I saw this a while back and forgot about it. What is the S.A.W. reliabilty package out of curiosity?
From there web site:
RELIABILITY PACKAGE - Colt AR-15/M16/M4 $150
This small group of proprietary modifications and upgraded parts was designed to ensure flawless operation under adverse conditions and to allow the system to perform at its optimum.
The Package includes:
* 4 to 6 barrel modifications (depending on barrel type)
* 3 gas system modifications
* 2 bolt group modifications
* Buffer assembly and other lower receiver parts
The M16 is one of the most reliable designs ever produced and the Colt Factory builds an extremely high quality product; however, even the best can often be better.
A reliability package on an AR-15? Come on, we’re not talking about a super tight 1911 or something. Buy a high quality AR and it will run. It doesn’t need modifications and gunsmithing to get to that state.
Buy a spare BCM BCG for $150, that sounds more like an AR reliability package to me.
Exactly, and I’ll not flippantly discount anything he says - or does. I believe ALL systems can be improved - including the AR-15. I notice that his modifications are PROPRIETARY but we know the weak link in the design is EXTRACTION or what the end user will observe is intermittent extraction. There are many ways to address this problem and I believe many have been discussed and are known. I’m dead certain that ejector spring, extractor assembly, buffer assembly and recoil spring tension is where he “does his magic”. What might he do to the extractor geometry is not known but just like with pistols it is a contributor. I also suspect that he checks/verifies chamber dimensions and check the bolt face for being true.
I’d love to sit and discuss this with him in private.
I own LMT so I doubt that Ken would touch it. Nore do I have any intentions of sending it any where for reliability work. It works just fine thank you:cool:
I was merely out of curiosity wanted to know what was the S.A.W. reliability work.
I am sure that the bolt group modifications are upgraded extractor spring.
The buffer assemble I am guessing is an H-2 buffer swap.
The 3 gas system modifications I have no clue??
The 4 to 6 barrel modifications (depending on barrel type] I have no clue what that would be either.
PROPRIETARY < That is what is probably going to kill my attempt at finding out exactly what it is he does :rolleyes: I like the way Dan Burwell ideas on the matter he doesn’t mind showing you or explaining what he does he tells you you pay for his workmanship/skill.
No, he has made his living by pressing the concept of Colt above all other manufacturers. He sell more Colt parts than most other companies put together, and maintains a stock pile of parts larger than Colt (this info is a few years old).
After going through his Colt armorer courses several times, it was evident that he was not happy with Colt for a few different reasons. He made it very clear in his classes that everything was his, the materials, the equipment, and the knowledge to produce the Colt armorer course, and pointed out several times that he was unhappy with the factory.
Ken also gives the impression when he taught the course that rebarreling the AR15 is a difficult process and one that armorers will most likely never be able to do on their own. He pushes that any barrel changes should be sent to his shop, and was not willing to discuss barrel changing in any detail in the classes I was in. Other Colt instructors were much more willing to go over the info, and walked the class through the basics, though it was never done as a hands on activity for each of the students.
Ken is a unique person, abrasive to some, loved by others, and very knowledgeable. I don’t doubt that some of his upgrades are items he has in stock, but I would also guess that his attention to detail is in overdrive and bordering on OCD when he does his reliability package.
Love Ken or hate him, he has encyclopedic knowledge and rare expertise in the system. Ken is a straight talking, no BS kind of guy. If you’re feelings are easily hurt, you should not call him. If you need your Colt fixed, need parts, or need to make some obscure configuration work, he’s your guy.
Ken has and does take in other brands for work. Depends on what it is and who you are. It helps if both are top end.
IIRC part of the issue had to do with the lack of support from Colt for the armorers program. I am getting ready to do my recert starting tomorrow and it is being run by Colt. I will report back on it and compare it to the other 3 times that I have been through it.
Also, I recall a conversation that Ken and I had where he was a little unhappy with some of the personnel being put in charge at Colt and I believe that had alot to do with it as well.
Ken’s website still indicates that they are a factory direct source for colt parts. Also, talking with Ken several weeks ago, he still is a Colt Dealer. He just no longer deals with the training side of things.
Ken stopped teaching Colt Armorer courses, but thats not the same as him no longer being a Colt dealer. I’m not sure where that info has come from, but is not correct as far as I know.