So I was getting ready to get some work done on my AR when I came to the realization I have friends that work in the unit armory. I asked them if they could do some work on my rifle and they said they would do it. The question is would you trust the Marine armorer with your upper reciever or would you take it to a local gushop?
You can trust a Marine with your life, but never your gear, your money or your wife.
All kidding aside, if they are locked on AR-15 armorers and you trust them with the keys to your house, why not?
No.
I would do it myself.
Does said friend hold the MOS of 2111? If so, how long? What work are you considering?
Said Marine is a Armorer by trade and has been here for about 2 years at the School of Infantry dealing with a lot of M16/M4 and M27. Also the work is FF rail removal/installation and barrel nut removal/installation.
A caveman could do said work with right tools
It would depend on what parts. If your unit armorer is just filling a slot and doing a job, I would say no. If they are passionate about their job and have an interest in firearms, yes.
I’ve seen military armorers that were simply filling a slot because they didn’t want to do other work, and I’ve seen some that could fabricate parts when needed and design components.
I dont think that he is that good but several others have had their rifles worked on or assembled by these guys and had no issues.
Well, seeing as that alot of military personell see their rifles as tools, and nothing else, as compared to a gunsmith who might be more passionate in his work. Id say, study his work first
Find out if he’s an avid gun guy - assuming time is not of the essence…
Like any other professional he will have a level of competence, but only those that have been serviced by him could attest to his ability. That said the work you want done is rather basic so I would give him the benefit of the doubt for now.
Would not let him touch it
Competently, professionally, returning a functional product? Too many believe these guns are legos. Their work shows it.
On the above, correct me if I’m wrong, but isn’t “armorer” often an assigned extra duty or detail, and not a specific, trained skill set? I know of mil “armorers” in a different branch of service I would not allow to clean my gun, much less perform any measure of maintenance or assembly.
Not so much in the Marine Corps, a Small Arms Weapons Repairman/armorer is a specific MOS (2111) and they can do all the basic swaps of part on current weapon system with the exception of precision weapons. Than you have Precision Weapons Repairman/Armor (MOS 2112) who are full on gunsmiths.
In the Marine Corps the people who you are referring to are Armory Custodians and they are not called armorers.
Exactly.
Do it yourself bro, you need a better understanding of how your rifle works.
This same question could be targeted at a civilian gunsmith as well. Just cause they have the certs doesn’t mean they have good work. This goes for any trade or skill, military or otherwise. Either look at his work, if there is any aside from issued weapons, or lock him into a conversation regarding the extent of his knowledge/passion for the job and use your best judgement.
If it were me I’d get the tools required, do the research, and do the work myself. Learn your weapon, become more proficient.
You just answered your question. If I had the slightest doubt or negative opinion of his work I wouldn’t be using him.
I taught my armorer many things…things he should have known.
If you haven’t seen Ferris Bueller’s Day Off, get it and fast forward to the scene where they give the keys to the Ferrari to a garage attendant…
…who promptly tear out of the garage with it and go all Dukes of Hazzard on the streets of Chicago.
Putting aside whether or not he’s capable, that’s the baseline for leaving personal weapons with a unit armorer across the Corps; it’s certainly not the same everywhere, just very common. Plus, you’re not a customer, and you have virtually no means of redress if your gun ends up upgefuched.
If your local conditions are different than that…i.e., he’s done right by others whom you can directly verify via independent references (people that don’t have a personal/professional stake in keeping the armorer happy with them)…, then have at it. I’ve known both those that I trust implicitly, and those that I wouldn’t trust with my @#$% toothbrush, much less a personally-owned gun.
2111 no.
2112 yes