looking for unbiased review of NEA parts
- Thread starter kage123
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I had an NEA 15, at first I had supported them, but before I even got to fire it I had to replace parts. I have owned other products from them too. I really liked their service and fast responses (at first...) Here are the issues I have had with NEA:
-the bolt carrier was not staked, they sent me a brand new one that didn't even fit in the gun, so I sent both bolts back and they staked my original one.
-the internal dimensions of my buffer tube were too long and they told me not to fire it and they sent me a new one, which did not thread on properly and was crooked when tightened. The next one they sent worked fine.
-the trigger was garbage, but I didn't complain about it, they sent me a new one with the buffer tube and it was a nice trigger.
-the handguard was on an angle, when tightened at the receiver, the opposing end was offset to the right about .250". Aside from being on an angle, it was crooked, when the handguard was locked into position, the rails did not line up to the upper receiver. NEA kept insisting I wasn't tightening it enough until they finally had me ship it to them and they saw what I meant and they sent me a new one.
-the two bolt lugs around the extractor broke off while firing, one got stuck tightly between the barrel extension and the unfired bullet. They were pretty quick to send me a new one.
Aside from the NEA 15, I purchased their Swiss arms lower. I thought this was the one part they got right, but nope.
-the hole behind the trigger was drilled to large so I couldn't install the spring
-the grip did not fit on right
-the pivot pins did not align with the rifle so it couldn't even be attached to the rifle
-the internals were not machined to the right depth and a few slots weren't even machined so I couldn't install the bolt catch/release.
-the rads were too large in the internals so one of the pins didn't fit right
At this point, NEA said since they had discontinued the part, they politely told me I was s*** out of luck. I included the lower for FREE when I sold the rifle..
I also had the swiss arms optic rail, it had a very rough finish and the hole with the screw to tighten it to the rifle was rusted and seized.
I am disappointed to have to say I will never purchase another NEA product again, and I will never recommend anyone to buy anything of theirs
-the bolt carrier was not staked, they sent me a brand new one that didn't even fit in the gun, so I sent both bolts back and they staked my original one.
-the internal dimensions of my buffer tube were too long and they told me not to fire it and they sent me a new one, which did not thread on properly and was crooked when tightened. The next one they sent worked fine.
-the trigger was garbage, but I didn't complain about it, they sent me a new one with the buffer tube and it was a nice trigger.
-the handguard was on an angle, when tightened at the receiver, the opposing end was offset to the right about .250". Aside from being on an angle, it was crooked, when the handguard was locked into position, the rails did not line up to the upper receiver. NEA kept insisting I wasn't tightening it enough until they finally had me ship it to them and they saw what I meant and they sent me a new one.
-the two bolt lugs around the extractor broke off while firing, one got stuck tightly between the barrel extension and the unfired bullet. They were pretty quick to send me a new one.
Aside from the NEA 15, I purchased their Swiss arms lower. I thought this was the one part they got right, but nope.
-the hole behind the trigger was drilled to large so I couldn't install the spring
-the grip did not fit on right
-the pivot pins did not align with the rifle so it couldn't even be attached to the rifle
-the internals were not machined to the right depth and a few slots weren't even machined so I couldn't install the bolt catch/release.
-the rads were too large in the internals so one of the pins didn't fit right
At this point, NEA said since they had discontinued the part, they politely told me I was s*** out of luck. I included the lower for FREE when I sold the rifle..
I also had the swiss arms optic rail, it had a very rough finish and the hole with the screw to tighten it to the rifle was rusted and seized.
I am disappointed to have to say I will never purchase another NEA product again, and I will never recommend anyone to buy anything of theirs
I was just there, they have em in stock talk to darren or paul
Runningfool
CGN Ultra frequent flyer
- Location
- SW Ontario
You mean this one? http://www.canadiangunnutz.com/foru...Patchy-Finish-on-NEA-Barrel?highlight=Blotchy
Since you appear to be either too lazy to read the thread or unable to comprehend what was written, let me explain. You may not like the blotchy finish on the barrel but that doesn't make it a flaw or a quality control issue. As a Ryan explained in the above thread, they all look like that due to their proprietary nitrating process. Even Hitzy pointed out that the NEA product photos showed the same. So you don't like a blotchy finish on a barrel, that's fine. I don't like case hardening on my lever guns. That doesn't make it a defect.
Now perhaps I am not thinking of the correct thread so if you could be so kind as to show me the one you are referring to it would be appreciated.
Perhaps you can't comprehend what I said.. I never said it would affect the performance, I said its a quality control issue. Many other companies nitrate their barrels and they don't look like that, so that's not a valid excuse. I said if I was spending 200$ on a barrel I would expect it to look better then that, if you wouldn't then feel free to go spend your money there. Like I said, if they are willing to let out obvious flaws in finish then chances are they are willing to let by other issues (which is known from all the problems people have). Go look up other companies nitrated barrels and you will see that they have a consistent finish. It's too bad that post doesn't have the original pictures because it looked horrible.
