Colt LE6920 from Walmart - reviews?

GoBuffs! · 06-23-2012, 00:20

Hi all,

Thinking about pulling the trigger on one of these in the next few months and now that Walmart has been selling them for a while, has anyone done comparisons from one purchased from Walmart vs. one from a local gun store or anywhere else?

I know the worry was that the Walmart version may be of lesser quality since it has been rumored that Walmart may operate like this on some other items.

My guess is that Colt is probably selling these things to the DOD for far less than what they are selling them to Walmart for so why bother having different assembly lines just to ruin a reputation?

So any hard evidence from comparisons yet?

Thanks!

NCHeel · 06-23-2012, 03:30

Might want to do a little searching as there is a huge thread here already. The Walmart version has a polymer firing pin and the barrel is made from recycled beer cans.

Just joking. They are exactly the same. Walmart does not make manufacturers reduce the quality of their product. The place massive orders and they tell the manufacturer what they are willing to pay. It is up to the manufacturer to figure out how to make a profit. On the 6920 Walmart had two advantages. First they cut out the distributor, and their mark-up, by going directly to Colt. Second they ordered bulk.

uzimon · 06-23-2012, 04:22

i have a 6920 on layaway at the local pawn shop. same price . down to $460

oh, here's your review
http://www.gunsamerica.com/blog/colt...ew-gun-review/

personally i'm not crazy about the hand guard. that'll be 1st to go. midwest ind. has some for $150i like much beta

M&P15T · 06-23-2012, 05:03

I guess the first question is, since you think manufacturers have cheaper versions of their normal products that they sell to Walmart, is do you think Walmart's price is really that good?

I seem to remember that 6920s can still be bought cheaper elsewhere.

Anyways, I seriously doubt that Colt would sacrifice their good name, or that Walmart would sell inferior products that would open them up to lawsuits, by making cheaper versions of the 6920.

***series1811*** · 06-23-2012, 05:22

About four years ago, the price for a select fire M-4 from Colt with six magazines, that was offered to my agency, was about $400 per gun. We only needed about 4000 guns. I'll bet Wal-Mart buys a lot more than that.

jb1911 · 06-23-2012, 06:20

Quote:

Originally Posted by series1811

About four years ago, the price for a select fire M-4 from Colt with six magazines, that was offered to my agency, was about $400 per gun. We only needed about 4000 guns. I'll bet Wal-Mart buys a lot more than that.

Have any left-overs you're not using?

GTS197 · 06-23-2012, 08:07

Quote:

Originally Posted by GoBuffs!

I know the worry was that the Walmart version may be of lesser quality since it has been rumored that Walmart may operate like this on some other items.

Sounds like internet paranoia....

***Travclem*** · 06-23-2012, 08:17

Quote:

Originally Posted by GTS197

Sounds like internet paranoia....

I don't know about the Walmart Colts but I do know for a fact that a Remington 870 from Walmart has a cheap stock and rough finish not found on 870s anywhere else. Same for the Marlin model 60.

Marlin has a 336 made especially for Walmart it is the 336w and it is subpar compared to a normal 336

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***Travclem*** · 06-23-2012, 08:19

Double tap

mixflip · 06-23-2012, 08:48

If anyone is wondering why Colt would want Wal-Mart to sell their AR15's...consider this...

Guess who is the largest retailer of "GOLD" in America? They can probably move more rifles than any gun store. (Wal-Marts combined of course)

cyphertext · 06-23-2012, 08:52

Quote:

Originally Posted by Travclem

I don't know about the Walmart Colts but I do know for a fact that a Remington 870 from Walmart has a cheap stock and rough finish not found on 870s anywhere else. Same for the Marlin model 60.

Marlin has a 336 made especially for Walmart it is the 336w and it is subpar compared to a normal 336

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I have to disagree here...the 870 express sold at Walmart is identical to the 870 express sold at Academy. Also, the Marlin 336w is not specifically made for Walmart. They are sold at Academy, BassPro, and other big box retailers.

http://www.basspro.com/Marlin-336W-3...0218127/113075

cyphertext · 06-23-2012, 09:01

Quote:

Originally Posted by mixflip

If anyone is wondering why Colt would want Wal-Mart to sell their AR15's...consider this...

Guess who is the largest retailer of "GOLD" in America? They can probably move more rifles than any gun store. (Wal-Marts combined of course)

They also used to be the largest retailer of firearms, before they pulled firearms from many of their stores. They may still be.

Walmart does make deals with manufacturers for Walmart exclusive versions of items that are made to meet a price point. For example, several years ago, Snapper mowers and Walmart were in discussions on an agreement. (I think it was Snapper, was a business case we covered in a class) Walmart wanted to have a lower priced Snapper branded mower to sell along side the higher priced one, and suggested that they have one built in China and badged as a Snapper. Snapper did not want to dilute their brand by doing this, so the talks ended.

There is too much liability with firearms to do this though. You may find models that were made exclusive for Walmart and the stocks may be a different wood, or they package a scope with it, etc. However, the workings of the firearm itself are going to be the same.

***Travclem*** · 06-23-2012, 09:40

Quote:

Originally Posted by cyphertext

I have to disagree here...the 870 express sold at Walmart is identical to the 870 express sold at Academy. Also, the Marlin 336w is not specifically made for Walmart. They are sold at Academy, BassPro, and other big box retailers.

http://www.basspro.com/Marlin-336W-3...0218127/113075

Go look at an 870 in a real gunshop, the big box store guns are different. The finish on the walmart/academy version is really rough. Perhaps I sould replace Walmart with "bigboxstore" in my original post. my point is the discount store guns, at least from Marlin and Remington, are lesser guns.

