To NEA or not?

Major Sights

Major Sights

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So I am getting my RPAL in next few days (provided Can Post doesn't strike) and I am looking for my first AR-15. I like the idea of a Canadian made AR-15 that isn't multiple grand to buy. Are the newer gen models up to snuff, as I have seen that the older gens were prone to some issues?


Please don't turn this into a bashing thread. If this brand isn't currently reliable instead of starting "drama" please just recommend another rifle in the $1300 range.
 
Buy a colt. Arma lite. Bushmaster. Norc. Basically anything other than NEA in my opinion.


I had a NEA, and found it to be cheaply made (cutting costs and having sharp edged on the mag well, and a sharp blocky forward assist. poor Finish)

I paid the same for my armalite and loved it.... It felt like a much better gun.
 
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I like NEA. They did have trouble in the beginning, but they have corrected all that and put out a quality product.

Haters gunna hate... there will be people knocking NEA until the day they take their final breath, despite never even handling their products.

I have some of their first gen, and some of their newest gen stuff. With their older stuff, if I did have issues, they had great customer service to remedy it.
 
I would go Norinco for my first AR. Used if possible. It'll work and then you can decide later what higher end stuff you want after building some experience. Had several Norcs, although not ARs. All functioned fine for cheap. I played with M16s a lot in the service, they are fun, but as a civi limited utility. NEA has had some brutal reviews, unless it was very cheap I would be leary. That being said I'm not buying any more Dodge Journeys either, YMMV.
 
Newer ones are reputed to be ok and warranty is good.
However, a lot of people have been bitten and now shy away.
Other than being patriotic, why are you looking for a Canadian made AR?
You can find Colt Canada SA lowers and IUR combinations on the EE for around $1600 once in a while. For the small difference, that would be my choice.
There are tons of US guns on the EE that fit your budget. Give them a look.
 
I bought a NEA PDW on Boxing Day. Absolutely no regrets and about 800 rounds so far. I'm hoping for a NR NEA 25 announcement and would pick one up immediately. My only frame of reference is a S&W M&P 15, which is hard to beat for the $.
 
Still alive said:
Newer ones are reputed to be ok and warranty is good.
However, a lot of people have been bitten and now shy away.
Other than being patriotic, why are you looking for a Canadian made AR?
You can find Colt Canada SA lowers and IUR combinations on the EE for around $1600 once in a while. For the small difference, that would be my choice.
There are tons of US guns on the EE that fit your budget. Give them a look.
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I'm in a similar boat to the OP and being patriotic is the front running reason.
 
My NEA in 7.62x39 just suffered another significant failure in less than 3500 rounds/5 months of use. Customer service is great, but if you are planning on shooting 5.56/.223 I don't see why you should get one. Proven performance and reliability is available with other brands.
 
Major Sights said:
So I am getting my RPAL in next few days (provided Can Post doesn't strike) and I am looking for my first AR-15. I like the idea of a Canadian made AR-15 that isn't multiple grand to buy. Are the newer gen models up to snuff, as I have seen that the older gens were prone to some issues?


Please don't turn this into a bashing thread. If this brand isn't currently reliable instead of starting "drama" please just recommend another rifle in the $1300 range.
Click to expand...

I also vote used Colt Canada.

TheWhole9Yards said:
My NEA in 7.62x39 just suffered another significant failure in less than 3500 rounds/5 months of use. Customer service is great, but if you are planning on shooting 5.56/.223 I don't see why you should get one. Proven performance and reliability is available with other brands.
Click to expand...

What happened this time?
 
I have an NEA (2nd Gen) that I've been shooting for almost 2 years without a single issue.
Not saying it's the best rifle out there, but I see good value for money.
I've also owned a brand new Colt that was not deburred (after milling the picatinny rail on the upper) from the factory...every manufacturer has their issues from time to time.
 
rkm456 said:
I'm in a similar boat to the OP and being patriotic is the front running reason.
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Then I would suggest in order:
CC, ATRS, Motiuk ( even though I don't know much about these guys except you don't hear a lot of bad things about them!), Dominion Arms ( even though these aren't Canadian made) then NEA.
To make things really easy, just buy Colt Canada. If you want Canadian, you won't find anything better regardless of price.
 
