New Lancaster 5.45 w/milled Receiver and Bulgarian set

New here, so hello to everyone, hope the thread stays on target.. Lead time is about a month, so unfortunately guys, we have to wait a little. Got a little acreage and a few thousand rounds, so when she comes, she's going to get wrung out properly.. I promise pics and all the good stuff.. Peace.

If you bought your gun directly from Lancaster...you will be waiting for longer than a month. Perhaps much longer.

(Lancaster Arms is big-time bad news. You should have read up before buying from them. They've screwed a lot of people on here.)

Welcome to the forum!

Best of luck with the Lancaster, I hope you avoid all the problems that have been posted





Z

It's very odd people are having problems with their builds recently. A couple years ago Lancaster was a good name in the business. I think ever since they introduced the Rough Rider model they're rep has slowly gone down hill.

And, I can almost understand why. People want newly assembled AK's but the only ones available at a decent price are AK's built with these new US barrels

All kinds of problems are arising now as most AK's were built with the original country of origin barrel assemblies. They came out of the box as parts kits with matching #'s, headspaced barrels and all barrel parts already installed. Thanks to the GAY-TF companies are now having to adapt to completely new building techniques.

I believe the ATF knew exactly what they were doing when they banned barrels. They saw the ease with which AK's could be built from parts kits and decided to throw a wrench in the gears.

They probably sat down, figured out what could make this process all the more difficult and came up with the barrel. This is the only thing I can possibly think of as to why they decided to ban barrels! Does anyone have any documentation from the ATF that explains WHY they decided to ban barrels or did they just one day decide out of the blue to screw with the AK builders of America


Oh, also, I'd ask Lancaster if the Milled Receiver AK74 your buying is built with the original or US barrel. If it's built with the original Bulgarian barrel theres a good chance you might end up with a really nice build......

Yes, I have a Lancaster Tantal build from a couple years ago that is a gem. Nice gun.

What has happened to Lancaster, is typical. They got too big too quick, and started making promises they couldn't keep. Quality went downhill, and the rest is history.

Complicating matters, is the fact that the owner of Lancaster has been accused by some in the industry of various "ethical lapses". And I know from first-hand experiences that yes...the owner of Lancaster has an unfortunate habit of lying his ass off on a regular basis. Lancaster's website says that they have original Bulgarian barrels now, but I wouldn't be even remotely shocked to learn that it isn't true. And if you're thinking, "Why would they just make something like that up?", I would tell you that Chet (the owner of Lancaster) has a documented history of just making stuff up. Mark Graham of Arizona Response Systems says that Chet is a "pathological liar who couldn't tell the truth even if he had a gun put to his head".

Mark also thinks that Chet has never sold even a single gun to the US military, even though Lancaster's website makes them out to be a military contractor. Which makes sense. After all, how many military contractors do you know of, who have a website that looks like it was designed by a 5th grader?

Lancaster is bad news. I fully expect that they will fold up shop at some point this year. Hopefully not too many people will get burned when they do.

[quote]Originally Posted By StephenNW:



Mark also thinks that Chet has never sold even a single gun to the US military, even though Lancaster's website makes them out to be a military contractor. Which makes sense. After all, how many military contractors do you know of, who have a website that looks like it was designed by a 5th grader?


Plus, why would the military or contractors get AK's from Lancaster?? They could buy them direct from Russia, China, or any number of sources for much cheaper.

Lancaster used to have pictures on their site claiming they were of rifles they built. Problem was they lifted the pictures off the web and the pictures were actually the rifle of a member here that had been posted that weren't even built by Lancaster.

I was told it was going to be built using new, original Bulgarian parts, including barrel. A run of 100 rifles. Hopefully everything turns out good, and I can give everyone an excellent read and peek.
I should know something pretty soon. Wish me luck

lol seriously, good luck man. Chet read me the same line of BS when I dropped $1400 on a Krink that never came for 3 months (promised in three weeks)...good luck being able to talk to Chet himself after you drop the dough too - he becomes mysteriously "sick" and on leave for "family issues" but before he has your money he's always there to talk to. I hope you at least used a credit card so you'll be covered in the likely event that SHTF with that deal.