TedG · 06-23-2012, 13:54

Quote:

Originally Posted by NCHeel

Just joking. They are exactly the same. Walmart does not make manufacturers reduce the quality of their product. The place massive orders and they tell the manufacturer what they are willing to pay. It is up to the manufacturer to figure out how to make a profit. On the 6920 Walmart had two advantages. First they cut out the distributor, and their mark-up, by going directly to Colt. Second they ordered bulk.

Absolutely correct!

AK_Stick · 06-23-2012, 13:57

Quote:

Originally Posted by Travclem

Go look at an 870 in a real gunshop, the big box store guns are different. The finish on the walmart/academy version is really rough. Perhaps I sould replace Walmart with "bigboxstore" in my original post. my point is the discount store guns, at least from Marlin and Remington, are lesser guns.

They seem the same to me?

Airborne Infantryman · 06-23-2012, 14:04

Quote:

Originally Posted by AK_Stick

They seem the same to me?

Me too.

They have the same SKU's, FWIW.

Remington doesn't have a specific SKU for a "Walmart Special 870".

Finish rougher? Probably because the monkeys in the stock room beat them around, and act like fools with them.

jb1911 · 06-23-2012, 14:30

Quote:

Originally Posted by AK_Stick

They seem the same to me?

That's because they are the same.

grizman · 06-23-2012, 15:01

Quote:

Originally Posted by GoBuffs!

Hi all,

Thinking about pulling the trigger on one of these in the next few months and now that Walmart has been selling them for a while, has anyone done comparisons from one purchased from Walmart vs. one from a local gun store or anywhere else?

I know the worry was that the Walmart version may be of lesser quality since it has been rumored that Walmart may operate like this on some other items.

My guess is that Colt is probably selling these things to the DOD for far less than what they are selling them to Walmart for so why bother having different assembly lines just to ruin a reputation?

So any hard evidence from comparisons yet?

Thanks!

Unless things have changed recently Colt is not now and has not been the Supplier of M16's, M4's or replacement parts for several years. FN won the contract long ago.

Colt is selling to Walmart because they need the sales. They have lost a lot of market share to brands like BCM,LMT,PSA,Spikes ETC. Colt no longer stands alone atop the production AR market.

AK_Stick · 06-23-2012, 15:09

Quote:

Originally Posted by grizman

Unless things have changed recently Colt is not now and has not been the Supplier of M16's, M4's or replacement parts for several years. FN won the contract long ago.

Colt is selling to Walmart because they need the sales. They have lost a lot of market share to brands like BCM,LMT,PSA,Spikes ETC. Colt no longer stands alone atop the production AR market.

Colt only recently lost the contract for the M4's to Remington. FN only makes the M16A3/4

fnfalman · 06-23-2012, 19:34

Don't buy any guns from Wally World. I read on da intrawebz and heard at the local gun shop that Wally guns are out-of-spec, second-hand stuff.

fnfalman · 06-23-2012, 19:37

Quote:

Originally Posted by Travclem

Go look at an 870 in a real gunshop, the big box store guns are different. The finish on the walmart/academy version is really rough. Perhaps I sould replace Walmart with "bigboxstore" in my original post. my point is the discount store guns, at least from Marlin and Remington, are lesser guns.

Somebody forgot to tell Sako and Tikka that the TRGS and Tikka Hunter I bought from Wally World were suppose to be "lesser" models than I would have gotten from the regular gun shops. They shouldn't have had nice finishes, beautiful triggers, excellent fit & finish...

Dammit, I got jibbed!!! I wanted my crappy Wally Special!!!

hoghunter82 · 06-23-2012, 19:41

I bought my Rem 700 and 870 both at Wally World. Kill deer dead just as good as a gun from one of them fancy stores. They were both the entry level models but seem just fine to me.

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***Travclem*** · 06-23-2012, 21:47

The last gun I bought from walmart was 10+ years ago. It was a Remington 870 and it absolutely sucked compared to my dad's 870 that was ordered from one of his distributors at around the same time. The walmart gun looked like it had been media blasted with gravel and Krylon'd black. Unless things have changed since then, I'll stick to my theory.

***Travclem*** · 06-23-2012, 21:49

Quote:

Originally Posted by fnfalman

Somebody forgot to tell Sako and Tikka that the TRGS and Tikka Hunter I bought from Wally World were suppose to be "lesser" models than I would have gotten from the regular gun shops. They shouldn't have had nice finishes, beautiful triggers, excellent fit & finish...

Dammit, I got jibbed!!! I wanted my crappy Wally Special!!!

I have no experience with Sakos or Tikkas from Walmart, only Marlin and Remington. Re-read the post.

AK_Stick · 06-23-2012, 22:03

Quote:

Originally Posted by Travclem

The last gun I bought from walmart was 10+ years ago. It was a Remington 870 and it absolutely sucked compared to my dad's 870 that was ordered from one of his distributors at around the same time. The walmart gun looked like it had been media blasted with gravel and Krylon'd black. Unless things have changed since then, I'll stick to my theory.

And it wouldn't be possible for you to have gotten a single bad gun eh?