Geezerbiker
New member
I've seen ATI and one or 2 other imported AR15's for cheap prices on GrabAgun and other sites. Are these a bargain, junk or something in between?
Tony
Tony
Cheap imported AR15's
- Thread starter Geezerbiker
- Start date
Rangerrich99
New member
Not sure why anyone would want to do that. I just saw a S&W M&P Sport for $465 online brand new. Just how much cheaper do you want to go? And what kind of quality are you going to get? Almost certainly not the same quality as the S&W . . .
FrankenMauser
New member
What are you seeing that's actually imported?
Just because the ATI name includes the word "Imports" doesn't mean that every product is imported.
Please cite some examples.
Just because the ATI name includes the word "Imports" doesn't mean that every product is imported.
Please cite some examples.
Geezerbiker
New member
You got me there. I assumed because the name includes the word "Imports" that the rifle was imported. They tend to run in the low $300 range and that's an attractive price. I've considered assembling one and honestly that's second on my list if these aren't worth the money.
FrankenMauser
New member
Well, I wasn't trying to 'get' you. I was just curious about whether or not I was missing something, while wanting to point out that ATI isn't exclusively an importer.
But I do understand how my post could have been seen as confrontational.
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There hasn't been much talk about them recently, but most people seem fairly happy with the OMNI Hybrid - at least for the price.
But I do understand how my post could have been seen as confrontational.
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There hasn't been much talk about them recently, but most people seem fairly happy with the OMNI Hybrid - at least for the price.
HistoryJunky
New member
One of my co-workers owns the ATI Mil-Sport. I haven't shot it yet, but he told me he had constant reliability issues with it when he first bought it. He said he replaced the bolt it came with with a bolt from PSA and now he said it runs fine.
However I don't think he puts enough rounds through his guns to notice if the thing was a piece of junk or not.
However I don't think he puts enough rounds through his guns to notice if the thing was a piece of junk or not.
Geezerbiker
New member
I didn't take it as confrontational but that you brought up point that I had not considered and I was owning up to it. I try not to be too thin skinned...
Anyway I think I'd be better off building one. It will cost me more but I can spread out the cost over several months and I can get the A2 Hbar that I really wanted anyway.
Tony
imashooter
New member
In the past (4-5-6 years ago), ATI "partnered" w/ Head Down Products (Dallas, Georgia) to crank out a couple of AR models. Don't believe that included the polymer ones.
Ignition Override
New member
A buddy on the next street (retired US Army Lt. Col.) didn't do any reading before he bought his ATI. He is only into 1700s-1800s muskets: about eighty of them.
Brand-new from the gun store it malfunctioned about once every three rounds as I watched.
All ammo was new retail US brass .223.
It has been over half a year since we tried to use it, but it seemed that the problem was with extraction or ejection. Can't remember which, but I was baffled.
I'm glad that other people solved their ATI problems (if so) but I wouldn't gamble my money on an ATI "AR clone", having no skills to evaluate and diagnose problems.
The buddy knew it was a gamble on the lowest-cost version, didn't mind the results, and he never returned it during the warranty.
On a side note, my former S&W M&P Sport II, bought brand-new, functioned perfectly, all 400 or so rounds. AR rifles never "grew on me", but that brand-new S&W, bought in '15 or so was a perfect operation and highly recommend them, for what it's worth.
Brand-new from the gun store it malfunctioned about once every three rounds as I watched.
All ammo was new retail US brass .223.It has been over half a year since we tried to use it, but it seemed that the problem was with extraction or ejection. Can't remember which, but I was baffled.
I'm glad that other people solved their ATI problems (if so) but I wouldn't gamble my money on an ATI "AR clone", having no skills to evaluate and diagnose problems.
The buddy knew it was a gamble on the lowest-cost version, didn't mind the results, and he never returned it during the warranty.
On a side note, my former
S&W M&P Sport II, bought brand-new, functioned perfectly, all 400 or so rounds. AR rifles never "grew on me", but that brand-new S&W, bought in '15 or so was a perfect operation and highly recommend them, for what it's worth.
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I traded into a DPMS Oracle AR last year, never been a big fan of DPMS but I was helping out a buddy. The Oracle is the entry-level 'optics ready' carbine, so it's about as stripped as can be and still function. Oddly enough, the thing really runs... I took it out to NV at Christmas last year and promptly ran about 1000rds through it in pretty short order... not one hiccup. I saw at the last gunshow they were going for about $370 NIB. Although I can see where building one has it's merits (I've built about 4, so I know) there is nothing wrong with buying a complete rifle and running it as-is. That is generally my suggestion to people new to the AR platform... buy something cheap you can shoot, figure out what you like... and, more importantly, what you DON'T like... and then you can upgrade or build, and in the meantime still have a shooter.
