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    AR parts quality

    So, as I mentioned in this thread:
    https://www.longislandgunclub.com/fo...floral-park-pd

    Just because an AR part is US made "mil-spec", does not mean it's good. Much to the detriment of some friends/members best intentions, I tend to go cheap on certain gun stuff in general, AR's in particular. (Sorry, Ed)

    Before anybody jumps all over my shit, I've learned the error of my ways. Here are a couple of issues I've had in the last year or so:

    Anderson LPK, assembled in an Anderson lower. The mag release hangs up like crazy. Email Anderson, and they just ask for an address, and send a new mag release, no questions asked. Old one is visibly long. +1 for Anderson. BTW, Anderson LPK's look suspiciously like CMMG's. They come in a small cardboard box, with the parts in small, different colored plastic bags. Anderson deflected the question when asked.

    One of the parts I swapped in the above linked thread was a brand new, out-of-the-box stripped upper that I diverted from another project. Assembled it all up, and the ejection port dust cover/door will not stay closed, even though the same door functioned as intended on the old upper. No problem I figured, I have a brand new PSA one. Does the exact same thing. Upon closer inspection, the door is not sitting square. Again, email Anderson, but this time they ask for a proof of purchase. No problem. I fwd the invoice from AIM, to Anderson, new one on the way, with a call tag to return the old one. +2 for Anderson's customer service, -2 for their QC.

    AR all built up, got a cheap FF handguard from Scamazon. Trinity Force, made in China, under $40. What...a...piece...of...crap. Admittedly didn't expect much, but wow. Airsoft quality at best. Rail not even close to lining up with the upper. Pinch bolts clamp down uneven, does not sit square on it's own barrel nut. Looked good, felt good, worked like crapola. Ran out of front sight elevation adjustment. Junk. Never again.

    Last one: New US made UTG FF handguard. Huuuge difference over the TF. Well worth the +2X the price. No issues. Off to the range, and the AR is almost certainly under gassed. Take off the clamp-on gas block, and the soot ring is almost perfectly over the port, so that's not the issue. What was the issue was the hole drilled in the US made, mil-spec gas tube was under sized. I believe the brand name was Rousch. Now unavailable on Scamazon. If the spec I found on Arfcom is to be believed, It was supposed to be 0.125". Opened it up, and the gun ran like a top on Tula yesterday.

    Lesson learned. Hope this saves somebody else some grief.
    Steve

    #2
    "Lesson learned. Hope this saves somebody else some grief."

    I tried to save you all this grief in the first place. Glad it's finally working out for you.

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      #3
      I thought Anderson and CMMG made decent quality components? Guess not.
      “Justice will not be served until those who are unaffected are as outraged as those who are." - Benjamin Franklin

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        #4
        Pay once ..,

        Comment


          #5
          Originally posted by SlowTime View Post
          "Lesson learned. Hope this saves somebody else some grief."

          I tried to save you all this grief in the first place. Glad it's finally working out for you.
          Yes you did, and I thank you.

          I'm a little slow on the uptake sometimes. But I did learn a decent amount about fixing AR's in the process, so it wasn't a total waste of time.


          Steve

          Comment


            #6
            Originally posted by sheeple View Post
            I thought Anderson and CMMG made decent quality components? Guess not.
            CMMG has had some issues in the past. The CS can be hit or miss. I had one of their stainless steel lower parts kits and it had a couple of unusable parts in it. Not an issue for me as I always have spare parts around. But to a new builder it could be a lot of frustration. Turns out they sent out a bunch of problem LPK's at that time and were no help replacing parts.

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              #7
              This is the kind of thing that concerned me with my first build. Not knowing any better, I didn't want to try to cut corners and run into problems as a result. So I went with what, at least, I thought were tried and true components of decent quality, without too much concern with cost. I wasn't gonna pay top dollar for Noveske and the like but I was willing to pay just a little more.

              I don't know but I have to think there's a quality difference between a $39 Anderson lower and an $85 LRB or $115 Spikes. QC just has to be better. I don't see how it's possible to forge, machine finish, anodize, inspect and ship a lower for $40 and still make money. But I know I'll get an argument from lots of people who have built from Anderson lowers and had no issues.

