Honest opinion for Olympic Arms

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[ARCHIVED THREAD] - Honest opinion for Olympic Arms

Posted: 10/21/2007 4:49:58 PM EDT

I have a chance to purchase an A-1 Olym Arms rifle. Just wondered the credit and reliability they have.

Posted: 10/21/2007 4:51:45 PM EDT

[#1]

They seem to have more problems than average. Give 'em credit for making a lot of stuff no one else does, but I would avoid their 223 ARs.

Posted: 10/21/2007 4:53:24 PM EDT

[#2]

Really what type of problems? So for is 600 for a brand new A-1 in the box to much?

Posted: 10/21/2007 4:55:29 PM EDT

[#3]

broken bolts, out of spec lowers, general quality control stuff. There are some good ones out there obviously, but they seem more liikely to have issues.

With that name aren't you planning on using it for hunting? Why would you want a fixed carry handle?

Posted: 10/21/2007 5:06:13 PM EDT

[#4]

BRD man! I'm in the process of building a pistol and I've got three ARs as it is. I just want an original looking AR to plink around with.

Posted: 10/21/2007 5:11:35 PM EDT

[#5]

BESIDES MY 22-250 IS MY COYOTE RIFLE.

Posted: 10/21/2007 5:19:27 PM EDT

[#6]

If you just want one to fart around with it might be okay. Do you know the guy selling it? Why not just build one from a kit or just flat out build one?

Really with the current cost of ammo if I was looking for a shits and giggles gun I'd get a 5.45mm ak to use the cheap ammo available.

Posted: 10/21/2007 5:23:34 PM EDT

[#7]

I MAY BUILD ONE. I'VE BUILT MY LAST 2 I JUST FIGURED $600 WASNT THAT BAD AND I COULD BUY IT TOMORROW AND NOT HAVE TO WAIT FOR PARTS. I DONT WANT ANYTHING TO DO WITH AN AK AT ALL. DONT HAVE ANY TASTE FOR THEM. THE GUY SELLING IT IS PRETTY HONEST I'VE BOUGHT AND XD AND S&W 460 XR FROM HIM. IT IS A GUNSHOP

Posted: 10/21/2007 5:24:48 PM EDT

[#8]

My experience with them has been much the same as Aimless... Lot of people love their Olympics, but we've also heard and seen lots of headaches. I think you could get a Stag lower and upper for close to the same amount. You'd have a gun less likely to give you a headache, in a more modular configuration.

Posted: 10/21/2007 5:24:56 PM EDT

[#9]

Two of my friends have had theirs since the early 90s. Neither of them have problems.

I am the third owner of my 9mm upper, goes bang every time.

I had more problems with my newly issued FN M16A2(contiually breaking FCG springs) and my newly issued FN M249(jams, FTF) when I was deployed overseas!

Posted: 10/21/2007 5:26:14 PM EDT

[#10]

My first AR was a Olympic,,20yrs ago,,it out shot a friends Colt,,ran great. wish I never traded it away.
that being said it WAS 20yrs ago...never had luck with their customer service,nor Colts {AR},or HK's either. The receiver should always be decent if you want to change the upper.

Posted: 10/21/2007 5:27:22 PM EDT

[#11]

I KNOW A GUY WITH ONE WHO HAS NO PROBLEMS. BUT WHEN YOU MENTION OLYMPIC TO SOME PEOPLE THEY KINDA KRINGE OVER OR LOOK AT YOU LIKE YOU STUPID

Posted: 10/21/2007 5:34:00 PM EDT

[#12]

Id try to get it for 550, if you have built the last two, then you should know what to look for, check it out and ask him if you can dissassemble it and examine it...

Lots of folks on here HATE Olympic, I haven't used ANY of their stuff myself, so I have no personal opinions either way.

A buddy of mine bought an Olympic to raffle off through his business. I was able to check it out and the fit and finish weren't any worse than most other bargain AR's I've seen.

I didn't try to swap out any parts on it, so I can't tell you if things were in-spec or not, I can just tell you that everything that was on the rifle worked with everything else on the rifle.

