User Panel
User Panel
User Panel
|
Posted: 5/26/2016 10:22:12 PM EDT
[#1]
Not sure if Tweak is still hanging out here on arfcom but he was around Oly back in the dark ages and he has some SERIOUSLY crazy stories about some of those rifles.
|
|
|
|
Posted: 5/26/2016 10:25:26 PM EDT
[#2]
I remember the complaints on the Oly's as well. Im too old to remember what they were though.
|
|
|
|
Posted: 5/26/2016 10:36:15 PM EDT
[#3]
They made some cast lowers in the 90s, that's about all I know
|
|
|
|
Posted: 5/26/2016 10:36:51 PM EDT
[#4]
|
|
|
|
Posted: 5/26/2016 11:13:38 PM EDT
[#5]
Heck I even remember Corey.
|
|
|
|
Posted: 5/26/2016 11:19:04 PM EDT
[#6]
That did it. Now I remember. That was a very bad time in the AR World. Wow!
|
|
|
|
Posted: 5/26/2016 11:38:18 PM EDT
[#7]
I forgot about them, I attended an oly appreciation day back in '03-04. Toured there shops, shot guns and ate bbq.
One of my buddies won a rifle from them, can't recall any issues with it. I've never owned anything of theirs though. |
|
|
|
Posted: 5/26/2016 11:48:32 PM EDT
[#8]
Back in the day I bought my son an Oly PCR00 for his eleventh birthday. It has a very heavy barrel profile under the handguards and it is a tack driver!
|
|
|
|
Posted: 5/26/2016 11:54:34 PM EDT
[#9]
I have an A1 version. Old as who wrote it, like me. Loyal, accurate, reliable, and at times a bit ornery,,,,,,,,wait that is me.
Nice rifle IMHO, just not one of the high end sought after ones. Well, didn't used t be. |
|
|
|
Posted: 5/27/2016 4:37:21 AM EDT
[#10]
I have an Olympic 16 inch barrel carbine in 7.62x39 I bought about 4 years ago and it's been great. Very accurate and reliable with my ASC mags.
|
|
|
|
Posted: 5/27/2016 4:46:01 AM EDT
[#11]
I just helped a friend of mine assemble an AR on an early 2000's Oly lower. Magwell looked like it was hogged out with a rotozip and finished with dremel sanding drums. Only PMAGS fit. GI mags are tight as shit. Thermolds won't even go in.
The castle nut fits won't fit any tools I own. The stock is beyond wobbly. I'm talking a good 1/4" of play up, down, forward and aft. Oddly enough, the trigger was the best factory trigger I've felt on an AR. Selector had a real crisp snap to it as well. |
|
|
|
Posted: 5/27/2016 9:23:47 AM EDT
[#12]
they would have bad runs of parts, but sell them anyway.
They did have problems with the lower magwells on some rifles, not all, but some. When the complaints were made they basically said fuckoff. They did have some shit barrels in oddball calibers (like using 556 barrels for 5.45) but for the most part their 556 barrels would shoot well. Their 45acp barrels were drilled off center 
I know a couple of 556 barrels were complained about, but those seemed to be exceptions. I bought some of their stuff before I read all the negatives, never had a problem with them except for long shipping times. They are like dpms, if you get one that works, it will work, but you have a good chance of getting a POS |
|
|
|
Posted: 5/27/2016 9:57:39 AM EDT
[#13]
Seems like they had a good reputation on the barrels. I had an Olympic barrel on a carbine in 1996 that shot great. It was a 16" fluted HBAR, no chrome. One of my sons still has it, now in a flat top receiver. The flutes on it were very deep, so weight reduction and cooling were good. This picture is not very good but I think you can see the fluting fairly well.
