Anderson Purchase

[The Preacher]

So, now that Ruger has acquired Anderson Manufacturing I was wondering if anyone knows how they incorporated Anderson parts, etc. into the Ruger line. More to the point, is a Ruger AR556 now a restamped Anderson? Or is the Ruger AR 556 filled with Anderson parts (maybe they were before?). Just wondering out loud.

 

[Gator89]

Ruger was likely farming out the lower & upper receivers, handguards, parts, etc.. For all I know, Anderson could have been the supplier.

Now Ruger has the opportunity for more influence on the quality of the products.

 

[Goldstar225]

My understanding is that Ruger made the AR556 and parts in house at their Mayodan facility from the begining in 2014(?). The purchase of Anderson was to increase production capacity.

 

[Delbert]

There are very few AR manufacturers in the USA. Most all AR sellers are "assemblers" who have their parts manufactured to their specifications or as per the "spec" of machining, hardening, and coatings. Anything other than what is used as we know it, is considered either an upgrade in function or "out of spec", but still within all guidelines of function/safety and useability, while still looking like an AR.

Bushmaster, DPMS, Colt, Anderson, FN, Ruger, PSA couple others I've forgotten, were/are still, if in business, true manufacturers who made millions/billions of parts for AR sellers under other brand names. 4 of these I've mentioned are now defunct, with PSA now being the leader in manufacturing of AR parts sold to civilians. So, that Colt part you have, if Colt was behind to fill a contract, they would call upon another manufacturer to make their part(s) under strict guidline to Colt's specifications and you wouldn't even know it.

 

[Delbert]

Ruger was likely farming out the lower & upper receivers, handguards, parts, etc.. For all I know, Anderson could have been the supplier.

Now Ruger has the opportunity for more influence on the quality of the products.

One way to know, is look at the lower receiver, for the forging mark. It'll have something like an "A"(Anchor), "AH"(Anchor Hocking), or maybe another letter or symbol to let one know where that receiver came from. Nothing bad. Just that maybe Ruger didn't do the forging, but did do the milling/drilling and all other needed stampings/logo marks, while then sending out to be coated and returned for assembly into that rifle with Ruger's name on it.

 

[s4s4u]

There have been many forges over the years, but there are 4 or 5 that do most of the lowers these days.

https://www.generalstaff.org/Firearms/Markings/AR15_Forge_Marks.htm

 

[the_leper_colony]

There are very few AR manufacturers in the USA. Most all AR sellers are "assemblers" who have their parts manufactured to their specifications or as per the "spec" of machining, hardening, and coatings...

Exactly, and it's been that way for decades. Just over 20 years ago, I talked to the VP of a small company that actually DID make the majority of their own lower receivers. He stated that just about everyone building ARs (including "ABC" - ArmaLite, Bushmaster & Colt) got most of their small parts, furniture, barrels, etc., from subcontractors. And most companies contracted-out their receivers, as well; I remember that Aero Precision was making upper receivers for ArmaLite, long before I ever saw any AR parts with the Aero name on them.

Bottom line, the name on an AR often doesn't tell you very much about who made the parts it was assembled from...

 

[Randyzzz]

Aero Precision builds components for a lot of “manufacturers”, or at least they did years past. I will say that during the time I was heavily into AR’s, Aero seemed to have the best quality control. The ones I kept are from Aero.

 

[instructor]

I bought a Ruger SR556 rifle some years ago and have owned several other brands of AR's and the SR556 being a piston gas system and cold hammer forged barrel has given me no problems whatsoever. Actually, none of my AR's have given me any problems regardless of who built or installed the various parts in the rifle. Keep in mind the military is the one behind developing the AR rifle/carbines and quality standards show up in most of the AR's I have had any experience using. I would not advise anyone to buy an AR in the $300 to $500 range for would fear that quality of parts of whatever description would not be up to par with those rifles ranging in prices of $800 upward. Will say my SR556 15 is the best one I have ever owned and has over 2000 rounds through it to date and will likely take it to the range tomorrow for more shooting.

 

[GasGuzzler]

Bottom line, the name on an AR often doesn't tell you very much about who made the parts it was assembled from...

Agreed yet no wants to pay even street value for a Frankenrifle if when it has parts of known origin ... although I have never lost on one.

 

[RC44Mag]

When NY outlawed the dreaded flash suppressor I went and bought a new Anderson HB 20” barrel for my Colt HBAR. I packed the scary barrel away in the tube the Anderson came in to put it back to OE when we get out of here next year. Anderson makes quality barrels that I can attest to so I can assume all their stuff is good.

 

[Mobuck]

The parts that make or break an AR are the barrel, BCG, hammer, and trigger. Matter of fact, there are many price point barrels that are more accurate than the average shooter. A poorly finished BCG will choke an AR and can be difficult to diagnose. The interaction of the fire control group parts is one of the most noticeable (but easiest to remedy) areas of the AR operation. 'Mil-Spec' FCG parts are often poorly finished and fitted.
I'm an AR 'assembler' (OMG, I hate the term 'builder') and I've seen almost every possible misfit of parts and/or out-of-spec parts one can imagine. Often, with a bit of trial and error (and a big enough box of parts) one can find a combination of parts that will produce a useable rifle. It's not brain surgery but it's certainly not 'any peg fits any hole' sort of activity, either.

 

[s4s4u]

I've assembled dozens of AR's with parts from countless vendors and the only times I have had a gun fail to run has been due to small gas ports in the barrels, relative to barrel length. Sometimes all it takes is reducing weight of the buffer/bolt, but I have had to open up the holes in a couple. I prefer Aero receivers, but have used Anderson on several occasions and to be honest, the Anderson upper/lower fitment has been tighter than Aero. All went together and functioned fine, with LPK's and BCG's from several different manf's. Definitely not brain surgery.

 

[chet15]

The C.E.O.s webcast at Ruger's earnings report said they would not be continuing any products from Anderson and also that the space and employees there would be used to help produce some of Ruger's products, I assume at least the AR556.
Chet15