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Posted: 12/4/2004 10:05:05 AM EDT
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I'm thinking about getting one. Anybody out there who has actually got one? I'm curious about how well the pin holes lined up, how some of the detents worked (like the selector switch, the buffer tube, etc) and how well it functioned after you put it together. Thanks. -----Wyley |
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ar15.com/forums/topic.html?b=1&f=5&t=281401 ar15.com/forums/topic.html?b=3&f=4&t=198206 (hint, this is a big site - check the SEBR forum under the "General" tab and see if anybody else is excited about getting one of these) |
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Had the same questions so I bought one. You really do not get any great advantage over the al lower except weight and maybe color. Almost every thing goes together the same as the al lower and there are specific instructions for what does not. Should be an easier build in most respects since you do not mess with as many parts, particularly the front pin detent and spring which causes many so much problem. Driving the roll pins in plastic has just got to be easier. The reciever pins are simple ball detent pins and I do have some reservations about them. You can get similar pins for use on boats that have a lock that prevents the ball from retracting but the look may offend some. On the other hand, CETME and HK used a similar system sucessfully. And the trapdoor in the buttstock is a bit cheezy in my opinion. Quality on fit of the receiver to various parts is tight. Not quite as good as al lowers I have dealt with. No real problems, just do not force anything which is good advice on any build. And pay attention to the instructions included with the lower. So much for the practical side, I did want to build one just to have something different, so I got a tan lower. I will use a lightweight barrel carbine kit to finish the gun. (If any one has a like new complete postban 16 inch A2 or A3 upper they want to sell (at a reasonable price) I could use one, and you can upgrade to preban configeration. Contact me at [email protected]) My point is to build a very light gun. From a dollar perspective you may save a few dollars due to the integral stock and handgrip but the difference is likely to be only about 40$ in all. Not enough to make a difference from my POV. If this is your first AR or only AR I would not recommend it. Get to know the real thing first. |
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I have a Cav lower, and one of my sons has one. It saves about 1 lb in overall weight. As far as being an easier build, to me it is a nonissue, I don't find regular lowers hard to build. You know what the hard part is for a beginner? ID'in all the springs and detents. Which one is the takedown detent spring, and which is the safety/selector detent spring? Sheesh, they look a lot alike. And toss them all in one bag and shake, it can be confusing. It would be nice is the parts came in little subassemblies, especially for beginners. One bag containing the takedown and pivot pins, both detents (which are identical) and both springs (again, identical). Then a bag for the bolt catch, its pin, spring, and detent. Another for buffer detent and spring. Etc. I have no problems with the Cav buttstock trapdoor. At least I don't have to use a car key or screw driver to open it. I have no problems with the push pins or the fit. They are tight, and the pins are not going to walk out. I got the Cav to be a beater, a KISS trunk gun. And for me it works for that just fine. But I would not hesitate to use it for something more demanding. |
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I got one free when I bought my Armalite Match AR at Camp Perry this past summer. Since I replaced my "Post-Ban" upper on my Eagle Arms M-15A2 with a normal one, I decided to use the "post-ban" upper on the tan Cav Arms lower. I bought tan handguards to go with it. The wasn't hard to put the lower together. Follow the instructions and don't force anything. It works fine. I think the trigger is a bit stiffer thasn my other ARs. The selector switch does not "click" it just turns. The forward and rear take down pins work but you can lose them if you don't watch it when you take down the gun. My son loves the rifle. He calls it the "DES-15!" |
| Thanks for the replies. From what I'm hearing, I figure that if I do decide to build another ar, I'll probably go with the Cavalry Arms poly lower. I've already got an old CAR upper that I can use, but I really don't like the collapsible stock, thus a CavArms unit looks pretty good. Thanks again for the input. |
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