First AR lower build, having parts issues

I get your sentiment about wanting to support Canadian companies. However, I also like the peace of mind knowing that if I build with an outstanding LPK like DD for example, it's going to install flawlessly when paired with a good milspec lower. I've built dozens of AR's, and I stick with a formula that works when it comes to procuring components. At the end of the day the gun has to be able to serve a purpose, starting off with out of spec cheap parts is not going to manifest itself into being a gun I could stake my life on. This is the exact reason I avoid a lot of the riff raff, Canadian or not.

As I said, all manufacturers have had issues. If every company that had an issue was written off we wouldn't even be talking about ar's. Having said that, I'll get it sorted, run it and then decide whether or not it's something I'd stake my life on. The upper from the bcg forward is Colt Canada, so I don't see myself having a lot of issues but I guess I'll find out soon.
 
You're not wrong. There's also something to be said for giving a little guy a chance as they all had to start from nothing somewhere along the way. I contacted them, the issue was explained to me, and it'll be sorted out. There isn't a single manufacturer who hasn't/doesn't make mistakes. At least with a manufacturer who's in the same area code as me I know the hassles of replacement parts are going to be fairly minimal. As of right now the only parts going into my gun that aren't of Canadian origin, Ontario to be more specific, are my Raptor charging handle, and the Magpul stock and grip. Maybe the chance of extra hassles makes it not worth it for other people, and that's fair, but I like the idea of supporting Canadian manufacturers, and in turn their employees when I have the ability to.

I'm still on the fence on S&J Personally, I'm glad they're going to resolve it for you without too much hassle, they tried to hold my "cheap" lower responsible for the fitment issue at first even though I indicated their pins wouldn't even fit their included disconnector. It also took them over 30 days for me to receive my new pins, I wasn't the only one that it took so long for. Hopefully your pins get to you a whole lot faster than mine did and you can complete your lower quickly. I too like the idea of supporting Canadian manufacturers which is why I chose them for my LPK; however, knowing what I know now and with the issues I had with mine between the bolt pin catch being a pain, and needing replacement trigger/hammer pins and a replacement ambi selector as the first one I had wouldn't rotate at all it would have been faster for me to purchase something else that would have worked right away and would have completed my build at least a month earlier.
 
Exactly, buy from a manufacturer who isn't undergoing these types of growing pains. DD, Colt, Spikes, BCM, ALG, CC the list goes on...
 
I'm still on the fence on S&J Personally, I'm glad they're going to resolve it for you without too much hassle, they tried to hold my "cheap" lower responsible for the fitment issue at first even though I indicated their pins wouldn't even fit their included disconnector. It also took them over 30 days for me to receive my new pins, I wasn't the only one that it took so long for. Hopefully your pins get to you a whole lot faster than mine did and you can complete your lower quickly. I too like the idea of supporting Canadian manufacturers which is why I chose them for my LPK; however, knowing what I know now and with the issues I had with mine between the bolt pin catch being a pain, and needing replacement trigger/hammer pins and a replacement ambi selector as the first one I had wouldn't rotate at all it would have been faster for me to purchase something else that would have worked right away and would have completed my build at least a month earlier.

I'm going to give them a try and see how it goes. I'm fairly certain they've been reading this thread because when I got a hold of them and mentioned the 2 issues I was having he knew which grip I had even though I hadn't mentioned it in the email, lol. What was the issue you had with the bolt catch pin? Just difficult to install, or another issue entirely? I'm still unsure about the ambi selector I have. It seems stiff, and I don't really feel a positive notching when it gets to a position, but I'll get it all together before casting judgement.

My guess is that I've simply gotten one of the old packages with the bum parts that have since been replaced at S&J, but apparently not with their retailers who stock them.
 
I'm going to give them a try and see how it goes. I'm fairly certain they've been reading this thread because when I got a hold of them and mentioned the 2 issues I was having he knew which grip I had even though I hadn't mentioned it in the email, lol. What was the issue you had with the bolt catch pin? Just difficult to install, or another issue entirely? I'm still unsure about the ambi selector I have. It seems stiff, and I don't really feel a positive notching when it gets to a position, but I'll get it all together before casting judgement.

