blaxsun
CGN Ultra frequent flyer
No problem at all. Good luck with the eye surgery!
NEA 15 PDW Newb Experience. *Updated 01/06/2012*
- Thread starter FastFord58
- Start date
No problem at all. Good luck with the eye surgery!
Ok, I have an NEA on pre-order so I have been following this stuff for awhile (to ensure my pre-order is a good idea & to know what I am getting into).
I'm a "AR Noob" too, but let me "paraphrase" some of the stuff I have heard/read/been told of with NEA and ARs in general:
NEAs specifically:
1. NEA had a rare "too long" buffer tube issue and a very rare "too short" buffer tube issue. The "too short" issue shows signs of short stroking, you can tell by: remove the upper totally and the BCG out of it; insert a magazine into the lower and then manually push the BCG into the buffer: is the extended bolt head going far enough back to clear the magazine properly? The "too long" issue can be checked the exact same way, but the gas staking area hits the buffer tube. A proper buffer setup should only have a 1/8inch (3mm) of area at full recoil that is perfect (in my opinion).
2. There have been a few reports of NEAs having slipping trigger pins due to improperly set springs. This may be an indication of the marks you see.
ARs in general:
3. Magazines are a fussy (insert swearing here) issue. I have two ARs and the old 1976 Colt (not for sale, BTW) will use any mag in existance flawlessly, while my Norc only likes the Colt's USGI mag and the Norc mag it came with. I have P-mags, LAR mags, thermold mags & a bunch more I borrowed and the Norc hates 'em all: I got misfeeds, missed feeding, jammed up rounds. I was asked if it was a ramps problem, but inspection (and flawless feeding with the Norc & USGI mags) showed otherwise. Followers on the mags are an iussue too, as said already.
4. All AR's need perfectly aligned & tight gas and buffer systems. Any time I see an increase in a problem over time I always check for loose parts.
5. Check for proper barrel attachment and any probelms with the forearm/rail setup. A problem here could put irregular forces on the system when you hold the front grip or set the forearm on something.
and lastly...
6. I am told (?conjecture, rumor?) that the shorter the barrel the more fussy it can be. The buffer specifically will have to be virtually perfect for the rifle and the ammo used.
That's what this noob's got....
I'm a "AR Noob" too, but let me "paraphrase" some of the stuff I have heard/read/been told of with NEA and ARs in general:
NEAs specifically:
1. NEA had a rare "too long" buffer tube issue and a very rare "too short" buffer tube issue. The "too short" issue shows signs of short stroking, you can tell by: remove the upper totally and the BCG out of it; insert a magazine into the lower and then manually push the BCG into the buffer: is the extended bolt head going far enough back to clear the magazine properly? The "too long" issue can be checked the exact same way, but the gas staking area hits the buffer tube. A proper buffer setup should only have a 1/8inch (3mm) of area at full recoil that is perfect (in my opinion).
2. There have been a few reports of NEAs having slipping trigger pins due to improperly set springs. This may be an indication of the marks you see.
ARs in general:
3. Magazines are a fussy (insert swearing here) issue. I have two ARs and the old 1976 Colt (not for sale, BTW) will use any mag in existance flawlessly, while my Norc only likes the Colt's USGI mag and the Norc mag it came with. I have P-mags, LAR mags, thermold mags & a bunch more I borrowed and the Norc hates 'em all: I got misfeeds, missed feeding, jammed up rounds. I was asked if it was a ramps problem, but inspection (and flawless feeding with the Norc & USGI mags) showed otherwise. Followers on the mags are an iussue too, as said already.
4. All AR's need perfectly aligned & tight gas and buffer systems. Any time I see an increase in a problem over time I always check for loose parts.
5. Check for proper barrel attachment and any probelms with the forearm/rail setup. A problem here could put irregular forces on the system when you hold the front grip or set the forearm on something.
and lastly...
6. I am told (?conjecture, rumor?) that the shorter the barrel the more fussy it can be. The buffer specifically will have to be virtually perfect for the rifle and the ammo used.
That's what this noob's got....
Ok, I have an NEA on pre-order so I have been following this stuff for awhile (to ensure my pre-order is a good idea & to know what I am getting into).
