Posted: 3/3/2013 4:03:27 PM EDT
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After being the happy owner of a Colt HBAR for almost 20 years, I finally decided to dive into a couple build it yourself projects, which had been quite the learning experience, and also has deepened my appreciation for the quality of my Colt HBAR.
For instance, when I purchased the HBAR from an FFL after he ordered it directly from Colt, I just took it out and shot it. I did not need to clean or lube it or break anything in. It was prepped and in ready to shoot condition as far as I could tell. Did I just get lucky? I don't know. Initially I would clean and lube it thoroughly after every range session, but after a while I got a bit lax and would only do so after 200-300 rounds. I can't say I never had an FTF or FTE, but I really believe those rare instances were due to user error or ammo issues. I never had a stuck BCG or any other failure that required more than the usual drop the mag or rack it a couple times to clear. My do it yourself builds not so much. I've discovered these need a bit of an inspection, minor maintenance or workout before taking them to the range for initial sighting or breakin. And the fit and finish of everything about the Colt HBAR is just awesomely better. I don't know how else to say it. I'm not unhappy with my builds, they are finally settling down and working great, but a visually inspection and handling of them vs. the Colt is night and day as far as I'm concerned. |
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Quoted:
After being the happy owner of a Colt HBAR for almost 20 years, I finally decided to dive into a couple build it yourself projects, which had been quite the learning experience, and also has deepened my appreciation for the quality of my Colt HBAR. For instance, when I purchased the HBAR from an FFL after he ordered it directly from Colt, I just took it out and shot it. I did not need to clean or lube it or break anything in. It was prepped and in ready to shoot condition as far as I could tell. Did I just get lucky? I don't know. Initially I would clean and lube it thoroughly after every range session, but after a while I got a bit lax and would only do so after 200-300 rounds. I can't say I never had an FTF or FTE, but I really believe those rare instances were due to user error or ammo issues. I never had a stuck BCG or any other failure that required more than the usual drop the mag or rack it a couple times to clear. My do it yourself builds not so much. I've discovered these need a bit of an inspection, minor maintenance or workout before taking them to the range for initial sighting or breakin. And the fit and finish of everything about the Colt HBAR is just awesomely better. I don't know how else to say it. I'm not unhappy with my builds, they are finally settling down and working great, but a visually inspection and handling of them vs. the Colt is night and day as far as I'm concerned. That is why I use all colt parts on my builds, can not tell the factory built colts between the colt's I built. NEVER had any problem with the ar's I built with colt parts or the factory built colt's. Did you use colt parts? They all run 100%. Some were built with quality lowers & all colt parts. |
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I don't know a good source for Colt parts, I'm a bit of a noob to BIY. Last time I checked with Colt it looked like they steer you toward finding a local dealer and I haven't gone looking for one yet. I haven't even bothered trying to find Colt parts in the current market climate.
Admitedly my dive into BIY was to see just how cheap I could build one that would shoot. You get what you pay for, but it sure seems like even the most basic mil-spec AR built with bargain parts is still a respectable rifle. Be patient, pay attention and follow instructions and it will go bang and punch a hole in paper pretty consistently. |
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Quoted:
I don't know a good source for Colt parts, I'm a bit of a noob to BIY. Last time I checked with Colt it looked like they steer you toward finding a local dealer and I haven't gone looking for one yet. I haven't even bothered trying to find Colt parts in the current market climate. Admitedly my dive into BIY was to see just how cheap I could build one that would shoot. You get what you pay for, but it sure seems like even the most basic mil-spec AR built with bargain parts is still a respectable rifle. Be patient, pay attention and follow instructions and it will go bang and punch a hole in paper pretty consistently. Mil-spec is thrown around by manufactures that make less than quality parts. If you use quality parts that are in spec then you will have a respectable rifle. My problem is the only company that I know that make 100% quality parts all the time, every time is colt. So I figured if I bought colt then I would know they were quality parts. We had two different goal's when we were building. My goal was to build a high quality rifle that I could use to depend my life on, with cost not an issue. If I got you right, your goal was to build a decent quality rifle to kill paper with for as cheap as possible. I bought my colt parts before the current political climate. I bought 10 complete colt M16 bcg's for $1500. $150 each. It would not be reasonable to buy or build any AR right now. I am just glad I was ready & bought 8 complete colt's & built 4 before SHTF. |
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Quoted:
After being the happy owner of a Colt HBAR for almost 20 years, I finally decided to dive into a couple build it yourself projects, which had been quite the learning experience, and also has deepened my appreciation for the quality of my Colt HBAR. For instance, when I purchased the HBAR from an FFL after he ordered it directly from Colt, I just took it out and shot it. I did not need to clean or lube it or break anything in. It was prepped and in ready to shoot condition as far as I could tell. Did I just get lucky? I don't know. Initially I would clean and lube it thoroughly after every range session, but after a while I got a bit lax and would only do so after 200-300 rounds. I can't say I never had an FTF or FTE, but I really believe those rare instances were due to user error or ammo issues. I never had a stuck BCG or any other failure that required more than the usual drop the mag or rack it a couple times to clear. My do it yourself builds not so much. I've discovered these need a bit of an inspection, minor maintenance or workout before taking them to the range for initial sighting or breakin. And the fit and finish of everything about the Colt HBAR is just awesomely better. I don't know how else to say it. I'm not unhappy with my builds, they are finally settling down and working great, but a visually inspection and handling of them vs. the Colt is night and day as far as I'm concerned. congrats, you learned the hard way that the most experienced company that has made over 10 million AR15s for combat, makes a better gun then hobby guns and more is involved then just putting stuff together. lots of people never have learned that lesson or continue to lie to them selves that its "just as good" |