NEA AR-15; A good first AR-15?

I think NEA is a great choice for a first AR15. Think of it this way; if you believe those of us in this thread that actually own one, you are getting a great rifle at a great price. If you believe the parrots who talk of shilling (soooooo early 2012 ;) ) or of dodgy QC, then at the very least you will be forced to develop an extensive working knowledge of the AR platform since every component is likely to fail within the first 3 rounds!
Either way you are getting a Canadian made AR with a lifetime warranty!

Truth is, NEA has had it's fair share of problems, both in the PR department and in QC. I keep standing up for them because they are Canadian and my NEA-15 kicks ass! Being Canadian doesn't give them a pass when it comes to the problems they've had but they are keeping Canadian men and women employed, they are standing behind their products when there are problems, and they are innovating new products.

All of the different ARs that have been suggested will serve you well and serve your intended purpose. The best part about owning an AR isn't who made it, it's shooting it. Get one and join the fraternity of Black Rifle owners!
 
NEA is great for a second or third AR.

Your first one should be something that has a good rep and good re-sale. It should also be a base model.

S&W, Stag or Armalite.

When you have put a couple of thousand rounds through it and have learned the way it operates and how it functions, how to clean it and maintain it; that is when you start shopping for the bling. Upgrade the rifle ya have or sell it and buy what you want. If you buy one of the brands I mentioned used, you will be able to sell it for what you paid for it.

I have an NEA. I am the original owner.

I had issues with it. Gas block loose. heli-coils that bolt hand guard to upper receiver stripped out of the hole (they were never epoxied in place). Trigger(REALLY) crappy. Trigger & hammer pin holes in lower 1/32" larger than spec (pins won't stay in). I did what NEA said to do and started a warrenty ticket in their automated system. I got ABSOLUTLY no "help" from NEA other than 'helpful tips' on how to take the trigger pull from a gritty 15+lbs. to something manageable.

After it's all said and done I put a Timney in it and installed some anti-roll pins and fixed the fiddley bits. I'm now 2000+ rnds into the NEA and it is running great. But if it had been my first AR I would have been into a G-smith for about $1000 for troubleshooting what was wrong with my rifle....... The only reason I am able to fix my rifle is that I KNOW what it is supposed to be like......

First AR?

Definatly NOT a NEA!!!!!
 
If you could live with a heavy trigger then go with NEA. All the people that I know have changed the trigger on the NEA rifles, an extra $300.00 expense.
 
For all the nay sayers about NEA, I sold 32 of them in the last week. They fly off the shelves as fast as I get them in. Were there issues with the early ones, who can deny that. I haven't had one come back since they released the new generation of them last year. My only comment about they would be the stocks are a bit stiff when they extend until it breaks in...ie it has been open and closed a bunch of times. The triggers are no longer heavy like they were at first.


What ever you decide to buy, its one more AR15 out there.
 
Chemist said:
For all the nay sayers about NEA, I sold 32 of them in the last week. They fly off the shelves as fast as I get them in. Were there issues with the early ones, who can deny that. I haven't had one come back since they released the new generation of them last year. My only comment about they would be the stocks are a bit stiff when they extend until it breaks in...ie it has been open and closed a bunch of times. The triggers are no longer heavy like they were at first.


What ever you decide to buy, its one more AR15 out there.
Click to expand...

We are just stating the facts. Bad triggers, funny looking anodysing, improper stacked key, forward assist button breaking, spotty quality control. I've never heard so much bad feedback for such a specific firearm.
 
Antoine22 said:
We are just stating the facts. Bad triggers, funny looking anodysing, improper stacked key, forward assist button breaking, spotty quality control. I've never heard so much bad feedback for such a specific firearm.
Click to expand...

I thought most of those issues were with the earlier ones?
 
themikea said:
I thought most of those issues were with the earlier ones?
Click to expand...

That is correct. Those issues were with early ones. It's funny you guys keep going back to the bolt carrier/staking. The early bolt carriers were from a well known North American AR manufacturer. I know, I supplied them to NEA.
 
I bought a stripped lower last month that was NEA. Have every intention of completing the rest with parts from NEA save possibly the quad rails they sell, don't like em. And possibly a better trigger.
 
Epoxy7 said:
Use the search function and set the default to at least a year or longer. Then make up your own mind.

What you're asking right now is a topic many will no longer answer for fear of infractions and being banned. You'll have to do your own research and then decide what works for you.
Click to expand...

do this yourself, and tell me how many of those threads are still here. ;)
 
OP if you are in ontario fire me a PM and if we are close you can check mine out.
ill be at silverdale today (unless my buddy cant make it down) if anyone here wants to see it planing to be there from 11am to 2 or 3ish.
mine was a late 2012, i think i got it in november or early december.
 
Thanks for all the input. It's threads like this why I love CGN. If my DD deal doesn't go through, I think I'll be grabbing a 12.5" NEA. With regards to hand guards, can standard hand guards be used to replace the stock one?
 
jdman said:
do this yourself, and tell me how many of those threads are still here. ;)
Click to expand...

