Posted: 4/26/2005 7:44:09 PM EDT
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Simple up-or-down vote. I have heard all the stories, arguments, both sides, the good and the bad. I'm just looking for yes/no numbers here, so please spare the 'this happened to me' stories. Feel free to IM them to me though!!! |
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If the price is right, if you want a dedicated .40 S&W or 9mm lower that use's Glock mags, These are cool. www.olyarms.com/?page=m1_glock_lowers# |
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This is for what oly calls an Ultramatch. I'm looking for a sub 1500$ precision semi auto. I've had the rifle vouched for, but the company was not. The site sponsor AR manufacturers are 200-350$ more than Oly for similar builds....... I was previously torn between DPMS and RRA for this rifle, but then I found the Oly ultramatch which is a steal in this performance class. |
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I have four Olys. I have other ARs too. Maybe I'm a fluke, but I've never had a bit of trouble with my Oly rifles, even the cast-lower ones. (They aren't making cast lowers any more.) I live about fifteen minutes from the Oly plant. I stop in frequently for small parts and to talk with Skip. The rifles they are making now are WAY better than they were even three years ago. They are not perfect, no, but the overall quality is much better. Da_Bunny used to work there, and has a good idea of what's been going on there. I even have money down on a Whitney Wolverine. And MarkyMark is just wrong. |
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If you buy one, please spit in the general direction of Tom Spitinhaler for me. Edit: One more thing--you will find those who bash Oly have no personal experience with them--or at least recent personal experience. They had some QC problems over ten years ago that will haunt them forever. |
The stainless steel "SUM" barrels are really good, and you're not limited to .223 either. |
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I don't know why anyone would not buy an Olympic Arms rifle. In my opinion they are at least as good as Colt, Bushmaster and the others. I have been completely satisfied with all my Olympics since I bought them. My first was an old A-1 with triangular handguards, forward assist but no case deflector, It is fantastic!!!!!!!!!!!!! Never a problem and I have shot it for over 12 years. Second was basically an UltraMatch, UltraMatch barrel with aluminum free floated handguard. This rifle kicks ass and is very accurate. I also recently bought a 16" upper for my first Olympic because they fit better in my patrol car. I am very happy with this upper also. Very accurate and 100% dependable like all of them I have seen so far. Olympic Arms kicks ass. I know there was a problem years ago between a certain person who works or worked for Oly and this site (I think maybe Mr Avila but I was not around then so I could be wrong) but I seem to remember the hatchet was buried and I saw a thread a year ago from Goatboy saying he liked Olympic Arms. |
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all of the ultramatch barrels are stainless? Also, I really don't care about POST-purchase customer service. Let's just say "I've been warned" and understand the risks. The WECSOG force is strong in the Northern Virginia crew. Any reason to not get a FIRSH rail system installed for an extra hundred bucks? |
That's putting it mildly. I think GoatBoy said he wouldn't make public comments about Oly--not that he "liked" them. For the record, this site, nor its administration, has done a damned thing to Oly. The reverse cannot be said. 
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I have missed the FDCC match the last few months, but I usually do OK and have won once with a +/- 10 year old bone stock casually maintained 20" Oly with about a zillion rounds through it -- after I learned that (despite what I'd surmised from my vast store of scientific insight) even modern firearms require occasional cleaning. When I first bought it (0 experience with modern guns) I fired it over a period of months w/o cleaning or lubrication until eventually I fired it and the bolt didn't move. I choked back my pride and slunk into the gun shop. The 'smith - now a friend of mine - said, with this face  "How did you know what kinda ammunition to buy for this thing or how load the magazines?" I said, looking at my shoes, "The internet." He made these faces: . . .  . . .  and said "Does 'internet' say anything about cleaning guns?" It should be noted that this guy proves that "crusty" and "vinegary" are not mutually exclusive adjectives. He's also smart and funny as hell, but I digress. He used a brass rod down the muzzle, lots of WD40 and a few gentle raps with a brass hammer to loosen things up, told me to go clean my rifle and bring it back so he could inspect it.  I was over 30 years old -- but he has the sort of presence that caused me to comply about a week later without sniveling.Anyway, he's the world's greatest gunsmith, one of the finest people I know, and the rifle shoots just fine -- better than I can shoot, and I am a pretty fair shot. |
Tom Spithaler lives to piss people off, and not just here, fortunately I can deal with Oly without dealing with that ass. So I can very much recommend the Oly SUM uppers if you want a tack driver. 
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I hate to hijack my own topic, but since all of you are ultramatch veterans, would you take one over a used SAM-R copy complete with correct barrel? SAM-R |
Between those two, I think it would come down to price for me.
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That blows. Why make a rail not to spec!!!!!! I knew it had to be cheap for a reason! |
I posted the measurements over at www.oa2.org, and they were ignored: www.oa2.org/forums/viewtopic.php?t=1513&postdays=0&postorder=asc&start=75 That being said, it's a fine handguard otherwise (and not too heavy). I have 4 of them on my rifles. IIRC, someone here did a test showing that heat dissipation is less than optimal. |