              My build went as well as I could have hoped. I only had one minor issue with the Thordsen stock which was easily remedied.
              Give a man fire, and he stays warm for one night. Set a man on fire, and he stays warm for the rest of his life.

              Comment


                #8
                Well not always true

                My Spikes lower had quality control issues that made it past their inspection process and is was not a "blem"

                I like using Rock River lower parts kits with their 2 stage trigger. Roll pins go in without beating them with a 20 pound hammer.

                Ar15sales.com has them at a very good price

                Comment


                  #9
                  Originally posted by Shotgun View Post
                  Well not always true

                  My Spikes lower had quality control issues that made it past their inspection process and is was not a "blem"

                  I like using Rock River lower parts kits with their 2 stage trigger. Roll pins go in without beating them with a 20 pound hammer.

                  Ar15sales.com has them at a very good price


                  Those are pretty good prices on RRA. Thanks, I haven't seen that site until now. (Please post links next time.)
                  Give a man fire, and he stays warm for one night. Set a man on fire, and he stays warm for the rest of his life.

                  Comment


                    #10
                    Originally posted by BLAMMO!! View Post



                    Those are pretty good prices on RRA. Thanks, I haven't seen that site until now. (Please post links next time.)
                    That site is owned by Pete, I dealt with him a few times over the years. Good guy and usually has the best prices on anything RRA.

                    Comment


                      #11
                      Well, back again. One cheap part (with a purpose), one not so cheap part, one average price part.

                      Bought a Tennessee Arms hybrid polymer lower, strictly for weight savings. Building a lightweight AR for the 5' 0" wife. It won't see much use. If the lower has a problem, it becomes a lamp, and I pull an aluminum one from the stash. Mocked up with different stock, It's a bit over 5 pounds 2 ounces. ResizedImage_1482203907418.jpg



                      (Not a flash hider, that's a fluted thread protector) ResizedImage_1482203906900.jpg






                      What's the issue you may ask? Well, this (FF to 2;30)



                      If you look at the Comments, apparently the company knew about the issue, but there is no mention of it anywhere on TN Arm's site. Would have been nice. Have to send it back on my dime. Yes, could have done it myself, but there was also a different issue with a second lower I ordered (a burr in the buffer threads, and I don't have the tap), so I figured I'd have them fix everything. $6 to send it back is better than running around.

                      Now onto that fixed stock. An Ace ARFX-E shorty. IIRC, about $90+ ship from JSE Surplus. Should be a little lighter than the collapsible type I mocked it up with. The issue is, it uses a unique to the stock buffer tube. It is an A2 type, but in carbine length. This is why it wouldn't thread into the lower: IMG_20161129_215029_068.jpg






                      It looks like stripped aluminum, but it's just washed out by the flash. It was anodized that way. Called the manufacturer figuring they would end up with it anyway, they blew me off to JSE. JSE tells me to contact the manufacturer. JSE ended up making it right.

                      While I was at it, the mushroom on the PSA gas tube was oversized, and had to be tapped through the upper, and did not fit into the gas key. A call to PSA (with a long hold) and they are shipping a new one and don't want the old one back.

                      Before I got through to PSA, I ordered a new gas tube from JSE and asked them to put it in the box with the new buffer tube. The agreed, and saved me the shipping. Well, the shipping department did not get the note, and did not put them in the box with the buffer tube. JSE emailed me to tell me, and shipped them out for free anyway.

                      With any luck, this project that started in October will be done in January.
                      Steve

                      Comment


                        #12
                        You really do have the worst luck with AR's. And Glock 21's, but thats another issue.

                        Comment


                          #13
                          Originally posted by SlowTime View Post
                          You really do have the worst luck with AR's. And Glock 21's, but thats another issue.
                          And yet I like them both. Go figure.

                          Eventually they all get beaten into submission, and end up working the way they should. Part of the hobby for me I guess. Otherwise it risks becoming boring,

                          God constantly likes to prove to me that he has a sense of humor.
                          Steve

                          Comment


                            #14
                            Ive never had problems with anderson or cmmg.

                            However I try and use Battle Arms Development parts when I can swing the $$$

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