NEA/BLC 102 Reliability

Having almost exclusively failure to eject cleanly. Have tried atleast five different loads and two different mags.
Bolt holds back 100% on a single round. Rounds are either stovepiping or some entirely facing backwards and trying to feed in fresh with old still sitting there.
Have disassembled, cleaned and lubed the bolt, extractor, ejector, cam pin, firing pin, gas block etc.

Approx 50+ rounds through it thus far with only maybe half a dozen cycling correctly and picking up/loading next round.
Dust port cover does not latch and stay closed.

Gun shows promise of accuracy but have only been offhand shooting at 40yds thus far.

Am I the only one with a Friday afternoon build? Just my luck.
 
Add my TR handloads to the list. FL sized Winchester brass, 46gr Varget, 155 Sierra Match King, seated deep enough to fit the magazine.

Receipt - I would suspect magazine issues.
 
So far, just a box of XM80, got out last night as it was getting dark, and threw out enough rounds to get printing on paper. However, my mount for the optic was too low, so not the best that could be. But did have a grin on my face.

I now have my Strike Eagle raised on a cantilever mount, and plan to go out again, this evening, and get zeroing in, again. The only issue I did have was a shipping issue, and that is largely resolved. I had one FTE last night. See what this evening brings.

And with a changed out muzzle device, I am hoping there is a kind soul near where I am (GP) who has some Rocksett. Then life will be grand.
 
Sunchild2071 said:
So far, just a box of XM80, got out last night as it was getting dark, and threw out enough rounds to get printing on paper. However, my mount for the optic was too low, so not the best that could be. But did have a grin on my face.

I now have my Strike Eagle raised on a cantilever mount, and plan to go out again, this evening, and get zeroing in, again. The only issue I did have was a shipping issue, and that is largely resolved. I had one FTE last night. See what this evening brings.

And with a changed out muzzle device, I am hoping there is a kind soul near where I am (GP) who has some Rocksett. Then life will be grand.
Click to expand...

FTEs seem to be a reoccurring trend. What height was your strike eagle mounted at when it was too low as I have one waiting for when I get mine.
 
Sunchild2071 said:
So far, just a box of XM80, got out last night as it was getting dark, and threw out enough rounds to get printing on paper. However, my mount for the optic was too low, so not the best that could be. But did have a grin on my face.

I now have my Strike Eagle raised on a cantilever mount, and plan to go out again, this evening, and get zeroing in, again. The only issue I did have was a shipping issue, and that is largely resolved. I had one FTE last night. See what this evening brings.

And with a changed out muzzle device, I am hoping there is a kind soul near where I am (GP) who has some Rocksett. Then life will be grand.
Click to expand...

Why do you need rocksett? Why not just use a crush washer or shim kit for your new muzzle device?
Or am I missing some magic that happens using fancy threadlock?
 
cr5 said:
Why do you need rocksett? Why not just use a crush washer or shim kit for your new muzzle device?
Or am I missing some magic that happens using fancy threadlock?
Click to expand...

Availability of any of the three, would be great. Apparently, not so commercially available in GP, here. For indexing, with crush washer supplied with device, I would need to do a 95% turn onto the crush washer. Thinking that would be too much.

Loctite Red? Not sure that is a great idea. Availability of fine shim washers in GP, seems little to nil.
 
Sheet of sandpaper and circle patterns with the crush washer. Continue until rotation desired is achieved with correct torque.

Getting towards the 100rd mark, started to see some progress on ejection issues by lessening extractor tension. Still having some failures, but not almost every single round.
I'd really like to know their test fire procedures on these. Not sure how this rifle could've run a mag through it as I received it.
 
Sunchild2071 said:
Availability of any of the three, would be great. Apparently, not so commercially available in GP, here. For indexing, with crush washer supplied with device, I would need to do a 95% turn onto the crush washer. Thinking that would be too much.

Loctite Red? Not sure that is a great idea. Availability of fine shim washers in GP, seems little to nil.
Click to expand...

Gotcha, I usually buy a few at a time when I buy them so usually have extras in the parts bin.
Give Tier One Armoury in Edmonton a call, they should have them and would only take a couple days in the mail.
 
HirvGotti said:
FTEs seem to be a reoccurring trend. What height was your strike eagle mounted at when it was too low as I have one waiting for when I get mine.
Click to expand...

On Vortex medium (24.6mm high) rings, I was too low. Not really a good way to mount, either.

Went to a Vortex cantilever mount, raising it to 40mm. My cheek is thankful! Sight picture now looks proper, with a natural cheek weld and positioning.
 
cr5 said:
Gotcha, I usually buy a few at a time when I buy them so usually have extras in the parts bin.
Give Tier One Armoury in Edmonton a call, they should have them and would only take a couple days in the mail.
Click to expand...

I might catch them when I am back in Edmonton, or get the wife to stop by there for me. She's coming back soon, doing a run home right now. In the meantime, I just had a revelation - spark plugs! They have crush washers. Might be the ticket.
 
