It is because of quality factors that are not readily apparent from looking at a picture on the internet or at a photo in an ad. Although all AR-15 style rifles are theoretically built to the same dimensional specifications, there are significant differences in manufacturing processes that greatly affect the quality of the product. For more details on what this means, read the It's All About You! page.
Everything Scotsman Arms sells is made in America from top quality manufacturers like Lewis Machine and Tool (LMT), Yankee Hill Machine (YHM), Stag, and CMMG. Scotsman Arms machines nothing on our own and we do not use machine shops located in pole barns behind someone’s home that specialize in cranking out low-end commercial grade parts. We figure, "Why re-invent the wheel" and thus let those who have years of experience and high quality control measures already in place make our stuff.
The question here isn’t really who makes the barrel blank, but who machines the barrel blank and upper receiver into a finished product. Our barrels are Wilson Match/ Rock/ Match Grade 4140 Chrome Moly steel unless otherwise noted. LMT cuts, finishes, and chambers all our barrels unless otherwise noted. LMT assembles, times, headspaces, and function test fires each barreled upper (not every third or fifth as some suppliers might) unless otherwise noted. LMT, Continental Machine and Tool (CMT), and other US Government Contract Parts Houses manufacturer our bolt carrier group assemblies to the following specificaitons: All Scotsman Arms bolts are shot peened and High Pressure Tested (HPT) and Magnetic Particle Inspected (MPI) and contain the heavy duty black extractor spring insert. Scotsman Arms then adds a Mil-Spec Viton(r) O-ring to the extractor spring assembly to virtually eliminate failures to extract.
Scotsman Arms inspects and hand assembles each upper assembly and function tests the complete unit again to ensure that only the most accurate, durable, and reliable upper assembly is delivered to you. When you take delivery, you know your rifle works and works well!
Barrel twist rate is a measure of how fast the rifling inside the barrel spins the bullet in order to stabilize it in flight and thus make it more accurate. A 1 in 9 (1:9) twist rate means the barrel rifling completes one revolution every nine inches of barrel. If the twist rate is too slow, the bullet will “wobble” in flight and thus be significantly less accurate. If the twist rate is too fast, the high rpms can cause the jacket of the bullet to fail-- centrifugal force literally tears the metal jacket off of the bullet core.
What barrel twist rate is ideal for you is determined by what type of shooting you wish to do. Generally, the heavier the bullet you wish to shoot, the faster the twist rate needed to stabilize it in flight (Stabilization is actually dependent on the length of the bullet not necessarily the weight. For most practical purposes, the heavier bullets tend to be longer). Scotsman Arms recommends the following as a general guideline:
1 in 9 twist rate (1:9) 45 gr. to 69 gr. bullets
1 in 8 twist rate (1:8) 45 gr. to 77 gr. bullets
1 in 7 twist rate (1:7) 55 gr. to 80+ gr. bullets
NOTE: The maximum bullet weight that can be fired from the standard GI magazine due to the overall length of the cartridge is 77 gr. Any cartridge with a bullet heavier than 77 gr. will not fit in the magazine and will need to be loaded individually by hand.
For certain applications, it is the only way to go. Those applications are primarily full-automatic applications where you will shoot a lot of bullets in a rather short period of time. The military is interested in a barrel life of over 8,000 rounds (up to 12,000 rounds) so thus they require chrome lining. With new technologies, the standard chrome-moly barrels now combine the best of a standard steel barrel with the addition of chrome in its mixture. A properly maintained chrome-moly barrel today has an upper life of over 8,000 rounds. That is a lot of bullets.
Chrome lining was originally applied to barrels to prevent corrosion when the ability to properly lubricate your barrel was not always available. Today, however, so much lubricant is built into modern ammunition that the best way to protect your barrel is to pull the trigger every now and then.
Chrome lined barrels are also less accurate than standard CM barrels or stainless steel barrels. The military is thrilled with being able to hit a dinner plate at 300 yards. As a chrome lined barrel wears, this is not a bad average. Most civilian and law enforcement applications require greater accuracy.
Scotsman Arms recommends spending nearly the same amount of extra money on a stainless steel barrel where you get increased barrel life and increased accuracy rather than settling for the draw-backs of chrome lining. It is all about you, after all, and your application, so if you want it, we can get it. Read more details on chrome lining in the It's All About You! page.
