RRA Lower Parts Kit + NEA Lower

themikea

themikea

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Just finished my first stripped lower build. I have the NEA stripped lower and the Rock River Arms lower parts kit, although I replaced the trigger with an Armalite 2 stage match trigger and put on a Magpul MOE+ grip. All the rest of the parts are from the RRA LPK.

Everything seemed to go together fairly well except for the bolt catch roll pin. After watching some videos I was expecting a struggle, and even taped up the lower to avoid scratching it. But the opposite happened. The roll pin slid right in by hand. I double checked I had the right pin, and that everything was seated properly. The bolt catch functions fine, but that pin is worrying me. It looks like under stress it could come out.

Has anyone experienced this kind of issue before? Wondering if it is the pin or the lower that is out of spec. Wish I could easily find just the one replacement pin to try a new one and see. Any thoughts?
 
Thanks, I will drop him a note.

I don't want to make it sound like I am automatically assuming the lower is out of spec. But maybe he might have some more insight into the issue.
 
themikea said:
Thanks, I will drop him a note.

I don't want to make it sound like I am automatically assuming the lower is out of spec. But maybe he might have some more insight into the issue.
Click to expand...

It is out of spec, simply yet another issue with NEA. More details in this thread;

http://www.canadiangunnutz.com/foru...roblem-HELP!&p=8037838&viewfull=1#post8037838
http://www.canadiangunnutz.com/foru...roblem-HELP!&p=8037561&viewfull=1#post8037561
http://www.canadiangunnutz.com/foru...roblem-HELP!&p=8026194&viewfull=1#post8026194
 
Sadly, the hole for the roll pin is (most likely) too big. This has come up before. From what I gather, they will send you a larger diameter roll pin to match the hole. I assume it's still small enough to fit through the bolt stop hole; I've never heard of anyone having problems after they have received the new pin, so I can only assume it solves the problem.
 
Had the same issue with a DPMS LPK and an NEA lower. I just put a little dab of blue loctite on the roll pin and it held in place fine. Any adhesive that you have should work.
 
BooSSted said:
Had the same issue with a DPMS LPK and an NEA lower. I just put a little dab of blue loctite on the roll pin and it held in place fine. Any adhesive that you have should work.
Click to expand...

Hmm that's a thought. Didn't really think of loctite for anything other than threads.
 
Already heard back from Steve @ NEA, talk about support! They are sending me a new roll pin, and told me I could send the lower back to them if that doesn't do it. I'm going to wait for the roll pin and see if that does it before trying anything else.
 
I got the replacement bolt catch roll pin from NEA thanks to Steve and Jeff. It was slightly flared at one end and offered more resistance than the one I had from the RRA LPK. Had to use a punch to drive it in this time and now I'm confident it won't come loose.
 
Not really, it was flared at the ends, and it was larger in diameter overall and split on one side. I should have taken a picture with it beside a regular roll pin to aid the description.

NEA was willing to swap out the lower or install the LPK themselves if it didn't work out, so I am still thankful for the support.
 
This is a known issue and has been present on all 4 of my NEA lowers and I won't be surprised to find it on the fifth I have coming. I flared one end of the pin by pressing the split of the pin into a knife blade and then prying it open a few thou. It is a quick fix and none of the 4 pins I've done this to have backed out.

While their bolt catch pin hole does indeed fit their bolt catch pin just fine...it's straight up out of spec. And they've been notified on several occasions of the problem.

CN_1 linked to my comments on another thread on this same issue.
 
Well unfortunately the replacement bolt catch pin that NEA sent me backed out today while firing the rifle. This is after several hundred rounds through it, but today I was using some hotter ammo. I guess it was a good test to ensure nothing else was loose. :)

Realized the bolt was stuck shut, and then noticed my BAD lever was loose. Luckily I was able to find the pin and get the bolt catch out of the way. I was able to get the pin back in to keep the bolt catch in place. Will have to try flaring it a little more at the edges and maybe trying some loctite this time around.
 
There is no simple way to fix an oversized hole. Your best option is probably to get a replacement. Other than welding and redrilling, or drilling it bigger and putting a tiny bushing in there its not fixable AFAIK.
 
Ya, I'm going to try one last fix but also contact NEA again at the same time and see what they are willing to do.
 
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