|
|
|
|
Posted: 5/27/2016 11:12:33 AM EDT
[#14]
Quote HistoryQuoted:
Seems like they had a good reputation on the barrels. I had an Olympic barrel on a carbine in 1996 that shot great. It was a 16" fluted HBAR, no chrome. One of my sons still has it, now in a flat top receiver. The flutes on it were very deep, so weight reduction and cooling were good. This picture is not very good but I think you can see the fluting fairly well. <a href="http://s209.photobucket.com/user/INLAND44/media/Guns/fece7532-0546-4ccf-b798-44bf7416be91_zps48a9xvui.jpg.html" target="_blank">http://i209.photobucket.com/albums/bb27/INLAND44/Guns/fece7532-0546-4ccf-b798-44bf7416be91_zps48a9xvui.jpg</a> I think most people would agree they produce damn accurate barrels, that was their core business prior to getting into AR's. Their lowers were well known for only fitting their uppers, they would tell people that "It's your Colt upper that's not to spec" |
|
|
|
Posted: 5/27/2016 12:20:33 PM EDT
[#15]
|
|
|
|
Posted: 5/27/2016 6:46:43 PM EDT
[#16]
Thanks guys! I knew you could lead me in the right direction... It's all coming back to me now, They say the 2nd thing to go is the Memory.. Wish I could remember the 1st thing**
|
|
|
|
Posted: 5/27/2016 10:02:00 PM EDT
[#17]
Quote HistoryQuoted: This was the biggest thing that scared me away from Olympic Arms Broken AR results in Prison time I suppose since is was a scary black gun the hysteria that ensued justified the end,,,,,,,,,,,,not really. |
|
|
|
Posted: 5/28/2016 9:01:01 AM EDT
[#18]
I bought this oly at a pawn shop a few years ago and it's run great ever since I bought it, no issues here
 |
|
|
|
Posted: 5/28/2016 2:35:18 PM EDT
[#19]
Isn't it strange that a company that reportedly builds "crap" started in business in the early 1980's and continues to be a viable manufacturer today. How does that happen?
I can attest that they have made some very accurate barrels over the years. I own 4 of them. |
|
|
|
Posted: 5/28/2016 4:01:02 PM EDT
[#20]
I have owned three Oly parts over the years, never a complete gun. First got a Oly/SGW stop sign lower back in the mid-late 80s (sn Z prefix) Only issue was that it wouldn't take the Theramolds I was issued in Germany or PMags. Sold that XM177E1 copy around 06-07' time frame. Built a flat top upper for the rifle using an Oly 16" hvy bbl 1:9 twist, shoots very good. Built another gun around 06' for my youngest son using another used Oly lower. Same ambi safety from the first one won't fit the newer lower. Had to big of a gap on the off side. Tight mag well like the other, no PMags. Oldest son now has it to pass to his son.
CD |
|
|
|
Posted: 5/28/2016 6:05:57 PM EDT
[#21]
I remember the word on the street being the barrels were good. But not so sure about everything else. A friend from church got one used about 10 years ago this was. And the upper flopped around on it terribly. I was not impressed with the fit. But I never shot it or was at the range with him. But it would've annoyed the heck out of me how loose this one was.
|
|
|
|
Posted: 5/28/2016 7:49:53 PM EDT
[#22]
IIRC the first time I saw a flat top upper, it was on an Oly Arms Ultramatch.
|
|
|
|
Posted: 5/28/2016 7:55:10 PM EDT
[#23]
Bought a carbine new in the box from a dealer at a gun show in the 90's. Cleaned it, lubed it and shot it with new factory ammo. The thing would not reliably extract. Returned it back to the same dealer for a full refund at the next gun show at the same location. Only later did I find out they were known for having tight chambers. There are to many other options to buy another.
|
|
|
|
Posted: 5/28/2016 8:38:23 PM EDT
[#24]
They were also early producers of pistol caliber uppers (besides colt 9mm of course).
|
|
|
|
Posted: 5/28/2016 10:07:22 PM EDT
[#25]
I have mixed emotions about Olympic Arms...
