Is RAW still a reliable company?

Hello all, 

I sent an inquiry through their website and received no answer. Then I called the number listed on their website and spoke with an employee who was not able to answer any questions about the HM100x. This person made it very clear that RAW was bottom priority for the new ownership. I said that I was looking to purchase a high-end PCP, have shot the Crown and thought I might go with the RAW if it appeared to be the better choice.

She reassured me that the RAW is much better than the FX guns but couldn't tell me why. She wrote down all of my questions and said she would find the answers and get back to me. I asked if I could speak with Martin- she said no but that she would get the answers for me. I have not had a return call. This experience seems to be opposite what I have read about RAW prior to the sale.

So while RAW appears to have always made a fine product, it does not appear that you can get ahold of actual RAW people any longer. The TX-located employee was rather rude and uniformed, didn't return my call, and didn't have any useful info. 

Thoughts? Any one else have such experiences?
 
Here’s my thoughts( FWIW!) RAW is stll producing a very excellent product, your just dealing with a middle man now and the people at Airforce have to relay tech. Questions etc. back to Sandra or Martin and wait for there answer/ information..., another approach would be to contact Ken Hicks at SPAW he advertises on this forum he can answer any questions you have and he will order it for you or guide you! 
 
The RAWS have a relatively simple trouble free built like a tank design, I can't imagine anyone screwing it up if they have the proper machining equipment. I heard stories about Martin opening up a tuning shop like how Ben Taylor did so he can be the Earnest Rowe of RAW guns if ever needed. Can't personally see any need for that though come to think of it...

That lady that gave you the answer has to do her job to keep you interested in buying her employer's product.

If you don't want to tinker then I suggest you buy the RAW and be advised they are pretty heavy guns with less o-rings.



CA
 
Hi, me too interesting with their .35 cal but couldn’t get enough info regarding order wait time, proper pricing, maintenance and warranty info. I’ve been browsing the web for more info but no luck yet
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Stay with a 30, it seems already MAXED OUT in 30. I have one.

ABSOLUTELY ZERO PROBLEMS to date with any of my RAW guns.


CA
 
Hello all, 

I sent an inquiry through their website and received no answer. Then I called the number listed on their website and spoke with an employee who was not able to answer any questions about the HM100x. This person made it very clear that RAW was bottom priority for the new ownership. I said that I was looking to purchase a high-end PCP, have shot the Crown and thought I might go with the RAW if it appeared to be the better choice.

She reassured me that the RAW is much better than the FX guns but couldn't tell me why. She wrote down all of my questions and said she would find the answers and get back to me. I asked if I could speak with Martin- she said no but that she would get the answers for me. I have not had a return call. This experience seems to be opposite what I have read about RAW prior to the sale.

So while RAW appears to have always made a fine product, it does not appear that you can get ahold of actual RAW people any longer. The TX-located employee was rather rude and uniformed, didn't return my call, and didn't have any useful info. 

Thoughts? Any one else have such experiences?

PM sent.
 
Although Martin and Sandra sold the company, they still build the rifles at the same facility in TN. However, all the marketing goes through AirForce. Owning one of these rifles is worth any hassle or wait you have to endure.

I've been told that while some or the parts are being manufactured but AirForce, Martin still builds the guns and inspects said parts. Making your purchase thru SPAW provides a 2nd level is testing to ensure everything is right. The last sentence in JW's comment above is the Gods honest truth! Uj
 
Martin's new company is Airguns-USA, 931-638-0241. As stated above, he is still building the rifles, and I believe his intention is to remain active in tuning and customizing for, I think, both RAW and other rifles. I have no inside information regarding his transaction with the Texas folks, and I hope he remains the driving force with the RAW rifles. From my career in business, I know that the acquiring company often makes commitments to the seller that do not prove forthcoming. If Martin remains in charge of RAW production and its quality control, it will continue to be a great product. I have owned and shot a lot of air rifles, recently bought an FX Crown, my first FX rifle. I think it will be a fun rifle, and very versatile, but not in the same class as RAW in terms of precision accuracy and durability. RAW is a simple but very effective design. The Crown has a lot of bells and whistles that sell, but I doubt you will see many taking trophies from RAW shooters. When you consider the FX construction, involving a barrel sleeve, barrel liner, movable shroud, and all the associated attachments, you have about 6 times as many parts that need to be controlled, not the best recipe for precision accuracy. I'm not knocking the Crown, as I mentioned, I just bought one, but they are indeed two different rifles. If i were a serious competitor, RAW and Steyr would be as far as I would look. 
 
I want to share something-even at the risk that things go the wrong direction or the focus of my comments my lead to 'spin off' conversation, etc.-because Pepperchops asked the question, I feel compelled to not remain quiet on this one, so here goes...

Firstly: I have never met Martin in person and I don't know him personally, etc. I'm not any sort of rep or anything weird, etc that way-just a simple customer for the past couple years when I bought my first RAW from him (50 ft-lb .25 cal HM1000x). After being thrilled with my first purchase, I sought out a second gun from Martin and discussed many options with him via email. In the end, I decided the best, most economical option was to send him my gun back and have him re-machine it to convert it to a 60 ft-lb .25 cal with a LW polygon barrel setup. While it was there, I asked him to set it up to have a .30 cal barrel and probe that I could swap over at will-but to leave it optimized for .25 cal (if he had to choose settings). He did so, and the results have been phenomenal ever since I've received it back from him. I've shot many, many 5 shot groups in the .200-.300 range at 50 yards in both calibers. I've shot a best of .180" 5 shot group at 50 yards with the .30 cal barrel, only to follow it up with a .230" 5 shot group (same day too!) at 75 yards-stunning performances, especially since it was simply pulling JSB pellets out of the tin-unweighed, unwashed, unsorted, etc. 