Posted: 10/21/2007 5:47:57 PM EDT

[#13]

I'VE LOOKED IT OVER AND IT DOESNT LOOK LIKE THERE IS ANY PROBLEM. IT ACTUALLY LOOKS TO BE IN SPEC BUY YOU NEVER KNOW. I JUST DONT WANT JUNK AND I GOTTEN A HINT THROUGH OTHER FORUMS OLYM ISNT THAT GREAT. BESIDES WHEN I BUILD THE RIFLES I TEND TO GET ALITTLE OUT OF HAND AND A SIMPLE BUILD TURNS INTO ALOT OF $$$$$$$$$$

Posted: 10/21/2007 6:12:40 PM EDT

[#14]

For what you want, I'd get a del-ton rifle kit for $465 plus $45 for the chromed barrel - $510 plus your pick of lowers (I used a Stag and it fit perfect). So, look at $610 plus the transfer fee and shipping. $650 for a new, high quality rifle - your choice of configuration.

Or, go with one of the other quality outfits recommended on this board - but do that instead of going Olympic IMHO.

Posted: 10/21/2007 6:13:53 PM EDT

[#15]

Quoted:
I'VE LOOKED IT OVER AND IT DOESNT LOOK LIKE THERE IS ANY PROBLEM. IT ACTUALLY LOOKS TO BE IN SPEC BUY YOU NEVER KNOW. I JUST DONT WANT JUNK AND I GOTTEN A HINT THROUGH OTHER FORUMS OLYM ISNT THAT GREAT. BESIDES WHEN I BUILD THE RIFLES I TEND TO GET ALITTLE OUT OF HAND AND A SIMPLE BUILD TURNS INTO ALOT OF $$$$$$$$$$

WHY ARE YOU SHOUTING AT US?!!!!!!!!!!!!?

Olympic sux. They shouldn't even be making ARs.

I wouldn't buy a hammer made from those guys based on their guns I've seen and the reports I've heard from other shooters.

Posted: 10/21/2007 6:16:49 PM EDT

[#16]

NOBODY IS SHOUTING AT ANYBODY! I AM ASKING SO I DONT BUY SOME JUNK. I MAY LOOK INTO THE KIT MENTIONED ABOVE. LOL

Posted: 10/21/2007 6:18:42 PM EDT

[#17]

Quoted:
NOBODY IS SHOUTING AT ANYBODY! I AM ASKING SO I DONT BUY SOME JUNK. I MAY LOOK INTO THE KIT MENTIONED ABOVE. LOL

Capslock is cruise control for cool... but you still have to steer.

Posted: 10/21/2007 6:20:41 PM EDT

[#18]

SO NO CAPSLOCKS IS WHAT YOUR SAYING. k

Posted: 10/21/2007 6:21:17 PM EDT

[#19]

Quoted:

Quoted:

I USED TO SELL OLYMPICS.

I also stock Colts, BM, RRA, and AR.
Wanna know what the #1 most repaired AR15 in my shop is? OLYMPIC.
I don't sell them anymore.
Wanna know what the most repaired AR15 in my store is now? Still the OLYMPIC.
Wanna know what I've had to send Olys back for? You name it.
Wanna know how hard it is to get repair parts/replacement parts/financial reimbursement for shipping NEW guns back to OLY for warranty work as a gun dealer? IMPOSSIBLE!!!!!!

Several distributors have even stopped carrying Olympic rifles because of the high reject rate once they get to the dealers.

They might, sometimes, take care of the individual owner, but as a dealer, I believe that they have a black list, and if you're on it, you're screwed.

I've actually had OLY on the phone with a customer in my shop, and they have actually told the guy that there was nothing wrong, and if he shipped it back, they would not fix it. The rifle had a broken bolt. Sheared off 2 lugs, broke at the cam pin hole, and damaged the bolt carrier.