Thanks everyone for the imput, and the welcome.

Best of luck to you, Topcat32. But I'll bet you $20 that thing won't have an original Bulgarian barrel on it. And yes, Chet does have a history of promising things that he then doesn't deliver. When you get it (which I'll guarantee will be long after you're told you'll get it), you should verify that it has what Chet claims it has! He is well-known for misrepresenting what he sells. Hope you paid by credit card. MANY of us here have had to do charge-backs with Lancaster because of non-delivery, or delivery of something that wasn't exactly what we ordered. If you didn't use a credit card, I hope everything works out for you.

I'll tell ya, for that kind of money, you'd be FAR better off buying either an Arsenal SGL31 for about $775, or a high-end Bulgarian build (with new kit and original barrel) from Arizona Response Systems for $800. If you haven't already received the rifle, I'd cancel. Seriously...Lancaster is THAT bad.

Don't Lancaster's have a Lifetime Warranty ??? Just out of curiosity how does one tell a TRUE Bulgarian made barrel from a questionable quality American knockoff??? I realize it might not be possible but it might be a good thread if anyone has that info especially with pictures if possible. They seem to be growing on trees in Arizona with these 100 rifles cfpkiller was originally told he was getting one as a replacement and I was also offered one before I said thanks but no thanks and got credit for my Arsenal. I talked to them a few times and honestly didn't trust them.

That's just it. Where in the hell did Lancaster just get 100 original Bulgarian barrels from all of a sudden? In fact, those barrels DON'T grow on trees, and new Bulgarian barrels are not cheap. Yet they're throwing those on milled rifles and selling those for $688? Hmmm...why am I suspicious???

I wouldn't be surprised if Chet is putting on American barrels, betting on the fact that the vast majority of people won't know the difference. And if a couple people DO realize they've been hosed and complain, he can quickly think of an excuse like, "Oh, that must have been some mistake with your rifle only." I wouldn't be surprised at all if Chet is simply playing the odds on this, knowing that he's likely to get away with it. I wouldn't put it past him at all.

OP, when you get your gun, take it to a REPUTABLE and KNOWLEDGABLE AK-smith. He should be able to tell you the barrel's origin, and it should not cost you very much at all. If you got the real deal, congrats...consider the small amount of money you spent on the AK-smith to have been "insurance". But if you get an American barrel, it's likely everyone else will have too. And Lancaster will have another SERIOUS problem on its hands, because that would be out-and-out fraud. And yes, I think Chet is perfectly capable of that.

I really, truly don't believe Lancaster is sitting on 100 original Bulgarian barrels. I just don't buy it.

Lancaster drama thread #500 incomming

Imported barrels usually have a whole bunch of numbers stamped somewhere on the barrel itself. For instance, I had a Romy AKM barrel that had a bunch of "2" stampings all over it. If I were to guess they were probably proof stamps. This may not be the case with Bulgarian barrels, but you may want to look.....




+1

Mod you can kill the post, order canceled. Advice heeded, thanks everybody!!

Have a most excellent replacement on the way! be back soon, or will be joining another members post most likely, (stephenNW)
I only like getting Scr&%$d by Mrs. Topcat

Topcat32, What is the replacement?

Arsenal? Saiga? Century AK74, Arizona Response Systems?

Good call.

Lancaster is bad, bad news. I wouldn't buy an AK from them if they were the last people selling 'em.

Hopefully you got an Arsenal or a Arizona Response Systems gun? Both are MUCH better than anything you'll ever get from Lancaster.

Hey there gang,.. MAK I went with ARS on this, and I noticed StephenNW started a thread on the same rifle, excellent start BTW on that. I appreciate everyones imput and experience, thanks everyone

That's good news you should be getting at least from the reviews a better and safer product than anything Lancaster is producing at least from my Lancaster experience.

Good call. IMHO, Arizona Response Systems produces the nicest new kit-builds on the market. I've read a few gripes on the Gewehr Werks and MarColMar 74's, but never seen a single bad thing about an ARS-built 74. Nice rifles!

Congrats!

Good! I had ordered a Lancaster and decided to change the order to an SGL-31. I haven't looked back. I've heard nothing but good things about ARS

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