Olympic Arms Distributors or Dealers
- Thread starter savage92
- Start date
I've had one for almost 2 years and it's great. It didn't cost a fortune and functions just as well and has the same fit and finish as any RRA or Bushy that i've shot or handled. You might actually want to shoot a gun before passing judgement on it.
Oly
I had an Oly lower - it was Ok, but was out of spec, and had to be modified to even allow an upper to fit on it properly. It had a VERY tight magwell. After it was modified, it functioned very well. I definitely have mixed feelings about their quality!!
I had an Oly lower - it was Ok, but was out of spec, and had to be modified to even allow an upper to fit on it properly. It had a VERY tight magwell. After it was modified, it functioned very well. I definitely have mixed feelings about their quality!!
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"I've had one for almost 2 years and it's great. It didn't cost a fortune and functions just as well and has the same fit and finish as any RRA or Bushy that i've shot or handled. You might actually want to shoot a gun before passing judgement on it."
Where did you get it from?
Where did you get it from?
I got mine from a gun show in Richmond, Virginia. Here's a picture of it. The only part that isn't Olympic Arms is the stock.
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- Location
- The Police State: Ontario
I am very familiar with the early Oly's, and they did have quality issues back then. Worked with at least 50 of 'em in the late 80's to early 90's.
Just like Cobra says, many needed a little touch up machining for proper fit, and the anodizing was not the hard coat mil spec.
While I am not familiar with their recent production, I've heard they are OK now.
I have one. Never had any issues with it except my colt bolt group wouldn't function in it. Picked up another bolt group and it purrs like a kitten now.
The finish does suck though. It looked like black bbq paint and chipped off fairly easily.
Nothing a little refinishing didn't fix.
The finish does suck though. It looked like black bbq paint and chipped off fairly easily.
Nothing a little refinishing didn't fix.
That might give you a hint??? There are much better options available, pick one!
I have built about three dozen Olys, mostly the older CAST ones. Only had a problem with one ... the upper actually warped in to the point that the bolt would not move freely.
I also built a few of the newer FORGED Olys, including a couple of their ultra short 6 inchers. First one came with a pig tail, second one came with a straight tube. Both functioned reliably, but I used M 16 full bolts, and also stayed with the long rifle size buffer tubes and recoil springs.
If you can find a used OLY on this side of the border, the price may be quite reasonable ... in fact, i was at Ler Arms yesterday, and they had one in their cabinet.
I also built a few of the newer FORGED Olys, including a couple of their ultra short 6 inchers. First one came with a pig tail, second one came with a straight tube. Both functioned reliably, but I used M 16 full bolts, and also stayed with the long rifle size buffer tubes and recoil springs.
If you can find a used OLY on this side of the border, the price may be quite reasonable ... in fact, i was at Ler Arms yesterday, and they had one in their cabinet.
Olympic Arms & DPMS are no where near top tier AR manufacturers. If somebody told you that, you were misinformed. Top tier, you're looking at Colt or LMT. Noveske, STAG, CMMG are also excellent. Armalite, RRA are decent. Bushmaster, DPMS, & Olympic Arms have been having some QC problems the past year or two(or more). Some run great, others are seriously out of spec and will give you nothing but problems. Personally, if I was looking at shelling out $1500-$2000 for a complete AR, I'd want something that was reliable and actually went bang when I squeezed the trigger without "taking my chances." I previously owned both an Olympica Arms & a DPMS...both we're "deals" that ended up costing me more money than if I had gone out and bought a better quality rifle after I had to fix what need fixing. I got rid of both as fast as possible and took a loss in doing so, but I made sure to inform the new buyers what problems I had had with them and what I had done to fix them before selling them. By that time the rifles were running well, but I simply had lost faith and patience in them. I'd happily buy a used Colt, LMT or STAG before I'd buy a new Olympic Arms or even DPMS anyday.
Sorry to be harsh, but I try to keep new shooters from repeating the same mistakes I made. But, hey, if you've got your heart set on an Oly, the only guy you've got to satisfy is yourself. Good luck with the search. FYI, below are just a few Canadian dealers in AR-15s you can choose from. Incidentally, all are contributing dealers to CGN as well.
You can check with Questar International for LMT & Rock River Arms: http://www.questar.ca/ Questar can also import that Olympic Arms AR for you if you want!
