I am writing today heartbroken and disappointed. I ordered a pretty new Zel Custom 50bmg upper and when it arrived I was handling it and the bolt handle SNAPPED OFF when I struck it with the heel of my hand to get it to open (bolt was sticky initially). So I wrote Zel customs and they said they would send out the better "heavy duty" bolt handle and that other one broke due to being mishandled during heat treating. Ok, ok, no harm no foul... Just as long as all critical components weren't "mishandled" too. 4 days later when it arrived I took the rifle out for its first firing.
KABOOM!!!
I looked around to see what the hell just happened because that was too loud to be a normal shot and the target was unscathed. I looked over the gun, everything looked ok right up until the muzzle break. That sucker was blown up pretty good. Video footage and review can be seen HERE.
(spoiler alert)
They installed a 416 Barrett muzzle break on the upper and the 642gr moving at 2700fps bullet didn't quite fit.
I was totally set to be a Zel Customs fanboy and sing their praises, but how can you be after this. By cutting corners and not using proper materials, assembly techniques and inspecting the firearms before they leave the shop they have totally burned me and I am going to save pennies to get a Barrett M99 or AR50 instead. I'm so disheartened that this didn't work out. I wanted so badly to add this rifle to my collection.
Nobody got hurt because we all got lucky and people weren't standing at either side. Had this been at a firing range I have no doubt anyone to the left or right would have gone to the hospital to get shrapnel removed from their bodies.
Keep in mind I am not suing and in their defense, their customer service was decent. All gun manufacturers have issues from time to time, this is just my way of holding them responsible and I am willing to bet their products improve and people's safety will be taken into consideration in the future. 50BMG has too much kinetic energy for mistakes like this to happen.
KABOOM!!!
I looked around to see what the hell just happened because that was too loud to be a normal shot and the target was unscathed. I looked over the gun, everything looked ok right up until the muzzle break. That sucker was blown up pretty good. Video footage and review can be seen HERE.
(spoiler alert)
They installed a 416 Barrett muzzle break on the upper and the 642gr moving at 2700fps bullet didn't quite fit.
I was totally set to be a Zel Customs fanboy and sing their praises, but how can you be after this. By cutting corners and not using proper materials, assembly techniques and inspecting the firearms before they leave the shop they have totally burned me and I am going to save pennies to get a Barrett M99 or AR50 instead. I'm so disheartened that this didn't work out. I wanted so badly to add this rifle to my collection.
Nobody got hurt because we all got lucky and people weren't standing at either side. Had this been at a firing range I have no doubt anyone to the left or right would have gone to the hospital to get shrapnel removed from their bodies.
Keep in mind I am not suing and in their defense, their customer service was decent. All gun manufacturers have issues from time to time, this is just my way of holding them responsible and I am willing to bet their products improve and people's safety will be taken into consideration in the future. 50BMG has too much kinetic energy for mistakes like this to happen.
