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Posted: 1/5/2015 6:11:54 PM EDT
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I picked up some Anderson parts from a local dealer to put together 2 rifles, due to recommendations from a friend. These would both be complete Anderson builds with the exception of barrels- using higher end on those... I bought 2 stripped lowers, one Lightweight Sporter upper, one upper with FA and door, a BCG, charging handle, 2 LPK's, and ordered the rest from him...I have owned and built several other AR's including Colt, Bushmaster, PSA, Armalite, DPMS, Olympic, RRA and Spikes, so I've had a good sampling of quality.
I began building one of the lowers, and didn't get too far. The front take-down pin was too short by almost 1/4" -which I realized after it was in  I took it out, replaced it with the pin from the second LPK.
I noticed the trigger and hammer in the second LPK, which are stainless steel, are covered in some sort of brown corrosion/crud. and pitted. Hmmm...went ahead and took some 1000 wet/dry paper and polished those. The crud was removed, but there are huge casting marks (?) on both. On one side of the hammer is a casting defect that forms a 'pit' too deep to polish out. The trigger has the opposite problem- casting 'seams' I'll need to sand down. The mag release catch looks like it was made in a mold formed from Popsicle sticks- huge seams on the face of it. I continue on- I notice my BCG was barely staked (I can take care of that myself). I then notice the 'tactical' charging handle has a defect- there is a chunk of plastic coating on the latch missing, exposing- brass?! ugh... I take a close look at all the Anderson parts now. Both lowers look fine. The 'regular' upper looks ok, too. The LW 'Sporter' upper looks terrible. Pits in the aluminum, wrinkles in the anodizing, specs where the anodizing didn't take, and a spot under the case deflector where someone used a blueing pen to cover a larger spot! -This upper was NOT sold to the dealer as a blem! (I asked him) I sent a detailed email with pics to their CS department; I got a very simple 'send back the parts you want replaced' reply. No concern, no apology. It's nice they'll replace the parts, but as a manufacturer I would have a little more concern than that with a customer...My dealer said he would just trade the parts out, so I'm ok with that. What I'm not ok with is the lack of concern from Anderson. Is this 'normal' quality from them? here are the pics I quickly took with the phone- Hammer after a lot of polishing work- this looks a million times better than before; on the middle, right hand side you can see the weird defect; I can't get a good shot of it form the reflection- you can feel it- 
Mag release latch- 
Lightweight Sporter Upper- those voids or pits are all over it 
look at the waves in the anodizing! 
Tactical Charging handle: 
Front Take Down Pin: 
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just send the parts back.............I had a bolt carrier group I purchased from them............that was crap.......One call and they emailed me postage and gave me a full refund..........
Was the upper with the pits sold as a blem? I bought two of their blemished uppers and one had pits similar to the photo you posted............. |
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just send the parts back.............I had a bolt carrier group I purchased from them............that was crap.......One call and they emailed me postage and gave me a full refund.......... Was the upper with the pits sold as a blem? I bought two of their blemished uppers and one had pits similar to the photo you posted............. Upper was NOT sold as a blem. -I polished the crap out of that side of the hammer. -budget parts- I certainly learned my lesson! I was going to buy another LPK to finish a Spike's Punisher lower as a pistol- was... |
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   too bad I searched 'Anderson' on here after I bought the stuff...
but really- a BRASS charging handle latch? Would anyone expect that to last? Quoted:
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Reach in the toilet often enough, your bound to grab a turd. Looks like you got a few in the first fist full. too bad I searched 'Anderson' on here after I bought the stuff...
but really- a BRASS charging handle latch? Would anyone expect that to last? Depends, brass can be tough shit but I don't think I'd trust that one. Keep an eye out for blem/training bcm gunfighter handles for around 30 bucks or so if you want a good one that will last and not break the wallet. Research is everything with these things anymore, since the panic and everyone and their grandmother trying to cash in on the market. Sucks that you found out too late. |
That's priceless.
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Upper was NOT sold as a blem. -I polished the crap out of that side of the hammer. -budget parts- I certainly learned my lesson! I was going to buy another LPK to finish a Spike's Punisher lower as a pistol- was... Quoted:
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just send the parts back.............I had a bolt carrier group I purchased from them............that was crap.......One call and they emailed me postage and gave me a full refund.......... Was the upper with the pits sold as a blem? I bought two of their blemished uppers and one had pits similar to the photo you posted............. Upper was NOT sold as a blem. -I polished the crap out of that side of the hammer. -budget parts- I certainly learned my lesson! I was going to buy another LPK to finish a Spike's Punisher lower as a pistol- was... Who did you buy the upper from?.........direct from Anderson or from a third party..........looks like the blem upper I purchased from Fat Boy tactical.........Ive bought two Anderson parts kits.......one from Anderson and one from Fat boy tactical and had no problems with either........... |
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Who did you buy the upper from?.........direct from Anderson or from a third party..........looks like the blem upper I purchased from Fat Boy tactical.........Ive bought two Anderson parts kits.......one from Anderson and one from Fat boy tactical and had no problems with either........... Quoted:
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just send the parts back.............I had a bolt carrier group I purchased from them............that was crap.......One call and they emailed me postage and gave me a full refund.......... Was the upper with the pits sold as a blem? I bought two of their blemished uppers and one had pits similar to the photo you posted............. Upper was NOT sold as a blem. -I polished the crap out of that side of the hammer. -budget parts- I certainly learned my lesson! I was going to buy another LPK to finish a Spike's Punisher lower as a pistol- was... Who did you buy the upper from?.........direct from Anderson or from a third party..........looks like the blem upper I purchased from Fat Boy tactical.........Ive bought two Anderson parts kits.......one from Anderson and one from Fat boy tactical and had no problems with either........... |
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I have bought multiple Anderson Lowers and LPK's from Fat Boy Tactical and never had a problem. They are an excellent company, fast shipping and they will continue to get my business. Could not be more satisfied. Working on build number 30 - so I know the companies out there and they are in my top 5 !!! Quoted:
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just send the parts back.............I had a bolt carrier group I purchased from them............that was crap.......One call and they emailed me postage and gave me a full refund.......... Was the upper with the pits sold as a blem? I bought two of their blemished uppers and one had pits similar to the photo you posted............. Upper was NOT sold as a blem. -I polished the crap out of that side of the hammer. -budget parts- I certainly learned my lesson! I was going to buy another LPK to finish a Spike's Punisher lower as a pistol- was... Who did you buy the upper from?.........direct from Anderson or from a third party..........looks like the blem upper I purchased from Fat Boy tactical.........Ive bought two Anderson parts kits.......one from Anderson and one from Fat boy tactical and had no problems with either........... Im with you bro............Fat is where it's at.........thin is where it's been!!! |
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I'm just thinking outside of the box here, but are you sure they didn't accidentally put two REAR pins in the kit (instead of 1 short rear, 1 long front)? (EDIT): after looking at the pic again, I see it is indeed a shouldered front pin. Definitely too short for a front pin!
