Armalite Reputation?

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karnaaj

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My favorite Gun dealer pretty much only deals in Armalite for his AR 15's and AR 10's. I was wondering how their reputation for quality is? Thanks
 
I've had an ArmaLite before, M15 model. They hold up very well and I believe they all come in the 1/9" twist, which is good enough for all but the heaviest bullet weights.

All in all, I don't believe you will be disappointed with an ArmaLite. After all, the "AR" in AR-15 stands for "Armalite." As I understand it, they were the first to produce it before selling to Colt.
 
I have had an Armalite 5.56 for several years. It is accurate and reliable at least to me. It does like to be kept clean and mine seemed to get a little better after some break in. I have the standard barrel version with railed flat top and rail on the front sight. I had a red dot on it for a long time. I recent got a mount and put a scope on it to try. I haven't been disappointed in the accuracy at all.
 
I thought the current company just bought the name. I didn't think they have any direct connection to Stoner. I am not sure of the details on how they started.
 
I have heard nothing but good things about them from friends that own them. Their prices seem a bit higher than others but I have never researched why.
 
I thought the current company just bought the name. I didn't think they have any direct connection to Stoner. I am not sure of the details on how they started.
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Yeah, acually I think you are right. The original Armalight was a division of Fairchild aircraft, of A-10 Warthog fame, I believe.
 
As stated before, the current Armalite company purchased the name, and I guess, the trademarks.

However, name recognition aside, they have maintained a high standard of quality. Where necessary they have run tests and figured out how to improve their designs. I have been told the Colt created Government TDP is missing importent information and dimensions, and in fact has errors. It has been up to each and every manufacturer to figure out the details and make a reliable platform. Armalite was one of the first.

A stock box Armalite NM is capable of winning the service rifle side of the National Matches at Camp Perry. It is my recollection that I met the Marine Reservist who one year won high service rifle with a stock box Armalite NM AR. He made have had the trigger tuned, but that was about it.

Incidentally, an out of the box Armalite, Bushmaster and Rock River NM are all equally capable of winning of winning the NM events at Camp Perry, and they have at times.
 
I have been satisfied with my Armalite. It does like a clean chamber. I haven't noticed them being any pricier than others in central Ohio. I have the predecessor to the LEC15A4CBK but with the removeable carry handle. I paid $825+ tax for the rifle, carry handle, two mags, sling, and hard case. Accuracy is acceptable.
 
The Armalites I've seen have been very good quality rifles. While they have no relation (other than the name), to the original Armalite, the President is Mark Westrom who is a former Army ordnance official with a lot of knowledge on the M16.
 
I guess it depends on the forum you're on, because the guys at M4Carbine for the most part speak poorly of Armalite
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Forums develop their own culture, which is highly dependant on what the Owners want and what the moderators allow.

I am aware of some very pro Colt forums. Say anything bad about a Colt, or promote anothers product, and the forum will not like you.

You get a group of common product haters together and you will create mob hystery against something. They create their own myths and legends and if you don't toe the forum line, the forum will not like you.

I am aware of one knife forum that should be called the "Anti Cold Steel" forum. Threads lambasting Cold Steel products last for a thousand postings, until the server can't handle the length. Recently it got so bad that a poster suggested creating a separate "I hate Lynn Thompson" subforum.
 
I have an armalite upper and it shoots great. Their customer service is great as well. I did not have any issues, but had questions about a tech bulletin and changing my front sight out. Within hours I had very detailed email response. The guy who responded has even followed up a few days later when he found additional details that were not even asked. That is good.
 
I ordered a carbine upper assembly from them in 1999. They shipped it to me two YEARS later. The damn thing never would feed right. I sold it to a guy who also couldn't get it to feed. Luckily somebody later stole it from his truck. No great loss. No more Armalite for me.
 
I bought my first AR last week, an Eagle Arms Armalite AR15, and so far it has been a great gun.
 
more than happy with mine, i just gave it to my brother, been rock solid so far.
 
I bought a full rifle in the late 90's. I have never had a problem with it. It has eaten all sorts of ammo including a lot of Wolf.

So far the only problems I hear are with uppers and lowers. Do they have tolerance issues when mated with other brands?
 
Mine has the 20 in barrel, and is a flat top, added a leopold 3x9 scope and a jp custom trigger and it shools like a dream with lake city ammo.
 
I guess it depends on the forum you're on, because the guys at M4Carbine for the most part speak poorly of Armalite.
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Probably because Armalite never really jumped on the M4gery bandwagon. They have one now (LE15CBA4, I think), but for the pst few years have only had mid and full length. I personally prefer mid-length w/ a 16" tube.

But on the original topic, Armalite makes an excellent product and has customer service that ranks among the best in the industry in my experience. I have an AR-10A2 carbine, an M15A2 carbine and an AR-50. Love 'em all.
 
They shipped it to me two YEARS later.
"How'd that drag on that long?"

In the beginning I called them every three months or so and they always said they were backlogged. I gave up after a while. I was surprised when they called two years later and said my upper was ready. I said "the one I ordered two years ago?", and she said yes.

My feeding problems were due to noticeably short feed ramps. I think the newer versions have extended feed ramps though.
 
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