Beretta brx1 failure

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Paul Robertson

Member
I recently bought one of these rifles in 308, I was zeroing it on the gun shop's range when it had an out of battery detonation while I was pushing the bolt forward. It hurt, a lot! In shock I took the rifle back to the shop which I now regret as from there I've basically been hoodwinked out of a real investigation into what happened by the shop and the UK supplier GMK. I have pics of my injuries but not of the rifle which was in a poor state, again because I was in shock I neglected to do the right thing and take pictures of the rifle.
If anyone has one of these rifles or is considering buying one, think twice before going near one.
 

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Sorry but if you have purchased the rifle it’s yours regardless of it being blown to bits. If you want photos of it ask for it back and insist legally if they won’t. You might need to involve the police but as it’s a firearm in the UK ownership and transfer is strictly controlled.
 
Was this rifle on your FAC? The story seems a bit odd….if it was your rifle why did the gun shop take it and was all paperwork completed?
 
Cotswold Sporting said:
Sorry but if you have purchased the rifle it’s yours regardless of it being blown to bits. If you want photos of it ask for it back and insist legally if they won’t. You might need to involve the police but as it’s a firearm in the UK ownership and transfer is strictly controlled.
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Part of the problem is that I was convinced not to send the notification of transfer and they more or less shoved a replacement rifle, a tikka as I refused another beretta, into my hands, the police don't consider it my rifle. I was being lied to that the rifle was sent to beretta for investigation whilst it hasn't even left GMK and beretta were unaware what happened till I emailed them. I think this rifle wasn't sent for the recall and now they're trying to cover their tracks.
 
I believe these rifles had a recall as early models it was possible to insert the cocking handle incorrectly but allow the bolt to move forward with the firing pin protruding and cause the issue you have faced.

Sounds like potentially the shop had an older model which should have gone back under recall but was never sent and kept for sale. I'm not surprised they tried to cover it up.

If the rifle was written on your FAC then it can't be crossed off and another rifle put in it's place without a variation. Sounds like the shop has done something dodgy/reckless and then tried to cover it up by being even more dodgy😬🤦🏻‍♂️
 
nun_hunter said:
I believe these rifles had a recall as early models it was possible to insert the cocking handle incorrectly but allow the bolt to move forward with the firing pin protruding and cause the issue you have faced.

Sounds like potentially the shop had an older model which should have gone back under recall but was never sent and kept for sale. I'm not surprised they tried to cover it up.

If the rifle was written on your FAC then it can't be crossed off and another rifle put in it's place without a variation. Sounds like the shop has done something dodgy/reckless and then tried to cover it up by being even more dodgy😬🤦🏻‍♂️
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The shop had the rifle in stock and on display for 2 years, the rifle missing the recall is my train of thought as well. Essex police were happy for the entry on my certificate to be crossed out as I hadn't formally notified them.
 
Cotswold Sporting said:
In the that case I would speak to a solicitor about making a claim against the RFD or GMK for injury. If you were using what they now claim is their rifle then they are responsible for its condition and your injury’s which look nasty BTW.

Sorry but this is fairly serious and can’t be hidden by smoke and mirrors of licensing.
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Agreed, that could have ended even worse as well. ("Have you had an injury that wasn't your fault?" Ads come to mind...)

Does sound a bit dodgy what they were doing?

So from your replies, you bought the rifle, then went to zero it on the gun shop's range. I presume they had not written the rifle in your FAC at that point? Otherwise they'd not be able to "just give you a tikka" surely... Really not sure how they've made this whole thing work - the 3 rifles I've picked up from my local RFD are sending their notifications before they hand over anything to me.

Hopefully Beretta lean on GMK and your RFD as well. Do you still have record of the rifle's serial number? Could be worth sending that over to Beretta - and possibly be used to find evidence whether or not GMK/your RFD did actually send it off for the recall repairs?
 