I fixed it, with BM parts that were available to me at the time. I sent the bill to OLY, never got a response. Sold the debt off to a collection agency, along with all the other repairs that I had to do on OLY guns. Now, if an OLY comes in for repair, I advise the individual that it will cost them an open ended amount and get them to sign the estimate before I'll even touch it.

SHOT show 2002 I took them a box of the parts that I had replaced from their guns that I could not get reimbursement for.

I'll guarntee I've owned/handled/shot more OLYs since 1999 than you ever will, unless you work at Oly or a gun store.

There is, at best 15% profit in retail guns. Olys eat up my 15% on repair parts/shipping/gunsmith time almost as soon as they get unpacked. No more!

Now, about their issues, still "Pretty sure they have been resolved by now" ?????

Or is my post worthless, too?

Tom

And….

Quoted:
...With my Oly lower, that jerk blamed the magazines even though my cast Oly lower was so out of spec that the back of an inserted magazine hits the bolt and keeps the bolt from closing. This was after trying about 30 different magazines at a gun show. None of them worked. Tom called me lazy since I was unwilling to modify all of the magazines I own rather than asking for an RMA #. I modified a couple of magazines anyway, but while shooting they'd still work their way upward to block the bolt. I've had that piece of junk for over five years, and I have never gotten anywhere towards getting them to honor their warranty. They just don't give a damn.z

and..

Quoted:

WEeused to be a Oly dealer used to be the operative word

We had to send probably 25% of the cast plinkers we sold back for repair and probably 10% of the regular Olys

had about the same luck with DPMS

probably sold about 50 plinkers

The failure rate of the other better ( A ,B ,C ,RRA) brands is probably about 1% in my experence

and this guy

..

Quoted:
My first AR was a CAR15 Oly kit. The bolt carrier was tight in the upper until I honed the upper. I figured it was a kit so I should not be upset about some fitting.

And..

Quoted:
I bought an Oly Arms 15 years ago and after using it on 5 different occasions the bolt catch broke. The part looked like broken pot metal. Any way, Mine was bought 15 years ago at a gun show, perhaps the newer modles are of better quality forged uppers and lowers, where mine is clearly cast. My next one might be a stag, but not sure.

My Oly arms looks great and shoots very well, but I often wonder what is the next part that is going to bust.

And my good man, Hellhound…

Quoted:
I bought a NEW FACTORY 16" Oly CAR back in 1993-1994, with a non-chrome barrel---I bought their marketing BS....

The barrel was shit.

Would jam (feeding and extraction) about 5 rounds into a mag and then jam about every 2.

Went through new springs for the extractor, the little o ring thingie, chamber brushing, new mags (USGI), everything imaginable....

I sold the barrel to someone who was going to use it for a .22 conversion, great idea for them.

I bought a chrome-lined RRA middie barrel, installed it on my Oly and have had 0 problems.

The other components of the gun are just fine, no problems there.

Spend a little more money and get a better barrel, it will save you a lot of aggravation.

Please don't make the same mistake I made.

another satisfied customer...

Quoted:
I loved them so much I made an active effort to get rid of mine.

Like a relationship with a crazy woman, I could tolerate the flaws at first. Mostly because I got the results I was looking for, then the flaws became un-freaking-bearable.

I found out I could do a lot better... Oly got kicked to the curb.

and this...

Quoted:
I used to live in Olympia WA...and after calling Oly Arms, drove out to check out their facility.

When I got there, a few things became rather clear.

1) Their "factory" looked like the set of Sanford & Son. (Absolutely NOT kidding)

2) Despite being told "Sure, come on down!" on the phone, when I got there, I was dealt with like I was Diane Feinstein by EVERYONE. One guy was pleasant and answered my questions...so not a total disaster, but the rest were pricks in general.

3) There was nothing and I mean NOTHING about their "facility" that looked suitable for manufacturing dog toys, let alone firearms.

If you never get a 2nd chance to make 1st impressions, Oly lost me COMPLETELY with that one.

and this sad tale...

