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Thread: Hodge Defense--Best Carbine money can buy?

  1. #141
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    I'd still really like to know how finely tuned the gas system is on these rifles. Is the gas port specifically sized to get the best possible performance, or is it huge to allow the rifle to run on all manner of junk ammo? In my mind, these are the kind of details that could make it worth the price of admission.

    And are the enhanced pins BAD-EPS? They certainly look like it.

  2. #142
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    Quote Originally Posted by MistWolf View Post
    Fit & finish is one of the most misunderstood aspects of gunmaking, especially on this site. How pretty a rifle looks doesn't help it shoot better or make it more durable or reliable. But fit & finish does. Not adhering to the proper fit & finish is one reason some of the lower quality ARs are unreliable. Fit and finish are specified on the build drawings. Fit is how well the tolerances are held. A poorly fitted rifle means it has parts that don't mate properly and leads to malfunctions and even jams. Finish is much more than cosmetics. It specifies how rough surfaces are allowed to be and what kind of coatings are to be used. Parts with surfaces that are rougher than allowed drag against each other. Parts incorrectly coated or incorrectly hardened can gall, wear, drag, corrode, crack and have other problems. Fit & finish is very important and folks who really understand firearms know this.

    Attention to detail is what separates a finely built firearm from one that merely assembled. So many are spoiled by the fact that ARs afford us the luxury of being able to assemble from parts, a well running rifle with minimal tools and effort, they lose sight of the importance of how much difference that attention to the little details make and how much extra time and cost it adds to a production rifle. No one seemed to catch on to the fact that the selector of the Hodges AR moves smoothly, like it was on bearings. Do a bit of research on this site how many have asked about the mushy and/or overly stiff action of their selector switch. The usual "fixes" range from "Normal" to "It will get better with use" to "Try another selector". Everyone seems to have missed just how amazing it is Hodges got this one little detail right!- and it's only one little detail. These are the kind of details folks pay thousands of dollars for when having a custom firearm built.

    It may be possible for anyone to build a rifle with the same features for the same money or less. But can anyone specify an interference fit between barrel & upper and install it? Set up a selector to run smoothly and positively without slop? Fit an upper to a lower so there is no play without having to use excessive pressure to move the pins? You also have to ask yourself what other details they got right, such as gas port diameter, buffer weight and spring rate, that make the shooting experience that much better. No offense to anyone, but there is a definite lack of understanding of gun-making on this site and people should educate themselves before making such foolish criticisms I've seem in this thread. We should all listen to what our respected members such as SMGLee and F2S have to say and when we have questions, or challenge what they have to say, it should be done respectfully and with the realization they are respected for a reason.

    We have seen many knowledgeable people stop participating on this site and we are much the poorer as a result. One reason is the disrespect they have been subjected to by the unwashed masses.

    It's times lie this I really miss the wisdom of AC
    I agree with Mistwolf here and C4 Grant. With the caliber of people vouching for Hodge, I will absolutely consider his rifle with an open mind. If John Noveske started his company today, would he get this same reception?

    "Addressing the problem of shootings by ban or confiscation of non-criminal's guns is like addressing the problem of rape by chopping off the Johnson of everyone who DIDN't rape anyone while not only leaving the rapists' equipment intact, but giving them free viagra to boot." --Me

  3. #143
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    Quote Originally Posted by SMGLee

    I used the anaology tthat comparing a Hodge to a quality BCM is like comparing a 911 Turbo S to a GTR, so another way to look at this would be compare a Rolex to a Casio...why would you buy a rolex when a Casio can do exactly the same thing for 600% less cost?

    For those that can appreicated the detail, the fine workmanship, and quality of a product, you will likely appreicate the Hodge rifle. I for one can only afford a GTR so i will still cruise down the street pulling sub 3 second 0-60 launches with the launch control and smiling at the 911 Turbo S driver while i am neck to neck with him......but when i could afford a 911 turbo S...I would definitely jump on that train....
    Problem I have with this analogy, it doesn't really fit. A Rolex is a Rolex because it is made by Rolex. If some one were to purchase the parts Rolex makes and assembles them themselves, is it still a Rolex? Or is it a Hodge? It is unfortunate that his exposure in the market is contained to people in the know. The best thing anyone in this market can do is produce a product, get it out to as many trainers and top level retailers, and let the product speak for itself. More and more shooters are pragmatists who value practical over conceptual. How something works as a whole vs. how something theoretically will work.

