Review Manipulation

Here is a hard question for Jim, @backfire . When you receive a rifle or any other product from a manufacturer, how do you know that it hasn’t been cherry picked or engineered to be better than the rifles off their standard production line? I watched this weeks youtube video and it was great. I was as excited as you seemed to be, but a little voice in my not so trusting head was saying… “If I owned a rifle manufacturing company I would make sure I sent Jim perfection, even if I had to hand turn everything on my extra special super accurate non production line machinery.” lol. I mean, the marketing guy would be a fool to not make sure you had perfection given your market influence.

I loved your layman’s statistical discussion on the validity of ammo grouping results, but that statistical validity analysis also applies to the rifle itself. I am positive they sent you a 4 or 5 sigma rifle, but I cant be assured they would send me one as good. I understand that it is impractical if not impossible to do the testing on a statistically valid number of rifles… It is what it is. :slight_smile: This is totally not a criticism of you or what you are doing, its more of an illustration of the potential for manipulating review results without the reviewer even knowing that its being done.

Personally I usually only trust reviews when I know the rifle was purchased without the manufacturer’s knowledge for the reasons stated above. I’m interested in your take on this subject.

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I have a couple protections in place for that, and some evidence that it isn’t happening, but it’s always possible—you’re right.

First, I make all manufacturers agree to a contract stating the rifle they send me must be off the shelf with no additional testing or preparation other than what they do for all their rifles.

Second, given the sheer quantity of insanely screwed up guns I receive, I must think it’s not happening too often—if at all. :grinning: Seriously, some of these companies must do zero testing before shipping guns out the door.

Last, I never accept payment from any gun manufacturer. They can send a gun, but it’s no strings attached and they agree to a contract acknowledging I can say whatever I feel is correct.

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Nice, I am really glad you have thought about this. Thanks.

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