Rockethub and similar fundstarter programs

[Field Tester]

Has anyone done this? Can you speak about your experience?

I've been thinking about giving this a try for quite a while with a few friends of mine who are more mechanically inclined. The thought of building my own firearm to my specifications is an exciting one. I've wanted to try an AR-10, 10/22 & 1911. It looks like you can get 80% receivers for a decent price, as well as the jigs that are needed to complete them.

Is it hard to find the other parts to the guns to complete them? Part of the fun of it is knowing I built it myself, but if I end up shelling out more than what I could buy it for then it just might not be worth it. So is it cost effective? I don't mind taking the time over several months to finish a build on a 1911 or 10/22 but I want to know I'm not over spending and parts will be available. Another upside is I might be able to buy better after market parts, stocks, etc...

Have you been burned by it? Did the program not come through or provide inferior parts?

If I get positive responses I just may go through with it. I know an AR-10 is not going to be cheap no matter how I go about it. However with the other firearms it may be a great experience. Most of them will be duplicates anyhow so I honestly don't mind building over time. Also many of these programs seem to be up and coming business trying to build out a future for themselves.

So please tell me any and all of your experiences good and bad!

Thank you very much in advance!

 

[rdhood]

I got in 4 Rocket Hub projects.

Two more modest projects paid off: Northwest Precision and Precision Arms, delivered on their first projects. I received 4 receivers and 2 stripped uppers for a grand total of about $160.


Two of the projects that I put money in and went ballistic (Sierra Nevada and Pebble Peak) have stumbled severely. If I get anything out of these two projects it will be a miracle.

So, the best that I can gather is that folks who say "give me $10,000 and let me see what I can do with it" have been a better bet than folks who say " give me $50,000 or $200k and let me see what I can do with it.".


I imagine that the folks who are starting small had a very specific game plan and goals to reach. The bigger projects just got swamped. It took Precision Arms about 6 months to complete their first project, and I think that they are in the middle of shipping their second project. Their first project consisted of about 500 receivers.... and it took them 6 months. Projects like PP and SN took on 3000 receivers. PP never got out of the starting block, and SN keeps saying that they are "about to ship" (I won't believe it till a receiver is in my hands).

So there it is. I am batting .500 right now. The stuff I have received so far is worth WAY more than the money I put in, so I came out okay.

 

[Field Tester]

Were they all AR type receivers? So when certain companies came through it was more than worth it? How did you finish your 80%s?

Does anyone have any experience completing a 10/22 or 1911? Perhaps I should start another thread on that alone.

 

[danez71]

There is a 51 page thread in regards to a couple Rocket Hub 80% receivers; 1 being a 10/22 with Precision Arms and the other is an AR15 thru????


Anyways, page one of this link is saying that Rocket Hub is shutting down the firearms projects.

http://www.rimfirecentral.com/forums/showthread.php?t=501909

Overall, they're happy with the 10/22 80% thru Precision Arms.

Also, rimfirecentral has a jig that they are passing around. Like 40-50 members have used it (or them, not sure how many jigs).

 

[Field Tester]

Thank you for providing that link. I read through it all and another one on AR-15. Wow I just realized I've been reading about just this one subject for over nine hours. My eyes are starting to strain.

Looks like the 2 companies you provided are the only legit ones. On top of which, Rockethub is stopping the projects in 9 days. I'm going to have to make mind up quickly. It's a gamble for so many receivers, but if it comes through I could be busy for years and have some really cool firearms I can take pride in that are tailored for me.

I'm also worried about milling correctly and finding parts for the 10/22, 1911 and .308.

Thank you again for that link!