Bad Seekins lower

[pklin1297]

So about a month ago I purchased both a Seekins SP223 upper and a Seekins SBA15 lower and was happy as can be until I started building my AR, and found unacceptable amount of play between the two halves. Now before everyone comes in and say "some amount of play is necessary to ensure a properly functioning AR", if you had seen and felt the play between these two halves, you would agree something is wrong...

Long story short, I contacted Seekins and their awesome customer service promptly sent me a couple of prepaid labels (I sent the upper first to get checked, which they said was within spec, so then I sent the lower). Long story short, the lower was out of spec so they've offered to replace it...

This is where it got tricky... About two years ago, I had a bad Mega Arms' lower which I returned to Mega, and they promptly destroyed the bad one and put that serial number on a new lower and then sent directly back to me. According to Seekins, they would replace my out-of-spec lower but they will have to send it to a FFL, where I will have to pay out of State transfer fee, and DROS all over again... Same model/serial number or not... Does this sound right to you guys? Even if by law they will have to send it back to a FFL, why would I have to register the lower again if the serial number is the same (given that I can get them to put the original serial number on a new lower)?

This was my first billet set after having built 5 rifles using Mega forged receiver sets because I was bitten by the billet "fad". I had since then purchased another Mega receiver set from Riflegear that has absolutely no wiggle or twist or anything; no tension screw required fit. I think I'll give billet sets another try, but not for a while...

[Thorax]

Glen knows better than that.
I'm sure you just got someone new on the phone or some one unsure of correct procedure.

Try calling them again and asking them to confirm what the first person said.
You cannot reDROS the same serial number, it is (to quote Homer) unpossible.

[REDdawn6]

Hope you get it fixed. Are you sure it is play on the two halves? I've seen play from LPK not being true to spec.

[Car83]

New lower with new # will have to be sent to a FFL.

New lower with old # can be sent to you.

[pklin1297]

Latest email received from Seekins...

1. Seekins cannot give me the old serial number because they manufacture lowers in batches and cannot pull one out to put my serial on it. Per Crystal at Seekins, even if they could put the serial number onto new lower, they must ship to FFL. Basically, if I want replacement lower I will have to pay out of state transfer fee, and DROS new lower.

2. When asked about refund option, Seekins will not issue refund since I got the lower through Riflegear. Seekins says I must go back to original vendor to ask about a refund, which Riflegear will not do once a firearm has been transferred to the buyer (basically I'm SOL here). The Seekins upper I purchased through Brownells which I will be able to return and get a refund no questions asked.

What do you guys think? Should I contact Glenn Seekins and see what he can do for me? Is it asking too much for the Manufacturer to replace an out-of-spec lower without me having to pay more out of pocket?

[pklin1297]

Hope you get it fixed. Are you sure it is play on the two halves? I've seen play from LPK not being true to spec.

I checked after installing only the take down pin and pivot pins, and the two halves, nothing else. While looking at the two receivers from the front and keeping the lower stationary, I was able to tilt the upper from side to side. I could also shift the upper from side to side horizontally. This was not something a washer on the pivot pin area, or a tension screw was going to be able to fix. Seekins confirming that the lower was out of spec solidified my suspicions.

The pins are from V7 weapon systems and checked using calipers. They are of the correct diameter.

[seal20]

No, you're not asking too much. They should foot the whole bill for releasing an out of spec product for sale. So much for the "precision" part of Seekins, eh?

[REDdawn6]

Gotcha man. That sucks. I also would be very disappointed and the least I would accept was full replacement and no cost to me.

[pklin1297]

I'll give Glenn a holler tomorrow. I've always had good experiences with Seekins and their products and was hoping I would never have to use their customer service...

[kalieracer]

Did you speak with Riflegear. I bet they would waive the out of state transfer fee for a replacement and just charge you dros.

I'll give Glenn a holler tomorrow. I've always had good experiences with Seekins and their products and was hoping I would never have to use their customer service...

[pklin1297]

Did you speak with Riflegear. I bet they would waive the out of state transfer fee for a replacement and just charge you dros.

I'll check with them tomorrow also when I get a chance. However, still not sure why I need to pay for the DROS, or any fees again for a product that was deemed out of spec...

[kalieracer]

It's not the same sn as the original gun and the doj doesn't care if it's a replacement and charges the dealer for the dros.

I'll check with them tomorrow also when I get a chance. However, still not sure why I need to pay for the DROS, or any fees again for a product that was deemed out of spec...

[pklin1297]

It's not the same sn as the original gun and the doj doesn't care if it's a replacement and charges the dealer for the dros.

I understand having to register for the new gun, just wishing I wouldn't have to pay more money to get what I originally should have gotten.

[96snake]

No you are not out of line, especially for a lower where the fees will probably equal a good chunk of what you paid for the lower itself. Hope it all works out.

[Car83]

Latest email received from Seekins...

1. Seekins cannot give me the old serial number because they manufacture lowers in batches and cannot pull one out to put my serial on it. Per Crystal at Seekins, even if they could put the serial number onto new lower, they must ship to FFL. Basically, if I want replacement lower I will have to pay out of state transfer fee, and DROS new lower.

2. When asked about refund option, Seekins will not issue refund since I got the lower through Riflegear. Seekins says I must go back to original vendor to ask about a refund, which Riflegear will not do once a firearm has been transferred to the buyer (basically I'm SOL here). The Seekins upper I purchased through Brownells which I will be able to return and get a refund no questions asked.

What do you guys think? Should I contact Glenn Seekins and see what he can do for me? Is it asking too much for the Manufacturer to replace an out-of-spec lower without me having to pay more out of pocket?

Talk to someone who knows what they are talking about. They have the ability to edit the serial numbers on the control of the CNC machine while its in use.