Sunchild2071 said:
On Vortex medium (24.6mm high) rings, I was too low. Not really a good way to mount, either.

Went to a Vortex cantilever mount, raising it to 40mm. My cheek is thankful! Sight picture now looks proper, with a natural cheek weld and positioning.
Click to expand...

K thanks. I had medium rings I was going to use also but may have to rethink that now.
 
Receipt said:
Having almost exclusively failure to eject cleanly. Have tried atleast five different loads and two different mags.
Bolt holds back 100% on a single round. Rounds are either stovepiping or some entirely facing backwards and trying to feed in fresh with old still sitting there.
Have disassembled, cleaned and lubed the bolt, extractor, ejector, cam pin, firing pin, gas block etc.

Approx 50+ rounds through it thus far with only maybe half a dozen cycling correctly and picking up/loading next round.
Dust port cover does not latch and stay closed.

Gun shows promise of accuracy but have only been offhand shooting at 40yds thus far.

Am I the only one with a Friday afternoon build? Just my luck.
Click to expand...
Just curious, did you shoot the rifle prior to your disassembly?
Maybe something wasn't assembled correctly from the factory or when you reassembled?
Have you tried any more magazines?
Thank you for your post.
 
I did shoot it prior to initial disassembly. It 100% would not run through a mag. Generally atleast every other round would fail to eject.

At around the 25th round I tore it down to go over basics and verify everything was in a good state of tune.
I have no reason to believe its a magazine related issue, even hand cycling shows deficiency in ejection.
Have used a total of four magazines, all exact same results. 3 PMAGs and the IMI that came with it.

Since lessening extractor tension its gotten significantly better, I'm going to try and increase ejector preload tomorrow and I believe that will make it be the end of my woes..
I believe its just a timing issue with the ejection out of the port. (Heres to hoping)
I don't have any buffer weights I can play with for this rifle. I took apart the OEM one, all three weights are the same inside, total weight is approx. 5.4oz
 
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Receipt said:
I did shoot it prior to initial disassembly. It 100% would not run through a mag. Generally atleast every other round would fail to eject.

At around the 25th round I tore it down to go over basics and verify everything was in a good state of tune.
I have no reason to believe its a magazine related issue, even hand cycling shows deficiency in ejection.
Have used a total of four magazines, all exact same results. 3 PMAGs and the IMI that came with it.

Since lessening extractor tension its gotten significantly better, I'm going to try and increase ejector preload tomorrow and I believe that will make it be the end of my woes..
Click to expand...

Ok, thanks and best of luck tomorrow!
 
I finally got to fire one today and handle it in depth thanks to an awesome member offering to bring his out on a range trip :D
Rifle was an NEA 102 black with an upgraded trigger and a 10 power scope on her.
Here's my unbiased impressions and observations:

1. It's very reliable. Shooting fast or controlled groups, the gun cycles nice and hard and stacks the brass in the same spot about 6 feet away to the 2 o'clock.
2. It's well made. It's beefy and solid all around. Nothing on it feels flimsy or cheap. It's built like a tank. There are rough machining spots but it's on places that don't matter one shred ie the inside of the rear area of the bolt carrier for one example and the outer profile of the barrel; who cares. It's well machined wherever it actually counts.
3. It doesn't like any type of actual military spec 7.62mm NATO ball ammo it claims to be chambered for. My M14 with iron sights shoots more accurately at 100m than a 102 with a 10 power scope mounted on it shooting actual 7.62mm NATO.
4. It shoots commercial and handloaded .308 Win very well. It's more accurate than I am capable of shooting it for sure. 10 rounds inside of a 2" circle accurate easily and I'm an above average shot at best especially with a scope.
5. I only used unmodified XCR-M 10 rnd pistol mags but it fed 100% reliably with zero issues.
6. The barrel is probably a lot thicker than it needs to be for the accuracy of the gun. That being said the balance of the rifle is actually very good. I was expecting it to be very front heavy but it balances nicely just ahead of the magwell.
7. Recoil is completely negligible. Nothing more or less than an M14. Very manageable even from kneeling. I'm not a big guy. 5'8" and around 150 lbs.

It's an impressive rifle. Not just an "impressive rifle for the price". It is actually a very well made piece of equipment. Especially if you can get one with the LEO/Mil discount around the $1600 mark. Probably the best thing to come out in our firearms market in a long long time.

I've handled a Modern Hunter from the first run that came out a ways back. I know guys get their panties twisted in a knot over the comparisons but the 102 pretty much did everything the MH did at around 1/3rd the price. The only thing the NEA 102 didn't do better was have butter smooth ###y machining in places where it doesn't even matter one shred anyhow. If that's the difference between a $4K rifle and a $1600 rifle then that's a no brainer in my opinion. The 102 hands down. Guns don't need to look pretty as long as they are tough and shoot well which the 102 does very well.
Aside from it not accurately shoot Norc/Hirt/any kind of actual 7.62mm NATO which it is supposedly chambered for, I'm pretty damned impressed with it. Bravo NEA![/B]
 
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