Quoted:
I bought a new plinker back in '04 since it was cheap and new. I also bought some Black Hills ammo and shot the first box of 20 fine the second box didn't go as fine. On my 32nd round I heard a loud "clank" inside of the plinker and so I pulled the mag, emptied the chamber, well, I tried to empty the chamber but couldn't. I tried to engage the safety and couldn't. I tried to break the rifle apart and couldn't. I eventually had to take off the stock and buffer tube. When I took the tube off, I found that the buffer and spring were inside the upper receiver. I took them out then was able to open the gun to see what was going on. The lower receiver broke right in front of the buffer retaining pin, throwing the retaining pin into the trigger grouping.

I called Olympic and wanted to see what could be done and they say I would have to pay for shipping both ways and the armorers hourly rate was $55/hr. I told them that I wasn't happy and offered some stickers for my inconvenience. I have since parted the gun and washed my hands of the worst experience I've ever had with a firearm. I've then since owned RRA, Bushmaster, Armalite, DPMS, even Colt and would go back to them again and again. Learn from our COSTLY mistakes and be happier!

we're on a roll here:

Quoted:
I sent a lower in to them for repair. Pin holes so mis aligned it wasnt even funny. Took them 3 MONTHS to tell me there was nothing wrong with it . But they replaced it anyway.

Different serial #.. Same exact problem. My dog...Can build a better gun.

pictures are worth 1000 words...

Quoted:
img329.imageshack.us/img329/3096/olyrcvryi3.jpg

img329.imageshack.us/img329/843/olybarldi7.jpg

Tales of woe...

Quoted:
I had one KABOOM on me with less then 300 rounds through it.
And then Oly lied about what caused the problem.
I will never own another one again.
Phessor

More...

Quoted:
OlY has been around for a long time, I used their receivers in the 80's to build machine guns. I can't tell you the amount of brand new rejected parts that were returned to OLY for replacement.
They are still in business!!!
I think there is a saying, kinda like. There's a fool born every minute of the day.
So if you are one.

More...

Quoted:
I've shopped at Prairie Arms. The owner recommended an Oly saying they " make best AR-15 on the market". Haven't been back, and I would not call them a reliable source of information. Pick up an Oly he had on the shelf and hand cycled it. Felt like the inner workings were lined with sand paper (not typical pre-break in either). Needless to say, I didn't buy it.

Jesus...

Quoted:
I owned one and never again a total pos and even worst service. These guys are scum in my opinion and will never get another dollar from me.
Pat

More...

Quoted:
Yes, they are that bad. How they stay in business is beyond comprehension. I have one. The only part left original OLY is the lower and even the parts kit has been changed out to a RRA match kit. Therefore the only part left original OLY is the stripped lower, which is the part that matters the least.

OLY = Caveat Emptor.

AR15fan shares his wisdom...

Quoted:
Ive broke an oly forward assist, several bolt catches, a mag catch, wore out hammer springs, disconnector springs, extractor spring, dimpled firing pins, handguard that fitr with gaps, receiver end plates had the finish flake off and rust, frozen bolt catch detents, frozen safety detents.

I wont buy anotrher Oly product, ever. For budget parts i go with DPMS, Bushmaster & CMT. If i need better quality then that i buy Colt from Brownells or SAW.

MauserMark checks in...

Quoted:
I saw at a shoot here a bolt seperate. Don't remember which arfcom member's it was, but it seperated in use, and it was an Oly bolt.

More...

Quoted:
Yes, I do have the unfortunate experience of having owned some Oly products and did try to assemble a couple of their lowers for a friend once.

I learned the lesson.

The horror…

Quoted:
My Buddy bought one over my protest. On it's second outing with Winchester White box, the barrel seperated from the receiver.

And…

Quoted:
Blech, the one I saw broke it's bolt the first day it was fired.
You won't find a reputable gunsmith who works on ARs or an experienced carbine instructor who would recommend an Oly.

