TAPCO 2 Kit Review

MGSwifter · April 02, 2002, 17:50

After reading all of the glowing reviews, I thought it good to give my perspective on the 2 kits I received.

Kit 1 - 50% finish
barrel - nice bore except last 2 inches are pitted. Could make a carbine but that defeats the G1 project.
handgaurds - dented, pitted, scrap.
gas piston & spring - like new.
carry handle - scrap.
top cover - bent, scrap.
gas tube - minor corrosion will clean up.
bi-pod - an interesting assembly of parts from 2 different ones. Cams require work.
lower receiver- different serial number, internals look good.
return spring tube - corroded should clean up.
stock - wood - scrap.
pistol grip - split, dented - scrap.
bolt and carrier - like new non matching #.
butt plate with trap door is dented and corroded - I managed to fix the dents.
flash hider - bent prong (?)

Kit 2 - <50% finish
barrel - pitted from end to end - scrap.
handgaurds - dented, pitted, torn, scrap.
gas piston & spring - like new - odd.
carry handle - scrap.
top cover - bent & twisted, scrap.
gas tube - internal corrosion, not sure if it will clean up.
bi-pod - salvagable, cams also require work.
lower receiver - significant corrosion looks like someone filed off the old serial number and re-stamped it. E is almost gone. Lots of pitting and file marks that will not clean up. Cosmetically scrap. Internals look good though.
return spring tube - badly corroded. Removal of the butt plate resulted in a return spring explosion. The butt plate screw was rusted to the return spring nut. A little WD40 helped seperate them. They should clean up with a wire wheel.
butt plate no door - dented. I managed to fix the dents in that plate.
stock - wood - needs a patch but salvagable.
pistol grip - split but no significant dents.
bolt and carrier - like new non matching.
flash hider - flat spring is broken.

The springs, pins, and small parts of both kits were good. Almost 1 usable kit out of the 2. Not sure what I will do for a barrel or if I will continue with a G1 project.

MGSwifter

gun_collector · April 02, 2002, 17:53

umn. return it.

tdandy · April 02, 2002, 18:15

I think Tapco will take whatever back that you are not happy with.......or swap for other kits, e-mail Cynthia@tapco.com and ask her. I recieved a very good + kit from them 2 weeks ago but I paid for hand select, I hope you can return yours and have better luck of the draw on the next sets..........

Celtic warrior · April 03, 2002, 09:26

There it is in print again.
How many other companies or their customer service people would check out these boards for unsatisfied customers?
Buy it when you/I can from Tapco,

hgr2 · April 03, 2002, 19:15

The first 2 kits I got from TAPCO looked so good I ordered 2 more, should be here next week.

gun_collector · April 03, 2002, 19:58

They sent me a complete FAL!!

J/k

GSF1200 · April 03, 2002, 20:06

I ordered 2 from Tapco, haven't got them yet.

DUCTTAPE · April 03, 2002, 20:12

I orderd 3 kits and had a problem with some parts. I only sent back the most heavily damaged parts that I couldn't fix,except for the stocks.I wasn't happy with those ,that and NONE of my parts matched ;but the bores were great!The gas systems looked NEW !
Over all I figuerd that I came out pretty good,I just wish TAPCO would have told me that they had hand-select aval. on these kits when I got in on the pre-order.I would have gladly paid the extra money.
I'm still waiting for my re-placements, but I was so happy with the service that I have received so far I just placed a new order yesterday with TONY at TAPCO for some small parts and 2 new stock @ pistol grip sets.

Oh goody ,mail call next week!!

FAL · April 03, 2002, 20:36

Just got my TAPCO kit today and gave it a quick once-over. Overall, I'm very pleased with the condition of the kit.

Bore: crisp, doesn't appear to be any pitting
Wood buttstock, plastic pistol grip. Buttstock has no gouges or cracks and will re-finish nicely
Finish is gone, absolutely no finish remaining.
Bolt and internal parts look nice and clean and don't appear to have any damage whatsoever.
Topcover isn't dented but has no finish left.
Metal handguards have a nice dent towards the front on one of them, and a lot of scratches, but I'm keeping them as I think it gives them "character" and shows it's age a bit. Once I refinish them they'll look better.
I'll take it apart and look at the gas system tomorrow.

Overall, a great kit for the price and looks like it will re-finish into a great shooter.

MGSwifter · April 03, 2002, 21:43

I just sent Cynthia an email. It looks like I will send back both kits and pony up for a couple of hand select ones. I just might get a G1 built yet.