Paul Robertson said:
The shop had the rifle in stock and on display for 2 years, the rifle missing the recall is my train of thought as well. Essex police were happy for the entry on my certificate to be crossed out as I hadn't formally notified them.
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That surprises me as Essex Police FLD are basically saying they're happy with people borrowing or lending section 1 firearms for up to 7 days (the notice period required I believe) as long as they write it on anothers FAC and cross it off in time 🤷🏻‍♂️

I would certainly be following up on this. I hope you at least got a very substantial discount on the Tikka.
 
nun_hunter said:
That surprises me as Essex Police FLD are basically saying they're happy with people borrowing or lending section 1 firearms for up to 7 days (the notice period required I believe) as long as they write it on anothers FAC and cross it off in time 🤷🏻‍♂️

I would certainly be following up on this. I hope you at least got a very substantial discount on the Tikka.
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I had the rifle for about 40 mins and never left the estate where the shop is. At least I let them know exactly what happened and they were good enough tk enquire after my welfare which is more than the shop or GMK have done. I had tk tell them how I was!!
 
chriswjx said:
Agreed, that could have ended even worse as well. ("Have you had an injury that wasn't your fault?" Ads come to mind...)

Does sound a bit dodgy what they were doing?

So from your replies, you bought the rifle, then went to zero it on the gun shop's range. I presume they had not written the rifle in your FAC at that point? Otherwise they'd not be able to "just give you a tikka" surely... Really not sure how they've made this whole thing work - the 3 rifles I've picked up from my local RFD are sending their notifications before they hand over anything to me.

Hopefully Beretta lean on GMK and your RFD as well. Do you still have record of the rifle's serial number? Could be worth sending that over to Beretta - and possibly be used to find evidence whether or not GMK/your RFD did actually send it off for the recall repairs?
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The rifle was entered onto my certificate and Essex were happy for it to be crossed off as I never took it home or notified them of the purchase, but I did inform them of what happened. Beretta couldn't give a **** and have passed me back to GMK.
 
Jeez! Lucky man - could have been so much worse but dealer/importer’s response seems highly dubious at best. I would certainly chase them for damages but through a solicitor.
It is easy to tell if the rifle had not been assembled properly before it should have been “improved” i.e. recalled - the cocking handle if fitted correctly should slope back towards you - if reassembled by an eejit and fitted wrongly it will slope away from you and the slam-fire will result - from memory the recall was to rework the charging handle so that it could not be fitted the wrong way - pretty dumb design flaw!
I remember being in a large gunshop in England last year and there were half a dozen of them which I drew to the owner’s attention - he had never heard of the recall but was making a phone-call as we left….
🦊🦊
www.all4shooters.com

Beretta has just released a safety recall regarding the BRX1 straight-pull repeater.

Safety recall for Beretta BRX1 rifle* a safety recall regarding the BRX1 straight-pull repeater* press release* BRX1 rifles* BRX1s return to the company
www.all4shooters.com www.all4shooters.com
 
gixer1 said:
Was this rifle on your FAC? The story seems a bit odd….if it was your rifle why did the gun shop take it and was all paperwork completed?
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I never took the rifle off the premises as such and I never officially noticed Essex of the purchase sk they were ok with it being crossed off my certificate.
 
Several things.

1) Firstly get your hand seen with an x-ray. You could well have minor fractures to the little bones at the base of your thumb. If not treated properly these can lead to all sorts of consequences. Don’t lie to the Drs about the source of the injury.

2) as others have said there was a recall for out of battery misfirings on the BRX1. You have the serial number and can easily tell if it was that first batch. If it was, it should not have been offered for sale. At a minimum a contravention of proof, moving on upwards to trading standards etc.

3) whilst it might have entered onto your ticket, you were still on gunshop premises and they have taken the rifle back off you. Have they refunded you in full. If not straight onto your bank / credit card company.

4) I definitely would be taking advice from firearms legal experts of whatever shooting organisation you are part of.

A frightening experience for all concerned. I have 22 rimfire let go and that was bad enough, and I have been next to a 300 win mag when its moderator failed and went 50 yards down range. The blast knocked me over.
 
Some further thoughts, having looked at the photos- get yourself seen to. Whilst many of those little marks look innocuous they will have been caused by high velocity burning powder and you may have fragments under your skin.

And you have followed your local police recommendations as regards licensing.
 
It may be an innocent cock up, but I would file a claim of negligence and personal injury. Ask the police to take the rifle into their custody until the insurance company can have a specialist analyse why the accident happened. You will have the serial number, they will be able to locate it and seize it.

Injuries sustained should be medically documented by A&E.

I’d be thinking £50K to £100k compensation, risk of loss of sight, limbs, life? Loss of income potentially. In the US, they likely sue for $50m and win 😂

No ambulance chaser, but someone f’d up and don’t deserve walking away without making it up to you.
 
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