So much for my Armalite M15

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nwilliams

nwilliams

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Dec 10, 2006
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Albuquerque, NM
A few weeks ago I made a big mistake! I bought an Armalite M-15 from my local gun shop.
http://www.thehighroad.org/showthread.php?t=507030&highlight=armalite
The first day that I took it out the gun crapped out on me within less than 40 rounds of ammo through it. In the middle of shooting the bolt started sticking and the gun wouldn't cycle. I then noticed that the hammer pin had worked it's way about halfway out. I opened up the gun and saw that the hammer was off to the side and had damaged the spring that's used to adjust the match trigger weight. The coil spring that adjusts the match trigger was dented, obviously from where the back of the hammer struck it after it got misaligned. I realigned hammer and pushed the hammer pin back in, it was then that I noticed that the hammer pin was very loose and could be pushed out easily. I guess as the hammer was going back and forth the hammer pin was creeping out more and more until finally the hammer was no longer held in place.

So I took the Armalite back to the shop and explained what happened. The shop manager said that he would send the gun back to Armalite and give them one chance to fix the problem.

Well about two weeks later the gun came back with a slip from Armalite. According to them they replaced the "D-Ring" and there were no other problems with the gun. We opened up the gun and saw that coil spring was still damaged and bent, I was shocked that they didn't notice it or replace it. We had no idea what the "D-Ring" is and why it needed to be replaced. We could only assume that they were referring to the Delta Ring. However if they really did replace the Delta Ring then why did it have the same exact scratch on it that was there before the gun was sent back!

The shop manager was not happy and immediately offered to give me a full refund on the gun. I had $1200 invested in this Armalite and I decided to look for another AR to replace it.

The shop was running a special on Daniel Defense DDXV's for $1050 so I decided to go with one of them. Hopefully it will prove to be a better choice than the Armailte.

Here's a link to the new thread I started with pics of my new Daniel Defense...
http://www.thehighroad.org/showthread.php?p=6377233#post6377233
 
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Nice rifle, glad you're happy with it.

On the Armalite, any chance the dealer tried to fix it himself, or have some "AR guy" screw with it? Because your experience with Armalite is very atypical. They have always had top notch CS.
 
any chance the dealer tried to fix it himself, or have some "AR guy" screw with it?
Click to expand...

Definitely not.

When the gun shop gave brought out the Armalite it was accompanied by the repair receipt from Armalite stating what they did to it.
 
This is an excellent example of how personal experience affects personal opinions. I too bought an Armalite M15 (as a Christmas 2009 present to myself).

The rifle now has over 1000 handloaded rounds through it, and I'm very happy with it. The only modifications were due to my 'left-handedness'...is that a word? I added three DPMS accessories, namely an ambi safety, an extended charging handle, and a detachable front sight for appearance's sake. With these additions, the rifle suits me perfectly.

I find it to be well fitted and finished, and a very valuable increase in my "battery". Accuracy and functioning are just fine.

It's sad to see that not everyone is getting the same satisfaction as I have received from the new rifle.
 
I bought the armalite 15A4CBA2K on Jan. 29 almost 600 rounds through it and I have no complaints. I wish you better luck with your new AR!
 
The d ring they are talking about was most likely the pin retainer inside the hammer, it's a small wire "d".
 
Was it a new gun?
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According to the gun shop manager it was.

However I am a little suspicious and was from the beginning. When I bought it they told me that they didn't have the original box, manual and paperwork. Which I thought was very strange.

The shop manger told me he got some deal on it as part of a promo through one of his distributers and that's why it had the railed handguard already installed on it, apparently they don't normally come like that new.

I suppose it is possible that the shop tried to pull a fast one on me, maybe that's why they were so willing to give me a refund on it. However I've done a lot of business with this gun shop over the years and I have trouble believing they would sell me a used gun and tell me it was new.

It didn't look fired and there were no marks on the shell deflector like you'd expect from a gun that's been fired.
 
It didn't look fired and there were no marks on the shell deflector like you'd expect from a gun that's been fired.
Click to expand...

It may have been a new promo gun.

But it should not have had any problems.

I shot the barrel out of one NM Armalite, never had a problem. Have a M4forgery Armalite, no problems with it.

Unfortunate that your experience was not as good.
 
I've had an Armalite M15 for about 6 years now. No problems worth mentioning. After owning several brands (including Shrubmaster) Armalite is near the top of my personal list of quality.

Sorry to hear about your experience and apparently bad "repair" service, but I think it is truly the exception and not the norm for Armalite.
 
I agree with Z. While not my first choice, Armalite has a good rep overall. However sometimes stuff happens. The DD really is a much better gun however. I think you will like it a lot.
 
Good luck here with my ArmaLite also, it's a fine rifle. I also think they meant the J-spring in the hammer and replaced the hammer. That spring keeps the hammer pin from walking out. They should have taken care of the damaged spring too but I do think this is an exception to normal first rate service. Glad you were able to get it resolved with your dealer anyway.
 
What everyone else said re Armalite.

I've had a NM for a few years. Quality is great and never a hiccup. Bought an upper 2 yrs ago and same good quality, also never a hiccup.

IMO, no box or p-wk is odd. Even a promo gun would come in a box. Can't imagine the manufacturer, distributor or shop losing or tossing the box and paperwork.
 
Shootr it does happen. Although it isn't a matter of tossing the paperwork. Sometimes dealer samples or special promos don't have the normal stuff you would expect. My First AR was a Colt Hbar sporter that had been some sort of dealer sample. It was new but had nothing with it, not even a mag. I called Colt thinking I had been screwed by the store but this is how they all went out.

I don't doubt the OPs story or his Dealer. I was just shockd at how Armalite handled it.
 
Daniel Defense is top-drawer, from what I've read. It should run fine. Although your experience with the Armalite is probably atypical.

You said the Armalite had a match trigger? What kind?
 
Almost sounds like it may have been used or at the least messed with. A match trigger is not the same as a tactical trigger.Armalite has a tactical trigger 1st stage 3.5 lbs. 2nd stage 5-6 lbs. Their NM trigger 1st stage 2.5 lbs. 2nd stage 4.5-5 lbs. Armalite differentiates between the two.Hope this helps.
 
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