I heard that WalMart and Sports Academy for instance, sells seconds from manufacturers. What is a "2nd". Is there a problem with the stock (marred), a safety defect, or an accuracy problem? Can someone inform me?

I would just be careful as you look over any gun you purchase from the big "chain type " stores. When a manufacturer has to fufill an enormous order for one of these large retailers, it stands to reason that they are not going to cull a piece from the order for a superficial scratch or ding . So other than some slight cosmetic "defect " persay this is most likely how we may perceive these as "seconds". More times than not the retailer will knock off $10.00-20.00 or 10% what have you , and you walk away happy. Trust me they are still making a decent profit due to the volume they deal in. A smaller shop or local gun store is more likely to return a "cosmetically challenged" gun to the distributer or manufacturer, before ever putting it out on the shelf. These guys can't afford to knock off any thing from the selling price and still turn a profit , so it's not worth their while to keep the stuff in stock. This is probably where the "2nd's" at big retail stores stuff gets it's fuel.


444fitch

I seriously doubt if those stores are truely selling 'seconds' or otherwise undesireable rejects from ordinary production.

For one, they are almost certainly filling a big enough order that they get their own entire production run, or several.

Now, with a large order like that, there may be changes made to the product to satisfy the retailer, reduce costs (ie cheaper wood stock or plastic), combine with other products (ie add scope), or anything else that will distinguish the 'economy' offering from the 'regular' product.

The retailer may also accept a lesser grade of finish to control costs, etc.

Thanks for the information, but I did see "2nd" on a box (Remington). I still am not sure what "2nd" means. Do you think it may be just a stock defect, or perhaps tolerances are not good enough?

The manufacturer and the retailer would not sell a firearm that could have, or possibly have, known defects that would impair its ability to shoot safely. Their libility exposure would be too great.

As previously stated, chances are the stock or metal may have a handling ding or scratch, perhaps a different type of stock material.

Thanks for the information. Since the type of hunting I do usually ends up in my dinging my stock and barrel anyway, maybe the next time they go on sale I will buy a "2nd".

This is very apparent on Marlin lever guns. The walmart gun carries a birch stock, the LL Bean gun carries a Walnut stock.

I refuse to buy anything at Walmart anyway, so maybe I'm a bit biassed.

The birch stock 336 Can be bought at any gun shop or other sporting outlet , it is a cataloged model just like the 336cs (walnut stocked) Walmart tends to carry the economy version of most of what they sell to appeal to the bulk of their shoppers . They will order you just about anything you might wan't that they don't stock . Walmart does get my socks and underthingies buissness though.


444fitch

The one strapped to my ankle?

I can't imagine "2nd" being anything but cosmetic. As someone mentioned, the manufacturer will not knowingly let an unsafe product leave the factory. Also, most manufacturers don't accuracy test firearms, they merely fire a proof round through them. So they wouldn't know if a rifle had substandard accuracy or not.

You are almost certainly looking at a lower cosmetic standard.