Olympic AR's

[txheartshot]

Are all Olympic lowers mil-spec machined lowers or do they make cheap poly lowers, too? Is Olympic worth a darn?

[Artos]

run grasshopper...run like the wind...

Seriously, a stipped lower roll stamp is the least of your worries...it is everything else that makes a good AR & Oly is not one you want in a true battle gun.

If you want to make up a varminter, I would just buy a stainless RRA only because every one I have shot grouped well thus far.

If you want a true battle gun, then think BCM, Daniel Defense, Colt, LMT, Noveski...

[TexHill]

If you're interested in an AR I suggest you start here:

http://spreadsheets.google.com/pub?key=pwswheghNQsEuEhjFwPrgTA&single=true&gid=5&output=html

This is a chart with the descriptions of all the desired features of an M4 pattern carbine and all the manufacturers that meet those standards.

[redfishted]

I have several AR's, all in 223/5.56, my Olympic Arms is one of my favorites, shoots good and has one of the best triggers of any I've shot, I'm no expert, so take these comments as you will.

[txheartshot]

Thanks for the help guys

[BowVista]

I have a friend who has an Oly. (I actually had one as well for a few weeks but traded it out for a M&P 15.) Oly is definitely not the best out there, but it shoots well, and is an accurate rifle. This same friend has 6 very high end rifles, but still chooses to shoot the Oly as well.

I'm learning that AR's are very much like bow brands on TBH. Some will swear that one is totally worthless, because they're comparing it to something that is 3x the price. For what it is, in the price range, it's a fine gun that will do the job if you're on a budget. If money is not an issue, you can buy a better gun for sure.

[Loneaggie]

If you're interested in an AR I suggest you start here:

http://spreadsheets.google.com/pub?key=pwswheghNQsEuEhjFwPrgTA&single=true&gid=5&output=html

This is a chart with the descriptions of all the desired features of an M4 pattern carbine and all the manufacturers that meet those standards.

The dreaded list! Which specs full auto weapons in combat conditions over thousands of rounds. Just how many coyotes you mad at.

[Bily Lovec]

substandard materials, non-milspec sizing of parts. considered the bottom of the barrel.
are there good oly's out there ? sure. odds of finding one ? not near as good as other choice brands.

their QC guy cant even zip his pants up, how shoddy do you think their ARs are ?

[ABroussard]

I have several AR's, all in 223/5.56, my Olympic Arms is one of my favorites, shoots good and has one of the best triggers of any I've shot, I'm no expert, so take these comments as you will.

This. There is good and bad in every brand out there. We aren't fighting on the desert. I shoot my Olympic over my rock river a lot. It's a tack driver! Never had the first hiccup with it.

[Tommyh]

Oly Arms uses aluminum lowers, and they go bang. whats the price of the one youre looking at?

[BowVista]

substandard materials, non-milspec sizing of parts. considered the bottom of the barrel.
are there good oly's out there ? sure. odds of finding one ? not near as good as other choice brands.

their QC guy cant even zip his pants up, how shoddy do you think their ARs are ?

This was kinda what I was getting at with my earlier post. I respect you guys, but sometimes I don't think you see the same picture people like me are looking at. I can't tell you the number of times I've asked a $1,000 question, and gotten a $3,000 answer.

Are Olympic parts SUB-standard, or just standard for those of you who require the very best of the best. The one I had was very well made, mil-spec, and fit perfectly with multiple pieces I tried it with. I have experience with 3 Olympic guns, and looked at 5 at a gun show this past weekend. Every one was very well built, and fit perfectly together.

Oly Arms uses aluminum lowers, and they go bang. whats the price of the one youre looking at?

This is more the answer I think folks like me are looking for. Like I said, no disrespect to those of you who only touch LaRue, Daniel Defense, Noveske, etc., but some of us just can't afford to do that. Personally, I can afford it, but could never bring myself to do it. I can scrape together $1,000-1,500 and not really be in rough shape, but my family has too much going on for me to drop $3,000 on something like an AR. I just wouldn't feel right about investing THAT much money in something I simply use for recreational purposes.

If you can afford it, go for it! Truthfully though, some of us just want an AR to play with and sling bullets at hogs. Can an Oly do that, 99.9% of the time you bet it can! Maybe I'll regret just owning a S&W M&P 15 if I'm ever overrun by a tyrannical gov't, zombies or post-apocalyptic cannibals, but the fact of the matter is, that's just Hollywood stuff.

[Bily Lovec]

no offense seen

if you can purchase an oly for what is truly worth, say around $700-800 bucks, than go for it.
If you run across some flipper wanting $2k, you many want to wait it out a little longer.

[BowVista]

no offense seen

if you can purchase an oly for what is truly worth, say around $700-800 bucks, than go for it.
If you run across some flipper wanting $2k, you many want to wait it out a little longer.

Notice how I didn't even touch the picture you posted. I looked down in an important meeting the other day, and realized the button on my shirt that keeps my hairy chest covered was unbuttoned. Fortunately, given the hair growth on my face, I don't think anyone in the mtg was surprised that my chest was hairy.

[Tommyh]

its not a matter of cost really, if you think of it. an oly costs about 750 new in normal times. a colt will be 1050. a few extra months for that, or even an RRA/Stag/CMMG at 850 with much better quality. Toss in an M&P at 900.... you see where im going with this. and yes, there are key features you WANT to have done on your AR, and that includes being properly built and staked for secure screws all over.