NEA AR-15; A good first AR-15?
- Thread starter chicu1981
- Start date
Travis Bickle
CGN Ultra frequent flyer
- Location
- Upper Lower Middle Alberta
I've shot many an AR, from Bushmaster to Norinco to NEA last weekend at the range to actual Diemaco and Colts in full auto lol
They're all about the same in all honestly, I never saw one that didn't go bang when you pulled the trigger, reload another round and put a bullet in an acceptable group given design of rifle and cartridge.
I have to say a lot of the arguments I see over the AR15 platform are like two guys arguing over which brand of beer is better, or which hockey team is better, or whose dad can beat up whose dad lol It's like consumer brand identification with these things that borders on the absurd.
I personally will be buying a Norinco because, like I said, I've shot many an AR15 and the Norinco works just as well as any of them and it's dirt cheap price wise. Who cares if it isn't "pretty" fit and finish wise? I guess if you buy guns to take pictures of on silk cloth instead of shooting the 5hit out of them? lol
They're all about the same in all honestly, I never saw one that didn't go bang when you pulled the trigger, reload another round and put a bullet in an acceptable group given design of rifle and cartridge.
I have to say a lot of the arguments I see over the AR15 platform are like two guys arguing over which brand of beer is better, or which hockey team is better, or whose dad can beat up whose dad lol It's like consumer brand identification with these things that borders on the absurd.
I personally will be buying a Norinco because, like I said, I've shot many an AR15 and the Norinco works just as well as any of them and it's dirt cheap price wise. Who cares if it isn't "pretty" fit and finish wise? I guess if you buy guns to take pictures of on silk cloth instead of shooting the 5hit out of them? lol
I've been avoiding chiming in on NEA threads but I think someone needs to at least get this back from the past.. Lots has changed; They've been shipping with milspec stocks for quite a while. The parts kits and BCG's are a domestic. I can't remember the last time I saw them release a rifle that was poorly finished and their latest quad rails are secured underneath and have a QD point at the fore and aft of the rail. Barrels and Bolt carriers are nitrided with a procedure that makes it almost impossible for carbon to bond to them and virtually impervious to salt water corrosion. Not bad for a rifle priced at what they are. And the only complaint on here lately is that when people ask a NEA question the haters now have to tell them to expand their search to 1-3 years ago.
Last I spoke with them they expanded once again with more machines, more staff and have a client list that would make any AR company in this economy envious. In fact they're sitting in their booth at IWA in Nuremberg right now. I'd say they've been doing pretty good for a Flash in the Pan company.
They've always learned from their mistakes and never gave up. You've got to give them that.
.. I should have bought stock when I was with them. But all I have are these naked pictures of Jeff in the shop. Oh well. Savings Bonds are just as good.
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actually that is wrong again. Anyone who is critical of NEA is smacked with infractions until they stop. I have given up saying anything, as have numerous others....oh wait thats cause they are now banned.
and as we all know, if you search for the failure of NEA going back 3 years will do SFA, the majority of them are gone, much like NEA's online presence here.
I will give them this....i have no t seen a failure thread in at least a few weeks, maybe more. So i guess they are getting better slowly.
Mine has yet to go down during service conditions, both in rifle, CQB, and clinics, not to mention whenever I get out to shoot it recreationally.
It shoots 1-1/4" groups with my handloads, and I love it.
I've changed out the grip, stock, and the trigger group, as, mine was a first run gun with bad trigger components. Not a big deal when you figure how little I've put into it. Was that ordeal a pain? Not really. I bought a lower parts kit and had the gun up and running in no time. I ended up donating the rest of the parts to my co-host so he can build a gun.
The only issue I have is that I currently don't have a spare bolt. I really should being as I'm competing with it, but, has it been reliable? 100%. Seriously. 100%. I have no doubt that the new guns are a seriously good buy, given what they learned with those of us who gave them a chance over a year ago.
Are there other guns? Yes. Should you consider them? Yes. Look at what you want the gun to come with from the MFG, then decide what works for your budget. If I had to do it all over again, I'd buy another NEA. They work, they look great, and now that they've changed their rail, we shouldn't hear any more whining about the tabs on both sides of the rail. Me? I don't care. I love the rail either way, and it was a lot nicer than what other guns in that price range came with.
If you can find one locally to handle, then you should. There's a lot of options to choose from, and this sub-forum has a lot of fans for a lot of brands, but, I honestly don't think you'd be making a bad choice buying a new production NEA.
