Posted: 3/29/2012 2:49:56 PM EDT
| I want to upgrade to the steel tray. I'm not going into combat, do I really need the nickel plating? WIll it make it last longer with just "normal" use? If so I'll get it but just trying to justify going all in. Thanks. |
| Why did Ares switch out the stamped steel feed tray for a cast aluminum one in the first place? It would seem to me that once you have the stamping dies worked out, it's more cost effective to stamp steel than the cast and machine aluminum. But what the hell do I know? |
; not trying to start a flame thread; just asking. Besides, I got mine before the steel one cane out.
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Originally Posted By MG34_Dan:
Why did Ares switch out the stamped steel feed tray for a cast aluminum one in the first place? It would seem to me that once you have the stamping dies worked out, it's more cost effective to stamp steel than the cast and machine aluminum. But what the hell do I know? My understanding is they weren't stamping the first ones. They were modified FN trays. I guess the source for those dried up. As for steel verses nickel. I went with the nickel-ed one I figured I waited this long might as well go all in. |
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Correct; we used modified M249 trays for many years. But the trays were not easy to work with and the inherent tolerance variation generated by both the stamped part and the subsequent machining and welding was not optimal and did not give the best results for us, and consequently our customers. The machined tray is engineered specifically for the Shrike and ARES-16 AMG products and is optimized for best feeding results when using linked ammunition. The geometry between the standard alloy billet tray and the phosphate and electroless nickel trays is identical; the only differences are the materials and coatings.
To answer your original question Steve, the standard alloy tray is a good part and meets the design intent of the product very well. If you guys will recall, we developed the steel trays in response to customer request; i.e.: it was customer driven. We said that they wouldn't be cheap due to the time required to machine them, but we actually do strive to give our customers what they want so we produced them and they are available and in stock. So the bottom line is this: The alloy trays work very well and will provide good service life for the intended product use. The steel phosphate trays work very well and will last longer than the alloy trays. And the electroless nickel plated steel trays work very well and are the one that you will want if you are operating in salt water or other adverse environments and never want to buy another tray for the life of the weapon. 
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