HM Defense update?

**SE Flyer** · 02-01-24, 10:50

HM Defense is local to me and they are having a meet and greet with their owners at my local gun club later this month. I'm sure it'll be the equivalent of a time share sales pitch, but they are offering a free dinner, so I'll probably go just for the food.

What's the consensus on HM Defense? I know they make some specialized components such as the monolithic barrel and their bolt, but are they generally recognized as a competent company or just another wannabe AR builder? I've read that their barrels have no bore treatment, either chrome or nitride, and their bolts are not Carpenter 158 and have no proof testing.

Should I hammer those points home during the Q&A and put them on the spot or just sit back and listen to their sales pitch?

I have zero intention of ever buying any of their products, but it would be interesting to hear them try and justify their reasons for not lining their barrels and the lower quality steel and lack of testing on their bolts.

**Waylander** · 02-01-24, 11:22

Do you mean these barrels? Chrome lined.

https://leadandsteel.co/product/chro...rious-lengths/

**Defaultmp3** · 02-01-24, 11:34

Originally Posted by SE Flyer

their bolts are not Carpenter 158 and have no proof testing.

While they're not C158, 9310 is a pretty widely accepted substitute for AR-15 bolts, I personally wouldn't really find that unusual in any way, given that Faxon, Toolcraft, Hodge Defense, etc. have all sold 9310 bolts. As for HPT/MPI, well, Centurion Arms didn't do it for awhile, and KAC still doesn't, so there are certainly some arguments to be made that it's unnecessary if the rest of your QA/QC is good enough.

Originally Posted by Waylander

Do you mean these barrels? Chrome lined.

https://leadandsteel.co/product/chro...rious-lengths/

That's a special line for L&S. Typical barrels from HM Defense have no coating in the bore, nor are they nitrided.

**markm** · 02-01-24, 11:34

I wouldn't waste my time/effort. You'll never save the world from mediocrity in production. And there's always a huge pool of budget minded people who will buy crap from a gun counter ape.

Now if it were those scumbag h0m0s from LWRCI, I'd say scorch Effing Earth!!

**SE Flyer** · 02-01-24, 11:40

Originally Posted by Waylander

Do you mean these barrels? Chrome lined.

https://leadandsteel.co/product/chro...rious-lengths/

Somethings funky with HM's website. You click on HM's barrel selection and it automatically forwards you to the L&S Wesbiste. According to the L&S website, chrome lining is only available to barrels purchased through L&S. L&S says their HQ is in Columbus and HM's HQ is in Mt. Orab. Sounds like they are sourcing their barrels from another vendor.

**SE Flyer** · 02-01-24, 11:44

Originally Posted by markm

I wouldn't waste my time/effort. You'll never save the world from mediocrity in production. And there's always a huge pool of budget minded people who will buy crap from a gun counter ape.

Now if it were those scumbag h0m0s from LWRCI, I'd say scorch Effing Earth!!

Like I said earlier, I'm not going to purchase anything from HM. Just want to go for the free dinner. Might be fun to call them on their BS if they start the heavy sales job.

**markm** · 02-01-24, 13:23

Originally Posted by SE Flyer

Like I said earlier, I'm not going to purchase anything from HM. Just want to go for the free dinner. Might be fun to call them on their BS if they start the heavy sales job.

If you find them outright lying about stuff and claiming their barrels last "twice as long" like LWRCi does, hell yes. But if they're not deceptive about their corner cutting, I wouldn't harass them.

**SE Flyer** · 02-01-24, 15:45

Originally Posted by markm

If you find them outright lying about stuff and claiming their barrels last "twice as long" like LWRCi does, hell yes. But if they're not deceptive about their corner cutting, I wouldn't harass them.

Agreed. But if they start preaching the "just as good as" line, then I'll ask them to prove it.

**Waylander** · 02-01-24, 15:57

Originally Posted by SE Flyer

Somethings funky with HM's website. You click on HM's barrel selection and it automatically forwards you to the L&S Wesbiste. According to the L&S website, chrome lining is only available to barrels purchased through L&S. L&S says their HQ is in Columbus and HM's HQ is in Mt. Orab. Sounds like they are sourcing their barrels from another vendor.

Ok that’s really dumb IF they only CL the barrels for L&S but are bare chromoly otherwise.