Reviews on a Olympic Arms AR???

[PistolPete]

It also has the distinction of being the only gun I've ever owned that fired with the trigger being pulled.

I'm going to assume you missed a couple letters.

Fixed, thanks.

Also, if Nim thinks it's a flame war that's really saying something.

[theotherryan]

My personal experiences and observations after shooting a bunch of ammo out of several Olympic Arms AR's is that they function like a mil spec issued M16/M4 (been in the Army for awhile so I can compare) in terms of reliability and accuracy. The fit and finish is a bit lower than issued Colt's but that is expected for the price point. The bottom line of this discussion is that if you have an Oly that shoots reliably and are happy with it then keep using it. If you are unhappy with an Oly then sell it and get something else. I would offer that the basic S&W MP's are a lot of gun for the money.

The gunporn folks who try to convince you that only a 2k AR from LaRue/Daniels Defense/ Noveski will perform adequately for a civilian defender/ zombie gun do not live in the real world where guys have families, mortgages and competing priorities. Also they are either selling those guns or trying to convice theirselves they made the right move.

[DannusMaximus]

But when I decide to Dave-test mine by booting it downrange, chekcign the bore for obstructions, and then running 3 mags with 0 jams, I dare any bush hamster/oly fanboi to tell me their rifle will do the same.

My Buttmaster will.

Not a fanboy necessarily, but I've attended 2 Milcopp courses and additional other rifle courses, as well as substantial shooting on my own. Never had a single problem. For realz. It's a good, solid gun.

That said, I had a former ZS member who knows such things put a little TLC into my hobby-grade rifle to make it more in-line with a pro-grade gun: installed heavier buffer, beefed up the extractor spring and installed an O-ring, restaked the gas key (it was done, but rather poorly), staked my castle nut (wasn't done), installed an extended front sight post (because it wasn't 'F' marked and wouldn't zero properly for me), and a few other odds and ends. If I had paid this guy in something other than beer for the cost of his labor and expertise, as well as the cost of the parts, I would have pretty much broken even on a higher-end rifle.

THAT said, my wife is a LEO and if she ever has to actually grab her rifle it's for realz indeed. She got a Colt LE6920 as a police academy graduation present. I know the difference between pro grade and hobby grade.

TL/DR? A hobby grade rifle with minor upgrades has the potential to perform well. Don't confuse it with a duty-grade AR, however.

[Bearcat]

The gunporn folks who try to convince you that only a 2k AR from LaRue/Daniels Defense/ Noveski will perform adequately for a civilian defender/ zombie gun do not live in the real world where guys have families, mortgages and competing priorities. Also they are either selling those guns or trying to convice theirselves they made the right move.

Maybe you missed this post,

Anyone who thinks you "need" an expensive ar is probley just trying to feal beter about what they wasted on theres. Spend the $ you save in ammo and classes.

This is why I beat my head against a wall every time AR's come up on this forum

YOUR OLYMPIC COSTS ABOUT THE SAME AS(Or even more than!) A MILSPEC RIFLE

This is not 2004. You can put together a PSA M4 with MBUS and a $50 Gunfighter charging handle for right about $700+shipping right now.

That's cheaper than an Arsenal AK! You don't have to spend a lot of money to get a milspec rifle, and you don't have to settle for anything less to save money!

No one here has said you need a $2000+ Boutique rifle

[theotherryan]

The gunporn folks who try to convince you that only a 2k AR from LaRue/Daniels Defense/ Noveski will perform adequately for a civilian defender/ zombie gun do not live in the real world where guys have families, mortgages and competing priorities. Also they are either selling those guns or trying to convice theirselves they made the right move.

Maybe you missed this post,

Anyone who thinks you "need" an expensive ar is probley just trying to feal beter about what they wasted on theres. Spend the $ you save in ammo and classes.

This is why I beat my head against a wall every time AR's come up on this forum

YOUR OLYMPIC COSTS ABOUT THE SAME AS(Or even more than!) A MILSPEC RIFLE

This is not 2004. You can put together a PSA M4 with MBUS and a $50 Gunfighter charging handle for right about $700+shipping right now.

That's cheaper than an Arsenal AK! You don't have to spend a lot of money to get a milspec rifle, and you don't have to settle for anything less to save money!

No one here has said you need a $2000+ Boutique rifle

Either I missed that post or more likely just jumped onto my personal soap box for a minute.

I haven't been in the US for any length of time or bought a gun in a few years so my knowledge of gun prices is outdated. For an Olympic Arms AR (or any gun) there is definitely a question of price point. Maybe better options are available these days at the same price point.

[nimdabew]

Either I missed that post or more likely just jumped onto my personal soap box for a minute.

I haven't been in the US for any length of time or bought a gun in a few years so my knowledge of gun prices is outdated. For an Olympic Arms AR (or any gun) there is definitely a question of price point. Maybe better options are available these days at the same price point.

