S&W Using Chinese Parts In Their AR's?

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hdwhit said:
The letter from G.A.R. is interesting, but it doesn't really answer the OP's question about whether or not there are Chinese (or other imported, for that matter) parts in his rifle.

G.A.R.'s claim to using parts made from "American made materials" is interesting because the only way to know that is for G.A.R. to trace the origin of its suppliers' raw materials. So, unless the steel mill is separating the Lexus fenders from the Chevrolet ones it is re-smelting, G.A.R.'s claim seems unrealistic.

Unless, of course, what G.A.R. means by "American made material" is "Foreign material recycled here in the USA" and that seems to call for a pretty large asterisk (*). After all, when someone wraps themselves in the American flag, I don't really care to see a "Made in China" label on that flag.
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It doesn't answer. Your right. That letter was a reply to dusty. Aside from being the CEO or accountant of S&W I don't think any of will know for sure

Sent from my XT1650 using Tapatalk
 
stwings said:
I'm sure there are Chinese parts on the Sport line to keep the cost competitive.
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Are you just as sure about that as you were that the Sport used a cast lower, instead of a forged one? Because you were wrong on that theory too.
 
I would like to see some real proof that parts are made in China instead of saying it's possible, or I heard from a friend. Show proof and not rumors!
 
While just about everything I've seen made in China has been junk, about 30 yrs ago I bought a Type 56 SKS made in China. I gotta say. While crude that thing is dead reliable. After many thousands of rounds of cheap Soviet steel case 762x39 through it it has NEVER jammed. NEVER. It's like the proverbial Eveready battery. Just keeps going and going, clean or dirty.
 
ChattanoogaPhil said:
I'd have asked the guy specifically what parts were made in China and how he knew this. The blank stare back would have been answer enough.
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Meh, it didn't spark my interest at the moment. Besides, a friend of mine on vacation wanted me to post this after we talked about it after our range outing. :cool:
 
dben002 said:
Talk about made in China.....take a good look under the sheet metal on that $40,000.00 - $65,000.00 F350, or Silverado, or Toyota you are driving and you will find lots of made in China....:eek:
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I know a GM engineer that spends enough time in China that they are taking up Mandarin as a second language.
 
I bought a Type 56 SKS made in China. I gotta say. While crude that thing is dead reliable.
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I was going to post almost exactly what you posted. My Type 56 (purchased in 1992) has been insanely reliable. The ONLY times it has had a problem was when I was monkeying around changing parts (like the firing pin) to what was supposedly better parts. As soon as I switched back the original the problems stopped. And I have had a batch or two of ammo that has caused issues. In the not too distant past ammo was popping primers pretty bad. That got in the firing pin channel and jammed that pin. I fixed it with another firing pin and a spring (one that worked this time).

Altogether I have had maybe 2 dozen FTE issues because of the stuff I mentioned. 2 dozen out of countless thousands of rounds of ammo. And mine hasn't been abused like some I've seen. I've seen them so gunked up you couldn't pull the bolt back. Apparently they got that way by shooting them until they filled up with gunk. It must have taken 200,000 rounds without EVER cleaning the rifle to get to that point. It had to be working to the point it was or it wouldn't have got that way.

So the Chinese are capable of making some very, very good equipment. They don't often do it but they sure did it with the SKS and later their AK's. Sure they aren't as accurate or slick operating as the AR's but for a long time people argued the AK was way more robust than the AR and would work in conditions no AR would even think of working in. I don't know about that but I sure know about my SKS. It is still insanely reliable. I'm aware not all Chinese SKS models are as good. The later made for the US market models aren't as good. But the ones made for the military work every time. They were designed for somewhat less than tech savy peasants to use under all conditions. Sure the SKS doesn't use detachables (actually mine does and has since the first day with zero issues ever with the mags) but the stripper clip system works very well too. It was good enough for the M1. Yes I like having 30 on tap but that big mag gets in the way sometimes. I have smaller mags including a 15 round model just for that reason. But they aren't as out of the way as the original mags.

I counted on that SKS for decades to be my protection against the gang of hoodlums just up the hill from my house. They sold drugs, broke into houses and they hated me for shooting too much. But they had enough sense to stay away because I'd put on a demonstration with that SKS from time to time. I wouldn't want to charge a house with a known shooter pointing one of those rifles at me.

Chinese quality isn't all bad.
 
Man, the amount of Norinco SKS's I have owned over the years, can't be counted on all of my digits. Those are some of the most reliable firearms ever made. My favorite is the paratrooper. ;)
 
I thought there was a federal law about marking country of origin if not made in the US. I have not seen any markings on my AR that would indicate made in China.
 
stwings said:
S&W has done themselves a great disservice trying to market their "Sport" line as a true warfighters tool. They sell a ton of Sports to first time AR15 buyers who don't know what a real AR15 is. That said, the Sport is a great entry level plinkers gun with light duty home defense ability. I'm sure there are Chinese parts on the Sport line to keep the cost competitive.

