Why is an Olympic AR-15 Bad?

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I think Olympic produces some very, very good barrels,,,when they bother to finish ream them before installing the barrel extension!

In ten barrels, three had this flaw and this is why I insist people headspace their build rifle prior to actually shooting it!
 
Thanks for a great response. I guess I'm kind of surprised that most of your responses were counter to what I've read about Olympic's AR's. Most everyone responded with feedback based on firsthand exposure. Thank you.

About the Palmetto Armory and Olympic connection. I've read that Palmetto Armory made lowers for Olympic before 1982. The one I have has Pametto Armory steel stamped into it, but no mention of Olympic on the rifle. I've just read about the connection. Most of you reading this know more about the connection than I do.

I think I'll pass on the Dillon experience challenge for now! Maybe send a note to me...

Thanks again for the feedback and please continue to post if you have more to to share. You guys are great.

I will have some more questions about some Sharps Buffalo guns and an 1876 Winchester 45-75 my dad has... and other old stuff. Take care...
 
I guess I'm kind of surprised that most of your responses were counter to what I've read about Olympic's AR's.
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I can only guess you've been reading about them over on another forum.
 
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I own three Olympics (oldest is from 1999) they are all fine rifles and amazingly accurate. This photo is from my 16" 1x9 stainless 5.56 .75" free-floated rifle with a Burris 6x24. This barrel is a near baseline model.. the SS version of what they put on their most standard rifles. They are 6 groove button rifles barrel- The Oly Ulramatch .223 barrel are broach cut 4 grove National Match. My friend has a free-floated Ultramatch 24" bull that makes dime sized holes at 100 yards from the bench.
My group is a little spread out, one shot low, next high, next low.. and so on. I think my problem was a burr on the feedramp. I polished it recently but have not had an opportunity to bench rest it again.
IMG_0883.jpg
 
I have an Olympic AR in 9mm. I have shot many cases of 9mm steel case ammo out of it using sten mags and a SOCOM adapter. The gun runs as well today as it did when it was new. I have no complaints with my Olympic experience.
 
mjcrocker said:
About the Palmetto Armory and Olympic connection. I've read that Palmetto Armory made lowers for Olympic before 1982. The one I have has Palmetto Armory steel stamped into it, but no mention of Olympic on the rifle. I've just read about the connection. Most of you reading this know more about the connection than I do.
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Palmetto Armory should not be confused with Palmetto State Armory. The two are not related, connected or otherwise have anything to do with each other.
 
I have an Olympic 98 PCR that I bought used about 8 years ago. I've fired about 1500 rds thru it without a problem. I like mine and dont really care what an AR "snob" thinks about it.
 
Looks like some, "Palmetto Arms" rifles were made by Olympic Arms in the early 1980s.

There's a little information on ARF.com.
 
FlyinBryan said:
o.p, why do you think they are bad? (i assume you think they are or you wouldnt be asking)
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I have one and wanted to see what others thought about Olympic AR's. I went on a few blogs and read old posts. Most were really negative, yet the comments I'm getting here are largely pretty good. I just wanted to see what folks thought... Thanks!
 
Bought one of these about two years go, paid $600 for it. Replaced the trigger with a two stage and put on a $90 scope on a $35 mount and can shoot dime size groups all day long. Has never had a failure of any kind.

K16 Bullbarrel
OLYK16.jpg
 
Oversized trigger pin holes don't completely explain how pins held captive by the tail of the trigger spings in the grooves jumped out. The holes really don't contribute anything to that. Harmonics, spring pressure, and frequency of fire do.

Most of the time I read this, rapid fire with light target trigger springs seems to be the culprit. IE, not being appropriate milspec parts in a gun being used that way. Oly is just one make mentioned in that regard.

In no way does that excuse large pin holes or cracking parts. Just thinking forensically.
 
If you're buying it for a range toy, what's it matter? Use it and replace things as they break.