I'm a "AR Noob" too, but let me "paraphrase" some of the stuff I have heard/read/been told of with NEA and ARs in general:
NEAs specifically:
1. NEA had a rare "too long" buffer tube issue and a very rare "too short" buffer tube issue. The "too short" issue shows signs of short stroking, you can tell by: remove the upper totally and the BCG out of it; insert a magazine into the lower and then manually push the BCG into the buffer: is the extended bolt head going far enough back to clear the magazine properly? The "too long" issue can be checked the exact same way, but the gas staking area hits the buffer tube. A proper buffer setup should only have a 1/8inch (3mm) of area at full recoil that is perfect (in my opinion).
2. There have been a few reports of NEAs having slipping trigger pins due to improperly set springs. This may be an indication of the marks you see.
ARs in general:
3. Magazines are a fussy (insert swearing here) issue. I have two ARs and the old 1976 Colt (not for sale, BTW) will use any mag in existance flawlessly, while my Norc only likes the Colt's USGI mag and the Norc mag it came with. I have P-mags, LAR mags, thermold mags & a bunch more I borrowed and the Norc hates 'em all: I got misfeeds, missed feeding, jammed up rounds. I was asked if it was a ramps problem, but inspection (and flawless feeding with the Norc & USGI mags) showed otherwise. Followers on the mags are an iussue too, as said already.
4. All AR's need perfectly aligned & tight gas and buffer systems. Any time I see an increase in a problem over time I always check for loose parts.
5. Check for proper barrel attachment and any probelms with the forearm/rail setup. A problem here could put irregular forces on the system when you hold the front grip or set the forearm on something.
and lastly...
6. I am told (?conjecture, rumor?) that the shorter the barrel the more fussy it can be. The buffer specifically will have to be virtually perfect for the rifle and the ammo used.
That's what this noob's got....
Buffer tube specs out perfectly. And the trigger pins haven't moved on me at all.
I have also heard that SBRs can be temperamental. That's not limited to NEA of course. I was just reading some SBR horror stories lol.
blaxsun
CGN Ultra frequent flyer
Mine has always run flawlessly out-of-the-box. Flawlessly. It's a Dlask-SOCOM, so it does fall under the 'franken-AR' PDW category. The only minor issue I had was the bolt not locking back after the last round when I was running an Enidine hydraulic buffer on it. That's it. I'm really wondering if a lot of your issues might not be solved with an H2 buffer...
We will see. I just ordered the Spike's one you mentioned along with the PWS comp.
The thing with this is that if I put money into this gun to get it to function right, it will no longer be the $1000 Canadian made AR. But then again, the Spike's buffer is not that expensive, so if the extra 45 bucks or whatever it was is guaranteed to fix the issues with my NEA SBR, it would probably be worth having the guns come with an H2 buffer factory and charge a little more out of the gate. I'm sure not every gun has this problem, but I am also sure I won't be the only one. The little extra could mitigate the issue altogether.
I think the 1k dollar promise was neat, and I understand that it was a big thing that set NEA apart from other companies on the market, but part of me wonders if maybe it should have been the 1k promise + or minus a hundred bucks.
I do think that NEA has things going for them outside of that 1k promise anyway and people would still be open to them as a company if they were selling a gun at 1100 or 1200 if issues like this were virtually guaranteed to not exist. That price still puts them under most pre-made AR prices.
I didn't buy the NEA because it was on the inexpensive side. I bought it because I wanted a PDW and NEA was a domestic manufacturer that offered some features I was interested in. The proprietary coating, the lifetime warranty on the barrels etc. Would I have paid 1100 or 1200 for the gun knowing it would work great out of the box? Yes I would have.