Again, all I said is that I would care if it looked like that.. I didn't say you had to. Crappy finish is a quality control issue, any way you cut it. I'm not looking to argue with you about it.. it's my opinion.. if you disagree go buy a NEA barrel.
This is what nitriding is supposed to look like.
The issue is they are trying to apply it after their "arc+" nonsense.....it's having a detrimental affect on the nitriding resulting in that splotchy mess. The "arc+" is some sort of metal treatment they use, suppose to inhibit corrossion, but it causes that uneven finish. They could have corrected this but chose not to, and instead released the barrels to be sold "as is". That to me is probably the poorest example of quality control. Worse when the barrels are possibly the best product they sell. Skip the arc+ nonsense and just nitride the ####ing things like decent barrel makers do...
This is what nitriding is supposed to look like.
The issue is they are trying to apply it after their "arc+" nonsense.....it's having a detrimental affect on the nitriding resulting in that splotchy mess. The "arc+" is some sort of metal treatment they use, suppose to inhibit corrossion, but it causes that uneven finish. They could have corrected this but chose not to, and instead released the barrels to be sold "as is". That to me is probably the poorest example of quality control. Worse when the barrels are possibly the best product they sell. Skip the arc+ nonsense and just nitride the ####ing things like decent barrel makers do...
I really wish you would stop making sense Hitzy, but carry on.
Runningfool
CGN Ultra frequent flyer
- Location
- SW Ontario
Nice try.
Presumably, NEA does their ARC+ process before nitrating their barrels to improve corrosion resistance and it would appear this affects the finished appearance. Some may argue that the improved performance outweighs the cosmetic blotchyness. Others may say that the appearance of their barrel is more important than whatever corrosion resistance enhancements result. That's just fine and I've no issue with either of those opinions.
But when you keep referring to the barrel appearance as a flaw and as a QC issue it becomes apparent that you don't really understand what those terms mean. I thought my case-hardening example would make that clearer for you but apparently not.
Im pretty sure even NEA would tell you they ####ed up with the finish and it wasn't suppose to turn out like that. Arc treatment leaves the metal looking in the white. ..check their new brakes for what that looks like. I'm sure nitride was used for its even appearance. ...it just didn't turn out that way. Too costly to strip and redo them so they sold them anyway.
Runningfool
CGN Ultra frequent flyer
- Location
- SW Ontario
I know nothing of NEA's ARC+ process and from what I've been able to gather, few do because it is a proprietary process. So maybe it improves corrosion resistance, or maybe it is "nonsense" as you say and doesn't but one things is clear, it makes the finish appear splotchy.
This ARC+ process must cost NEA time and money even if this proprietary process is nothing more than the boss standing over a barrel of barrels and giving them the golden "ARC" treatment
. Why do this? Why not follow your suggestion and just make their barrels like everyone else? Certainly it would be cheaper for NEA to skip the ARC+ step and it would keep the internet commandos at CGN happy. I suspect they are trying to be innovative and to set themselves apart from their competitors which I'd like to see more Canadian companies do.
Runningfool
CGN Ultra frequent flyer
- Location
- SW Ontario
You're pretty sure eh? You think the blotchy barrel finish was just a bad batch that they couldn't be bothered to strip and redo?
I've never spoke to anyone at NEA but here's a guy who has. Full disclosure, Ryan sells NEA's stuff so maybe he's blowing smoke. Those who know Ryan and have dealt with him in the past know that he's a stand up guy."I just spoke with the owner of NEA and we discussed the blotchy finish on the barrels. They are going to work with the company that nitrates them to try and come up with a more even looking finish. Since April more than 1000 NEA's have been sold in Canada as well as 100-150 individual barrels. This is only the second time anyone has brought up the blotchy look to the finish. As such it's never really been something even looked at. NEA promised me they will come up with a solution for future batches of barrels that should result in a more visually appealing look.
Ryan"
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Well if NEA intentionally went for that look then they are more fuvk3d up then I thought
I was being kind and giving them the benefit of the doubt. Earlier barrels were not all ####ty finished like this batch so yeah I still do think that it was a #### up they turned out splotchy. ..
I was being kind and giving them the benefit of the doubt. Earlier barrels were not all ####ty finished like this batch so yeah I still do think that it was a #### up they turned out splotchy. ..
Ok, I will confess, I caved and have a 300BLK NEA barrel coming in to tie me over until I can get a sub $350. 11.5" one elsewhere. It's the f'ed up ARC+ treated one. I'll post pics when I get it... if Canada Post ever delivers it.
Runningfool
CGN Ultra frequent flyer
- Location
- SW Ontario
Well if NEA intentionally went for that look then they are more fuvk3d up then I thought
I was being kind and giving them the benefit of the doubt. Earlier barrels were not all ####ty finished like this batch so yeah I still do think that it was a #### up they turned out splotchy. ..
Who said anything about them intentionally going for that look? My apologies if I wasn't clear on this but all I was trying to say was that it appears they were intentionally trying to make better barrels by increasing corrosion resistance and the resultant appearance was a byproduct of that. They weren't trying to hide anything - anyone buying one could see from the pictures what the finish looked like and make their decision to purchase or not. What is so fuvk3d up about that?
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