Went to two stores lately that both stock LMT products. Examined some lowers, and uppers. I’ve never seen such crap AR products, and this coming from someone who has always thought of LMT as being pretty good quality. Seems like in the last year and a half they have a taken a major nose dive in QC.
Just today I looked at 5 lowers trying to find a good one. 3 of them had take down pin holes with raw metal in them that looked like someone took a file to. Very rough machining. I saw pieces of the LPK that looked like junky parts with crappy finishes. I guess they are now using trigger pins that have a Geissele style divot on one side, and flat on the other. No problem with that but the pin holes in the lower were not machined smoothly. Out of round, didn’t look like the bit made it all the way through, etc
Only about half the staking points actually had a stake in them, and half the stakings were crap…one I remember was so light it didn’t even push any metal out. Another looked like a 5 year old did it.
I have 2 LMT lowers Ive purchased previously, and they are of much higher quality. I guess I get to write LMT off the list now…
Had to return two complete LMT MRP back lat year due to the major color variation and roughness between the lower and upper. The third unit arrived as expected.
Well I guess I’m not the only one. My LMT lower rec. pivot pin holes are rough and unfinished. I’ve got to get some Birchwood Casey Aluminum Black metal finish and touch up the holes.
Last LMT lower I bought was in 2k8, had none of the issues I see in today’s lowers except for a little rough machining behind the trigger. Nothing that would effect function though. I don’t see anything that impacts function in the lowers I’ve handled lately, but it does seem like they’re slipping a little in the finish department. I’m guessing they had a bunch of lowers a little on the tight side after anodizing and honed them out rather than junking them. I wouldn’t call them junk just for that, they never were reported to have Noveske beauty and don’t command that price. But feel free to vote with your wallet, if enough people complain, they’ll get the point. If I ended up with one, a little aluminum black would shut me up as long as it functioned correctly.
I’ve completed 2 builds in the last 6 months for friends that used a lot of parts from LMT in one and a complete LMT upper in the other. I don’t think there’s anything inherently wrong with them but I just don’t see why they are considered so good on this and other sites. I sometimes wonder if their reputation is based on people reading how good they are, repeating it and on and on. I’ve had very few people who complete builds from the ground up tell me how good they are.
The straight pins suck, parking under the front site base is not a deal breaker to me, but why? Most of the bolt carriers I’ve seen are semi, again, why? I don’t think they suck but they are somewhere past DD, BCM, and Troy for components for my builds.
LMT has always had color issues, some getting “purple guns”, but that’s not a function issue.
Does anyone have two examples bought fairly close together where one is a quality build and the other showing signs of shoddiness? Just wondering if a time frame can be nailed down on when this changed.
I’m glad I got my LMT over 3 years ago, it’s fit, finish (not that those are what I buy for) and function (this one is) has been as good as any I’ve seen. I’ve noticed over the past 2 years that there is a lot of complaints building about LMT. IMO, this is sad to see, I like to see the “tier 1” group grow, not shrink. I hope LMT does not see the BM mode of operation as the model to strive for. If they see their sales shrink maybe they will re-think their short cuts.
I have a brand new lmt upper. Other then the lack of park under the fsb, it’s flawless. Let’s keep an eye on things… if it gets outta hand, let’s get in contact with them. This may be a fluke.
Y’all better be careful bashing LMT around here. I posted a similar thread the other day that got shut down. I dont really see the difference, but I agree with the consensus about LMT slipping. I recieved a new F/A BCG recently that was way out of line with what I’m used to from LMT. Anyway, I just wanted to throw my two cents in, and kinda bitch about getting my hand slapped the other day :rolleyes:
Generally from what I’ve seen the mods prefer that if you’re having or have had a quality issues with a manufacturer you take it up with the manufacturer first. Then if its not resolved to reasonable satisfaction you air your dirty laundry on here. That may be the reason for your thread getting locked.
Honestly, I’ve been happier with my LMT lower (which was purchased at the height of the Obamarama) than I have been with my Noveske lowers. The LMT lower did have some minor issues (a sticky bolt catch and some anodizing issues), but it fits better with more uppers and it just plain runs.
I also really like how smooth all the LMTs I’ve shot operate. By 500 rounds my LMT felt as slick as snot. I really can’t say the same for my factory Noveske. The only other ARs I have used that broke in that smooth were govt M4s with many thousands of rounds through them.
Manufacturers go up and down in quality all the time. This is nothing new. Taking your issues up with the manufacturer is great, but if the word doesn’t get out then less experienced users may buy on past quality and never know they got a substandard product until it fails. If a manufacturer doesn’t deliver a quality product the first time, then they deserve to get a negative review, period. After all, this is a product that peoples lives depend on.
Expecting your customers to perform QC for you is not a good business practice.
I agree with this. It’s great when you call a company and they work with you, but for the money spent on “quality” AR’s and for the importance of the work the tool may be doing, the types of things described here really shouldn’t slip by.
I for one, am pretty inexperienced with AR’s, but would buy LMT if the opportunity was right, and likely would not catch some of the things described here.
Of course, this is the first I have ever heard of anything like this with LMT… in all my years of lurking lol.
Because I also believe in being an educated consumer so as not to rely on brand rep only, I pay close attention to threads like this. Maybe it is a fluke, but I now have a better idea what to look for.
I bought my LMT Defender last May the fit and finish and, most importantly, the performance are excellent. Very happy with mine but mine is nearly 1 year old.
LMT was as good as Colt to me until the obamanation.
Then their service and quality took a dump.
I pruchased two new lowers that were clearly out of spec.
After trying to deal with them for several months I gave up and sold them at a big loss.
I do have one MRP upper that is perfect except for it being purple.
I bought an LMT lower on Inauguration day (1/20/09), which I believe was built in December 2008 (I have to check the inspection card that came with it). It seems to be just fine. The trigger is good, everything works as it should and my uppers fit on it well.
I just placed an order for another complete lower through a local group buy. I will take a very close look at it when it comes in before accepting it. I hope it’s as good as the one I have.
