SI Defense

hmbeal · #1 03-15-11, 23:39

Wondering if anyone has heard of this manufacture. I have never heard of them and just stumbled across them. There stripped lowers seem to be a decent deal and they have a interesting video of one being made.

http://www.sonju.net/about_us.html

tradja · #2 05-28-11, 00:12

I'm interested too. There are some good deals currently on their billet lowers. I've read about tight magwells but that the company quickly took care of the issues.

Still, I'd rather not get a lower that needed a trip back to the factory.

Bump for any feedback to the OP.

TacMedic556 · #3 10-17-12, 19:01

Stay away from them. Personally know an officer who had to return out of spec uppers and lowers. Touring the facility, I discussed some specs I had questions on. Individual there who seemed quite in charge had no idea what the difference was between a Full Auto M16 BCG and AR civilian/commercial. Also, another individual/owner re-used a crush washer from an A2 bird cage after removing the A2 to place a Smith Vortex flash hider. Smiths do not require a washer and you never re-use a crush washer. After multiple other reports, I have heard and my experiences, I am much afraid of their product line until they get a grip on what specs are and make a point to get some people there who know a thing or two.

Fidalgoman · #4 10-17-12, 21:07

I don't know too much about them other than they are about a mile or so north of Kalispell, MT. Seem to be doing a lot of business.

There is also another AR manufacturer south of Kalispell who caters mostly to special forces. NEMO is their name.

Littlelebowski · #5 10-17-12, 21:17

Quote:

Originally Posted by Fidalgoman

There is also another AR manufacturer south of Kalispell who caters mostly to special forces. NEMO is their name.

Be careful what you believe.

lethal dose · #6 10-17-12, 21:26

http://nemoarms.com/guns/

Completely absurd.

lethal dose · #7 10-17-12, 21:29

http://nemoarms.com/portfolio/battle.../gallery/guns/

MBUS sights for only $95!

Stickman · #8 10-17-12, 21:52

Quote:

Originally Posted by lethal dose

http://nemoarms.com/portfolio/battle.../gallery/guns/

MBUS sights for only $95!

1. If a places sucks so badly, why link to them?

2. How much do you think a set of MBUS sights are?

http://store.magpul.com/prod_detail_list/44

lethal dose · #9 10-17-12, 22:10

Woah. Enhance calm. Guess I stand corrected on the MBUS sights.

TacMedic556 · #10 10-18-12, 00:18

Ok, first let's see a special forces Nemo firearm. Not going to happen. I would encourage any one to try to find that documented anywhere. We all know that Colt M4, HK, SR-25 (Stoner) etc. are the primary weapons of the SF.

SI - case closed. Out of spec company that is just another knock off brand. They originally specialized in CNC machining Aircraft parts in Kalispell. They saw the market for ARs and started machining them. Well, I have seen and heard horror stories.

As for NEMO, they are brand new. Read the newspaper articles on them. One of their head guys came out of being a tire salesman before being hired by NEMO. So far they have done a lot of talk, I have not seen any product worth getting excited about.

You want SF guns from the Kalispell area? Look up BlackOps Precision.

Austin_Nichols · #11 10-18-12, 00:24

Quote:

Originally Posted by TacMedic556

Stay away from them. Personally know an officer who had to return out of spec uppers and lowers. Touring the facility, I discussed some specs I had questions on. Individual there who seemed quite in charge had no idea what the difference was between a Full Auto M16 BCG and AR civilian/commercial. Also, another individual/owner re-used a crush washer from an A2 bird cage after removing the A2 to place a Smith Vortex flash hider. Smiths do not require a washer and you never re-use a crush washer. After multiple other reports, I have heard and my experiences, I am much afraid of their product line until they get a grip on what specs are and make a point to get some people there who know a thing or two.

You resurrected a year old thread. Sonju is now NEMO for what it's worth.

TacMedic556 · #12 10-18-12, 00:30

Quote:

Originally Posted by Austin_Nichols

You resurrected a year old thread. Sonju is now NEMO for what it's worth.

