Should I buy a NEA AR?
- Thread starter Black slide
- Start date
my new norinco doesnt... is this something BRAND new... cause all the other ones i see bought this year are commercial spec... also UN staked buffer plate, and crooked flash hiders are standard on all norincos...
not that it really matters.... till you loose a pin spring when the buffer plate comes off...
blaxsun
CGN Ultra frequent flyer
That's why I prefer just upgrading the tube to a PWS. Far superior, and you don't have to worry about staking, un-staking or loctite.
never had this happen in the thousands of rounds through mine... Dont you have a castle nut wrench?
Runningfool
CGN Ultra frequent flyer
- Location
- SW Ontario
Sorry Black Slide, yours is another NEA thread that turned into the same ol thing - a few NEA-15 owners weighing in and then the usual naysayers laughing and giving each other the reach-around. 
I'd take PBR's and Easysauce's comments to heart more than most...they own and shoot both and aren't just regurgitating what they've heard or read.
I'd take PBR's and Easysauce's comments to heart more than most...they own and shoot both and aren't just regurgitating what they've heard or read.
blaxsun
CGN Ultra frequent flyer
Funny how when it comes to NEA, ownership is apparently a prerequisite to be able to offer an opinion (the manufacturer's questionably ethics, business practices and lack of quality control, notwithstanding).
I don't have to own a DD to know that if offers more overall value for the money any more than I know that the Norc offers the best value for an entry-level AR, or for that matter - that the NEA offers neither.
Sorry Black Slide, yours is another NEA thread that turned into the same ol thing - a few NEA-15 owners weighing in and then the usual naysayers laughing and giving each other the reach-around.
I'd take PBR's and Easysauce's comments to heart more than most...they own and shoot both and aren't just regurgitating what they've heard or read.
No offense, but several NEA review threads started by certain people in this thread were hilarious. The comments made there and the blatant bias kinda started the whole inside joke thing.
Besides after several notable incidents on this site, we are all forced to take every "pro NEA" thread with a grain of salt.
Just playing Satains Advocate.
blaxsun
CGN Ultra frequent flyer
Out of curiosity... what are you hoping to gain? A lot of Norc owners that go down the upgrade path usually end up spending more than if they'd just replaced it with a new rifle. Not to criticize or dissuade you, but just as c0ntract indicated - you may not realize any perceived benefits.
Runningfool
CGN Ultra frequent flyer
- Location
- SW Ontario
Not at all. The vast majority of comments regarding NEA come from those who don't own one.
I've never seen or shot an Olympic Arms AR before...what benefit would I be to anyone in posting about their poor fit and finish or commenting about their reliability? What purpose would that serve?
Depends on the source of your info. You don't need to own a rifle to comment if your research was valid. There is a difference between "I heard brand X isn't good" and "I did some searching and found numerous first-hand accounts of problems in brand X".
Runningfool
CGN Ultra frequent flyer
- Location
- SW Ontario
I agree. Most of these threads go from constructive to dogpile in a hurry and they serve no purpose other than keeping us blackriflers entertained!
I don't need to own one to form an opinion, this site is designed to allow others to share their misery with me. They entire concept of the Internet is to share knowledge. I don't need to own a porshe to know its quality, and I don't need to own a lada to know its not.
Even excluding all the countless notable incidents and gaffs that were posted on here, I don't need to own a NEA to say that I think it is priced to close to a LMT/ DD for me to consider it. With the history and the things that happened here, I would gladly wait an extra pay cheque to pick up something from a well known manufacturer rather than gamble on a working NEA gun landing on my doorstep.
If the Norinco runs perfectly and shoots well and the NEA runs perfectly and shoots well also, will it really be any different? So… I suppose you are looking for a rifle with a better fit and finish and a higher level of quality control. As you said, “I am looking for quality,” “I am specifically looking for a quality AR set up.” From that I don’t believe the NEA is the rifle you are looking for, I believe it will be an improvement but not substantially or noticeably to you, and not necessarily in the fit and finish/QC categories.
Really, I don’t want to say you shouldn’t buy one; I just question what you mean by a quality AR, as to me this would mean something in the higher end of things… where as NEA currently seems to be on the lower end of things…
Are you seriously suggesting that KAC, LMT, Stag, and S&W have no warranties and you will be left to hang if something goes wrong? Or, am I reading that wrong?
the difference between a 700 norinco, and a 3500$ noveske is not as much as oyu would hope... both guns will outshoot 99% of the people on here...
I can hit past 250 just fine with my NEA and norinco on irons and a holo... and when I pick up a buddies noveske or lmt i dont suddenly get more accurate or more reliable...
sure you can take non owners word for it...
or someone who competes with, and regularly shoots 1k rounds a month, as opposed to simply googleing or going and CGN for info.
yes... ALL the US brands need EXTENSIVE paper work to be shipped back to the states IF and Only IF they accept to do the repair, which may or may not be on their $ coin for shipping...
S&W told me I was on my own, there is a thread up right now about knights arms being the same.... either they wont do it, or you have to go through the import export process at your own cost
I can hit past 250 just fine with my NEA and norinco on irons and a holo... and when I pick up a buddies noveske or lmt i dont suddenly get more accurate or more reliable...
sure you can take non owners word for it...
or someone who competes with, and regularly shoots 1k rounds a month, as opposed to simply googleing or going and CGN for info.
yes... ALL the US brands need EXTENSIVE paper work to be shipped back to the states IF and Only IF they accept to do the repair, which may or may not be on their $ coin for shipping...
S&W told me I was on my own, there is a thread up right now about knights arms being the same.... either they wont do it, or you have to go through the import export process at your own cost
Just a couple of thoughts about added features - a quadrail is a great place to hang shzt which may or may not contribute to the shooting effectiveness of the rifle. It is too big and has too many edges to make a good forend (the forend being a place to grab the rifle). Add covers on the rails that aren't loaded with shzt, and the forend doesn't have sharp edges anymore, but it is even larger in diameter.
Seems that it is impossible to discuss the NEA AR without the thread going off the rails.
Too bad.
It does seem though, that a Norinco/NEA comparison is more appropriate than a NEA/LMT/Stag/etc. comparison.
Seems that it is impossible to discuss the NEA AR without the thread going off the rails.
Too bad.
It does seem though, that a Norinco/NEA comparison is more appropriate than a NEA/LMT/Stag/etc. comparison.
Pistolwhiptricks
CGN frequent flyer
- Location
- Mississauga
I have a Norinco CQ-A and am very pleased with it. If I was looking to upgrade to something of better quality, I would get a Spike's Tactical. For the level of detail and quality you get for the price point it is a great deal.
blaxsun
CGN Ultra frequent flyer
There's a difference between having and needing a warranty. Some manufacturers are known for producing more lemons than others... And by the same token, some manufacturers warranties will suck more than others.
No offense, but why do you think that is? Might it at all have something to do with the continual "glowing endorsements" - despite the fact that every month we're seeing at least one additional flawed example that's experienced another "fixed" QC issue? It speaks volumes that Norinco probably outsells all other ARs by probably a factor of 2:1 or greater, and yet we never seem to hear of similar problems plaguing it. For that matter, none of the other AR manufacturers have even remotely experienced the myriad of problems associated with NEA.
What is rarely taken into consideration is that a lot of the people that shoot NEAs are experienced AR owners, who can probably troubleshoot (and resolve) the majority of any minor issues. Not only that, but I highly doubt that the NEA is their sole AR. In fact, I suspect they probably have a few.
I think the real question that's not being asked is: If you could only have one AR15, would it be an NEA?
