Spikes Tactical still a good option?

[Dimis]

FINALLY I am at a point where I can purchase an AR rifle all my own

I was wondering if the Spikes Tactical ST-15 was still the best buy for lower price range or if something else has hit the market

I pretty much want a 16 inch BBL 1:7 twist flat top M4gery

and please before anyone tries Im not interested in Colts price tag and that I should save for a Colt

also I forgot to mention that I want to purchase an entire rifle not build one so please no "build it yourself" stuff... not that I wont consider it down the line but I want my first AR to be complete from the factory

 

[gotigers]

I don't own one, but i have friends that do. They are still happy. Over on AR15.com, i have read some detractors, but Spikes still has a good reputation. I would have no problem with buying one myself. I have read that shipping from Spikes directly can be slow. It might be better to get one local or from another online source.

 

[Beentown]

Spikes are great rifles. Good luck finding one though. Other "Milspec" rifles I like for the money are Palmetto State Armory and BCM (a bit higher).

 

[rustedangel]

I put in an order for one 12/30/2011. It just showed up at my FFL last Thursday (3/22/2012). I decided to go with Spikes because my internet/forum research led me to believe they were a fairly good deal for the price. I almost went with a Colt 6920 instead but I really wanted a midlength gas system - the carbine length just does not feel right in my hands. I knew the wait I was getting myself into, but honestly it was hard to wait all the same.

On the positive side, I can say they were very good about communication. After the first month I started to check in via email every 2-3 weeks to see where my order was at and they generally got back to me within 4 hours. Unfortunately, I don't know a ton about ARs, otherwise I would have built my own. I haven't seen anything on the rifle that looks wrong, the fit and finish seems to me to be pretty good. I've only run 100 rounds through it but they all worked correctly.

 

[C-grunt]

They had some problems a while back but I suspect that was from their popularity exploding and them being a small company. I would personally go with a BCM but I wouldn't feel bad about a Spikes.

 

[nathan]

THey are not in stock all the time with other dealers. Only way is order from them.

 

[Z-Michigan]

Spike's still makes good stuff and is still a good option. Keep in mind that Colt 6920's are under $1000 now so be sure you shop around for a good deal.

 

[BUCKrub91]

Spikes are good rifles
Id also look at the colt 6920 if your buying a complete rifle those seem to be about the best bang for your buck

 

[BIGBANG]

I was in the same situation and I just built me a spikes ST15, It cost me $300 cheaper than my lgs had them for, I got the calico jack lower, and a standard 16in. midlength, spikes lpk and buffer assembly and put it together myself, it's all spikes without the 3 month wait. Once I started I had a complete rifle within the end of the week.

 

[NYH1]

If you can, try to buy a complete lower half and then buy a complete upper half at a different time and on a different invoice so you won't have to pay the 11% excise tax. That's what I just did when I bought my Stag setup last month. All you'll have to do is put the upper on the lower and push the two pin together. Pick whichever complete rifle you want, then take 11% off of the price. You can buy some ammo or some accessories with the money you'll save.

Good luck, NYH1.

 

[Charger442]

there are reasons i wont support Spikes Tactical . Specifically for what they did to their distributors during the Obama gun scare back in 09. but i guess their products are of decent quality. they just like to screw people.

 

[chad1043]

If you don't want to wait. AIM sometimes have them in stock. I built one. Love it.

 

[JohnnyK]

@nyh1.... excise tax... 11% sounds commie to me..... glad I'm in TEXAS

 

[Z-Michigan]

@nyh1.... excise tax... 11% sounds commie to me..... glad I'm in TEXAS

That's a federal tax, not a state tax. You've been paying it for quite some time without knowing it.

 

[Fishbed77]

I have a Spikes M4LE. 100% reliable and a smooth accurate shooter.

 

[NYH1]

@nyh1.... excise tax... 11% sounds commie to me..... glad I'm in TEXAS

That's a federal tax, not a state tax. You've been paying it for quite some time without knowing it.

