North Eastern Arms 12.5" AR review: range trip 2

Ejection was consistent; 1-2 o’clock and 2m ahead of me, no exceptions.
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Sounds like the gun is over-gassed. Keep an eye on the bolt. I've seen two other NEA ARs from earlier batches that have been over-gassed as well and one just lost two lugs a couple weeks ago (under 1k rounds). As Tiriaq noted, this is not unheard of with other manufacturers, however, it should not be considered 'normal' by any stretch.

It appears as if the well is machined by drilling four corner holes, and then milling way the balance of the material.
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I had noticed that early on and actually considered it (and still do consider it) a clever way of reducing the manufacturing time/cost (EDM or broaching being more expensive). I don't believe that any issues would arise as far as structural integrity unless of course the OP runs over it with his truck.........although I would not expect a regular forged lower to fare much better regardless of whether it was 6061 or 7075.
 
buckbrush said:
realise the NEA'S are 6061 , .040 to .060 of 6061 is not as strong as .100 of 7075 that most AR's are made of.
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Probably fine for range use, but I would be hesitant to put it to hard use with only .040 in that area. Definitely something that should have been noticed and worked out in the design stage. From what I am reading from others who have measured theirs, it's seems to be common on the NEA. I measured a couple of other brands and they are no less than .100 in that area.
 
Allen Gun Works said:
Probably fine for range use, but I would be hesitant to put it to hard use with only .040 in that area. Definitely something that should have been noticed and worked out in the design stage. From what I am reading from others who have measured theirs, it's seems to be common on the NEA. I measured a couple of other brands and they are no less than .100 in that area.
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Honestly, I'd expect a little more knowledge from a professional like yourself. Go take a close look at an AR lower and it will quickly become obvious why that .040" dimension is not overly critical.

When you actually look at an AR lower you will see a band of thicker material a bit below the upper edge of the magwell. As we can all agree the lower is not really a stressed part, there should be more than enough strength in that area. While I too would like to see a bit more meat in that portion of the lower, nobody has yet surfaced with an NEA lower that has split on that location.
 
Suputin said:
Honestly, I'd expect a little more knowledge from a professional like yourself. Go take a close look at an AR lower and it will quickly become obvious why that .040" dimension is not overly critical.

When you actually look at an AR lower you will see a band of thicker material a bit below the upper edge of the magwell. As we can all agree the lower is not really a stressed part, there should be more than enough strength in that area. While I too would like to see a bit more meat in that portion of the lower, nobody has yet surfaced with an NEA lower that has split on that location.
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Well damnit, someone will now just to feed the trolls....

I should point out I have in fact seen an NEA lower that for whatever reason, wouldn't hold a magazine properly, and would actually allow the magazine to be pulled out without pressing the button. I doubt it has to do with this specific design feature, but, it is curious.
 
Misbusters
Thanks for the review, although I still think they're ugly as sin. Interesting about the mag well; time will tell if this becomes an issue down the road. As for the barrel, if it's from the same manufacturer as the LPK - I'll pass...
 
*MALICE* said:
Sounds like the gun is over-gassed. Keep an eye on the bolt. I've seen two other NEA ARs from earlier batches that have been over-gassed as well and one just lost two lugs a couple weeks ago (under 1k rounds). As Tiriaq noted, this is not unheard of with other manufacturers, however, it should not be considered 'normal' by any stretch.



I had noticed that early on and actually considered it (and still do consider it) a clever way of reducing the manufacturing time/cost (EDM or broaching being more expensive). I don't believe that any issues would arise as far as structural integrity unless of course the OP runs over it with his truck.........although I would not expect a regular forged lower to fare much better regardless of whether it was 6061 or 7075.
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The gun is definitely not over-gassed. I do think the pin is soft, though.

The trajectory of the empties is determined not just by the force with which they are launched, but also by the angle of the brass deflector, which is a little different on the NEA guns than on most ARs. So while an overgassed gun COULD generate that pattern, in this case I do not think that is the issue. There is just no way this thing is overgassed...extraction is positive but does not have that "slam" feeling of an overgassed gun at all.
 
but also by the angle of the brass deflector, which is a little different on the NEA guns than on most ARs.
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It's possible. Do you notice brass coloured 'impact marks' on the deflector? If yes, then that could be the reason for forward ejection. If not, just keep an eye on the bolt. :)
 
naw, mine ejects forward as well... its like clock work, I can aim cases where I want its very consistent, definitely not over gassed , they all bounce of the case deflector that way.

brass is unaffected, I collect mine for reloads and its all good... actually nice to have it all land on the tarp too!

as for "hard use" driving over the thing with a truck isnt "hard use" its mild "abuse" and thats the only way there is even a chance of breaking the lower, mine consistently gets thrown into dump barrels and treated like a rented mule...

besides, a gun is only as strong as its weakest point, im sure plastic grips, buttstocks and fore ends will break long before the aluminum

we will see though, only had it under a year

Im game for dropping it out of a helicopter if anyone wants to take me for a ride :)
 
Does it come with the CTR, or did you put that on yourself?
Commercial or milspec buffer tube?
does it come with the sling plate?
 
Thank you for your time coming forth with this review.

misanthropist said:
The NEA-15 uses an M16-type firing pin, and the spool on the pin is clearly striking the retaining pin. Some contact is not a big concern but if the retaining pin is a little soft, well, over time that will generate an issue.
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However, what you call the "spool" on the firing pin, whether it's an AR15 firing pin, or an M16 one, it is not intended to stop the bolt travel rearward during lock-up. The cam pin is tasked with that. The firing pin "retaining pin" is just that, it retains the firing pin in the BCG. Its function is not anything that would bend it as shown in your photos. As such, its hardness is immaterial in its function and needs not be anything other than the harness of most hardware store cotter pins.

If ... when your bolt is sitting all the way back into the carrier, (in lock-up position), and your firing pin does not have ~ 1/16" floating space back and forth, something is out of tolerance.

I believe the issue lies in the tolerance between the cam pin rear position hole in the carrier and the FP retaining pin hole in the carrier. And that points to an out-of-spec carrier.

Looking back, I seem to recall NEA owners with difficulty removing and inserting the FP retaining pin. This could be the reason why.

Peace.
 
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