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Page AR-15 » Build It Yourself
AR Sponsor: bravocompany
Posted: 5/18/2003 5:12:23 PM EDT
I want to build my first black gun and have been considering these two companies to buy a complete kit(less stripped lower naturally). Has anyone here tried both and which do you prefer? I am in the Air National Guard and the amount of training we get with a rifle leaves a lot to be desired so I want to build myself one comparable to what I would otherwise train with. So I am looking for a 20" A2 full stock with welded muzzle brake.
I was thinking about the Stinger or Mega for my lower but the RRA seems to be reasonably priced too.
Also, I live in the Dallas area. Do you think I can get a better deal at one of the Gun Shows? Thanks,
ajb
Link Posted: 5/18/2003 5:58:01 PM EDT
[#1]
I can tell you that J&T are excellent kits.
I just got one (my 1st) and it went together like I knew what I was doing.
Shot it today for 1st time and it's great.
good luck aj
Link Posted: 5/18/2003 6:55:19 PM EDT
[#2]
There's been a board complaint or two on Model 1's lower parts.

FWIW, I've bought, assembled and shot a couple of J&T kits and I've got nothing but great things to say about them.  Top notch service and very good quality parts.
Link Posted: 5/18/2003 7:38:01 PM EDT
[#3]
the mega lower is HOT! def go for that

the j&t kit...well it appears they sent me the wrong barrel caliber and now im waiting an extra 2+ weeks cause I had to ship it back etc
Link Posted: 5/19/2003 5:34:04 AM EDT
[#4]
Just built a Model 1 kit on an Eagle Arms lower. Great fit and finish.  Just as good as both my BM's and way better looking than my Colt.  It shoots nice too.

Link Posted: 5/19/2003 5:50:20 AM EDT
[#5]
I have built several rifles using JT Kits and RRA receivers. A great combination.
I really like Jt's ported barrel. RRA lower and the JT uppers match perfectly, for fit and finish. Go ahead and do it, you will have a lot of fun.
Ken from SRoI ( Socialist Republic of Illinois)
Link Posted: 5/19/2003 8:41:11 AM EDT
[#6]
I built a Model 1 kit a few weeks ago and my experience with them was not the best. I ordered the kit and it arrived in a reasonable time, about 7 business days. The upper is great, it matches my bushmaster lower very well and the fit was very tight at first but after a few rounds is loosened up some and I can now take it apart without using something to push the pin out with. I am very happy with the upper and the buttstock. The lower parts kit however is another story. While building it I discovered that the safety selector was either never finished or was finished very late on Friday or something. It wouldn’t work at all. The channel that the detent rides in was hosed and if you pushed really hard then it would click into place and that was it…..stuck in safe until you dropped the grip off and removed the detent. I also discovered that even if you built it without the detent in, when in fire mode the trigger would not pull far enough to release the hammer. I called Model 1 and was told that I could send the parts back to them for replacements or I could pay for new ones and they would ship “tomorrow”. 38 bucks for a safety selector, trigger and hammer. A week goes buy and nothing arrives…2 more days…..nothing…I call and am told it left a few days ago via US mail. So it’s been about two weeks and nothing. Finally it shows up via UPS, I track the package and discover it shipped the day after I called the second time. I try all possible configurations and realize that the old trigger, hammer and selector are out of wack but the new stuff works great…finally a working gun. I sent the old stuff back via registered mail and have not received a refund for the other parts, which pisses me off, but what can I do?? Call them and beg for my money? I may never see my 38 bucks again, but you can bet I will never EVER spend another dime with that company.

Now some people my read this and say I’m over-reacting to a couple of non mil-spec parts. I don’t have a problem with the bad parts so much, it’s the way I was treated after the fact. Being charged for parts that were replacing bad ones and being either lied to or forgotten about when I tried to get “What I paid for twice!!”. I will be building another rifle in the near future. I will be ordering a J&T kit next time and I guess we will see how it goes with them.
Link Posted: 5/19/2003 1:05:17 PM EDT
[#7]
Might want to concider Olympic Arms PCR kit. I built mine using Oly arms 16" PCR on a Bushmaster lower. I could not be more pleased! After I sighted the rifle in, my wife would 3 shot cluster in 1" diameter from over 40 meters. I ordered on a Monday and I received the kit that Thursday. Great company, will ordered again.
Link Posted: 5/19/2003 3:20:45 PM EDT
[#8]
I built a model 1 kit and had a similar prob with selector.  I ground and polished the slot & shoulder where the detent makes contact.  In the end it worked.

of late there have been several complaints on Model 1.

My gun shoots great.  Put about 300 rounds through it now.  Still waiting on bulk ammo to arrive.

[url=users.zoominternet.net/~pcfitz]P.I.G.S.[/url]
Link Posted: 5/19/2003 3:41:30 PM EDT
[#9]
Guys, quit sending your junk parts back to Model 1! I believe they ship that stuff to me in the kits I order. Last Friday I put another Model 1 kit together and had the same selector/trigger out of spec problems. I corrected these parts and all is well.

The lower kit parts are Model 1's shortcoming. Their upper assemblies are decent, and accurate for the low, low price. The next kit will be a J&T.
Link Posted: 5/19/2003 4:22:58 PM EDT
[#10]
Based on the info here and other posts, I came up with the following...

I am having the local DPMS dealer here put in a DPMS lower parts kit into my Mega lower.  Should be done Friday or so.

Then I will order a Model 1 kit, and ask them for a discount for no lower parts kit needed.  I will directly reference their bad safety selector (I wont mention this board, only info gained at gunshows) and see what happens.

Ill let yaull know!

Link Posted: 5/19/2003 8:22:36 PM EDT
[#11]
I just built a Stinger Arms (Mega) lower w/ Olympic Arms FCG and Model 1 LW 16" Preban Upper.  I have had no problems but then again Im not using the Model 1 FCG.  It fires absolutely fantastic, barely gets warm for my shooting purposes, handles very well and is just as accurate.  I'd definetely buy another upper from Model 1 if I were to buy one again, but I wouldnt count on using the FCG.  Just order the FCG from someone else.
Link Posted: 5/19/2003 10:53:52 PM EDT
[#12]
FWIW, I put my AR together a couple of weeks ago using a Model 1 upper kit and had zero problems.
Link Posted: 5/19/2003 11:24:52 PM EDT
[#13]
I just built one with an Oly kit and every worked fine.  Look around and keep asking questions.  The Oly kit did have a plastic mag release button which I don't care for, but everything else was fine.
Link Posted: 5/20/2003 4:49:29 AM EDT
[#14]
I'm building a J&T kit right now (in between the "honey-do's" [:)] and so for it's went together flawlessly.  I'm using a RRA lower, and fit, function, and color match is again flawless!  

Get in on the J&T group orders with Chuck and your J&T kit will cost roughly what the "cheaper" kits cost.  J&T and Chuck both provide fantastic customer service.  (Do a search for J&T group buy.)

I'll post pics & detailed info when it's done (hopefully soon)!

--Otter
Link Posted: 5/22/2003 6:18:45 AM EDT
[#15]
OK....here's my 2 cents worth......I built a J&T kit on an Oly lower. The fit and color match are fine, and I believe that when I got my stripped lower, it was about $30 cheaper than RRA. (This is a T-3 forged lower) Also, I can't say enough about J&T's customer service and the excellent quality of their lower reciever parts.
Page AR-15 » Build It Yourself
AR Sponsor: bravocompany
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