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Posted: 12/2/2007 4:10:20 PM EDT
Ive been using google-fu without much luck

Anyone know where you can buy stripped Olympic arms lower receivers from a reputable dealer that isn't selling the counterfeits?

Link Posted: 12/2/2007 4:12:12 PM EDT
[#1]
Olympic Arms?
Link Posted: 12/2/2007 4:12:36 PM EDT
[#2]
In my opinion get something else. Why Oly anyways? I know someone that will trade you a complete DPMS for his complete Olympic lower.
Link Posted: 12/2/2007 4:23:41 PM EDT
[#3]
I like thier roll mark but would probably pass on getting one if it wasn't $100
Link Posted: 12/2/2007 4:32:27 PM EDT
[#4]
Counterfeit Olys?? Why would someone go through the trouble to conterfeit them? I could see someone trying that with a more reputable brand maybe...
Link Posted: 12/2/2007 4:36:38 PM EDT
[#5]
Any reason you have to have an oly I have built a few rifles on oly lowers, other than a tight magwell they seem ok, but unless they were much cheaper or the only thing I could get I would use something else. Have you tried superior arms lowers Thats about all I use anymore.
Link Posted: 12/2/2007 4:36:55 PM EDT
[#6]
I'd contact oly arms themselves, in WA we can snag scratch and dents at gunshows for like $85-90. There are a few dealers out there that carry them, but quality is questionable.
Link Posted: 12/2/2007 4:45:30 PM EDT
[#7]

Quoted:
Counterfeit Olys?? Why would someone go through the trouble to conterfeit them? I could see someone trying that with a more reputable brand maybe...


Yeah, apparently Oly busted a counterfeit when somebody sent it in for warranty work earlier this year.
Link Posted: 12/2/2007 4:52:44 PM EDT
[#8]
a neat rollmark isnt worth an out of spec lower IMO. Get something else. Spikes Tactical puts neat shit on their lowers if your into that. Otherwise get a Stag for cheap and retain quality
Link Posted: 12/2/2007 5:29:13 PM EDT
[#9]

Quoted:

Quoted:
Counterfeit Olys?? Why would someone go through the trouble to conterfeit them? I could see someone trying that with a more reputable brand maybe...


Yeah, apparently Oly busted a counterfeit when somebody sent it in for warranty work earlier this year.


Or so they claim...

I saw the statement on their website.

Sounds like a bunch of B.S. to me.

Maybe someone assembled a complete rifle on a stripped Oly lower and sold it as a factory build.

But lowers??? C'mon.  All that would have to be done is a trace of the serial # to find out who made it.

Surely the alphabet gang would be involved and we would have heard a lot more about it.

That is, if it wasn't one of the #'s in the ranges whose records were conveniently destroyed as they also claim .

Unless there is a lot more to the story I call   SHOUT!!



Just sounds like a justification to not do any warranty service to me, as someone
who has had three defective cast lowers come through his hands in the past.

With NO remedy from Oly Arms I might add.
Link Posted: 12/2/2007 5:52:01 PM EDT
[#10]

Quoted:

Quoted:

Quoted:
Counterfeit Olys?? Why would someone go through the trouble to conterfeit them? I could see someone trying that with a more reputable brand maybe...


Yeah, apparently Oly busted a counterfeit when somebody sent it in for warranty work earlier this year.


Or so they claim...

I saw the statement on their website.

Sounds like a bunch of B.S. to me.

Maybe someone assembled a complete rifle on a stripped Oly lower and sold it as a factory build.

But lowers??? C'mon.  All that would have to be done is a trace of the serial # to find out who made it.

Surely the alphabet gang would be involved and we would have heard a lot more about it.

That is, if it wasn't one of the #'s in the ranges whose records were conveniently destroyed as they also claim .

Unless there is a lot more to the story I call   SHOUT!!



Just sounds like a justification to not do any warranty service to me as someone
who has had three defective cast lowers come through his hands in the past.

With NO remedy from Oly Arms I might add.


That's pretty much of a stretch there.
Link Posted: 12/2/2007 6:00:28 PM EDT
[#11]
Good God, why?
Get a Stag, Sun Devil, Spike's, Mega, ASA, DSA, Bushmaster, RRA, POF, LMT, DPMS...ANYTHING but Oly or Vulcan/Hesse.
Link Posted: 12/2/2007 6:05:37 PM EDT
[#12]

Quoted:
Counterfeit Olys??