Quoted:
Had (past tense) an Oly stripped cast lower that I was going to use for my first build. Had to take a file to the magazine well before it would accept USGI magazines. As in they had to be crammed and beaten into a stripped lower, not that they just wouldn't drop free. Offloaded that thing PDQ. Tried again with an A1 upper. Bushmaster and Colt bolt carriers bound up in the receiver. Could see the bright shiny marks in the upper where the carriers were rubbing. Also the takedown/pivot pin holes were mis-aligned (badly). That was the last time I ever even considered Oly as a source for AR15 parts of any kind. I stay far away now.

Posted: 10/21/2007 6:27:18 PM EDT

[#20]

jtdistributing.net/store/more_k_c16k.html

Posted: 10/21/2007 6:28:34 PM EDT

[#21]

Quoted:
jtdistributing.net/store/more_k_c16k.html

M16A1 parts kits are also avaiable at low prices.
Probably the best value on the market, IMO.

Posted: 10/21/2007 6:29:02 PM EDT

[#22]

I read the whole thing and my decision has been made. I WILL NOT BUY AN OLMPIC ARMS FIREARM EVER. THANKS

Posted: 10/21/2007 6:30:02 PM EDT

[#23]

THANKS AIMLESS THAT IS MORE LIKE IT.

Posted: 10/21/2007 6:45:15 PM EDT

[#24]

please lose the CAPS, it deducts intelligence points from your posts.

dissing olympic however earns you points so i guess you're even.

thanks.

ap

Posted: 10/21/2007 6:47:03 PM EDT

[#25]

sweet

Posted: 10/21/2007 7:29:39 PM EDT

[#26]

In the Cyber world using all caps is equates to shouting. Try to refrain from using it.

Posted: 10/21/2007 7:46:01 PM EDT

[#27]

Gotcha I'm new to this stuff.

Posted: 10/21/2007 8:22:25 PM EDT

[#28]

My olympic experience:

I bought an Oly plinker right after the ban ended. I was in College and didnt have much cash, and the oly fit my budget.

Mine has the forged lower reciever, the first oly plinkers had cast lowers and I've heard lots of complaints about them. Mine has run great, the only failures i've had have been magazine or ammunition related.

On the other hand, the finish on the upper is different from the lower, its not hard coat anodized like the lower is and the black flakes off with hard use.

Is it a big problem, no, but occasionally I'm tempted to buy a new flat top upper for it, just so it will look better.

My other Oly is one of the 16" heavy barrel models. I got it used from a friend. This time the finish was much more uniform and higher quality for the upper and lower. Again it feeds ammo fine with quality magazines. The only problem it has is the dust cover pops open easily, and just doesnt like to stay closed.

If you have already built a couple AR's then put a good kit together, youll probably end up with a nicer weapon for the same price. On the other hand I've been pretty happy with mine and dont plan on replacing them as they both shoot fine and work for what I need.

Posted: 10/21/2007 8:27:17 PM EDT

[#29]

I am buying a kit from J and T that aimflash showed me and will buy a Noveske lower. Thanks

Posted: 10/21/2007 9:32:32 PM EDT

[#30]

My Oly is fine. 22 years old, no problems.

Posted: 10/24/2007 6:45:25 PM EDT

[#31]

Anyone else had the upper break like in the pics. What about a stripped Olym lower, are they anygood. I didnt realize I had one but found it in my spare parts locker. If not I will prob post on EE

Posted: 10/24/2007 6:47:18 PM EDT

[#32]

Quoted:
Anyone else had the upper break like in the pics. What about a stripped Olym lower, are they anygood. I didnt realize I had one but found it in my spare parts locker. If not I will prob post on EE

Check the serial number.
If it is pre-1994 sell it to someone in a ban state (like NY) for the replacement cost of a good lower, like Stag.

Posted: 10/24/2007 7:26:53 PM EDT

[#33]

Ive had my Oly K3B for over 2 years and well over 2000 rounds fired in it with not a single malfunction to date. It runs great, accurate enough for what i use it for, and pretty damn cheap. I say buy it and spend the money you saved on more mags and ammo.

[ARCHIVED THREAD] - Honest opinion for Olympic Arms

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