I'm not a gunsmith but I've probably built about 40 ARs over the last 10 years or so between my own stuff, friends, family, plus stuff at work and I've been to a number of armorers courses for ARs through work.
With the glut of AR parts and prices as good as they are I've been buying some stuff to build up a bench-stock for some current and future builds. I picked up 8 lower parts kits from a vendor, I found this LPK had a number of good reviews at gun.deals so I felt it was safe to purchase them and delivery took less than a week.
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 but is still sticky and I'm not happy with it so I remove it
I halt the install of LPK number 1 and pull the mag catch out of another LPK, same problem in all three receivers. I pull out a PSA LPK, install is easy and it works perfectly in all three receivers, same thing for the mag catch from an existing rifle.
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 in pulling all 7 parts kits out and testing fitting what I can or measuring everything I can.....and even then I could miss a dimension. At this point I've already wasted enough time on troubleshooting.
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 replied that I just wanted a return of the 7 untouched kits without having to pay any restocking fee but they are refusing.
Am I being unreasonable or should that amount of individual fitting be expected at times?
With the glut of AR parts and prices as good as they are I've been buying some stuff to build up a bench-stock for some current and future builds. I picked up 8 lower parts kits from a vendor, I found this LPK had a number of good reviews at gun.deals so I felt it was safe to purchase them and delivery took less than a week.
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 but is still sticky and I'm not happy with it so I remove it
I halt the install of LPK number 1 and pull the mag catch out of another LPK, same problem in all three receivers. I pull out a PSA LPK, install is easy and it works perfectly in all three receivers, same thing for the mag catch from an existing rifle.
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 in pulling all 7 parts kits out and testing fitting what I can or measuring everything I can.....and even then I could miss a dimension. At this point I've already wasted enough time on troubleshooting.
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 replied that I just wanted a return of the 7 untouched kits without having to pay any restocking fee but they are refusing.
Am I being unreasonable or should that amount of individual fitting be expected at times?
That is if you are comfortable/confident/put your life on the line with the rest of the parts??? Better kits are on sale too. Good luck. Oh, if not an IP who is the vendor/manufacturer ....
