Color Difference Upper & Lower

[BillyMagg]

AR receivers are investment cast aluminum with finish machining, followed by anodizing. The anodizing process grows a microscopic layer of weird crystalline oxide tubes that readily accept dye, hence the variety of colors for anodized parts. This is the way they were made until all the coating systems came to market. Mismatched upper and lower colors is a pathetic manufacturing flaw, probably harmless functionally, but poor quality control. Can you imagine a fine S&W revolver with a deep blue receiver and matte finished barrel? Same thing. All the AR's I have built have suffered this fate to some degree as the lowers, being firearms, are sourced from separate vendors from the uppers.

actually high end AR receivers are either forged or billet and finish machined...

I'm rather certain that Rugers and some others are investment cast, but I'd never knowingly purchase an investment casting, when I could have had a forging, my Rock River, and to the OP, your Smith and Wesson are forgings!

 

[shep854]

That awful M&P billboard on the mag well* is, IMO, waaay uglier than a slight color difference...
*Edit

 

[1stgarand]

I emailed them and they say I can return it for them to check. Guess I will give it a try.

 

[shep854]

I emailed them and they say I can return it for them to check. Guess I will give it a try.

Hope they work it out; it's your rifle and money, so you should be happy with it.

 

[John Fugate]

poor quality control

I'd say your about 114% correct, but you know its hard to get that pot metal and plastic to gel at the same consistency every time.

 

[Warren Sear]

Not sure, but if the uppers are not forged aluminum (like the Colts), then I think they are die cast aluminum, not investment cast. FWIW.

 

[ChuckS1]

i wouldn't worry about it. The receivers, both upper and lower, are forged aluminum. You didn't buy a top tier rifle, so I wouldn't expect a 100% color match.

 

[1stgarand]

Well, I shipped it back to S&W yesterday to see if they would " make it right ". Will post the results when I get it back.

Before: Not aligned,& color difference.

 

[peteinpa]

Wow. I wouldn't be happy with that. I wonder if it was made during the MAD rush where they were pounding them out night and day before the election.

Hope they make it right for you.

 

[hdwhit]

Big Shrek asked:
Wanna piss off a liberal?

I showed the picture to my older son whose politics run very liberal. His response was a very deadpan, "A blaze orange gun in a self-defense situation seems a good way to get spotted and killed."

Didn't seem to piss him off at all. Just seemed to bemuse him that someone had out the time, effort and expense into decorating what is, after all, supposed to be a tool.

 

[hdwhit]

Shep854 wrote:
That awful M&P billboard on the mag...

Easy way to avoid that is to not buy the rifle.

 

[shep854]

Easy way to avoid that is to not buy the rifle.

True, but it IS a very good rifle, and the best combo of features of the rifles on hand. I'm quite pleased with it; a bit of paint, and I'm an even happier shooter.

 

[1stgarand]

Wow. I wouldn't be happy with that. I wonder if it was made during the MAD rush where they were pounding them out night and day before the election.
Hope they make it right for you.

Well, they sent me a return label and I sent it back. They are replacing the lower, so it has to go through an FFL dealer upon return. ( To fix the alignment problem.) I got that set up, and they said it would be shipped back in about a week. ( They have had it all month) Can't wait to get it back. I hope they got it right!

 

[AR-Getsome]

50 shades of gray, retro edition - AR15.COM

 

[1stgarand]

I got more twisted about the alignment after it was pointed out to me. This was my 1st AR, and I didn't know any better. I should have researched before I bought, but, live and learn. They must have thought it was not right as they are fixing it under warranty.

 

[Plazzman]

I have a later M&P Sport and it was a good color match on the upper and the lower when I purchased it, to be honest I looked at it before I even bought it.

In my opinion this totally unacceptable since this should of been rectified through Quality Control before the AR went in the box and out the door. What was the problem someone was drunk are forgot to put their glasses on during their job, maybe it is just possible I am looking at the wrong person, this could of been upper managements call.

Mind you S&W has a good reputation on building good firearm's but if this is the way they present their products then they are heading for a serious flaw in their business.

To me this would not go well with me if I paid good money for a new AR that should match as a complete rifle!

Hell I own three S&W firearm's, if I should ever buy another one in the near future it better be to my liking are it goes back to be corrected!

I guess I am some kind of perfectionist but that is just me and my honest opinion, beat me up if you like.

 

[Kadonny]

I got more twisted about the alignment after it was pointed out to me. This was my 1st AR, and I didn't know any better. I should have researched before I bought, but, live and learn. They must have thought it was not right as they are fixing it under warranty.

I'll tell you S&W is not alone with this. I saw a DDM4V11 for sale on another site that clearly showed a huge mis-alignment just like above. So even with a $1500 rifle the alignment can be an issue if that makes you feel any better.

 

[cyphertext]

I'll tell you S&W is not alone with this. I saw a DDM4V11 for sale on another site that clearly showed a huge mis-alignment just like above. So even with a $1500 rifle the alignment can be an issue if that makes you feel any better.

Yes, it can be there on higher priced rifles, and possibly not even cause an issue. Drill the holes on the upper just a little off center one way, and the holes for the pins just a little off center the other way, both individual pieces are within spec but when put together, you get misaligned upper and lower... tolerance stacking.

 

[vipermd]

That awful M&P billboard on the mag is, IMO, waaay uglier than a slight color difference...

There is nothing written on the magazine!! Be Safe,

 

[shep854]

There is nothing written on the magazine!! Be Safe,

BUSTED!!! Should have been mag well. Thanks for catching--corrected.