My most tortured rifle was the cheapest rifle I could build and also the most reliable. LMT 6-pos tube, BCM upper, BCM BCG, DD LPK, Magpul furniture. It was about 1000 if you included the "used price" of crap I had laying in my parts bucket. I built the rifle to fuck up and it still runs just fine. Quality /= super expensive.

[Regular Guy]

No one here has said you need a $2000+ Boutique rifle

Har-har! I just build a MOE equipped AR-15 off blem PSA stuff that is as close to a military M4 (MPI brl, bolt blah blah) as a civilian can get for $650. Without the MOE stuff, $550ish. I'll run it at my next carbine course just to prove a point.

[0122358]

No one here has said you need a $2000+ Boutique rifle

Har-har! I just build a MOE equipped AR-15 off blem PSA stuff that is as close to a military M4 (MPI brl, bolt blah blah) as a civilian can get for $650. Without the MOE stuff, $550ish. I'll run it at my next carbine course just to prove a point.

"scoots up close all snuggly like" Hey RG...can you PM me the parts list for this rifle PLEAASE!

[theotherryan]

I am curious about that parts list also.

[Regular Guy]

Sure, PSA cheap ass gun.
1. 16.5" MPI brl $125
2. MPI BCG $100
3. Blem upper/lower $150
4. LPK on sale $85
5. MOE handguard, grip, buttstock $125
6. A2 Flashhider $5
7. A frame Front sight, MOE rear sight $25 out of bargin bin

$615 All bought as blems or on sale. I'll put this gun up against whatever you got. iHuburis.

My 20" I just built is a little more.
$150 blem brl, MOE ACS stock $175. $765 all said and done.

[theotherryan]

Thanks for the list, I will keep this in mind for the future.

[0122358]

Sure, PSA cheap ass gun.
1. 16.5" MPI brl $125
2. MPI BCG $100
3. Blem upper/lower $150
4. LPK on sale $85
5. MOE handguard, grip, buttstock $125
6. A2 Flashhider $5
7. A frame Front sight, MOE rear sight $25 out of bargin bin

$615 All bought as blems or on sale. I'll put this gun up against whatever you got. iHuburis.

My 20" I just built is a little more.
$150 blem brl, MOE ACS stock $175. $765 all said and done.

whered you find a BCG for 100 bucks?

[Mitragorz]

Hey guys. I registered for the forums just so I could post in this thread. Sorry to drag it back up.

I've been looking to buy an AR, one that I could build myself to keep the cost down. One question that I've got is are Olympic lowers worth buying? I see a few on gunbroker.com going for $750 - $850... for the lowers alone! (http://www.gunbroker.com/Auction/ViewIt ... =323393897 and http://www.gunbroker.com/Auction/ViewIt ... =323927913). At the same time, the local gun shop has this post-ban lower for $250:



That lower doesn't have much of a description, only this:

"Olympic Arms AR-15 Post-Ban Lower
Receiver Only.
Features: Receiver with Trigger Group and Rifle Stock with Rebound Spring, Excellent Condition."

I'd had my eyes on pre-ban, but the prices are really up there. As nice as all the "goodies" would be, for the kind of shooter I am, I just don't think it justifies the difference in price.

But anyway, the biggest question I've got is in regards to posts like this:

YOUR OLYMPIC COSTS ABOUT THE SAME AS(Or even more than!) A MILSPEC RIFLE

Where?? I'm looking to keep costs down. I was looking to build myself, but if I can find a similarly-priced pre-built one and save myself a little trouble, I'd be open to that too. But the thing is, I don't even know where to look. I don't know what's a good deal and what's not. I don't want to go down to the gun shop and get taken advantage of either. The gun won't necessarily be used for home-defense, I've got a short 20GA for that. Also, I'm not a total stranger to guns, I'm an avid skeet shooter, but when it comes to rifles, I know nothing. It would probably just be used to fire a few hundred rounds every few months down at the range. Although, the intimidation factor in a home invasion would certainly be nice too...

I'll also admit that I haven't searched the site. I stumbled upon this thread by googling "olympic arms ar15 review" or something like that. It's late and I've got to work early tomorrow, and I planned on going to the gun shop tomorrow evening to ask about that lower I posted above. I'm trying to get this ball rolling. Yup, I'm that PITA that's looking for some easy help! You guys seem knowledgeable and hopefully I can get some solid advice.

BTW, I'm a NY resident. Long Island, not the city.

[Doctorr Fabulous]

TL:DR now is the worst possible time to build an AR. That said, I bought an MP15 sport for $750 this morning, so the deals are there if you aren't in a hurry.

[Mitragorz]

I had a feeling that'd be the case, with this whole "they're trying to take out guns!" scare going on. I'm in no rush but I have to say, it got this gun back on my mind again, as well as that pistol permit paperwork I've been sitting on...