Badger Arms
Member
I ordered a Cav Arms MK II receiver from Armalite right after they did an email advertisement. I intended to sell it as a complete lower for somebody intending to build a rifle. When I assembled it and tried to test-install it on my RRA upper, it didn't fit. The holes were about .050" off. I'll bet I could have used a hammer to pound the pin through, but the level of force I had to use worried me.
I called and emailed Armalite. They were very helpful and suggested I send the receiver back to them and they would 'make it good.' Before I did this, I called Cav Arms. Their suggestion was to "try to get it to work and if you ruin the receiver, send it back and we'll replace it." So... after a little deliberation I sent the finished lower back to Armalite and they offered me a refund, which I took. The reason they offered the refund was, and I quote from their email, "I had engineering look at it this morning and the holes are out of spec. I'm sorry. I already processed a refund at your request..." That from Jennifer. Moral of the story is as follows:
Armalite is a stand-up company. The Cavalry Arms receiver was out-of-spec. I have read a story by another Cav Arms Receiver owner who had the exact same problem with his lower. Cav Arms proceded to post a video on their web site mocking the individual showing somebody at their shop putting together and pulling apart uppers on the receiver that was returned to them after he had this problem.
Here's some pictures. The first one shows the way-too-large slot for the bolt stop. I took readings with calipers, it's about .060" off. This caused the bolt stop to lean forward on its pivot pin when I pushed the top of it like a bolt would have. Second picture shows my Bushmaster receiver next to it. I put drill-rod through the front pivot pins so they were aligned perfectly. I then did the same thing with the rear. Hmmmm. Something is not right here. Third picture shows the gun with the front pin installed and gives you an idea of how large the difference was:
I called and emailed Armalite. They were very helpful and suggested I send the receiver back to them and they would 'make it good.' Before I did this, I called Cav Arms. Their suggestion was to "try to get it to work and if you ruin the receiver, send it back and we'll replace it." So... after a little deliberation I sent the finished lower back to Armalite and they offered me a refund, which I took. The reason they offered the refund was, and I quote from their email, "I had engineering look at it this morning and the holes are out of spec. I'm sorry. I already processed a refund at your request..." That from Jennifer. Moral of the story is as follows:
Armalite is a stand-up company. The Cavalry Arms receiver was out-of-spec. I have read a story by another Cav Arms Receiver owner who had the exact same problem with his lower. Cav Arms proceded to post a video on their web site mocking the individual showing somebody at their shop putting together and pulling apart uppers on the receiver that was returned to them after he had this problem.
Here's some pictures. The first one shows the way-too-large slot for the bolt stop. I took readings with calipers, it's about .060" off. This caused the bolt stop to lean forward on its pivot pin when I pushed the top of it like a bolt would have. Second picture shows my Bushmaster receiver next to it. I put drill-rod through the front pivot pins so they were aligned perfectly. I then did the same thing with the rear. Hmmmm. Something is not right here. Third picture shows the gun with the front pin installed and gives you an idea of how large the difference was:
