I am thinking about the plinker model as my first ar. The price is around $600, Please tell me the pros and cons of olympic arms.


 Tia

It's an OK gun.

If you have to send it back to them for warranty work and they have a fire you may have a difficult time getting them to reimburse you for the rifle.<G>

Dennis Jenkins

Quoted: I am thinking about the plinker model as my first ar. The price is around $600, Please tell me the pros and cons of olympic arms.  Tia

+1 they are ok

I don't have an Oly rifle or carabine but I had the opportunity to handle some a couple of years ago. I was not impressed with the quality/finish. maybe current rifles are better.

take a look at Rock River Arms' product also

make sure it is the newest version of the plinker.  the original "plinker"  from about 5 years ago was all cast, the new ones are supposed to be all forged.  i remember seeing pics on this forum where the threaded/barrel portion of the upper(cast version) cracked off while firing.  IIRC is was not an uncommon thing.  now that being said i built an AR using an OLY Maxhard lower and liked it, and still working great.  Oly forged is fine.

I have three. Fit and finish of the uppers and lowers are generally not the cleanest considering what's available these days (Mega, etc.), but is more than suficient for a working-class firearm. Barrels are generally very good to *excellent. I'm inclined to believe that the Olympic barrels are generally better than anything else you will find in that price range. My (2) 16" Olympic barrels (HBAR w/ free float) shoot better than moa with good ammo and a 9x optic. Aside from the upper receiver, lower receiver, and barrel, ARs are pretty much small (semi) generic parts - easy to swap out as needed/desired.

Check www.carricozarmory.com/olympic.htm for the K16 (about the middle of the page), it seems to be in your price range and is a pretty good value. I've also seen them with an HBAR instead of the bull barrel - which may be more desirable for most.

Every experienced AR shooter that I personally know would prefer a flat-top receiver over an A1/A2 (I think the Oly Plinker is an A1; the K16 mentioned above is a flat-top) due to the greater options afforded by the flat-top. I would encourage one *not to think: "but it's got no sights AND it's MORE expensive!?", but rather: "yes, it is a little more money, but it has desirable features that I'll want after I've had an AR for a..." (week, month, year, depending on your use).

Good luck,

ac

ps - I don't have any experience with the dealer I linked to - just found the photo handy and included it for informational purposes. Please don't take the link as an endorsement.  I have no financial interest in Olympic - DPMS may have a comparable product at the same price point.

I bought 1 of the cast plinker models a few years ago used for $400.  Supposedly it's a horrible rifle and should be avoided at all costs but mine has not had any problems.  Good little rifle for the money.