They were the first to offer lower receivers, they manufactured billet receivers for the LONG defunct Palmetto Armory aka "Old Sarge" B&H Service out of Natalia, TX. They then offered lowers under their own name, yes they had issues but they were the ONLY game in town. Most successful businesses over time improve their QA/QC, it almost seems theirs went downhill. They've offered barrels over the years for the AR that couldn't be obtained ANYWHERE else. 5.56 in 1/14 twist, .17 Remington, etc. They were the first to offer a flattop upper receiver (they milled the handle off and attached a rail) And yes, I've owned SEVERAL, but never a complete rifle. To be brutally honest, unless they had a barrel I wanted, I wouldn't purchase ANYTHING now from them. But years ago they were your only choice other than Colt. |
|
|
|
Posted: 5/28/2016 10:34:36 PM EDT
[#26]
I wonder if anyone has had any current experiences with their products? Lots of horror stories from the past, however as technology improves,there is less chance of human error.
|
|
|
|
Posted: 5/29/2016 8:35:43 AM EDT
[#27]
I bought a PCR 99 in the middle of the AWB and still use most of its parts.
The lower is on my current HD carbine. The A2 upper receiver got donated to an A2 build for a friend. After the ban ended I took the pinned muzzle brake off, threw it away, and sent the barrel to Adco to be threaded. The barrel's currently on my walk-around woods rifle. I threw away the pinned CAR stock after 2004...looking back I may have been able to un-ban it but oh well. It was a good purchase; I had no only one problem with the assembled gun or any of it's parts. Edit to add: the carbine handguards were crap with no steel heat liner; I also threw them away. |
|
|
|
Posted: 5/30/2016 11:15:57 AM EDT
[#28]
Edit to add: the carbine handguards were crap with no steel heat liner; I also threw them away. Early manufacturers that didn't have access to the technical design package specs did their share of reverse engineering, and missed out on the "why" some parts were made the way they were. |
|
|
|
Posted: 5/30/2016 11:39:41 AM EDT
[#29]
Quote HistoryQuoted:
Early manufacturers that didn't have access to the technical design package specs did their share of reverse engineering, and missed out on the "why" some parts were made the way they were. Quote HistoryQuoted:
Edit to add: the carbine handguards were crap with no steel heat liner; I also threw them away. Early manufacturers that didn't have access to the technical design package specs did their share of reverse engineering, and missed out on the "why" some parts were made the way they were. That doesn't explain some of the CRAP they've released, the ONLY companies that have ever has access to the TDP are Colt, FN, Harrington Richardson, General Motors Hydramatic Div., Sabre Defense, and now Remington. There are many manufacturers who have reverse engineered AR's with outstanding results... Daniel Defense Bravo Company Bushmaster Even DPMS is within spec And many others. Sending out trigger groups where the sear contact area is not fully cast, lower receivers that the safety detent hole is drilled at an angle, selling CAST receivers, lower receivers that Colt uppers won't fit on, and on and on. |
|
|
|
Posted: 5/30/2016 11:59:58 PM EDT
[#30]
Quote HistoryQuoted:
That doesn't explain some of the CRAP they've released, the ONLY companies that have ever has access to the TDP are Colt, FN, Harrington Richardson, General Motors Hydramatic Div., Sabre Defense, and now Remington. There are many manufacturers who have reverse engineered AR's with outstanding results... Daniel Defense Bravo Company Bushmaster Even DPMS is within spec And many others. Sending out trigger groups where the sear contact area is not fully cast, lower receivers that the safety detent hole is drilled at an angle, selling CAST receivers, lower receivers that Colt uppers won't fit on, and on and on. Quote HistoryQuoted:
Quoted:
Edit to add: the carbine handguards were crap with no steel heat liner; I also threw them away. Early manufacturers that didn't have access to the technical design package specs did their share of reverse engineering, and missed out on the "why" some parts were made the way they were. That doesn't explain some of the CRAP they've released, the ONLY companies that have ever has access to the TDP are Colt, FN, Harrington Richardson, General Motors Hydramatic Div., Sabre Defense, and now Remington. There are many manufacturers who have reverse engineered AR's with outstanding results... Daniel Defense Bravo Company Bushmaster Even DPMS is within spec And many others. Sending out trigger groups where the sear contact area is not fully cast, lower receivers that the safety detent hole is drilled at an angle, selling CAST receivers, lower receivers that Colt uppers won't fit on, and on and on. Heat liners were a premium feature back in the day. Oly was nowhere near unique in offering unlined HGs. And, cast receivers were common. They sold for less, and during AW panics people were glad to get them. How many failures attributed to being CAST have you seen, anyways? |
|
|
|
Posted: 5/31/2016 1:46:01 AM EDT
[#31]
You are right, but your comparators are the next era past Oly Arms. They did "ok" back in the day but no comparison with current manufacturers.