Wolverine Supplies for Armalite & Sabre Defence: http://www.wolverinesupplies.com/
P&D Enterprises for Bushmaster & some Armalite/Eagle Arms: http://www.p-d-ent.com/pages/firearms.html
Arms East for STAG & CMMG products: http://www.armseast.com/
SOCOM Supply for DPMS & Noveske: http://www.socomsupply.ca/products.php?category=firearms
Freedom Ventures for Bushmaster: http://www.freedomventures.ca/home.htm
Dlask Arms, Canadian manufacturer of their own line of AR-15 rifles: http://www.dlaskarms.com/
Most of the bad things i've heard about Olympic was with guns that had the cast receivers. They stopped using those 4 years ago. Most of the newer forged receivers they make are just as good as anything else out there. My gun was made in late 2005. I bought it in January of 2006 as a Plinker Plus for $600. It's been great since day 1, my only complaint were those crappy A1 sights it came with. First, I got a 6 position collapsible stock to give it the M4 look. Then a few months ago I ordered an A3 upper receiver unit from Olympic Arms and had that installed. The service was great, the receiver looks good and the delivery time was pretty quick. The fit, finish, and everything else looks great. I've fed it every type of ammo under the sun and not 1 hiccup as of yet. When were your guns made?
We were dealing with Olympic Arms about 2 years ago... for the price the product wasn't bad (not top tier by any means but very cost effective).
The problem I had with them was more to do with delivery and time estimates. They would promise delivery in 8 weeks... then 10... then 12. Some items were still undelivered 6 months later. They didn't seem to have a handle on their production, parts supplies, etc.. We found this unacceptable so we stopped doing business with them.
From the off and on contact we've had with them they haven't changed. They promise to call in a month with an answer to a question and never are heard from again. It really doesn't inspire confidence
Mark
The problem I had with them was more to do with delivery and time estimates. They would promise delivery in 8 weeks... then 10... then 12. Some items were still undelivered 6 months later. They didn't seem to have a handle on their production, parts supplies, etc.. We found this unacceptable so we stopped doing business with them.
From the off and on contact we've had with them they haven't changed. They promise to call in a month with an answer to a question and never are heard from again. It really doesn't inspire confidence
Mark
I have a Oly K9GL (9mm Glock version), it's a pita.
First, the rails are out of spec, forget about mounting any ARMS throw lever mounts. Before anybody says that ARMS are finiqy, I used a caliper and measured it then compared it to a mil-spec template.
Second, the machining of the hole in the upper for the barrel extension was off center and not in axis with the upper, thus causing the barrel to be at an angle.
Third, the machinning of the mag well is just horrible.
forth, the buffer tube hole in the lower is not center on axis, causing the charging handle to catch on the buffer plate.
I fixed both items 1 & 2 by replacing the upper with an Armalite.
I fixed (somewhat) #3 by buffing the sharp edges,
I fixed (somewhat) #4 by filling down the buffer plate.
Now it's pretty good, but had to throw in a few hundred bucks and some sweet to fix it. Before this I always said I would not buy Olympic, now I will never in no Freeken way ever buy Oly again. I like it now but not because it's an Oly, but because it works with my Glock mags (10 rounds baby)
On a positive note, Mark did try to help me out in the initial rail issue, even offered to take it back. Olympic sucks, Questar rocks!!!
First, the rails are out of spec, forget about mounting any ARMS throw lever mounts. Before anybody says that ARMS are finiqy, I used a caliper and measured it then compared it to a mil-spec template.
Second, the machining of the hole in the upper for the barrel extension was off center and not in axis with the upper, thus causing the barrel to be at an angle.
Third, the machinning of the mag well is just horrible.
forth, the buffer tube hole in the lower is not center on axis, causing the charging handle to catch on the buffer plate.
I fixed both items 1 & 2 by replacing the upper with an Armalite.
I fixed (somewhat) #3 by buffing the sharp edges,
I fixed (somewhat) #4 by filling down the buffer plate.
Now it's pretty good, but had to throw in a few hundred bucks and some sweet to fix it. Before this I always said I would not buy Olympic, now I will never in no Freeken way ever buy Oly again. I like it now but not because it's an Oly, but because it works with my Glock mags (10 rounds baby)
On a positive note, Mark did try to help me out in the initial rail issue, even offered to take it back. Olympic sucks, Questar rocks!!!