I finally contacted Martin about setting up a BR stock for me to be able to shoot dedicated benchrest with my HM1000x setup in a true BR stock. I finally placed an order through one of the dealers and 'did my time' waiting many, many months for the new stock to arrive (stock ordered in March, received on 10/31). I knew it would be worth the wait for the stock since Martin and crew have done such fabulous work for me and others previously. I had Martin custom make my BR stock 1" shorter in LOP (like I had him make my LRT stock), using a custom color (blue/grey laminate) with an adjustable comb.

The day it arrived, was an emotionally mixed day: I unpackaged the stock and it was beyond what I had expected in terms of how absolutely stunning the color came out, the finish of the stock, and the quality of the workmanship-absolutely stunning! Everything was going phenomenal until the moment I went to install my action into it-then my heart sunk: the stock was made for a 'non-X' action, rather than the 'X' action (there's a 1" difference in action lengths between the two). I was shocked and immediately contacted the dealer, dismayed.

It turns out there was (obviously) a mis-communication in the line of communications from me back to Martin on exactly what I had wanted-and the gun was made for a traditional HM/TM/BM action.

However, as soon as this made it back to Martin things took a turn for the better. Within a short while (I forget if it was the next day, or when exactly-but it wasn't long after), while a work, my phone rang: it was Martin on the other end, personally apologizing for the mix up in the order! Martin then went on to promise me they would make it 'right' for me and offered to have me send back the stock and they would expedite a new stock, as I had originally specified, for my HM1000X action. I spent a few minutes and talked to Martin about several options and told him I was really appreciative, but wanted to sleep on it to see what I really wanted to do. I told him I would email him back in a day or so with my decision.

Well, I went home and looked at the stock again-the quality of the workmanship was just outstanding, and the color seemed to glow from the blue in the laminate. To be honest: I simply didn't want to part with the stock. Now I was certain that Martin and his craftsman could make me a new stock-but the way the laminate colors came through in this one-I just didn't want to lose this particular beauty.

I emailed Martin back and began a several day dialog to ask what options I had to put an action into the stock I had in my possession. I ended up telling him I wanted something that is no longer available (a silver action, with Ti shroud). What took place next tells me all I need to know about Martin: he said he didn't have any more in his inventory, but he offered to get me setup with a BM500 action in silver (like I wanted) and in .177 cal polygon-it was going to take a bit of work, but he was going to do what it took to set me up with a setup that I really wanted to help make things right for me! Talk about customer service and support!

So, I share this all to make this point known publicly: all of this happened 'post AF purchase of RAW' and Martin is still at the heart of the operation, there to make sure the customers are fully satisfied with their decision to buy a RAW. I have zero doubt that Martin will do whatever it takes to personally see to it that any customer satisfaction issues are dealt with in a way that continues on RAW's excellent reputation for quality moving into the future. My story is just one of (I'm sure) many others that Martin's customers have.

Martin-post 'AF sale'-has gone the extra mile to ensure his customers are happy. For me, what started off as a major 'hiccup' has turned into a situation with a very happy outcome.

Ok, with all that said, I also want to say that 'elh0102' is correct: Martin has a new business at airguns-usa.com (I pm'd the OP about it privately, not wanting to flood Martin with communications if he didn't want them...) and Martin has been in communications with me through those contact information. I don't know what his new policy is regarding customer interactions; I don't know what restrictions he has on him with the buyout, etc. so I can't guarantee he will be accessible. What I do know is that his products have been absolutely solid for me and totally-maintenance free for my past years of ownership.

I would not hesistate one minute to buy or recommend another RAW product-even after the AF buyout. At the heart of the RAW lineup stands a man who's willing to do whatever is needed to ensure his brand carries on with the fine reputation he's instilled into it, and a man who's willing to pour out his every last effort to take care of his customers. To me, that is absolutely priceless and I'm more than willing to pay the money for those products-and patiently wait for the craftsmen to work their magic...



Sean


 
👏 BRAVO! 👏

A little disappointed to be honest regarding my RAW HM1000X 30 cal. because I really thought mine in particular was special.

I was so very wrong! I really thought MINE was a fluke! Until just now!

Yours is getting the same average groups mine does 1/4" at 50 yards with JSBs straight out of the tins too!!!

I really can't describe the feeling I have, is it jealousy or ??? I thought NO ONE ELSES 30 RAW would be as accurate as MINE!

Havent taken out in the field for longer range testing, it is just too PRETTY!

ARE THEY ALL THIS CRAZY STUPID ACCURATE??? SHEESH!!!

Sorry if I offended anyone, really not my intension here, dont mean to be rude and all...just thinking out loud...

I do however feel happy for you because I honestly know EXACTLY how you feel whenever you shoot your RAW.

FYI When you weigh and sort them you can get ONE HOLERS at 50, no not a ragged hole, ONE HOLE.

CA