Next Generation Arms, Tidewater, OR - AR clones

[YosemiteSam357]

Is anyone familiar with Next Generation Arms (NGA) of Tidewater, OR.?

These guys are just down the road from me a bit, and I'm trying to find out more about them. Pretty small outfit turning out allegedly high quality AR rifles. Ceramic coatings and a hydraulic buffer standard. 60% reduction in movement. No oil after initial break in. I'm looking at the JC382 currently.

My main concerns are the same as that of buying anything from a brand new company: No reputation that I'm aware of; Potential for not being around long enough to honor their lifetime warranty (a risk with anyone, no doubt); Potential resale value issues if they don't take off in popularity.

My local shop owner is sold on these, has bought one himself, sold some to local LEOs, and says this is the basic chassis for rifles costing a lot more; I can't remember the name off hand.

The others I'm looking at right now are DPMS and Bushmaster. The NGA wouldn't cost me much more than either of these options, and it sounds like it's got some good features. My dealer is pushing them hard, and he's a Bushy dealer, too. I just can't figure out if I should put my trust in this company, despite the fact that I'd be supporting a local business (two, actually, as I'd buy it through my dealer).

Has anyone ever heard of these guns, or have an opinion on my quandary?

-- Sam

 

[Winston_Smith]

Looks like most of the features are just after market add-ons. The ceramic coating seems to be the only novel thing they offer. Haven’t heard of this company but Noveske is another quality AR manufacturer in OR if you are looking to buy local.

 

[Z-Michigan]

The prices reflect a lot of, ahem, "pride" in their product. You say it wouldn't cost much more than DPMS or Bushmaster rifles. Which ones and what $$ are we talking? Those brands should have basic AR's in the $800-900 range, perhaps even less (like the DPMS "Sportical," which is a stripped down 16" model). I don't see how a $1595 MSRP gets down to that range. Obviously the features described for this new brand are more high-end than the basic models I'm referring to, but are they features you will get any use out of?

Are you looking for a basic starter's AR, or something really high end? If the latter, have you considered LMT, or a Colt 6920?

 

[YosemiteSam357]

Thanks for the replies.

The Noveske's look good too, but pose a similar question: Small shop, maybe somewhat of a following, but will the company withstand the test of time (and our wonderful legislative/control system) as well as a larger vendor?

As for prices: I can get the basic NGA gun for right around $1K. Considering the H buffer, the coatings, the grips, and the sights, that's not a terrible price.

I can get a Bushy Patrolman (I think that's it) for about $950. I found a DPMS Sweet 16, which I know has considerably different styling, but would still work for my purposes, for $825 online. Add shipping and sights and I'm right up into the same ballpark.

I'm looking to fill a hole in my collection, and have a gun I can shoot out to a couple hundred yards with the right optics for my older eyes. I already have a sub-sub MOA scoped pseudo benchrest gun as well as an iron sighted M1A. I'll probably put a red dot as well as open sights on the AR for "plinking" (as much as one does that with .223 these days...), and targets out to 50 yards at first. I may decide to throw a scope on it later. So I want at least a flat top, removable handle okay.

But I don't want to buy the bottom of the barrel, cheapest thing I can get away with, either. I don't need to spend $1500, and would be real happy if I could find a nice one for $700, but it seems everything I'm seeing with the features I want is landing right around the $1K price point.

-- Sam

 

[HorseSoldier]

Not sure on NGA's longevity, but Noveske has a pretty good following among SOF types (including some unit level purchases of their uppers or other kit) and the contracting community, etc. I think they're likely to be around for a while, even if a new AWB hits commercial sales to civilians.

 

[YosemiteSam357]

Anyone got a pointer to a dealer who sells Noveske? I keep hearing about them but can't find a place to buy them.

-- Sam

 

[Z-Michigan]

As for prices: I can get the basic NGA gun for right around $1K. Considering the H buffer, the coatings, the grips, and the sights, that's not a terrible price.

I can get a Bushy Patrolman (I think that's it) for about $950. I found a DPMS Sweet 16, which I know has considerably different styling, but would still work for my purposes, for $825 online. Add shipping and sights and I'm right up into the same ballpark.

I would inspect the NGA closely. If it looks good, I would give it a try. Warranty and manufacturer longevity isn't all that important with an AR, because the parts are all common designs. Oh, a warranty is nice, but not crucial. $50 extra isn't much. I'm a bit skeptical of their "no lubrication" claim, but who knows.

But the question is - why is MSRP 60% higher than actual selling price? That's weird.

Noveske is good too, of course. But if you don't need super-duper features and quality inspections, any Bushmaster will do all the basics you would ask for.