    I would daresay the comparison would be better represented as a custom Corvette vs. a factory Corvette.

    I can definitely appreciate a company that has their own forging die specifically for their line of receivers as opposed to using the one available for the forges general sales.

  4. #144
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    Quote Originally Posted by Cincinnatus View Post
    I agree with Mistwolf here and C4 Grant. With the caliber of people vouching for Hodge, I will absolutely consider his rifle with an open mind. If John Noveske started his company today, would he get this same reception?
    If Mr. Noveske started his company today and someone said he possibly builds the best carbine available for the money (from mostly non-proprietary parts), I would expect that he would explain how he puts off the shelf parts together that is different and sets his rifles apart. Lot's of attention to detail comments, no explanation on the actual difference.

    With top quality, in-spec parts, how hard is it to properly install a barrel? A castle nut? A FCG, selector, take down/pivot pins?

    It's not like installing a mil spec barrel nut is difficult, but new rail designs with barrel nuts that don't require alignment for the gas tube have made it easier than ever.

    Here's how I divide the crowd:

    1. Those claiming that a rifle with common parts and "hand selected springs and detents" is possibly the best carbine available for the money.
    2. Those who say, hey, those are common parts that anyone can get. Please explain what is different about how you put them together so that it would cause me to be interested in the product.
    3. Those who know the company owner and want to vouch for him (understandably), but still don't provide any real answers about why the rifle is different.

    The porn star discussion is just stupid. Group #2 is still waiting for 1 and 3 to give some real examples of what about this rifle is different.
    Last edited by DWood; 08-22-14 at 18:24.
    Go in peace, but be prepared for violence.

  5. #145
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    Quote Originally Posted by DWood View Post
    Hey bryan, as an actual owner, maybe you can offer up some specific input on how the "attention paid to detail" in the assembly of your rifle sets it apart from others. All we have seen so far are vague comments without any real details. It would be a good addition to this dialogue.

    I'll tell you what would be a good addition to this dialog. Booting your obnoxious ass out.
    "Facit Omina Voluntas = The Will Decides" - Army Chief


  6. #146
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    Wow... This one has really crashed and burned...

  7. #147
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    Quote Originally Posted by Safetyhit View Post
    I'll tell you what would be a good addition to this dialog. Booting your obnoxious ass out.
    Eight pages of dialogue and in your only input you can't even spell the word correctly? Way to go. Good input.
    Last edited by DWood; 08-22-14 at 18:41.
    Go in peace, but be prepared for violence.

  8. #148
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    Just figured I'd post in this thread since everyone has, but really it seems a little unfair to comment on the quality of a rifle without getting to take one for a test drive.

  9. #149
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    Quote Originally Posted by DWood View Post
    Eight pages of dialogue and in your only input you can't even spell the word correctly? Way to go. Good input.

    Now you see that's what I get for allowing you to irritate me so much I had to stop what I was doing and hastily type that incorrectly into my mobile phone. I'll book an appointment with my psychiatrist first thing tomorrow and hope to get over it.

    Meantime consider that the moderator you are having so much fun attempting to demean is well respected here and there is certainly no reason to believe he speaks anything other than heartfelt and knowledge based fact. Anyone is free to question his assessments of course but the level of unwarranted disrespect you've shown is rather substantial.
    "Facit Omina Voluntas = The Will Decides" - Army Chief


  10. #150
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    Quote Originally Posted by Safetyhit View Post
    ............... Anyone is free to question his assessments of course but the level of unwarranted disrespect you've shown is rather substantial.
    I have asked repeatedly why this rifle is so good. The only answers forthcoming have been "it just is" and "the owner is sincere". Those don't cut it for me, and apparently quite a few others. I just want one fact about the difference, but no one, including you, has provided an answer.

    If the mods think I have been disrespectful, they should ban me right now.
    Go in peace, but be prepared for violence.

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