Their barrels are hands down better than any gun you'll find for anywhere near their pricepoint as well, and that's one thing everyone around here will agree on.
My only real complaint? They don't include a magazine with the rifle.
They might be the only company in the history of firearms to actually sell a rifle that you can't use out of the box, on account of having to make an additional purchase before you can use it.
That's just plain ignorance in my opinion, and should have been dealt with for their consumer driven sales, either at the shop, or through their distributor....
It shoots 1-1/4" groups with my handloads, and I love it.
I've changed out the grip, stock, and the trigger group, as, mine was a first run gun with bad trigger components. Not a big deal when you figure how little I've put into it. Was that ordeal a pain? Not really. I bought a lower parts kit and had the gun up and running in no time. I ended up donating the rest of the parts to my co-host so he can build a gun.
The only issue I have is that I currently don't have a spare bolt. I really should being as I'm competing with it, but, has it been reliable? 100%. Seriously. 100%. I have no doubt that the new guns are a seriously good buy, given what they learned with those of us who gave them a chance over a year ago.
Are there other guns? Yes. Should you consider them? Yes. Look at what you want the gun to come with from the MFG, then decide what works for your budget. If I had to do it all over again, I'd buy another NEA. They work, they look great, and now that they've changed their rail, we shouldn't hear any more whining about the tabs on both sides of the rail. Me? I don't care. I love the rail either way, and it was a lot nicer than what other guns in that price range came with.
If you can find one locally to handle, then you should. There's a lot of options to choose from, and this sub-forum has a lot of fans for a lot of brands, but, I honestly don't think you'd be making a bad choice buying a new production NEA.
Their barrels are hands down better than any gun you'll find for anywhere near their pricepoint as well, and that's one thing everyone around here will agree on.
My only real complaint? They don't include a magazine with the rifle.
They might be the only company in the history of firearms to actually sell a rifle that you can't use out of the box, on account of having to make an additional purchase before you can use it.
That's just plain ignorance in my opinion, and should have been dealt with for their consumer driven sales, either at the shop, or through their distributor....
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- Location
- Fraser Valley BC
I've been avoiding chiming in on NEA threads but I think someone needs to at least get this back from the past.. Lots has changed; They've been shipping with milspec stocks for quite a while. The parts kits and BCG's are a domestic. I can't remember the last time I saw them release a rifle that was poorly finished and their latest quad rails are secured underneath and have a QD point at the fore and aft of the rail. Barrels and Bolt carriers are nitrided with a procedure that makes it almost impossible for carbon to bond to them and virtually impervious to salt water corrosion. Not bad for a rifle priced at what they are. And the only complaint on here lately is that when people ask a NEA question the haters now have to tell them to expand their search to 1-3 years ago.
Last I spoke with them they expanded once again with more machines, more staff and have a client list that would make any AR company in this economy envious. In fact they're sitting in their booth at IWA in Nuremberg right now. I'd say they've been doing pretty good for a Flash in the Pan company.
They've always learned from their mistakes and never gave up. You've got to give them that.
.. I should have bought stock when I was with them. But all I have are these naked pictures of Jeff in the shop. Oh well. Savings Bonds are just as good.
"They used to suck, but they might not suck now" is hardly a ringing endorsement of NEA.
Just because you can't tell the difference doesn't mean there isn't one. And yes, there most definitely is. For example, ensuring the proper grade of fasteners is used for the bolt carrier key, or even proper staking of the key. Or HP and MPI testing. It's not about fit and finish.
Runningfool
CGN Ultra frequent flyer
- Location
- SW Ontario
I'm still trying to wrap my head around this. So these infractions and bans you speak of are due to either:
a) CGN's attempt to silence criticism of a company that isn't even a board sponsor; CGN is essentially censoring posts and banning members to protect a company that has no financial or other ties to CGN.
or
b) infractions have been handed out to those people trolling, baiting, stirring the pot every time NEA is mentioned.
And you are would have us believe a)? Seems a little tinfoilish to me but as a former moderator, you would know more about the behind-the-scenes than most.
Travis Bickle
CGN Ultra frequent flyer
- Location
- Upper Lower Middle Alberta
Sure, I'm just some idiot who has no idea what he's talking about....