Their "non Sport" M&P15 line is more to "milspec" stadards.
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I would LOVE to hear an example of a light duty home defense situation, VS Heavy duty???
 
Pro2nd said:
TRUTH!! LOL!!!!..
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Man, y'all need to grow some! :D
Seriously, I never had that problem because I was married to Satan's spawn for only 5 years. I do have a lot of gun shooting buddies that work out "AGREEMENTS" with their wives. I think that's only fair.
BTW, I had another weakness; HOT RODS! Now that's an expensive hobby! :eek:
 
HOT RODS! Now that's an expensive hobby!
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Racing is even more expensive. But I have enough trouble financing my shooting Jones. There have been years I've spent $5000 on ammo plus the guns I bought. I might have to take up golf to save some money (which isn't cheap at all either). How about ping pong? I can afford a steady supply of new ping pong balls (I think anyway).
 
Hapworth said:
If a certain percentage of assemblage occurs stateside, "Made in the USA" is a permitted designation -- doesn't mean the components or materials are U.S. based or sourced.
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Nope, not a percentage. It's dependent on what is essential to the item.

Tinhack said:
I thought there was a federal law about marking country of origin if not made in the US. I have not seen any markings on my AR that would indicate made in China.
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I'm glad you asked: Complying with the Made in USA Standard | Federal Trade Commission

Does the M&P 15 say, "Made in the USA" on it?
 
I should have mentioned the day a gun who owned a LGS asked me to come to the range to check a problem I was having with the Sig I bought from him (turned out to be ammo related). When I got there the gun handed me a LOADED full auto AR and said, "This baby is worth about $35,000." And I'm thinking, "You "sure" I'm not going to take your toy and leave you lying in a heap?" Of course I would never do that but that guy didn't know it. I'm not sure he cared to be honest.

At any rate we shot up at least $3000 worth of ammo THAT DAY! He actually had 3 full autos, the AR, a HK 9mm, and some .308 that resembled a BAR but with a bigger mag. It doesn't take long to rip through ammo with toys like that especially with 4 people loading mags.

I couldn't believe my luck that day. That was a bunch of fun. But it does prove just how expensive a shooting monkey on your back can be. The more money you have the faster you shoot it up.

Maybe I'll take up heroin and try to save some money. j/k I would rather have something that won't kill me so easy. Like a gun. :D
 
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C J said:
.... it does prove just how expensive a shooting monkey on your back can be. The more money you have the faster you shoot it up.
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Soooo very true.

I have a Sport II with a SlideFire stock and it fires at FA rates. Didnt cost me 35K either:D

Ive also fired a FA weapon. Theres no difference. They both produce the FA SMILE:D:D:D

I love it....but it costs ya 10 bucks to pull the trigger:D
 
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HELLO EVERYONE! Look who's back from a forced vacation! :rolleyes:
PanzerSS is one of my shooting buddies. When we were at the range last week I overheard some S&W MP15 fanboys talking about the possibility of S&W using Chinese parts in their AR's. Since I was on a much not needed vacation, I asked him to post this thread.
I had brought my Sport I and AR-556 to the range to shoot. These guys were in the next 2 lanes over from me talking about their new MP15 rifles they had just purchased. I overheard one of them stating that his uncle or something, told him that S&W was using Chinese parts in their MP15's. Let me tell you, after a few of the other members, including me, heard this, the rumors started! But, I only told PanzerSS what I had heard at the tail end of the conversation. The range master heard the conversation and was telling the guys behind the sales desk. I know this because when we were leaving the range gunsmith asked me if I had heard any of the conversation. I told him only the last part of it. But, it was too late. The whole GS and range was talking about it. :D
 
When you build a product to hit a price point you make a lot of sacrifices. Manufacturing is like water it always seeks its lowest point. The ignorance in this thread regarding manufacturing in China these days is way off base. China is no longer the main source of cheap low quality goods. They can produce just about anything at whatever level of quality you spec.

As others have pointed out low end manufacturing has moved down stream, just like water, to other countries.

I cannot prove it, and I can guarantee no one on this forum can prove me wrong, that S&W Sport IIs have parts in them that are not made in the USA. They might not be made in China but they are not USA origin. The "Made in the USA" propaganda garbage that our lawmakers have passed allow Sport IIs to be labeled as such.

The real question is does it matter. You are buying a low end bottom of the barrel, in terms of price point rifle, from a major manufacturer with a lifetime warranty. You get what you paid for. If you want a 100% USA made rifle buy one but its not going to cost $400- $500 OTD. Sorry rant over. :rolleyes:
 
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