

THANKS for explaining...

 

[stalkerhawk]

I wondered the same thing.Could they have used an over sized nipple?

 

[Nimrod]

I ordered a GM 50 cal flinter barrel for my TC from Midway and it had a heli coil in it called GM up they said send it in. I had to pay to send it to them. They would replace the breach plug that has been OVER 1 month now and no barrel right after christmas :cursing: Should have spent the extra $ and got a 1/66 TC barrel :surrender: so send those barrels in when they get a 100 or so they might have enought to send them in to get the breach plugs reblued so to cover the cost :shake:
You would think they might have some already made up to just replace them when they were sent in. OK I have vented now but it is still :bull:

 

[Zonie]

I wondered the same thing.Could they have used an over sized nipple?

They could have, but if you think people are complaning now, can you imagine how many people would be PO'ed if they had to buy a special oversize nipple?

My ego would like to believe that every person buying a muzzleloading rifle barrel would be a member of this Forum, but actually we are but a small minority.
I'm sure most of the folks buying these replacement barrels look at the Heli-Coil and say to themselves, "Why thats a good idea! Putting one of those modern thread thingies in there so it will never wear out!"

zonie