Dear Guys,
Thanks for the replies. I hope I get a few more.
These Blackthorne kits are listed on gunbroker[dot]com
My on-line research seems to indicate that:
1. The main problem that folks had with these kits were that (i) there were often small parts missing, and (ii) there were sometimes burs on the small parts that needed minor filing and fitting. Trying to get satisfaction on these issues from the customer service department apparently was fruitless.
2. The external fit and finish of the receiver and certain parts is not as nice as the Colts, Bushmasters, DPMS etc., (but really, as long as it functions ok then I wouldn't care). Also, its seems like most people are now saying that the parts are primarily DPMS parts. So, maybe they have improved?
3. These kits got lots of flak early on for having Mossburg barrels (but apparently, lots of companies use Mossburg barrels now?, and so maybe this isn't as much of a stima?). I'm not looking for a varmint rifle, and 2 inch moa would be fine with me, so if a Mossburg barrel will do that, then I'm fine with that.
4. The number of complaints seems to have dropped off alot in the last 12 months or so, so maybe the company ironed out the bugs with these kits?, or got more careful about checking the packages before they sent them out?
One comment that worried me a little, on several internet boards, was that if you are experienced in building and debugging the AR rifles, then these kits will probably been fine for you, but if you are not experienced with this, these could be big trouble and a huge headache.
I would love to hear more from folks that have had recent experience with these within the past year. (I've never even fired an AR-15, much less assembled and de-bugged one. :-0)
Thanks, Mannyrock