Why would someone go through the trouble to conterfeit them? I could see someone trying that with a more reputable brand maybe...

Link Posted: 12/2/2007 6:13:57 PM EDT
[#13]

Quoted:

Quoted:

Quoted:

Quoted:
Counterfeit Olys?? Why would someone go through the trouble to conterfeit them? I could see someone trying that with a more reputable brand maybe...


Yeah, apparently Oly busted a counterfeit when somebody sent it in for warranty work earlier this year.


Or so they claim...

I saw the statement on their website.

Sounds like a bunch of B.S. to me.

Maybe someone assembled a complete rifle on a stripped Oly lower and sold it as a factory build.

But lowers??? C'mon.  All that would have to be done is a trace of the serial # to find out who made it.

Surely the alphabet gang would be involved and we would have heard a lot more about it.

That is, if it wasn't one of the #'s in the ranges whose records were conveniently destroyed as they also claim .

Unless there is a lot more to the story I call   SHOUT!!



Just sounds like a justification to not do any warranty service to me, as someone
who has had three defective cast lowers come through his hands in the past.

With NO remedy from Oly Arms I might add.


That's pretty much of a stretch there.


The Oly story?  Or my 'fiction'.

Which part, and why?

ETA:  It wouldn't be the first shady operation in the AR community.
Model 1/M&A Parts/Nesard/Drasen/Sendra's checkered history or LWRC's shennanigans on this very board come to mind for instance.
I won't even say the H, V, or B words.
Link Posted: 12/2/2007 6:20:13 PM EDT
[#14]
Heard HESSE has also been having problems with counterfeits.
Link Posted: 12/2/2007 6:25:20 PM EDT
[#15]

Quoted:
Heard HESSE has also been having problems with counterfeits.


That would be about par for the course, but they don't even exist as of two companies ago.  So they don't even have to worry about providing any warranty work.
Their new incarnation avoids such problems by not selling any complete firearms and they give no warranty past 30 days (if you're lucky).
Link Posted: 12/2/2007 6:29:50 PM EDT
[#16]
carricozarmrory might have some
Link Posted: 12/2/2007 6:45:26 PM EDT
[#17]
Oly?!?!?!? Don't do it man!  Friends don't let friends build on Olys'!!!
Link Posted: 12/2/2007 6:49:46 PM EDT
[#18]
Oly&Hesse doesn't want counterfeit lowers, because a counterfeiter has much higher QC than they do.  The product would only improve by someone else making it.
Link Posted: 12/2/2007 6:50:35 PM EDT
[#19]
Why?  you can get a STAG lower for 100 bucks.  
Link Posted: 12/2/2007 7:25:34 PM EDT
[#20]
Anvil Arms lowers!

Very nice all around lowers and you get an engraving on the lower AND the lower for $100.

Link Posted: 12/2/2007 9:37:00 PM EDT
[#21]

Quoted:
Why?  you can get a STAG lower for 100 bucks.  


Well thats what I figures a Oly lower to go for?
Link Posted: 12/2/2007 9:39:06 PM EDT
[#22]

Quoted:

Quoted:
Why?  you can get a STAG lower for 100 bucks.  


Well thats what I figures a Oly lower to go for?


Yes, but you won't find posts like this about Stag.


Quoted:


Quoted:

I USED TO SELL OLYMPICS.  

I also stock Colts, BM, RRA, and AR.  
Wanna know what the #1 most repaired AR15 in my shop is?  OLYMPIC.  
I don't sell them anymore.  
Wanna know what the most repaired AR15 in my store is now?  Still the OLYMPIC.  
Wanna know what I've had to send Olys back for?  You name it.  
Wanna know how hard it is to get repair parts/replacement parts/financial reimbursement for shipping NEW guns back to OLY for warranty work as a gun dealer?  IMPOSSIBLE!!!!!!

Several distributors have even stopped carrying Olympic rifles because of the high reject rate once they get to the dealers.

They might, sometimes, take care of the individual owner, but as a dealer, I believe that they have a black list, and if you're on it, you're screwed.  

