High end AR’s, diminishing returns, and reliability.

[JEVapa]

I always laugh since the forging and often machining are from the same place

This is untrue. Forgings, yes, machining, no.

 

[Camo]

The problem is performance isn't equal and there's been enough serious reviews done to support that. A poverty pony isn't as good as a lower from LMT or Colt, (Insert your favorite quality built gun here ) . The QC makes the difference as someone else said accurately. Can you build a rifle at home which might be as reliable as a good quality factory built gun? maybe yes, if you know what you're doing; The problem is most people though who home build aren't rifle builders they are snap tite model assemblers who throw an upper on a lower and think because it shot that its as good as a Daniel Defense .

When you buy a well known reputable brand you are buying the QC that goes with it, and yes those reputable manufactures are ideed better at QC than PSA for instance . It doesn't mean that they can't be victim to getting bad parts they can, but its how they identify the problem and stand behind the warranty , etc. Someone else accurately said that PSA will fix it till its right but that they still let a higher percentage of problems out the door . That's been my observations as well along with guns from Aero and others .

As for accuracy claims that depends ... Some manufacturers just use better quality barrels than others do .

Buy Once Cry Once

We are free to buy the brand you want, your choice just stating what I have learned over the decades of building/buying them,

 

[Camo]

This is untrue. Forgings, yes, machining, no.

In some cases…

 

[JEVapa]

In all cases, unless you know who's doing the machining for all these companies that do all their own machining.

 

[Bocephus123]

Never bought a gun to get a return per say.. use it.. and if interest dies i sell it for what i got in it!!!. i sometimes may make 50 but its very rare

 

[KurtM]

Well, not to further this too much, but Nordic Components machines their uppers and lowers and puts several brand names on them for various builders, notice ! I said builders, not manufacturers. Maybe I should say, assemblers.
Just a quick question, how come my friend's LaRue 308 had Grants Pass Oregon stamped on the lower receiver just below the big old LaRue? Last I checked, that's not in Dead Center Texas, and the upper receiver has a big N stamped into the bottom of the rear assembly hole where the receiver pin goes through! Looks to me like two different machining companies that supplied already machined parts to a place "made" in Texas.

 

[Bocephus123]

Well, not to further this too much, but Nordic Components machines their uppers and lowers and puts several brand names on them for various builders, notice ! I said builders, not manufacturers. Maybe I should say, assemblers.
Just a quick question, how come my friend's LaRue 308 had Grants Pass Oregon stamped on the lower receiver just below the big old LaRue? Last I checked, that's not in Dead Center Texas, and the upper receiver has a big N stamped into the bottom of the rear assembly hole where the receiver pin goes through! Looks to me like two different machining companies that supplied already machined parts to a place "made" in Texas.

Bear Creek supplied it!

 

[JEVapa]

Maybe, if it was an OBR from say 15 years ago?? There are few CMs out there that do work...PSA just bought their CMs, Some get tired of waiting for their CMs to make parts for competiors and go buy someone, get a new one with exclusivity, or start inhouse processing. It all depends.

But in the here and now, everything except some small parts are made in Dead Center Texas.

But, I can probably find out the answer to your question.

 

[HoLeChit]

Alright, I think I've figured out a game plan. Is there a solid resource that I can use as a reference to qc my purchase myself? For example, I want torque specs, dimensional specs, the whole nine yards. I don't want some blog post or random forum post found on arf or something, an actual manual or experience would really be ideal. I want to go into this as if I'm a guy who has never touched an AR.

 

[WoodsCraft]

Alright, I think I've figured out a game plan. Is there a solid resource that I can use as a reference to qc my purchase myself? For example, I want torque specs, dimensional specs, the whole nine yards. I don't want some blog post or random forum post found on arf or something, an actual manual or experience would really be ideal. I want to go into this as if I'm a guy who has never touched an AR.

US Army Technical Manual for the M16A2, M4, M4A1