Wilson Combat - I have built a lot of AR15s and few AR10/308 rifles (DPMS pattern) and have used Wilson combat parts (Barrel, BCG, AGB) partly because of the Wilson quality I have experienced and partly because I have found it easier to headspace a same manufacturer bolt/barrel combination. The Aero receivers have always worked really well (M5) - no problems (although I have used Fultons as well for .308, and a variety for AR15s).
So a friend decides he wants to build a AR308, and asks my opinion, he shoots my 3 in .308 on a trip from CO and decides to follow my builds (Aero/Wilson). He has a few problems that I chalk up to "his first build" and I (and a few of his local friends) are trying to talk him through them. We finally do a call on Zoom and it looks like his gas tube is short, his bolt is chewed up, and he has brass all over in the upper. He measures his gas tube, I measure mine - same length gas tube, but it extends a little over 1/4" less in his receiver. He takes it to a local gun smith who verifies it does not extend into the receiver far enough, and the bolt is too buggered up to keep. And the Barrel/gas tube location/ dimensions are the cause - (barrel is keyed for gas block - presumable for exact fit)...He calls Wilson, and Wilson tells him their parts are not engineered to fit with any other manufacturer and says since his gun is a "Frankenstein AR" they will not warrant the parts! Gunsmith then sells him on a complete custom build for $1,500 more!
I have always been a fan of Wilson - used their 1911 parts, AR parts, etc. I even have 3 of their AR15s that work flawlessly and 3 .308 builds using their parts in DPMS pattern receivers. Is this a recent change in Wilson, or have I just been able to avoid this issue by some miracle? I know Wilson uses Armalite pattern receivers but never had a problem like he is experiencing. Anyone have a thought, same experience with Wilson?
So a friend decides he wants to build a AR308, and asks my opinion, he shoots my 3 in .308 on a trip from CO and decides to follow my builds (Aero/Wilson). He has a few problems that I chalk up to "his first build" and I (and a few of his local friends) are trying to talk him through them. We finally do a call on Zoom and it looks like his gas tube is short, his bolt is chewed up, and he has brass all over in the upper. He measures his gas tube, I measure mine - same length gas tube, but it extends a little over 1/4" less in his receiver. He takes it to a local gun smith who verifies it does not extend into the receiver far enough, and the bolt is too buggered up to keep. And the Barrel/gas tube location/ dimensions are the cause - (barrel is keyed for gas block - presumable for exact fit)...He calls Wilson, and Wilson tells him their parts are not engineered to fit with any other manufacturer and says since his gun is a "Frankenstein AR" they will not warrant the parts! Gunsmith then sells him on a complete custom build for $1,500 more!
I have always been a fan of Wilson - used their 1911 parts, AR parts, etc. I even have 3 of their AR15s that work flawlessly and 3 .308 builds using their parts in DPMS pattern receivers. Is this a recent change in Wilson, or have I just been able to avoid this issue by some miracle? I know Wilson uses Armalite pattern receivers but never had a problem like he is experiencing. Anyone have a thought, same experience with Wilson?