To me "proper staking" of the gas key means I can shoot a thousand rounds through it and it keeps working. If it keeps working and does what it's supposed to, then who cares?
lol So some brands are not magnetic particle inspected? And what, are they are going to explode or shatter into a hundred pieces? Has this happened ever? Are there numerous documented past incidents that would even warrant a shred of concern on a general scale? Give me a break.
actually that is wrong again. Anyone who is critical of NEA is smacked with infractions until they stop. I have given up saying anything, as have numerous others....oh wait thats cause they are now banned.
and as we all know, if you search for the failure of NEA going back 3 years will do SFA, the majority of them are gone, much like NEA's online presence here.
I will give them this....i have no t seen a failure thread in at least a few weeks, maybe more. So i guess they are getting better slowly.
Absolutely and I know from first hand experience.
The handguard is a big improvement. It looks decent now.
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I've been avoiding chiming in on NEA threads but I think someone needs to at least get this back from the past.. Lots has changed; They've been shipping with milspec stocks for quite a while. The parts kits and BCG's are a domestic. I can't remember the last time I saw them release a rifle that was poorly finished and their latest quad rails are secured underneath and have a QD point at the fore and aft of the rail. Barrels and Bolt carriers are nitrided with a procedure that makes it almost impossible for carbon to bond to them and virtually impervious to salt water corrosion. Not bad for a rifle priced at what they are. And the only complaint on here lately is that when people ask a NEA question the haters now have to tell them to expand their search to 1-3 years ago.
Last I spoke with them they expanded once again with more machines, more staff and have a client list that would make any AR company in this economy envious. In fact they're sitting in their booth at IWA in Nuremberg right now. I'd say they've been doing pretty good for a Flash in the Pan company.
They've always learned from their mistakes and never gave up. You've got to give them that.
.. I should have bought stock when I was with them. But all I have are these naked pictures of Jeff in the shop. Oh well. Savings Bonds are just as good.
Yup I've noted the changes. I mentioned hearing they have milspec stocks now. I've also mentioned on other threads that I like the look of the new handguard. The rest seems good except for the DPMS consumer grade 6061 for the lower. Upper and lower should be 7075 for what is starting to become a higher grade product. It wouldn't surprise me to see that in a year or so. They're improving the product and eventually it will probably be something I would consider buying. In other words it's becoming what I wanted when they were first announced.
DMcFaul: I have to be careful with your "learning from their mistakes" comment. In some cases I'll agree. We'll leave it at that. I have to also state that I feel as if I'm in a straight jacket when answering your posts while on this forum due to the tendency of anyone not pulling the company line being handed warnings, infractions and or bans.
On a positive note I'm glad to hear positive consumer experiences other than "they have awesome customer service". Glad to hear it and with a few more changes I might someday consider one of these AR15 rifles. Definitely a positive start.
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NEA goes above and beyond for customer service.
I bought a udes upper, broke a crappy jobmate tool and jammed a screw.. Emailed them asking if I could buy a new part and explained it was my fault...
Well, Jeff emailed me a return package and replaced the part for free.
Tell me who else would help the customer out on that one..
I have more than 1 NEA, and ill be buying one of their FDE or OD ones in a DMR once they come out.
I bought a udes upper, broke a crappy jobmate tool and jammed a screw.. Emailed them asking if I could buy a new part and explained it was my fault...
Well, Jeff emailed me a return package and replaced the part for free.
Tell me who else would help the customer out on that one..
I have more than 1 NEA, and ill be buying one of their FDE or OD ones in a DMR once they come out.
Good on LMT! I was looking at their rifles too.
Lots of businesses forget they have to greese the wheels once and a while...ones that rip people off don't get forgotten.
There's a shop that has a upper I really want but refuse to buy from them since I saw what they did with one of their other products recently. And the jacked the price on this upper a little too... Hope someone else gets it in...
This wasn't the only time NEA hooked me up, last time they got me out of a jam I was in on another build... Couldn't find parts.
Lots of businesses forget they have to greese the wheels once and a while...ones that rip people off don't get forgotten.
There's a shop that has a upper I really want but refuse to buy from them since I saw what they did with one of their other products recently. And the jacked the price on this upper a little too... Hope someone else gets it in...
This wasn't the only time NEA hooked me up, last time they got me out of a jam I was in on another build... Couldn't find parts.
Travis Bickle
CGN Ultra frequent flyer
- Location
- Upper Lower Middle Alberta
Alright, drop some knowledge on me then.
What has happened so many times thus far that MPI is a critical factor of quality control in any way. There must be gads of evidence
based on your arrogance.
Likewise about the gas key. There must be massive accounts of bolt carrier failure on any "sub par" AR15's. Where do I find all the information you base your opinions on?
Educate me.
