M14 Clone-Fulton Armory vs LRB Arms

gtanba

Hi again,
I was so happy and grateful with the help I received on my last question I thought I would ask one more. I have most of the parts for an M14 clone, all USGI parts too. I'm planning on sending them to either Fulton Armory or LRB Arms to be assembled into a complete rifle. I had an M1A but it was junk so I got rid of it. Lesson learned, you get what you pay for. I want to send it to be assembled by a master instead of on an assembly line. I searched the web and while I found nothing bad, except maybe the price, of these two companies I could find no head-to-head comparison between the two. Right now I'm leaning toward LRB because of their forged receiver. So is one any better than the other? Thanks again for your time.

fordsix

both good how deep is your wallet[^]

Werwolf

Fulton Armory and LRB are both good and have knowledgeable staff, although I would personally go with LRB, as I would have to have the forged steel receiver myself.

Both Fulton Armory and Springfield Armory use the cast Armscorp receivers.

nmyers

I live near Fulton Armory, & they set up a table at several of the local shows. I've seen a lot of their rifles, & talked to their armorers. Yes, their receivers are cast, but they are beautifully finished. They won't say who their supplier is, but I believe it is the same specialty manufacturer who produced receivers for Armscorp. FA says that they have tighter specs & demand high quality, & that appears to be so.

If I just had to have the best, I'd go for a forged receiver. But, you will never know the difference in a lifetime of shooting a rifle with a cast one.

Neal

"You get what you pay for, sometimes less."

givette

Short answer: Coin toss.

Now that I have that out of the way, a few considerations:

I have heard, (and can't cite a source-may be hearsay) that the cast receivers are "thicker" in some stress areas than forged ones.(Casting is thicker to acheive the same strength as forgings). It's probably unnoticeable, except to the purist. But, the purist will be disappointed in the semi-only configuration of either receiver anyway. LRB receiver will probably keep greater value. F/A receiver will be somewhat less expensive to purchase. See what I mean by coin toss?

Either way, the staff at LRB/Fulton Armory will assemble your rifle expertly.

Unless your "USGI" parts are new (in the wrapper) either company will "mike-out" your supplied parts to ensure that they havent seen excessive use, and re-parked to look pretty. Follow their lead on what needs to be replaced, if it comes to that. After all, you want to start with a rifle that has "zero time" on all its parts, right?

So, I just gave you a long story with no definitive answer. Best I could do..but they are my ramblings. Either way, you're gonna build a sweet one! I have an early SA,Inc. NM M1A (SerNo 044454), and I kinda envy you on what you are doing. Good luck! Joe

gtanba

Thanks for the help guys. I figured it would be 6 one way and half a dozen the other way. Most of the parts I have are new in the wrap. I've accumalated them over the past year and a half. Don't worry, I plan on listening to what they have to say and doing what they suggest. My M1A was a new one, got it a few years ago NIB. It seemed like it spent more time at the factory than it did at my house. I did think about an older SA but, with the parts I have and the price of the good condition USGI parts SA rifles, I decided to go Fulton/LRB route. After reading your helpful post I think I'll go with LRB.

gtanba

Well, I made the phone call to LRB. I should have a fancy new rifle in about 8 weeks. I pay all of my credit card bill when it comes, especially for something I don't have to have. It hasn't been charged yet, they will call me a few weeks before the build to verify everything and work out the details and I'm sure bill me, but I don't want to see that one. My cheap you know what will be puckered for a while.[:p] If I figure out how, I'll post a pic or two so you can see what you helped me out on. Thanks.

Wehrmacht_45

quote:Originally posted by Wolverine


Both Fulton Armory and Springfield Armory use the cast Armscorp receivers.



Armscorp is out of business last I saw. They were on the ATF Revoked License list.

cpermd

If you are going to mount a scope get an LRB or a ChiCom receiver.
The cast receivers often require mods to the mount to work.
And Fulton seems a bit "Pricey"

CP

Werwolf

quote:Originally posted by Wehrmacht_45
quote:Originally posted by Wolverine

Both Fulton Armory and Springfield Armory use the cast Armscorp receivers.

Armscorp is out of business last I saw. They were on the ATF Revoked License list.


That is too bad, FA and SA probably absorbed their receiver stock.

Wehrmacht_45

I heard that some Springfield receivers come from Australia.

Werwolf

Do you know if they are cast or forged and who makes them?