I've actually had OLY on the phone with a customer in my shop, and they have actually told the guy that there was nothing wrong, and if he shipped it back, they would not fix it.  The rifle had a broken bolt.  Sheared off 2 lugs, broke at the cam pin hole, and damaged the bolt carrier.

I fixed it, with BM parts that were available to me at the time.  I sent the bill to OLY, never got a response.  Sold the debt off to a collection agency, along with all the other repairs that I had to do on OLY guns.  Now, if an OLY comes in for repair, I advise the individual that it will cost them an open ended amount and get them to sign the estimate before I'll even touch it.

SHOT show 2002 I took them a box of the parts that I had replaced from their guns that I could not get reimbursement for.

I'll guarntee I've owned/handled/shot more OLYs since 1999 than you ever will, unless you work at Oly or a gun store.

There is, at best 15% profit in retail guns.  Olys eat up my 15% on repair parts/shipping/gunsmith time almost as soon as they get unpacked.  No more!

Now, about their issues, still "Pretty sure they have been resolved by now" ?????

Or is my post worthless, too?

Tom  


And….


Quoted:
...With my Oly lower, that jerk blamed the magazines even though my cast Oly lower was so out of spec that the back of an inserted magazine hits the bolt and keeps the bolt from closing.  This was after trying about 30 different magazines at a gun show.  None of them worked.  Tom called me lazy since I was unwilling to modify all of the magazines I own rather than asking for an RMA #.  I modified a couple of magazines anyway, but while shooting they'd still work their way upward to block the bolt.  I've had that piece of junk for over five years, and I have never gotten anywhere towards getting them to honor their warranty.  They just don't give a damn.z


and..


Quoted:

WEeused to be a Oly dealer used to be the operative word

We had to send probably 25% of the cast  plinkers we sold back for repair  and probably 10% of the regular Olys

had about the same luck with DPMS

probably sold about 50 plinkers

The failure rate of the other better ( A ,B ,C ,RRA)  brands is probably about 1% in my experence



and this guy ..


Quoted:
My first AR was a CAR15 Oly kit.  The bolt carrier was tight in the upper until I honed the upper.  I figured it was a kit so I should not be upset about some fitting.


And..


Quoted:
I bought an Oly Arms 15 years ago and after using it on 5 different occasions the bolt catch broke. The part looked like broken pot metal. Any way, Mine was bought 15 years ago at a gun show, perhaps the newer modles are of better quality forged uppers and lowers, where mine is clearly cast. My next one might be a stag, but not sure.

My Oly arms looks great and shoots very well, but I often wonder what is the next part that is going to bust.


And my good man, Hellhound…


Quoted:
I bought a NEW FACTORY 16" Oly CAR back in 1993-1994, with a non-chrome barrel---I bought their marketing BS....

The barrel was shit.

Would jam (feeding and extraction) about 5 rounds into a mag and then jam about every 2.

Went through new springs for the extractor, the little o ring thingie, chamber brushing, new mags (USGI), everything imaginable....

I sold the barrel to someone who was going to use it for a .22 conversion, great idea for them.

I bought a chrome-lined RRA middie barrel, installed it on my Oly and have had 0 problems.

The other components of the gun are just fine, no problems there.

Spend a little more money and get a better barrel, it will save you a lot of aggravation.

Please don't make the same mistake I made.


another satisfied customer...


Quoted:
I loved them so much I made an active effort to get rid of mine.

Like a relationship with a crazy woman, I could tolerate the flaws at first.  Mostly because I got the results I was looking for, then the flaws became un-freaking-bearable.

I found out I could do a lot better... Oly got kicked to the curb.


and this...


Quoted:
I used to live in Olympia WA...and after calling Oly Arms, drove out to check out their facility.

When I got there, a few things became rather clear.

1) Their "factory" looked like the set of Sanford & Son. (Absolutely NOT kidding)

2) Despite being told "Sure, come on down!" on the phone, when I got there, I was dealt with like I was Diane Feinstein by EVERYONE. One guy was pleasant and answered my questions...so not a total disaster, but the rest were pricks in general.

3) There was nothing and I mean NOTHING about their "facility" that looked suitable for manufacturing dog toys, let alone firearms.

If you never get a 2nd chance to make 1st impressions, Oly lost me COMPLETELY with that one.
 

and this sad tale...