I have a SUM original build that is the most accurate of any of my current portfolio. |
|
|
|
Posted: 5/31/2016 1:56:32 AM EDT
[#32]
Quote HistoryQuoted: And, cast receivers were common. They sold for less, and during AW panics people were glad to get them. How many failures attributed to being CAST have you seen, anyways? http://www.ar15.com/archive/topic.html?b=3&f=118&t=474563 
|
|
|
|
Posted: 5/31/2016 8:13:54 AM EDT
[#33]
I had one of the old ban ar15 from them. I ran that thing hard. Sold it to a.buddy who use it.for about 10 years as a duty rifle. He sold it to another cop when he went over seas as a contractor. That guy still has it and qualified at my range last month. It is chromed out but still runs. It also is still has the original barrel on it.
|
|
|
|
Posted: 5/31/2016 8:24:42 AM EDT
[#34]
I have a pre-ban Ultra Match and also a Multi-Match.Both have been excellent.
|
|
|
|
Posted: 5/31/2016 8:31:26 AM EDT
[#35]
I bought a 16" upper at a gun show back in the mid 90's which was manufacture by Olympic. The carbine hand guards did not have the heat shields and the barrel was unthreaded. There was a groove cut into the outside of the barrel to help attach muzzle breaks during the AWB. This barrel along with several other Olympic chrome moly barrels had very tight chambers. A local dealer got a reamer and fixed the chamber on at least five Olympic 223/5.56 barrels. A Deputy had a bolt lug break on his 223/5.56 Olympic carbine and Olympic replaced the bolt.
There were several people in my area who bought 9 MM and 40 caliber AR's from Olympic. Back in the late 80's and early 90's there weren't near as many sources for AR's. It is really a buyers market now compared to back then. A local Sheriff's Dept. has a couple of Olympics they issue to Deputy's and once the chambers were reamed they've held up OK. The examples I've shot were accurate even after reaming the chambers. |
|
|
|
Posted: 5/31/2016 9:50:22 AM EDT
[#36]
Quote HistoryQuoted:
And, cast receivers were common. There were a FEW cast receivers, the only other ones I can recall were DPMS & EA. To my knowledge no one else used cast other than some of the "80%" lowers such as those offered by The Tannery Shop. |
|
|
Win a FREE Membership!
Sign up for the ARFCOM weekly newsletter and be entered to win a free ARFCOM membership. One new winner* is announced every week!
You will receive an email every Friday morning featuring the latest chatter from the hottest topics, breaking news surrounding legislation, as well as exclusive deals only available to ARFCOM email subscribers.
AR15.COM is the world's largest firearm community and is a gathering place for firearm enthusiasts of all types.
From hunters and military members, to competition shooters and general firearm enthusiasts, we welcome anyone who values and respects the way of the firearm.
Subscribe to our monthly Newsletter to receive firearm news, product discounts from your favorite Industry Partners, and more.
Copyright © 1996-2024 AR15.COM LLC. All Rights Reserved.
Any use of this content without express written consent is prohibited.
AR15.Com reserves the right to overwrite or replace any affiliate, commercial, or monetizable links, posted by users, with our own.