That's just my .02 on it. Of course I literally know 0.0% of how these things work or why decisions are made at the manufacturer level, so I'm probably just talking out my ass at this point.
blaxsun
CGN Ultra frequent flyer
The thing with this is that if I put money into this gun to get it to function right, it will no longer be the 1k Canadian made AR. But then again, the Spike's buffer is not that expensive, so if the extra 45 bucks or whatever it was is guaranteed to fix the issues with my NEA SBR, it would probably be worth having the guns come with an H2 buffer factory and charge a little more out of the gate. I'm sure not every gun has this problem, but I am also sure I'm won't be the only one. The little extra could mitigate the issue altogether.[/quote]
I've yet to hear of a PDW that didn't run a H2 buffer, to be honest... At the very least, the ST-T2 is quieter with no moving parts. It's also slightly lighter and will reduce felt recoil (just like an H2). Should last literally forever... And you're right, if this does the trick $45 isn't a huge investment (probably less than continuing to run ammo through it in an attempt to diagnose where the root problem lies).
I really enjoy the PWS CQB on mine; I hope you find it affords you a noticeable improvement in your shooting experience!
I really hope you're able to work out the "quirks". Btw, if you have a chance let me know what yours weighs in at with the optic. I think mine might be a few ounces heavier but I'd be curious nonetheless...
did you order the PWS CQB Diablo? this should help to increase pressure and assist with cycling. I have 2 NEA 7.5's and will be taking them to the range next week,mbut in the mean time I am going to measure the gas port diameter's on them to see if they are adequate for optimal function.
blaxsun
CGN Ultra frequent flyer
7lbs 15.1oz for mine. Even though it's only a 7" barrel, it's a full quad rail. The PWS CQB adds a few additional ounces (8.3oz, to be exact), as does the Trijicon Reflex (Aimpoint pictured here), PWS enhanced buffer tube and CTR stock with LaRue RISR.
With the PWS CQB and ST-T2 I imagine you'll be just shy of 7lbs, which is still a great weight!
Do you have a PWS CQB to try either out with?
I do not understand why you should have to put more money into a brand new rifle to make it function properly, am I missing something here? Would it not be best to contact NEA and get your "NEW" rifle fixed properly and then let them tell you what was wrong with it instead of throwing parts at it. I can understand how the OP wants to learn about the AR system but not on a new rifle with your dime..............
The PWS I ordered is the same one in Blaxsun's picture.
blaxsun
CGN Ultra frequent flyer
Ideally it should have an H2 buffer and something other than a standard A2 flash hider, because while the A2 is fine for a rifle, carbine or even CQB - it's totally undesirable on a PDW.
blaxsun
CGN Ultra frequent flyer
I believe it's the same. PWS designed it for use in their 'Diablo' uppers. Noise reduction, flash suppression and compensation... what's not to like?
I planned on doing the flash hider anyway. To be honest, the gun might already have an H2 buffer. I'm not sure how to determine that. But for 45 bucks for the upgraded Spike's piece, it is not a huge deal. The buffer in the gun as it is is actually kind of loud.
If the issues persist after these two pieces and trying some different mags, then I will contact NEA. For the time being, I'll muck around with it.
If the issues persist after these two pieces and trying some different mags, then I will contact NEA. For the time being, I'll muck around with it.
blaxsun
CGN Ultra frequent flyer
Just pull the buffer out. If it's marked "H" (as opposed to "H2"), it's just a standard buffer. You will probably notice the ST-T2 runs quieter. If you want to prolong the life of your buffer/bolt carrier, you can also add one of these to the buffer (plus it prevents it from getting marred up).
h ttp://www.brownells.com/.aspx/pid=19699/Product/AR-15-M16-AR-10-AR-BUFFER-PAD
that's a good start. I'm guessing that after you fired a few rounds your gas port probably started to get some build up, then your rifle cooled down ultimately causing your short stroking. I'm wondering if NEA uses the same size port diameter for all lengths of rifles they sell, as this could lead to inadequate dwell times for the 7.5 ( and occasionally the 10.5's)......i will post this question on the NEA section to see what they say...
the gas port diameter should be significantly larger on an SBR, otherwise it's nothing but headaches...
There is no marking on it at all. It weighs 2.8 oz. I see that the Spike's piece weighs nearly double that.
blaxsun
CGN Ultra frequent flyer
Standard buffer. A heavy version should be over 4.5oz. No wonder your rifle was so damned light!
Standard buffer. A heavy version should be over 4.5oz. No wonder your rifle was so damned light!
Heh, well I wonder if this is the main culprit then. I'll report back after I install it and get a couple hundred more rounds through.