If it's for defense, is it worth saving a few hundred bucks when your life is on the line?

For those touting Olympic rifles: how many of you have run them in training classes?
 
I have an Olympic carbine, bought it new back in 2007. I've only had one problem. My son and I were at the rang with some friends. We were shooting some old Winchester white box 55 gr ammo. After about 500 rounds it stopped ejecting.
I broke the rifle down and found a small piece of brass stock in with the ejector. I cleaned it out and it has been running like a champ ever since.
 

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For those touting Olympic rifles: how many of you have run them in training classes?
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Why is a training class the end all and be all of AR15 reliability? Training for what? Nothing I'll ever do. Mine go to the range and out in the woods. The 9mm oly may seem some HD time but lets face it that has little in common with a class.
 
When I started training in the later 90s , after going to API in the early 80s and thought I needed a "refresher" :rolleyes: , my Colts sometimes would act up during the courses of fire (up to 800 rounds) . Out would come the early 90s Oly "multi purpose carbine" with the knurled aluminum float tube over the stainless barrel, to finish the course. The poor Oly lived for YEARS in my ranch truck or the back of jeeps with little maintinence . I remember steel wooling rust off it after 2 years with out being looked after! Hey that oly still shoots like a champ and I up graded it's bolt a couple years ago with a BCM bolt and a new buffer assembly. Yeah not as pretty as my Noveske, but it has served me well. My friend got excellent customer service from them BTW.
 
Why is a training class the end all and be all of AR15 reliability? Training for what? Nothing I'll ever do. Mine go to the range and out in the woods. The 9mm oly may seem some HD time but lets face it that has little in common with a class.
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I should think that would be obvious. It is not likely anyone would otherwise put ~500 rounds a day for 2-3 consecutive days through their carbine. They would also be doing it outside, in varying weather (hot, cold, rainy, snowy, whatever). Likely amidst some degree of dust/dirt/mud. Squeezing off 200 rounds at the range isn't quite the same thing.

We live in a fortunate age, where we know what makes a good AR, and have many companies producing such a beast. Colt, BCM, LMT, DD, KAC. Readily available, cost nominally more than cheaper (in every sense of the word) alternatives. There's simply not any reason to avoid a well tested and proven breed these days.
 
I have one too, and like others have said, the finish is rough (eg. the edges of the front sight base have corners unlike nicer looking rounded Colt fsb), but it works fine and is accurate.
 
I bought one from a friend who needed the bucks in the 80's. I never had a single problem with it and when I attached a scope to it, it was a tack driver at 100 yds! I wish I still had that gun!
 
I've got two of them

A heavy barreled K-16 and a Heavy barreled Match Target. Both are great shooters with 1/2 MOA being the norm. The only problem I have ever had with either was letting them get too dirty, more than about 500 rounds without cleaning. I don't see any finish problems with either of my guns either. They both compare favorably to my Bushmaster.
 
Tirod said:
Oversized trigger pin holes don't completely explain how pins held captive by the tail of the trigger spings in the grooves jumped out. The holes really don't contribute anything to that. Harmonics, spring pressure, and frequency of fire do.

Most of the time I read this, rapid fire with light target trigger springs seems to be the culprit. IE, not being appropriate milspec parts in a gun being used that way. Oly is just one make mentioned in that regard.

In no way does that excuse large pin holes or cracking parts. Just thinking forensically.
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Yes, those first 500 rounds went by pretty fast. After getting the Holotech sighted in anything you can put the dot on just went splat, or at least had a .22 inch hole through it. So we went into blast it mode.

One end of the pin would actually clear the inside of the receiver and fall down a bit (1/8"?). IIRC, the gun would actually fire in this condition... but it's been a while.

Obviously, Oly didn't then and doesn't now make the little parts that cracked on me. But, they did purchase and assemble a gun with them. Together with their poor CS for me, that lumps them in my "don't buy from" category if asked.
 
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