I did. NEA AR15, three years and newer, threads.

You can still find a number of threads like this one. The main issue is you have people selling them, somehow involved with the company etc pushing the product. More people have received infractions or bans on this site as a result of this product than any other on this site. People with exceptional trader ratings and owners of numerous firearms.

The people pushing this product label those who aren't onboard as haters. It's an easy way to dismiss these views as emotional or biased. Yet it's the same people who own numerous AR rifles. Why are they "haters"? The very people who own more than one and would love to own a Canadian made quality AR at a reasonable price? Heck Id own two rifles if they met those expectations.

But the NEA is a compromise. 6061 billet lower, possible finish with a purple tinge (I don't mind the grey providing the upper matches). A free float handguard with pinch point connectors on the side, basic furniture with a commercial buffer tube and stock (recall reading they now have milspec stocks), 1:7 twist barrel with coating (said to be better than chrome lined by those making and selling them), along with unknown parts/bcg. Providing you like these options then it's a good price point. But once you change stuff around you quickly reach the price point of well known products equiped with the options you're changing. Bottom line when I did the cost analysis the numbers didn't add up. Now this could change with the US craziness and the improvements to the product. But right now there are options I deemed to be better and at a better price point.

Options I like, Armalite for a basic model, Stag, LMT, DD. I would consider the Norinco for a cheap plinker. They shoot fine and are entry priced. But if planning on upgrading parts then buy something else.

This is how a so called "hater" on this site thinks. Follow the crowd pushing the product including getting those who aren't pulling the propaganda line banned and or silenced or do your own reseach and decide. There are cases wher I could see this product being a good buy, especially in the future but right now there are still too many compromises for me to recommend it.
 
A Norinco was my first AR. Bought it in a 10.5" configuration. Planned on having issues. Never did in about 700 rounds so far.

My second AR is a NEA, also in 10.5" barrel configuration. Haven't shot yet as I am waiting for an Aimpoint Pro to show up. Hope it will be a gooder one.

As you have read there are NEA haters for whatever reasons. Shilling? Move on........... I've had my own personal experience with companies and business ethics. If shilling is the worst they will do, they are fine with me. Messin with peoples careers and personal life, lets talk hate.

The newest geneartion of NEA's seem to have improved. I have dry fired mine a few times before going in the cabinet. Better than my Norinco that has 700 rounds ish through it.
 
i just hammered about 200 rounds through my 12.5 NEA and my 10.5 NEA upper/Areo lower today.
both ran great.
and the AGW brakes i got worked great, still lots of flash out of the 10.5 but they arent flash hiders.
 
I have a couple of NEA's, Norinco, Colt LE6920, DD, and LMT...

this is my opinion and mine only, so take it with a grain of salt.

NEA could and should be better, and it doesn't matter if its first or second generation. For the price there are better options out there, but I do still have confidence that in time they will get thier @#$% sorted out.

before purchasing a NEA, i would look at all of these first.
Windham Weaponry
Core15
Daniel Defense
LMT
Norinco...

not neccesarily in that order.

as for Colt, look at wait time and pricing from IRUNGUNS and see if it's viable...you can't go wrong with a LE6920.
 
Epoxy7 said:
I did. NEA AR15, three years and newer, threads.

You can still find a number of threads like this one. The main issue is you have people selling them, somehow involved with the company etc pushing the product. More people have received infractions or bans on this site as a result of this product than any other on this site. People with exceptional trader ratings and owners of numerous firearms.

The people pushing this product label those who aren't onboard as haters. It's an easy way to dismiss these views as emotional or biased. Yet it's the same people who own numerous AR rifles. Why are they "haters"? The very people who own more than one and would love to own a Canadian made quality AR at a reasonable price? Heck Id own two rifles if they met those expectations.

But the NEA is a compromise. 6061 billet lower, possible finish with a purple tinge (I don't mind the grey providing the upper matches). A free float handguard with pinch point connectors on the side, basic furniture with a commercial buffer tube and stock (recall reading they now have milspec stocks), 1:7 twist barrel with coating (said to be better than chrome lined by those making and selling them), along with unknown parts/bcg. Providing you like these options then it's a good price point. But once you change stuff around you quickly reach the price point of well known products equiped with the options you're changing. Bottom line when I did the cost analysis the numbers didn't add up. Now this could change with the US craziness and the improvements to the product. But right now there are options I deemed to be better and at a better price point.

Options I like, Armalite for a basic model, Stag, LMT, DD. I would consider the Norinco for a cheap plinker. They shoot fine and are entry priced. But if planning on upgrading parts then buy something else.

This is how a so called "hater" on this site thinks. Follow the crowd pushing the product including getting those who aren't pulling the propaganda line banned and or silenced or do your own reseach and decide. There are cases wher I could see this product being a good buy, especially in the future but right now there are still too many compromises for me to recommend it.
Click to expand...

Well said......
 
One problem now, though, is availability, and as mentioned, price. 10.5 NEA is available for $1,049. As mentioned, as well, if you like the NEA options, its a good price point compared to the others currently available, some for much more.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top Bottom