PSA's "reputation" is somewhat mixed, but most of the first-hand complaints seem to be about shipping time or occasional lapses in quality control where PSA has been good about providing replacement components or exchanges.
The serious die-hard "I'll never buy a PSA" folks seem to generally be people who never did buy any PSA product but who "know a guy" or "heard about" some supposed problem.
Personally I have only one experience with PSA -- I recently bought one of their mid-price AR pistol kits on sale. The kit consisted of a fully assembled upper plus a full LPK with SBA3 brace, needing only the lower receiver and whatever sight I chose. I combined it with an Anderson lower (just under $25 at my LGS). Only change I made was I replaced the plain end cap in the LPK with a sling adapter end cap so I can use a single point sling.
Bottom line, I've got an AR pistol configured exactly as I wanted it, for $430 when a similarly configured AR pistol from any of the 'name brand' makers runs over $1000 and even the cheap ones from online discount shops run around $600 before shipping, tax, and transfer fees.
I could have assembled a basic AR rifle or pistol for a hundred bucks less easily enough using a lower priced PSA kit but I stepped up to a slightly higher priced kit to get the configuration I wanted.
By the way, Anderson produces some very nice AR rifles as well as uppers and lowers, at budget prices.
Geezerbiker
New member
Thanx for all the opinions. I'm going to buy a lower receiver and take my time putting the rifle together. One thing for sure is I don't want a collapsible stock. I think they're only popular now because they were once banned...
Tony
Tony
There are a number of reasons why adjustable stocks are popular (one of which actually makes sense)...
As you suggest, the idea that it was once banned so it must be good does apply to some people.
Another similar reason is that "it's what the Army uses" so it must be good... There is a little truth to this (more about that as we go on). And of course the fact that the Army uses it makes it "tactical" looking (or tactikool as we sometimes sneer)
Another reason is simply that most manufacturers put adjustable stocks on their ARs, one reason for this is because there are a lot of 'milspec' stocks available cheaply - another reason is simply that most people expect to see an adjustable stock on an AR (this is somewhat circular in that people expect to see an adjustable stock because manufacturers build ARs that way, while manufacturers build them that way because people expect it).
Another reason people expect an adjustable stock is because all the pictures they see of modern AR's in use by the military are of M4 carbines which have the adjustable stock.
Finally we get to the one valid reason for an adjustable stock....
Note that all through this I have referred to it as an "adjustable" stock, not a "collapsible" stock as you called it. The one valid reason to choose the adjustable stock is because it is adjustable. The standard adjustable stock lets you choose the length of pull which may or may not be a concern depending on how well the fixed stock fits you (it also lets you reduce the overall length of the rifle for storage if that is a concern)
Basically you have five choices for a stock on an AR:
1) The standard fixed stock used by the military on the M16
2) An adjustable stock like that used by the military on the M4 or one closely copied from it. (This is what will come on most available basic AR rifles)
3) One of several adjustable stocks that are cosmetically different from the military M4 adjustable stock but functionally the same. (BCM, CMMG, Magpul, etc)
4) A high-end "fully adjustable" stock that lets you adjust the length of pull, the comb height, the drop at heal, etc.
5) A custom made stock
If the standard fixed stock is a good fit for you, there is no need for any adjustments.
I dislike collapsing stocks. I do have some because they were cost effective at the time and I can work with them. I’ve replaced a couple with plain ol A2 style stocks and tubes now.
PSA will generally be a good deal for the money. I do have a few complaints about them that is not firearm related. Seems that they’ve corrected the issue, so I don’t say what it was anymore.
PSA will generally be a good deal for the money. I do have a few complaints about them that is not firearm related. Seems that they’ve corrected the issue, so I don’t say what it was anymore.
44caliberkid
New member
I got a really cheap parts kit from Sarco a couple Christmas's ago. Everything except the lower. I'm guessing all Chinese parts. The upper was assembled, but the front sight was crooked and you couldn't get the handguards to stay on. The lower parts were out of spec and the springs weren't tempered properly, would bend and stay bent. I ended up tossing most of the lower parts kit and kept the upper receiver and barrel to maybe rebuild someday.
armoredman
New member
ARs are VERY cheap - Bear Creek Arsenal was blowing out some complete AR models for $299.99 recently.