With the glut of AR parts these days I've been purchasing some parts at good prices for some current and future builds. I picked up 8 "budget" lower parts kits from a vendor. I'm not a master smith but have been through a number of armorer courses and have probably built up maybe 35 or 40 ARs.
I start the install of the first LPK and the magazine catch is out of spec, after install it won't slide in and out of the receiver (an Aero), it binds. I try it in a second receiver (an Aero) and it has the same problem, I try it in a third receiver (an Anderson) and it has the same problem. I polish the phosphate finish off, do some fitting, and with some lube it works in the first Aero receiver but is still sticky and I'm not happy with it.
I halt the install of LPK number 1 and I pull the mag catch out of another LPK and it has the same problem, out of spec in all three receivers I try it in.
I pull out a PSA LPK, install is a breeze and it works perfectly in all three receivers I try it in. I take the mag catch from an existing rifle and it installs and works perfectly in all three receivers.
I've asked the vendor I purchased the 8 LPKs from for an RMA so I can return 7 of the kits omitting the 1 I started installing where I worked on fitting the mag catch. They responded with an offer to replace all 8 mag catches and asked me to ship them some but not all of the existing mag catches.
I wasn't planning on installing all these LPKs now and at this point I don't trust their QC enough to ensure something else isn't out of spec and don't want to try an install a year from now and find out then that something is out of spec.......nor am I interested pulling all 7 parts kits out and measuring everything.....and even then I could miss a dimension.
Am I being unreasonable or should that amount of individual fitting be expected at times? I've bought high end LPKs and cheap LPKs in the past and never had any real trouble or fitting issues.
I start the install of the first LPK and the magazine catch is out of spec, after install it won't slide in and out of the receiver (an Aero), it binds. I try it in a second receiver (an Aero) and it has the same problem, I try it in a third receiver (an Anderson) and it has the same problem. I polish the phosphate finish off, do some fitting, and with some lube it works in the first Aero receiver but is still sticky and I'm not happy with it.
I halt the install of LPK number 1 and I pull the mag catch out of another LPK and it has the same problem, out of spec in all three receivers I try it in.
I pull out a PSA LPK, install is a breeze and it works perfectly in all three receivers I try it in. I take the mag catch from an existing rifle and it installs and works perfectly in all three receivers.
I've asked the vendor I purchased the 8 LPKs from for an RMA so I can return 7 of the kits omitting the 1 I started installing where I worked on fitting the mag catch. They responded with an offer to replace all 8 mag catches and asked me to ship them some but not all of the existing mag catches.
I wasn't planning on installing all these LPKs now and at this point I don't trust their QC enough to ensure something else isn't out of spec and don't want to try an install a year from now and find out then that something is out of spec.......nor am I interested pulling all 7 parts kits out and measuring everything.....and even then I could miss a dimension.
Am I being unreasonable or should that amount of individual fitting be expected at times? I've bought high end LPKs and cheap LPKs in the past and never had any real trouble or fitting issues.