My guess is that I've simply gotten one of the old packages with the bum parts that have since been replaced at S&J, but apparently not with their retailers who stock them.

My roll catch pin didn't go in smoothly it only went half in and got stuck, and mine wasn't the only one, several other members here also had problems with their bolt catch pins. The grip screw came up when I was talking to them about my selector and it not rotating and to make sure I was using the magpul screw and not theirs and the washer which i was. My ambi wasn't stiff it wouldn't rotate at all. Don't get me wrong new manufactures are always welcome but the consumer shouldn't be their testers. Yes I understand they can't prepare for every combination of lower and parts, but their own parts should fit each other without any issues for example their trigger pin should fit through their disconnector without problems.

I managed to force the roll pin in but in the process I scratched up my receiver pretty badly which I'm still annoyed at myself at and the new trigger/hammer pins and ambi selector work a lot better than the ones that came with original kit. The ambi's a little stiff but at least it rotates now.

That's interesting that S&J knew that they had bum LPK's out there but i wonder if they recalled them from the other retailers or if they're letting the other retailers deal with it.
 
That's a fair question. I emailed them directly because I knew there'd been an issue. There could be a variety of reasons why I received an old kit (assuming I did in fact receive an old kit) but you're correct for thinking it shouldn't still be happening.
 
If everyone does that, there will be no new manufacturers.

Not to sound smug, but ask me if I care about pumping money into products with zero long term track record for quality and reliability. For a few bucks more you could buy an LPK that won'the be out of spec.

Buy once cry once...
 
Not to sound smug, but ask me if I care about pumping money into products with zero long term track record for quality and reliability. For a few bucks more you could buy an LPK that won'the be out of spec.

Buy once cry once...

That saying really only applies to people cutting corners because saving a buck is their top priority.

I'm also not asking you to do anything.
 
Actually I think "Buy once, cry once" does apply here. Both of the products you mention use much the same marketing; buy Canadian, buy at a low price". I have given both of the producers you mention a try and have NOT been happy.

Buying at a reduced price and beating the patriotic Canadian drum means nothing when you run into problems like you have. Out of spec parts suck.

I stick with companies like Spikes, Colt and Daniel Defense when dealing with parts interchangeability. Never had an issue. Stuff like this isn't supposed to give you headaches. It's supposed to be easy
 
Actually I think "Buy once, cry once" does apply here. Both of the products you mention use much the same marketing; buy Canadian, buy at a low price". I have given both of the producers you mention a try and have NOT been happy.

Buying at a reduced price and beating the patriotic Canadian drum means nothing when you run into problems like you have. Out of spec parts suck.

I stick with companies like Spikes, Colt and Daniel Defense when dealing with parts interchangeability. Never had an issue. Stuff like this isn't supposed to give you headaches. It's supposed to be easy

I haven't heard "buy at a low price" from either of those manufacturers, and their prices certainly don't reflect that.
 
I haven't heard "buy at a low price" from either of those manufacturers, and their prices certainly don't reflect that.

When NEA first started on CGN, they were priced far lower than everybody except for Norinco. The market has drastically changed which has now priced them out of the bargain category. They can't compete with the quality of anybody in their price range (or in my opinion, anybody). So the only selling point they have left is the "buy Canadian" segment.

S&J has very competitively priced items. I cannot comment as to their quality since I never received any of their products. I have other issues with them that need not be rehashed here.
 
When NEA first started on CGN, they were priced far lower than everybody except for Norinco. The market has drastically changed which has now priced them out of the bargain category. They can't compete with the quality of anybody in their price range (or in my opinion, anybody). So the only selling point they have left is the "buy Canadian" segment.

This is obviously a very small sample size, but the first time I went out shooting AR's there were 5 NEA's and a Noveske. Only one of the guns had issues.
 
And why was the Noveske not ejecting or feeding?

Incidentally, if I found that a couple of pins were oversized, I would just polish them down.
 
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