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Posted: 5/5/2008 8:38:41 AM EDT
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Hi everyone, I'm new to the site and just got my first AR15. I stopped by the High Standard factory here in Houston and picked up the HSTX6551 from their Mil-Spec line. They have great LE prices, so if you're in law enforcement, you can pick up this model for $695 (drive out including tax and an extra 30 rd mag). During my impromptu tour of the factory (the owner was very friendly and knowledgeable), I also learned they bought AMT a while back and are now making the pocket .45s too. Does anyone have experience with this brand? Pros, Cons? It looks and feels great (haven't got to shoot it yet). It seems tight and I haven't noticed any obvious defects. I want to put a vertical grip, so I'll have to fight the delta ring to get my rail on - I've heard horror stories about doing this without the compression tool (which was sold out wherever I looked), but I might be able to improvise one. Maybe channelock handles and a countertop.... hinking.gif This is a great site and I've already learned a lot about AR's from the knowledgeable people here. |
My understanding is that the Houston company bought the original High Standard company back in the mid-90's (HS has been making match pistols and other quality weapons since the early 1930's). Yeah you'd think the website would have more about the company history; they do have links to some magazine articles which contain various insights to the company history -- but you have to wade through some PDF files to read them. So, the 1:9 twist is a bad thing? What problems can I anticipate because of it? Thanks, Mac |
1/9 is no problem. There are some that feel that if it isnt 1/7, it must not shoot. Both work quite well given the respective bullet weight/lengths used. In a very general statement, 1/9 is best when used with weights up to 69 or 70 grains. 1/7 can stabilize even heavier bullets. Most people including myself shoot a fair amount of 55 grain FMJ's as they are some of the "cheaper" rounds out there depending upon maker. 55's are also the most popular weight and can be found pretty much anywhere .223 is sold. As long as your happy with the weapon, thats what counts. I regret I cant add personal experience with the HS AR models, but HS's past .22LR semi pistols are great. I've got a HS Tournament model and it's quite accurate. If HS carried even half of the past quality they were known for, I'm sure it will be a fine gun. Congrats, and post pics when you can!
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Everybody has an opinion and mine, regarding High Standard, has always been good. Historically, they made very fine match grade handguns that still go for a lot of $$. I don't know their history with ARs. though. Regarding the 1:9 barrel. Don't worry. There's nothing wrong with it. I shoot 62 grain bullets very, very well in mine. |
Thanks - the owner told me his business partner was formerly in the upper administrative management at Colt, FWIW. He also explained that they buy their metal materials from the same place as Colt, and that it is x-rayed and goes through same QC processes; but that's probably standard for most of the reputable AR manufacturers. |
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I've never read anything bad about High Standard, and I've never seen one up here. All I can offer is this. There is no free lunch in the gun industry. If High Standard does use the same materials and QC as Colt, they are making a huge mistake by not advertising it or making not of it on either their website or the rifles themselves. I'm sure they're very nice rifles, I just wouldn't expect them to be Colt in that price point. Not everybody nees to spend Colt money. There's plenty of room for companies like High Standard who offer nice value to the masses. |
Absolutely. Of course, he may also have been just blowing smoke ;) -- That's why I was asking if anyone had experience with them. The retail price seems in the competitive range with similar ARs, and it looks/feels great, but nothing counts for as much as experience with the weapon. As a complete AR-15 noob I have no real frame of reference. Can you give me some advice on what points I should base my evaluation of this rifle? I know it should feed reliably, eject, and shoot straight. Other than that, what sets one AR apart from the next? |
I look at the little things. If a company is taking the time to make a weapon that looks tight and feels tight ( as in well made ), then it probably is. Attention to detail as it were. How solid does it feel? How well do the parts fit in relationship to each other? How even is the annodize and is it of mil-spec quality? Is the trigger guard or mag release button plastic or alum.? With the exception of Vulcan/hesse/blackthorne?, it is hard to get a bad AR these days. Alot of makers/assemblers use the same forgings, if not the same machines to mill them out. HS is too new in the feild of AR's for anyone here to comment conclusivly on. They sound like their right in the ballpark money wise. In the last year or so, everyones jumped on the bandwagon, and why not? Theres money to be made. I doubt very much if S&W, Charles Daley, Rem. etc... make the majority of the parts in house, yet all have gotten at least decent reviews here. I'm guessing HS will be in the same boat as those makers. Maybe not considered top shelf, but far from being poorly made either. A working mans gun if you will.
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I strongly disagree.  You can get more than what you pay for in a gun. You get a "guarantee" on the more expensive guns that they will perform as their price reflects that they should.Optics is where there is no free lunch.  To the OP - buy it. The tinkering can be almost as fun as the shooting. 
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This would count for a lot, to me. "Quality" doesn't count for much if when something goes wrong it's a major PITA to contact somebody on the phone or over e-mail and then ship things cross-country. There's a lot to be said for buying from locals. A buddy of mine in PHX just bought an Ameetec for the very same reason. Yes, Ameetec, and he loves it. I hate living in California some times, Ben |
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I shoot 69 grain bullets into 3/4 inch with my 6721 all day long. To not buy a 1/9 because it's 1/9 is silliness, in my opinion. |
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Love my High Standard. Eats Wolf and anything else you can trow at it. http://i297.photobucket.com/albums/mm219/HSA-15/HSA15_4W.jpg Mine was slightly more expensive, $786 at Gander Mountain. Tim |
Good to know, Tim. Have you tried to get the foregrips off yet? Mine look damn near impossible. I forced down the delta ring and I think I can see a hairline of space, but it's definitely a two man job (or one man with a tool ). |
It's a one man job. You just need to  .
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Are you pulling the DR straight back? Try "tilting" the top of the DR more to the rear and the top HG should come off. |
. The ring bottoms out, but there just doesn't seem to be any space to pull out the grip. I'll give it a try again tonight when I attempt to add my rail to it.
Well, I was actually pushing it straight down. I'll try it your way (reversed, since I'm installing a bottom rail) and see how it works. Thanks! |
Well this worked like a champ. Got my rail and the vertical grip installed. Had to make some modifications to the HG to get the rail on, though. Nothing a drill and a belt sander wouldn't fix h.gif |
Dremel = WECSOG tool of choice.
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