Model 1 Sales Reviews

[mattlove444]

Hi all!

I was just wondering how the quality on Model 1 Sales rifle kits is.

Any help would be appreciated. Just a newbie trying to learn

 

[Fumbler]

A friend of mine has two uppers from them.
The first one had a deformed/indersized hole in one of the parts from the lower parts kit (I cannot remember which part). He drilled it out and it worked fine.
The second had no problems.
Both have functioned fine with the couple hundred rounds he's shot.

IMO after simply looking his rifles over, I'd pick another brand. In fact, I did get another brand; I got a Del-Ton midlength rifle kit.
The Del-Ton's machining quality and finish looks a little better and the price is only a couple bucks more.
Of course neither Del-Ton or Model 1 will be anywhere near the quality of a Colt or Noveske. They still shoot though and that's all I cared about.

If you get a Model 1 Sales you'll probably end up with a decent (by my standards) AR. I wouldn't buy one though...mostly cause i think their name is stupid hehe.

 

[RockyMtnTactical]

I couldn't recommend them to anyone. Family and friends have used them and in all cases, there were problems.

 

[dscottw88]

http://thehighroad.org/showthread.php?t=445490

It's a slippery slope, be careful.

 

[Kind of Blued]

I want this company to make good stuff so badly, because they have so many options, on a professional-looking, easy to use website, but most of what I've read is negative.

 

[rbernie]

M1S tends to buy from whomever has parts in stock, for the least cost. They don't do any real QA/QC of their own, and they don't stick to 'big name' or 'milspec-only' parts suppliers. This means that their products can be spotty in quality, depending on what you're buyin'.

You can get decent bits from them; their Shaw barrels are fine, as are many of their other 'brand name' bits. But for the receivers themselves and LPKs and such, I tend to buy from places (e.g. BravoCoUSA, Del-Ton, GlobalTactical) that sell bits from known manufacturers and who tell me the name of the parts supplier.

 

[3pairs12]

I liked the customer service of Model 1. I was trying to decide on what combo of an upper I wanted to use and had the guys i the warehouse wieghing them for me. That being said on 1 LPK I had 2 out of spec parts. The upper that recieved from them mated a little sloppy to my lower. Nothing a shim wouldn't have taken care of though. I would use them again just for an upper. I wouldn't buy another LPK from them.

 

[ArmedBear]

I've bought one upper from them, a 16" dedicated .22LR.

The inside of the upper receiver shows some tool marks, not the shiny, smooth finish I'm used to. This is, of course, irrelevant in a dedicated .22, so I had to surmise that they chose the upper according to the application.

Function, fit, finish and accuracy are flawless. The thing runs perfectly, it arrived quickly, and I have had no complaints. (In fact, I have to wonder why people pay an additional $100-200 for the same thing from certain other vendors, but whatever floats your boat, I guess.)

 

[1832]

I've bought several complete Uppers from them and have been completely satisfied, the only exception being the bolt on the 7.62x39 Upper had to be replaced with an MGI Enhanced Bolt to shoot the steel-cased stuff reliably. Considering their prices, I think they offer good value.

 

[Cohibra45]

I would definitely stay away from them if anyone is considering going the 6.8 SPC route!!!

Their barrels are the worst out there for performance with a 1/9.5 twist rate and using SAAMI standard chamber!!!!!!!

If anyone is contemplating going the 6.8 SPC route, here is a link to a good chart to do comparison between manufacturers:

http://spreadsheets.google.com/ccc?key=p0mexhIqnSUAIBf5cexy1fA

Take care

 

[HJ857]

I picked up a pre built NM upper from them last year. The front sight base is just slightly canted and the finish isn't great, it's more greyish than black. On the other hand it's mechanically very good and it shoots far better than expected. I have less than a thousand rounds through it though.

 

[IndianaBoy]

A buddy of mine ordered a kit from them more than six months ago.

He has emailed once and called once, and gotten the runaround.

Meanwhile they are still going to gunshows and selling uppers and kits.

Couple that with the negative mechanical reviews by others, and I wouldn't consider buying from them.

I can't comment on the wait time, because I built my AR a few years ago. But J&T Distributing in Kentucky builds good stuff. I have an A1/C7 upper with a Shaw barrel from them, and got most of the rest of my parts from Ranier Arms.


Now is a tough time to get into the AR game, don't make it tougher by starting out with questionable quality.

 

[ArmedBear]

J&T Distributing in Kentucky builds good stuff.

