Bent barrel on new IZH 61 ?

[Flex]

My daughter's BF recently (last week) bought an IZH 61. (A Christmas gift to himself I suspect). His purchase, I think, was largely based on my recommendation which was based on a recommendation of customer that frequents a air gun shop that I go to in Minneapolis. I did some on-line research for myself and was fairly certain I'd be getting one too.
While visiting for Christmas, he showed it to me. As with many of today's airguns, there seems to be more than a fair share of composite/polymer/plastic componentry on the IZH. I was impressed with the fact that it didn't look too cheesy. I was thinking that mine would be coming sooner than I thought.
My daughter's BF remarked that he thought that the barrel looked like it was canted off to the right. I took a look and it did appear that the barrel deviated slightly to the right of the centerline of the stock. I researched it some and did find a reference that said that the OP had noticed that the barrel on his IZH 61 was not parallel to the stock. I can't really imagine that either of these situations is to be considered normal. Am I right? Is there a simple fix or should the rifle be sent back for exchange? I have read in other parts of this forum that the barrels on some break barrel springers can get bent with misuse but can be corrected. Is it possible to correct the barrel on my friend's IZH 61? or should he just send it back for repair/replacement? The reason I'm asking for him is that I feel a bit responsible for his selection of the IZH 61. I also want to know if this is a common problem perhaps affecting my decision to purchase one. Thanks. Flex

[Geoff]

I only held one of these one time, so may be off

Are the screws tight on the stock ?

If they are, or are not the problem I would send it back.  Nothing worse than getting something defective and trying to make it work.  Every time they shot and missed they would blame it on the gun.

Unless it is a real pain to do, exchange it for another.

Someone that owns one may have a suggestion to fix it and if so, might give that a try.  I would not try bending a barrel on a new rifle, though have done it to an older one I bent by accident.

[ac12]

I would send it back.
On a new rifle, let the dealer deal with it.

[eeler1]

Well, how does it shoot?  That is odd, but the main thing is that the barrel be in line with the sights, or receiver if scoped.  I'd suggest calling Pyramid and if unhappy with it based on the odd look of it, send it back and get a replacement.  These are fun little guns, reasonably priced, and can be quite accurate too with the right pellet, so your recommendation was sound, IMO.

[Flex]

Well, how does it shoot?  That is odd, but the main thing is that the barrel be in line with the sights, or receiver if scoped.  I'd suggest calling Pyramid and if unhappy with it based on the odd look of it, send it back and get a replacement.  These are fun little guns, reasonably priced, and can be quite accurate too with the right pellet, so your recommendation was sound, IMO.

Believe it or not, I'm not sure he's run any pellets thru it yet. Not that much of a stretch really. Holiday Season & nasty weather here in the Upper Midwest (it was -24 F just this morning!) makes for difficult range trials. I'm hoping for a "range report" in the near future tho. Not sure who the vendor was, only that it was an online purchase. I'm guessing Amazon.com. Don't know how they handle returns. Shouldn't have to pay S & H on a defective product IMHO.
I'm agreeing with the "return for replacement" option that others have suggested. Flex

[45Man]

Setup an indoor range.  That's what low power air guns are good for, any weather, any time.

[Flex]

Setup an indoor range.  That's what low power air guns are good for, any weather, any time.

I'm pretty sure that an indoor range is part of his master plan. The guy has a lot of irons in the fire right now and I'm thinkin' that an indoor range isn't very close to the top of the list. While I'm not exactly sure of his motivation to get the IZH rifle at this point in time (other than my recommendation), I know that one of the possible uses for it will be to encourage the local tree rats to hang out elsewhere. A .177 cal pellet moving at less than 500 fps is probably not 100% lethal when applied to a fat squirrel but it may make them think twice about coming back . I did also suggest the Crosman Doomsday Bug-Out Kit but he opted for the Baikal. I see that the 2289 DD B-O Ks are no longer at $69.99 but have gone up ~$10. It's still a decent price. I paid ~$90 for mine last year. I digress.
He did tell me that he was going to send the IZH 61 back for repair of replacement (I don't know what the options are from his vendor). The final outcome will be the determining factor as to whether or not I get one. Flex

[ac12]

Flex
If it breaks skin, even if not lethal, it could/will badly injure the tree rat.
Better dead than crippled or slowly dying.

The 60 or 61 is a great rifle.
Depends on what your use is, if it fits, get it.
I have two of the single shot 60s.

[Flex]

Flex
If it breaks skin, even if not lethal, it could/will badly injure the tree rat.
Better dead than crippled or slowly dying.

The 60 or 61 is a great rifle.
Depends on what your use is, if it fits, get it.
I have two of the single shot 60s.

Now I guess he has a reason to add a more powerful airgun to his wish list!

Personally, I'm on the fence RE: the 60 vs the 61. I like the idea of the 5 shot mag but the mechanism looks like it might be a source of malfunction. I'm used to the single shot mode with most of the rest of my airguns. I'm seeing that the 60 is about $30-$40 less than the 61. I can afford the extra $$ outlay but is it worth it? Flex

[wrecktangle]

I have a 61 and a 60 (Target Pro model). Personally I like the single shot 60 a lot better. The clips on the 61 can be a bit fiddly, in that they don't seem to always line up properly with the breech.

[ac12]

Flex
I'm a target shooter, so the repeaters do not attract me. 
It is just one more thing that can create a problem. 
And that problem is in the loading from the clip into the breach, is there any pellet deformation?
Like a revolver, the clip to breech alignment needs to be very close to avoid pellet deformation.