Sonju still exists as far as I know, yet provides/works with Nemo in machining and some parts. Doesn't really matter. Totally over priced out of spec novelty guns. If you find one that has all the appropriate specs as listed in the "Chart" listed on this site let us know. You will never see one that is fully staked where it should be, 100% MPI or HPT, Certified barrel steel, etc. and so on.

yeah, they exist, just checked: http://www.si-defense.com/

Austin_Nichols · #13 10-18-12, 01:19

Quote:

Originally Posted by TacMedic556

Sonju still exists as far as I know, yet provides/works with Nemo in machining and some parts. Doesn't really matter. Totally over priced out of spec novelty guns. If you find one that has all the appropriate specs as listed in the "Chart" listed on this site let us know. You will never see one that is fully staked where it should be, 100% MPI or HPT, Certified barrel steel, etc. and so on.

yeah, they exist, just checked: http://www.si-defense.com/

They exist, but NEMO now owns the firearms side, SI Defense, which basically means (as you said) they are now partners with Sonju I guess: http://www.flatheadbeacon.com/articl..._defense/25856

Whatever. I have no experience with either one but I'd love to know how many rifles of any kind NEMO has sold at those prices.

Freelance · #14 10-18-12, 01:55

I have a SI Defense matched billet upper lower receiver I built into my 6.8SPC rifle and I have been very happy with it. I did have to tweak a little on my Troy rail to get it to fit flush but aside from that I have had no problems what so ever with the upper and lower. I did actually send the upper back to SI, not because of a problem, but because I had them Fail Zero it for me. I am exceptionally happy with how the rifle came out once completed, and I have received many compliments on the weapon and how it looks and shoots. I have had no problems with tight magwell but then I am running 6.8 mags and they are steel not polymer or aluminum (but i did use a 20 round pmag before I received my 6.8 mags.) Granted I built out the weapon myself, piece for piece, and took my time choosing what went into it. So I cannot speak to one of their completed rifles. The upper and lower though were well made and the treatment of the Fail Zero and color anodizing was great on mine. I'll link to a few photos of it if your interested.

echang86 · #15 10-18-12, 17:41

I picked up two SI Defense AR lowers during the Obama craze for $100 each. (It was a good deal at the time)

I can confirm that the lowers were out of spec. Magpul Pmags would not fit in the magwell. GI aluminumn mags fit and dropped fine. I didn't find out until two years later. They took it back and fixed it, and covered shipping both ways.

Keep in mind this was four years ago, and they are very very early production lowers. The stamp mark on them is the old stamp mark they use to have (jolly roger). I don't know if they have gotten their act together since then.

Littlelebowski · #16 10-18-12, 17:59

Quote:

Originally Posted by TacMedic556

You want SF guns from the Kalispell area? Look up BlackOps Precision.

Are you saying their guns are being used by SF?

TacMedic556 · #17 10-18-12, 23:32

Quote:

Originally Posted by Littlelebowski

Are you saying their guns are being used by SF?

They manufactured and sold 14 precision bolt guns under contract to I believe the Navy. I do not have any horses in these races, just repeating what a very reliable source from their company spoke of.

KACSR15 · #18 11-03-12, 09:05

Quote:

Originally Posted by TacMedic556

They manufactured and sold 14 precision bolt guns under contract to I believe the Navy. I do not have any horses in these races, just repeating what a very reliable source from their company spoke of.

How about Columbia Falls, MT for Black Ops Precision (previous Underground Skunkworks). I can't say who Mike has or hasn't sold to but I have 2 rifles from him. If you have questions ring the office and ask. Mike Bush is one of the best builders in the business, period! He has rifles going in all directions to all different people and departments all over the place.

http://blackopsprecision.com/

First rifle from Mike:

Second rifle from Mike:

As for SI Defense....... I've read plenty from the past about out of spec forged uppers. I do have a billett lower an am 100% satisfied with it. I bought it a couple years ago from Operations Parts when they still offered them. Would I buy another? Maybe another billett lower if the price was right, otherwise there are plenty of other makers out there with awesome reputations.

SI Defense Billett lower: (Patriot Brown Cerakote by Mike Bush)

TacMedic556 · #19 11-03-12, 12:24

Totally agree on BlackOps. Mike Bush and Tim Cronin are probably the two best gunsmiths in the state of Montana right now. For sure the highest quality precision rifle makers in the region.

As for SI Defense and NEMO; not interested at all. I will stick with Colt, BCM, Noveske or Daniel Defense for black rifles and actual knowledge on how to build them.

Fidalgoman · #20 11-03-12, 15:06

Quote:

Originally Posted by TacMedic556

Totally agree on BlackOps. Mike Bush and Tim Cronin are probably the two best gunsmiths in the state of Montana right now. For sure the highest quality precision rifle makers in the region.

As for SI Defense and NEMO; not interested at all. I will stick with Colt, BCM, Noveske or Daniel Defense for black rifles and actual knowledge on how to build them.

I can't defend or condemn any of the ten major gun makers in the flathead valley. Some have good reputations. Some not so good. Some improving. No bone to pick.

It looks however like you might brother. Just wondering what your personal beef was against these people. If any of them did you wrong, I can understand that.