As for the trigger/hammer, I've seen worse (way worse) even with some of my PSA kits. They're not pretty, but it's "mil spec" and it works, that's all you can ask of a mil spec kit. That upper definitely looks to be a "blem" upper. Maybe they got it mixed up with the non blems? At any rate, definitely contact Anderson (and/or the supplier) and I'm sure they'll make it right (swap parts) for you. Keep us posted. |
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I have bought multiple Anderson Lowers and LPK's from Fat Boy Tactical and never had a problem. They are an excellent company, fast shipping and they will continue to get my business. Could not be more satisfied. Working on build number 30 - so I know the companies out there and they are in my top 5 !!! Quoted:
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just send the parts back.............I had a bolt carrier group I purchased from them............that was crap.......One call and they emailed me postage and gave me a full refund.......... Was the upper with the pits sold as a blem? I bought two of their blemished uppers and one had pits similar to the photo you posted............. Upper was NOT sold as a blem. -I polished the crap out of that side of the hammer. -budget parts- I certainly learned my lesson! I was going to buy another LPK to finish a Spike's Punisher lower as a pistol- was... Who did you buy the upper from?.........direct from Anderson or from a third party..........looks like the blem upper I purchased from Fat Boy tactical.........Ive bought two Anderson parts kits.......one from Anderson and one from Fat boy tactical and had no problems with either........... Same experience here with FBT. My Anderson lower looked great, and the Anderson LPK, while not the nicest looking, went into the lower without a hitch. Was my first time building a lower so it took me about an hour or so, but it all seems to function test fine. Just need to hit the range to test it for real. |
| I tallied up my invoices, and I've spent about $3800 from Anderson. Of That $3800, I have had to swap out parts that totaled about $120 (uppers had their FA pin hole drilled out of place). They made it right. If you just bring it to their attention they will fix it. Who knows what person packed it, could have been someone who doesn't work their anymore. They pay for shipping too. Even ESS made me pay for the return shipping for THEIR fuckup. I still use their shit, but still. |
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I tallied up my invoices, and I've spent about $3800 from Anderson. Of That $3800, I have had to swap out parts that totaled about $120 (uppers had their FA pin hole drilled out of place). They made it right. If you just bring it to their attention they will fix it. Who knows what person packed it, could have been someone who doesn't work their anymore. They pay for shipping too. Even ESS made me pay for the return shipping for THEIR fuckup. I still use their shit, but still. Your username sounds familiar. You got a youtube channel? |
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Your username sounds familiar. You got a youtube channel? Quoted:
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I tallied up my invoices, and I've spent about $3800 from Anderson. Of That $3800, I have had to swap out parts that totaled about $120 (uppers had their FA pin hole drilled out of place). They made it right. If you just bring it to their attention they will fix it. Who knows what person packed it, could have been someone who doesn't work their anymore. They pay for shipping too. Even ESS made me pay for the return shipping for THEIR fuckup. I still use their shit, but still. Your username sounds familiar. You got a youtube channel? I'm not that Hummel (FXHummel). I think he actually lives close b/c he does videos for a gun shop near Pittsburgh. |
| It's Anderson...I hope you weren't expecting LaRue or KAC quality when you ordered. Having said that, my rifles (all PSA) are way dirtier and beat up than that. Put it together and go shoot it. Who cares about the looks for a budget rifle. I have several Anderson lowers and could care less if they are pretty or not. |
| God I hope my stuff just ordered from Anderson Arms doesn't look like that. Just ordered a light weight upper with no FA or door, 6.8 BCG and some lower build parts. It was shipped today. Used one of their light weight uppers with no FA or door in a build this last spring and it was fine. Gun came out fine. |
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I oredered 2 lowers, 2 uppers and 2 LPK.s from Aim and Fatboys. All uppers and lowers looked and fit great. One of the LPK's had a small part issue. I contacted Aderson and they made it right immediately. I will definitely buy their parts again I agree............I had an issue with a BCG I bought from them.......described the problem.......and they sent me return postage and issued a refund ..............they are good people to deal with ..........have three of their lowers and 4 uppers..............have no problems with them...................... |
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I have 5 lowers stamped Anderson..All needed Anti Walk Trigger pins installed for my drop in triggers. Even without that I could drop the trigger pins and they would fall out the other side.
Other then that there the tightest then any other products with no accu wedge needed. I can say that with a few cool aid uppers. |
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