Aero precision rant / PSA if you are building a M5E1 rifle

[ruthabagah]

First of all: I really like Aero Precision products. I have build 3 COP rifles, and I now have 4 of their new M4E1 with the enhanced handguard and they are an awesome design.

<Rant>

Now the rant: Aero customer service and QC on the M5E1 sucks... Like bad... How fucking hard is it to send the right product the first time to a paying customer? And then, how hard is it to admit you made a mistake, and ship the replacement part quickly and expedite the shipping? Well I guess, when you are aero, it is TOO HARD!

First: ordered everything to build a M5E1 enhanced upper from aero (800$), receive the wrong upper (I bought the lower and lower parts locally)... The M5E1 particularity is to have an integrated handguard mount for their enhanced handguard, the one I received was the standard M5.... Pretty obvious difference. It took me 3 days, 3 emails, 4 phone call and a picture of the part, to make them admit they shipped the wrong one. So, what is their answer? Ship us back the upper, and we will ship the other one back! really, 3 weeks later I finally get my part, and with a lot of excitement, I try to put my upper together, and realize that:
1 - It is more than a tight fit between their upper and lower, and it will need some serious adjustment to perfectly work.
2 - the quick detach barrel nut advertised on their website was not the one I received
3- Worse: the enhanced handguard they send me will not fit the upper....



Back to calling them, get the cold shoulder treatment, and having to spend hours on the phone / email......

</rant>

BTW: This is what it should look like when it's done

[BPTactical]

Never been impressed with Aero at all.

[ray1970]

Never been impressed with Aero at all.

Ditto. I bought ones of their lowers that was out of spec. Although, in their defense, it was at a time when everything was sold out, back ordered, and really hard to get. I imagine they ramped up production and lost a bit of quality control along the way.

[XC700116]

Good to know, I was actually looking at the exact same upper/handgaurd setup because it looks like a really nice setup. Perfet Torque, nice and solid, keymod, fairly slim, etc. Glad I didn't pull the trigger yet.

[ruthabagah]

Good to know, I was actually looking at the exact same upper/handgaurd setup because it looks like a really nice setup. Perfet Torque, nice and solid, keymod, fairly slim, etc. Glad I didn't pull the trigger yet.

If you want it in 5.56 The M4E1 works great and is definitively a product I would recommend. The M5E1 (308) is not there yet....

[XC700116]

If you want it in 5.56 The M4E1 works great and is definitively a product I would recommend. The M5E1 (308) is not there yet....

ahhhh, yeah I was looking at the 556/AR15/M4E1 version. I've decided that if and when I go to the big format, I'm just going to drop the coin on a JP complete rifle.

[ruthabagah]

Update: was, again, asked to return the wrong part before getting the part they screw up.... I even offered to buy the M4E1 hand guard they send me, if they send the replacement one today.... Nope!

[ruthabagah]

Update: Getting the replacement handguard shipped to me express. Hopefully this is the right one..... Will update when received. I may even add a range report.

[EvolvingTactical]

I built my AR using a stripped Aero Lower and stripped Upper, and neither has given me an issue yet after almost a year and 2k rounds through the rifle. It might be that I lucked out. Hope they treat you right and get you the parts you need. A range report would be nice.

[stoner01]

Two of my three rifles are built with aero uppers and odds and ends. No issues to speak of at all. Hmmmmm