Quoted:
I bought a new plinker back in '04 since it was cheap and new. I also bought some Black Hills ammo and shot the first box of 20 fine the second box didn't go as fine. On my 32nd round I heard a loud "clank" inside of the plinker and so I pulled the mag, emptied the chamber, well, I tried to empty the chamber but couldn't. I tried to engage the safety and couldn't. I tried to break the rifle apart and couldn't. I eventually had to take off the stock and buffer tube. When I took the tube off, I found that the buffer and spring were inside the upper receiver. I took them out then was able to open the gun to see what was going on. The lower receiver broke right in front of the buffer retaining pin, throwing the retaining pin into the trigger grouping. I called Olympic and wanted to see what could be done and they say I would have to pay for shipping both ways and the armorers hourly rate was $55/hr. I told them that I wasn't happy and offered some stickers for my inconvenience. I have since parted the gun and washed my hands of the worst experience I've ever had with a firearm. I've then since owned RRA, Bushmaster, Armalite, DPMS, even Colt and would go back to them again and again. Learn from our COSTLY mistakes and be happier!


we're on a roll here:


Quoted:
I sent a lower in to them for repair. Pin holes so mis aligned it wasnt even funny. Took them  3 MONTHS to tell me there was nothing wrong with it . But they replaced it anyway.

Different serial #.. Same exact problem. My dog...Can build a better gun.


pictures are worth 1000 words...


Quoted:
img329.imageshack.us/img329/3096/olyrcvryi3.jpg

img329.imageshack.us/img329/843/olybarldi7.jpg


Tales of woe...


Quoted:
I had one KABOOM on me with less then 300 rounds through it.
And then Oly lied about what caused the problem.
I will never own another one again.
Phessor


More...


Quoted:
OlY has been around for a long time, I used their receivers in the 80's to build machine guns. I can't tell you the amount of brand new rejected parts that were returned to OLY for replacement.
They are still in business!!!
I think there is a saying, kinda like. There's a fool born every minute of the day.
So if you are one.


More...


Quoted:
I've shopped at Prairie Arms.  The owner recommended an Oly saying they " make best AR-15 on the market".  Haven't been back, and I would not call them a reliable source of information. Pick up an Oly he had on the shelf and hand cycled it.  Felt like the inner workings were lined with sand paper (not typical pre-break in either).  Needless to say, I didn't buy it.


Jesus...


Quoted:
I owned one and never again a total pos and even worst service. These guys are scum in my opinion and will never get another dollar from me.
Pat


More...


Quoted:
Yes, they are that bad. How they stay in business is beyond comprehension. I have one. The only part left original OLY is the lower and even the parts kit has been changed out to a RRA match kit. Therefore the only part left original OLY is the stripped lower, which is the part that matters the least.

OLY = Caveat Emptor.


AR15fan shares his wisdom...


Quoted:
Ive broke an oly forward assist, several bolt catches, a mag catch, wore out hammer springs, disconnector springs, extractor spring, dimpled firing pins, handguard that fitr with gaps, receiver end plates had the finish flake off and rust, frozen bolt catch detents, frozen safety detents.

I wont buy anotrher Oly product, ever.  For budget parts i go with DPMS, Bushmaster  & CMT.  If i need better quality then that i buy Colt from Brownells or SAW.


MauserMark checks in...


Quoted:
I saw at a shoot here a bolt seperate.  Don't remember which arfcom member's it was, but it seperated in use, and it was an Oly bolt.


More...


Quoted:
Yes, I do have the unfortunate experience of having owned some Oly products and did try to assemble a couple of their lowers for a friend once.

I learned the lesson.


The horror…


Quoted:
My Buddy bought one over my protest. On it's second outing with Winchester White box, the barrel seperated from the receiver.


And…


Quoted:
Blech, the one I saw broke it's bolt the first day it was fired.
You won't find a reputable gunsmith who works on ARs or an experienced carbine instructor who would recommend an Oly.