I'll second that.

 

[minutemen1776]

I've bought from Model 1 Sales twice, and I've been mostly pleased.

First, I had a gunsmith friend build a 16-inch carbine for me based on a Model 1 CAR kit, which I went with based mostly on price since then it was already a financial stretch for me to get into an AR15 at all. With the exception of the handguard, the upper unit (barrel, upper receiver, sights, BCG, etc.) has been excellent. I thought the handguard was too small and flimsy, and it did little to dissipate heat. I replaced it with a Bushmaster M4 handguard really quick. Some of the lower parts, however, have not held up well, which to me gives credence to the complaint that Model 1 uses cheap, out-of-spec LPKs. I've had to replace the bolt catch and trigger pin, and I upgraded to an RRA 2-stage trigger because the original was pretty bad. I've inspected the other LPK components, and everything else appears and functions fine. Ultimately, I have really loved this rifle, but I did have to work some bugs out of it.

My second experience only involved the purchase of an assembled upper, sans the BCG. I went with Model 1 again on this occasion because I wanted a government profile 20-inch barrel, and Model 1 was then one of the few sources for an affordable upper in this configuration. And, since this upper was intended for another assembled lower that I already had (not the same as my 16-incher, BTW), I had no worries about Model 1 LPK components. Again, I was not happy with the handguard, and I replaced it with a more sturdy one from RRA. Otherwise, the upper has been flawless and very accurate to boot.

In my opinion, Model 1 makes great assembled uppers, only with subpar plastic handguards. Their LPK components are also spotty, so I'd avoid them in favor of a more reputable maker. If I'm in the market for another AR15 upper, I'll definitely consider Model 1's stuff. Even with their flaws (and spending money to correct them), Model 1's price point is hard to beat.

 

[EdLaver]

I bought a new 16 inch chrome lined barrel from them, installed it on my DPMS upper and works great, very accurate barrel, havent had a problem after 1,200 or so shots.

 

[dscottw88]

So (aside from the OP) posts 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 10, 11, 12, and 14 so far have had some sort of negative experience.

Post 9 needed an enhanced bolt, and post 13 was irrelevent to the OP's question. Only 1 post, number 15, had a positive review, and it was with the barrel which we have already established is the only decent part distributed by Model 1 Sales. Those are made by E.R. Shaw.

Take your chances. I won't ever again.

 

[mirage]

I ordered a 16" car kit a couple years back.
Installed on my lower with no issues and shoots great.
I read all the reviews and at the time it was the only way I could afford an AR.
For the price I paid I was not expecting a Colt.
They were helpful and quick to ship.
I would order from them again.

 

[raskolnikov_22]

Used their complete A2 kits to assemble AR's for myself and a friend. We are both pleased.

 

[matrem]

Bought one of their uppers with a Shaw bbl four years ago.
As much as I wanted to hate it..Have absolutely NOTHING bad to say about it.
Nice folks to deal with,to boot!

 

[john paul]

i've built 6 rifles with their complete kits. had one problem (gas port on the barrel). one phone call, sent it back, new one in a week with a 6.8 magazine for my trouble. and the only problem with the 6.8 spc chambers from them are you can't shoot those high pressure loads from silver state armory. all other factory loads are fine.

 

[4v50 Gary]

Aren't they the old ASA, American Spirit Arms?

 

[puccini]

Model 1 sales AR15

Bought a standard A2 kit from them.
Used DPMS forged reciever.
No problems,
More than a decent gun.
Shot great with handloads.
Best grouping was under 1.5 inches at 100yd.
Put about 2000 rounds through,
No jams.
I'd buy again from them.

gerry

 

[Lloyd Smale]

ive got a stainless 16 inch hbar weight barrel 1in7 twist on one of mine and its the best shooting ar i have

 

[Bartholomew Roberts]

Aren't they the old ASA, American Spirit Arms?

No Model 1 Sales and M&A are both offshoots of the old Nesard company. I don't know if they are run by the Drasens or their kin; but they have some of the same people and definitely target the same market niche with the same strategies.

 

[HOLY DIVER]

bought a 6.8 upper from them, first time i sent the bolt home it stayed stuck there for about an hour until i got it free! turned out the gas key was out of spec and locked down on the gas tube. i was very upset. bought a gas key from BCM and so far its running fine.....i still would not recommend them. del-ton's stuff is allot better if you want a an AR and your on a budget. infact that upper might be going to the next show looking for a new home!