Yep, has nothing to do with the state you live in. If you buy a complete rifle or shotgun you have to pay it. If you buy a AR upper half and lower half (lets say) on the same invoice you have to pay it. If you buy a lower without a upper half, you won't have to pay it.

I was on a very tight budget and wanted to get the best bang for my buck. I had my FFL order my lower half on one invoice and when that was delivered 2 days later, I had him order my upper half on another invoice, it was also delivered in 2 days. Two different times and two different invoices. No room for confusion there. The money I saved allowed me to get the Plus Package option on my upper half and break even on shipping and tax. He also gave me a really good deal on everything as well.

NYH1.

 

[greyling22]

I had one, it was fine.

 

[Dimis]

Over on AR15.com, i have read some detractors

Anything specific? maybe some problems I should check into?

Keep in mind that Colt 6920's are under $1000 now so be sure you shop around for a good deal.

can you point me to a link? I never have luck finding the 6920 for less than $1k

If you can, try to buy a complete lower half and then buy a complete upper half

I assume you mean of the same manufacturer? I never see a savings when I mix and match I either see less quality for more features or less features for more quality and the spikes hits that "sweet spot" for me

there are reasons i wont support Spikes Tactical . Specifically for what they did to their distributors during the Obama gun scare back in 09. but i guess their products are of decent quality. they just like to screw people.

I know nothing about this can I get a link/explanation?

If you don't want to wait. AIM sometimes have them in stock.

link? isnt AIM a paid membership site or something? if so I doubt ill ever use it again so paying for a membership would seem like a waste

thanks in advance guys just trying to cross a few "t's" and dot a few "i's" before I drop a chunk (to me at least) of money on my first AR

 

[tundraotto]

I think PSA took the crown of the budget AR rifles over after Spikes had difficulty in filling orders and kept a narrow lineup

 

[Krzyshng]

I went with a Palmetto State Armory, was able to get exactly what I wanted by ordering the upper and lower separately.

Aim surplus is not a membership site, here is the link but they're currently sold out: www.aimsurplus.com/product.aspx?item=F1STR5035MLS&name=Spikes+Tactical+5.56/.223+Rifle&groupid=11

If you want a spike's theres nothing wrong with their product quality to my knowledge. As far as the screwing people comment is concerned it had to do with price gouging during the post Obama gun scare. I have no link but I'm sure you can find something on google.

I also recall reading some negative comments regarding competitors products that struck me as unprofessional and semi childish. But that's all personal stuff and nothing to do with their product. If its what you want then go for it, you seem to have already made up your mind.

Sent from my DROID X2 using Tapatalk

 

[MrBill120]

I ordered a Spike's ST15 M4LE a couple of weeks ago. I'm hoping to have it by the summer.

 

[Charger442]

I know nothing about this can I get a link/explanation?

apparently they jacked up their prices and sold a bunch of lowers to their distributers for ~$150/ea back during the original obama scare. then they proceeded to drop their online prices to $99 and screwed a bunch of people who bought their stock at the jacked up price.

im sure you can find a link to some sort of discussion on it if you google.

 

[unlimited4x4]

I live about 20 minutes from Spikes Tactical and had planned to use their parts to slowly assemble a whole rifle, but they are out of everything. I bought a lower from them and that's all I could get. LPK's are 12 weeks out along with most other items. They are having a major supply issue. They make good stuff, it just going to be hard to get. I completed my lower last week with a PSA LPK and a BCM stock kit with H2 buffer on the Spikes lower. Now I am just saving for a BCM upper.

Good Luck with the build.

 

[G.barnes]

spikes are good. you can get a colt 6920, basemodel bcm or ddm4xv all for under 1000 dollars. if you want quadrails there is no option with good rails under 1000 unless you want to go from a top tier rifle to a mid. armslist and some of the gun trader sites have these same rifles used. don't worry about a top tier rifle with 1000 rounds through it it's not even broke in yet.

 

[Walking Dead]

I just ordered a stripped spikes lower from AIM surplus. I was surprised to see somebody actually had them in stock.