April 02, 2002, 17:50	#1
MGSwifter Registered FALaholic #: 3054 Join Date: Apr 2001 Location: Huntsville, AL, USA Posts: 6	TAPCO 2 Kit Review After reading all of the glowing reviews, I thought it good to give my perspective on the 2 kits I received. Kit 1 - 50% finish barrel - nice bore except last 2 inches are pitted. Could make a carbine but that defeats the G1 project. handgaurds - dented, pitted, scrap. gas piston & spring - like new. carry handle - scrap. top cover - bent, scrap. gas tube - minor corrosion will clean up. bi-pod - an interesting assembly of parts from 2 different ones. Cams require work. lower receiver- different serial number, internals look good. return spring tube - corroded should clean up. stock - wood - scrap. pistol grip - split, dented - scrap. bolt and carrier - like new non matching #. butt plate with trap door is dented and corroded - I managed to fix the dents. flash hider - bent prong (?) Kit 2 - <50% finish barrel - pitted from end to end - scrap. handgaurds - dented, pitted, torn, scrap. gas piston & spring - like new - odd. carry handle - scrap. top cover - bent & twisted, scrap. gas tube - internal corrosion, not sure if it will clean up. bi-pod - salvagable, cams also require work. lower receiver - significant corrosion looks like someone filed off the old serial number and re-stamped it. E is almost gone. Lots of pitting and file marks that will not clean up. Cosmetically scrap. Internals look good though. return spring tube - badly corroded. Removal of the butt plate resulted in a return spring explosion. The butt plate screw was rusted to the return spring nut. A little WD40 helped seperate them. They should clean up with a wire wheel. butt plate no door - dented. I managed to fix the dents in that plate. stock - wood - needs a patch but salvagable. pistol grip - split but no significant dents. bolt and carrier - like new non matching. flash hider - flat spring is broken. The springs, pins, and small parts of both kits were good. Almost 1 usable kit out of the 2. Not sure what I will do for a barrel or if I will continue with a G1 project. MGSwifter

April 03, 2002, 09:26	#4
Celtic warrior Registered FALaholic #: 4012 Join Date: Aug 2001 Location: North of Detroit, too far north. period. Posts: 1,486	There it is in print again. How many other companies or their customer service people would check out these boards for unsatisfied customers? Buy it when you/I can from Tapco, __________________ Been a member here longer than both my marriages put together. Enjoying it more too.

April 03, 2002, 20:12	#8
DUCTTAPE Registered FALaholic #: 4853 Join Date: Nov 2001 Location: central illinois Posts: 40	I orderd 3 kits and had a problem with some parts. I only sent back the most heavily damaged parts that I couldn't fix,except for the stocks.I wasn't happy with those ,that and NONE of my parts matched ;but the bores were great!The gas systems looked NEW ! Over all I figuerd that I came out pretty good,I just wish TAPCO would have told me that they had hand-select aval. on these kits when I got in on the pre-order.I would have gladly paid the extra money. I'm still waiting for my re-placements, but I was so happy with the service that I have received so far I just placed a new order yesterday with TONY at TAPCO for some small parts and 2 new stock @ pistol grip sets. Oh goody ,mail call next week!! __________________ A substantial amount of" duct tape "and a "BIG" hammer ,can fix just about anything !

April 03, 2002, 20:36	#9
FAL Registered FALaholic #: 3320 Join Date: May 2001 Location: IL Posts: 507	Just got my TAPCO kit today and gave it a quick once-over. Overall, I'm very pleased with the condition of the kit. Bore: crisp, doesn't appear to be any pitting Wood buttstock, plastic pistol grip. Buttstock has no gouges or cracks and will re-finish nicely Finish is gone, absolutely no finish remaining. Bolt and internal parts look nice and clean and don't appear to have any damage whatsoever. Topcover isn't dented but has no finish left. Metal handguards have a nice dent towards the front on one of them, and a lot of scratches, but I'm keeping them as I think it gives them "character" and shows it's age a bit. Once I refinish them they'll look better. I'll take it apart and look at the gas system tomorrow. Overall, a great kit for the price and looks like it will re-finish into a great shooter. __________________ Remember the government that has the power to give you all you want, also has the power to take all you have. Col. David Crockett

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April 02, 2002, 17:53	#2
gun_collector Registered FALaholic #: 1492 Join Date: Nov 2000 Posts: 53	umn. return it.

April 02, 2002, 18:15	#3
tdandy Registered FALaholic #: 4110 Join Date: Sep 2001 Location: Bakersfield, CA Posts: 26	I think Tapco will take whatever back that you are not happy with.......or swap for other kits, e-mail Cynthia@tapco.com and ask her. I recieved a very good + kit from them 2 weeks ago but I paid for hand select, I hope you can return yours and have better luck of the draw on the next sets..........

April 03, 2002, 19:15	#5
hgr2 Registered FALaholic #: 5061 Join Date: Dec 2001 Location: corpus christi, texas Posts: 60	The first 2 kits I got from TAPCO looked so good I ordered 2 more, should be here next week.

April 03, 2002, 19:58	#6
gun_collector Registered FALaholic #: 1492 Join Date: Nov 2000 Posts: 53	They sent me a complete FAL!! J/k

April 03, 2002, 20:06	#7
GSF1200 Registered Contributor FALaholic #: 4687 Join Date: Nov 2001 Location: Lafayette,LA Posts: 1,072	I ordered 2 from Tapco, haven't got them yet.

April 03, 2002, 21:43	#10
MGSwifter Registered FALaholic #: 3054 Join Date: Apr 2001 Location: Huntsville, AL, USA Posts: 6	I just sent Cynthia an email. It looks like I will send back both kits and pony up for a couple of hand select ones. I just might get a G1 built yet.