Our stripped lower receivers are manufactured by Yankee Hill Machine (YHM) and CMMG. Both companies make their receivers from forged 7075-T6 aluminum and both are machined and hard coat anodized to military specifications for superior fit and finish. The YHM receivers feature over-sized magazine well chamfers for easier magazine changes. The CMMG receivers are teflon coated for additional durability and color consistency. Our Lower Receiver Parts and Stock Assemblies are manufactured by current US Government Contract Parts Houses. Our Stock Assemblies contain Milspec extension tubes to enable easy after-market upgrades and increased durability over commercial spec. tubes.
Scotsman Arms’ free float rails and detachable sights are manufactured by YHM. Other detachable sights are manufactured by Matech and LMT.
In order to put together your own custom rifle, all you need is a complete upper assembly and a complete lower assembly. The two assemblies attach together via two pins, the pivot pin and the take down pin. It is that easy!
That would depend on the reason(s) you want an AR style rifle. Contact us and we would be happy to discuss your needs and make a recommendation.
Due to the thorough inspection and testing process that Scotsman Arms goes through, what we sell stays sold. Very rarely does any manufacturing defect escape us. If one does, bring it to our attention and we will make it right. We fix our problems, period. If you caused the problem through abuse or neglect, we will be happy to help you fix the problem but you will have to pay for it. We treat people as we would like to be treated and expect the same in return.
SEE BELOW: What do I do if I have this problem with my rifle/assembly?
We will assist you in every way possible with any problem you may have. If product arrives damaged from shipping you must immediately call UPS as they carry insurance to cover products damaged during shipping. It left our hands intact and operational, so if it arrives damaged it happened during shipping. Get on the phone to UPS first. There is nothing else we can do.
b. I am having failure-to-feed issues! Answer: Try several different magazines and several different types of ammunition (Don’t just switch from box 1 of cheap surplus ammo to box 2 of cheap surplus ammo. Switch to new commercial ammo from different manufacturers). This should take care of the problem. We function tested the rifle/assembly before we shipped it to you. We know it works.
c. Upon extraction, I wind up with ripped-out shell casings remaining in the chamber! Answer: Clean the chamber. Lubricate the chamber area correctly. If necessary, gently buff the chamber area with a light compound such as Flitz. Stop using cheap surplus ammo. We function tested the rifle/assembly before we shipped it to you. We know it works.
With the process we go through of individually inspecting each part, hand assembling each rifle, upper, and lower, and function testing each weapon or assembly, manufacturer’s defects should be extremely rare. The only variables from our shop to you are the ammunition, the magazines, and the lubrication/cleanliness of the product. With proper cleaning and lubrication, especially when your rifle/assembly is new, the above steps should solve 99 out of 100 problems. If it doesn’t, give us a call and we will make it right. We are in business to do what is right and fair. We ask you to do the same. Scotsman Arms is in business to earn your trust and your repeat business.
That depends on what you have. We sell only USGI dimensioned parts and assemblies so they will fit any other USGI dimensioned AR-15 style rifle. Only you know what you have so the answer depends on you.
Although .223 is the civilian designation of the 5.56 x 45 NATO round, they are not identical. A barrel chambered for 5.56 NATO can safely shoot .223 ammunition, but a barrel chambered for .223 can not safely shoot 5.56 NATO. ALL SCOTSMAN ARMS BARRELS ARE CHAMBERED 5.56 NATO.
There are many other calibers available for your AR style rifle that require only a different upper assembly and a different magazine in order to function. Scotsman Arms can get 9mm, 7.62mm x 39, 6.8mm and .22 LR. We can also build you a custom rifle in .308 win but that would require a new lower assembly as well as a new upper assembly. Give us a call or send us an email to check on pricing and availability.
Yes, we can get upper assemblies and even get conversion kits for your existing upper assembly. Give us a call or send us an email to check on pricing and availability.
We do our best to keep prices on the website accurate and up-to-date. We reserve the right to deflect your ire by simply saying we are sorry and then stating the real price. Sometimes we fail, so if you want the latest on anything, check the website and then give us a call or send us an email.