Out-of-Spec Spikes lowers?

[CHS]

Has anyone seen any out-of-spec Spikes Tactical lowers?

I finished building my second lower on a spikes tactical, and have tried to fit two different CMMG uppers to it. Seems like the top deck is a little out of spec in relation to the takedown/pivot holes.

I can insert one of the two pins at a time, but one and only one. No matter what I try, the upper and lower just do NOT want to mate together properly and let the pins be installed.

I will be calling up Spikes to see if anything can be done about this, but wanted to see if anyone else has had an issue.

Edit: FYI, The uppers have been checked against both lowers that they normally reside on, a doublestar and a CMMG. Both uppers work fine on both lowers. Just not the Spikes.

[thmpr]

Call spikes to send you a new lower with the same serial number so it does not require a new DROS.

[bobfried]

Did you build them from a stripped lower?

If you did, check to make sure that you did not thread in the buffer tube too far. I learn that the hard way when I rebuilt a lower (for the 5th time) and could not figure out why when I had the same exact problem you are describing. It turns out I screwed in the buffer tube a thread too far and it would push the upper slightly forward so I could only put in one take down pin (either the front or rear) and had nothing to do with the lower.

[CHS]

It turns out I screwed in the buffer tube a thread too far and it would push the upper slightly forward so I could only put in one take down pin (either the front or rear) and had nothing to do with the lower.

*smacking myself in the forehead*

I just checked for this, and that's what it was. Ugh, I can't believe it. I've built up 3 other lowers with NO issues with the same and different buffer tubes.

I feel really dumb right now. I thought I had checked everything.

Thank you for the tip. I'm going to hide in a corner now...

[MILLITIAof1]

*smacking myself in the forehead*

I just checked for this, and that's what it was. Ugh, I can't believe it. I've built up 3 other lowers with NO issues with the same and different buffer tubes.

I feel really dumb right now. I thought I had checked everything.

Thank you for the tip. I'm going to hide in a corner now...

D'oh!!!

[randy]

It's the tube that is the problem. I've been seeing collaspable stocks with a little notch in them to hold down the buffer retaining spring. If you screw in the tube to what looks like it should be perfect to hold down the pin you won't beable to close the lower.

The easy way to fix it is unscrew the tube one turn, the best way to fix it is to screw the tube in all the way and file down the top of the tube.

[CHS]

It's the tube that is the problem. I've been seeing collaspable stocks with a little notch in them to hold down the buffer retaining spring. If you screw in the tube to what looks like it should be perfect to hold down the pin you won't beable to close the lower.

The easy way to fix it is unscrew the tube one turn, the best way to fix it is to screw the tube in all the way and file down the top of the tube.

Yeah, I've always read and followed the rule that the buffer tube should be over the base of the retaining pin and almost touching the pin itself. With the tube backed out one full revolution, the retaining pin stays in place still, but BARELY. I worked it a bunch of times last night and it doesnt' seem like it's going to want to come out, so we'll see.

[Spyder]

Ha, excellent thread with, what I'm sure is a fairly common and frustrating problem, easily and cheaply (free!) solved.

Sweet.

[randy]

I have had my rifle eat the pin. Do what you want but I file em.