Quoted:
Had (past tense) an Oly stripped cast lower that I was going to use for my first build.  Had to take a file to the magazine well before it would accept USGI magazines.  As in they had to be crammed and beaten into a stripped lower, not that they just wouldn't drop free.  Offloaded that thing PDQ.  Tried again with an A1 upper.  Bushmaster and Colt bolt carriers bound up in the receiver.  Could see the bright shiny marks in the upper where the carriers were rubbing.  Also the takedown/pivot pin holes were mis-aligned (badly).  That was the last time I ever even considered Oly as a source for AR15 parts of any kind.  I stay far away now.



Quoted:
I had an Olympic arms lower I bought from their shop, and promptly got rid of it after letting it sit on my desk for a few weeks.  The more I look at it the more problems I found!  The threads in the back for the buttstock had numerous large ugly burrs, The finish was chipped in a few places and the Oly stamp on the side looked like shit.

Luck was in favor the day I traded it...I was at a gun show and fell in love with the superb Mega Gator lower.  I watched a table that had a couple and when the head honcho stepped out for lunch I asked his less experienced co-hort how much he wanted for a swap for the Mega..."O there isn't really a big difference, I will do it for nothing!  Just have to call it in is all..."

So we swapped, and I happened to walk back by the table a half hour later to hear him getting CHEWED out for doing the swap, and the owner happened to look up to see me and give me a glare like I had just shoved a toilet brush up his ass!

So put my lower together with a RRA 2 stage trigger and Oly lower parts thinking that the small stuff wouldn't be a big deal, but o was I wrong!!  The safety selectory was POORLY made and had a lot of travel.  If you had any contact with the selector when firing it wouldnt fire until you took the pressure off.  I know you may be thinking "who the touches that while firing!!"  But you shot from the prone unsupported or standing CQB position and tell me your finger doesnt graze the selector o so lightly..

Long story short:  Oly arms parts are rough cut and caused me a vary real safety threat.  I have handled there firearms at the shop and they are rough cut (you can see heavy straitions on thier bolt carriers) and fell like sand paper when you charge the weapon.

Go with someone else...In My Honest Opinion

Link Posted: 12/2/2007 9:43:25 PM EDT
[#23]

Quoted:
I like thier roll mark but would probably pass on getting one if it wasn't $100


Yeah I like their roll mark too. It looks like the roll mark on Czech Mausers I have/ Im figuring a $100 is my max too.
Link Posted: 12/2/2007 9:50:11 PM EDT
[#24]

Quoted:

Quoted:

Quoted:
Why?  you can get a STAG lower for 100 bucks.  


Well thats what I figures a Oly lower to go for?


Yes, but you won't find posts like this about Stag.


Thanks for the heads up but Ive read most of those post in the past on this board.

Im not looking to purchase a complete rifle. Im only after a receiver. Also a lot of those out of spec/magwell issues were caused by bad cast forging. Oly has forged receivers so that should eliminate those issues

Still looking? Anyone know a dealer?
Link Posted: 12/2/2007 9:55:58 PM EDT
[#25]
Being local to the shop, we used to see them all the time.


I havent seen one in some time now.
Link Posted: 12/3/2007 2:23:03 AM EDT
[#26]
Most ALL FORGED LOWERS are okay in my Book (Dont know about OLY)

I would even use a DPMS lower

But must have ALL LMT PARTS

Link Posted: 12/3/2007 7:41:36 AM EDT
[#27]

Quoted:
Olympic Arms?


1 year backorder on their end which means they are going to put them out at the time of 2008 election to capitilze on panic buying

Trying to find someone with them in stock
Link Posted: 12/3/2007 9:14:54 AM EDT
[#28]
i had called bear arms in n scottsdale a while ago and asked what stripped lower they carry and they replied oly, so you might give them a try - (480) 998-2727, but the guy said he thought the lowers were cast??

other than that, coleman tyler has dpms, bushmaster and mega stripped lowers - all showing in stock as i type this and he is local too
Link Posted: 12/3/2007 10:36:49 AM EDT
[#29]
Why the hell are seeking out Oly lowers?  They are just about the crappiest AR manufacturer out there.  Hell, with the way the real Oly receivers are, you might actually be better off getting one of those counterfit ones you're talking about.  
Link Posted: 12/3/2007 1:08:50 PM EDT
[#30]
If you can't find a new one let me know, I might be willing to part with mine. It is a forged one.


96Ag
Link Posted: 12/3/2007 4:09:00 PM EDT
[#31]
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