I have a similar thread going right now and the best advice I've got was from 2 people that pm'ed me... buy a norinco there cheap and you can use it to see what works for you in a AR and what doesn't then when you know what you want/like drop some money on a Colt or something... like the person said to me "They just don't like the fact that a $600 Norc will run as good and shoot as accurate as their 2K DPMS"

The norinco made be a little rough around the edges but it's cheap and gets you into the AR world at reasonable price and I'm not sure about you but I don't have $2000 to drop on a gun that I may not even go shoot with that often
 
Opex said:
I have a similar thread going right now and the best advice I've got was from 2 people that pm'ed me... buy a norinco there cheap and you can use it to see what works for you in a AR and what doesn't then when you know what you want/like drop some money on a Colt or something... like the person said to me "They just don't like the fact that a $600 Norc will run as good and shoot as accurate as their 2K DPMS"

The norinco made be a little rough around the edges but it's cheap and gets you into the AR world at reasonable price and I'm not sure about you but I don't have $2000 to drop on a gun that I may not even go shoot with that often
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Great advice except the OP wants a Canadian made rifle.
And if you paid $2K for a DPMS, you overpaid.
And if SHTF, I'll rather have a Norc than a stick!
 
OP - Your LGS has a couple of Bushmasters in your price range. Why not go and have a look at them?
 
I have had 3 gen 2s to date

The 7.5 / 14.5 and currently a 12.5 (12.5 and 14.5 ) were used

Now that being said I have upgraded the parts kits / bolts basically stripped them clean and rebuilt them prior to use why ? Because I liked the platform feel and I could do it still cheaper than a higher end AR.

Stay away from gen 1 NEA anything

Issues that are noted with NEA where are
Barrel alignment gas port alignment
Bolt failure causing out of battery fire
Light strikes
Heard of some flat top issues rails not square
Quality control was poor.

Now that being said haters are going to hate regardless but the gen 2 seem to be pretty well put together

I always wondered why they rushed the gen ones. It really put NEA behind the 8 Ball in marketing.
I would not hesitate on a gen 2 or 3

If you don't want issues decent in that range
Dpms
Smith
Norcs - they ain't pretty but they go bang
Aero bit more pricy but nice


All good advice on the above posts

Notable guns fail safes
Colt
DD
ruger
Aero

All good mid level

Good luck
 
As someone who picked up a 7.5" gen 2 NEA around a month ago I will share my experience

Within 20 rounds I started to get misfires, checked the rounds and they had light strikes, when i got home I noticed the hammer pin had moved to the point it was now only supported on one side which was the cause of my light strikes. Put the pin back where it should be and tried again (another 80 rounds) but it kept happening

Contacted NEA and they asked for the lower to be returned and I believe the problem has now been repaired and the lower is on its way back to me (can't say for sure as they didn't update)

Having said all this I purchased with my eyes open, I was conscious of the history NEA had and made sure I got a gen 2, for the most part I like the gun and it was affordable for sure, yes I`ve had a problem but I`m hopeful I was simply unlucky and it`ll be good from here forward

In the interests of accuracy i should also say I am new to guns and this is the first AR15 style firearm I have had exposure to
 
While I am not deadset on Canadian made it is definitely a major bonus (I do my best to shop local or support jobs at "home"). I have looked at the Norinco and while they do go "bang", they do require a bit of mods to become the rifle I am thinking of having (enough mods that would really bring the cost up to an NEA quickly or even surpass it). The NEA from what I have seen comes out of the box in pretty much the configuration that I would like. I doubt very much that I will be "competing" with the rifle any time soon or fighting off waves of zombies so a 2+ grand rifle is a bit out of the question.
 
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