I apologize to anyone who has a Wickliffe and enjoys it for I do not wish to diminish your rifle. I feel I must post my experience with one example of these guns. I bought one in 3006 back in the 80s, it had beautiful wood. The blue was more a purple, but that didn't both me. What did bother me was the first time a took it to the range it consistently misfired. After examination I discovered that while the firing pin was centered in the breech block the receiver had been machined off center for the barrel and thus the breech block/firing pin did not align with the rifles chamber. It was a clear explanation for why the firing pin hit so far to one side on the primer. I was unable to return the rifle or find someone to repair it so I set about to fix it myself. I will say once I had completed the task I was so fed up with the piece I had thoughts of placing it muzzle down in the yard and hammering it till the butt plate disappeared. I owned it for several more years and sold it for $175.00. It was without doubt the worst experience I have ever had with a gun! I am not saying this is the standard with these rifles, but I feel and obligation to advise, those interested, to look them over carefully if buying one. I also have seen a few young guys walking about gun shows looking to sell them.
Best to you,
Kurt
