RDSC guys are always saving the day

Sorry to hear about your barrel. I’ve been lucky with mine. I’m 99% sure Lockhart gets their barrels from tactical kinetics. From what I’ve seen and read the first couple of batches were fine. (April, may 2023 when I gat mine) then the bad batch. So glad you posted this. I kinda suspected the chamber but wasn’t sure. Maybe you could send the barrel back? See if Lockhart could get you some money back from the manufacturer? Especially since you had a proper gunsmith diagnose the issue. Glad she’s running good for you now!

I wonder if its a consistency thing with the barrel. Ive got over 5000 rounds through mine and its running awesome! Not even a misfeed or anything. That being said, if it is a barrel consistency thing, then that is super shitty either way. The thing that still keeps me a raven person is that you can just change out the questionable part for a AR proven equivalent. I do know lockhart is super busy and probably rushing certain things. Maybe they should stick to reciver sets. Seems like the base is rock solid but there are some inconsistencies when buying the full rifle. I seem to be lucky as mine and my girlfriends raven, both 556, are running rock solid. Hers is still under 1000 rounds though. Ive had customers use my raven as a rental at the range i work at and so ive got a massive round count through mine and its been rock solid. All in all id say these rifle have huge promise, just need to smooth a couple things. Still much better than the broken pistons of any of the 180 platforms. I do wish the charging handle had a regular catch on it instead of the spring clips.

I didn’t drill my barrel gas port either. I just replaced the gas block with a fixed block. Everything else is running well and bought an extra upper to do a SBR build which also works well.

You can use a radian raptor charging handle with some small modifications. Guys are retrofitting them but you specifically need the dpms gen 2 radian charging handle to do it as it’s closest in spec to what the raven uses.

The Tavor guys would run into bent rounds on the early Tavors. The problem was magazines. That said, my friend stands by RDSC, as those guys go above and beyond to get things working. For the Tavor guys, just modifiy your Pmags, or get your hands on lar15's.....if they even exist anymore. I don't even know... I'm actually an American who works in Canada from time to time. Cheers guys, one more year of Trudeau.

I was also one of the unlucky ones with a bad barrel. I didn't try to drill the barrel. I sent Lockhart the rifle and they installed a new .223 wylde because it fell under warranty. I still need to fine tune the gas but i don't have a bulging brass issue anymore

I used a piece of 1/16 heat shrink on the metal tab of the charging handle. It lasted about 200 rounds and will have to be replaced but not a mark on the gun. Band aid fix but better than nothing I suppose.

Never stop sending it, now i know what to do if i start to have issues

I make content on my raven and my barrel sucked as well. There is a guy in my comments that had 8000 through 2 different guns. He said both barrels sucked.

ive filmed many AR180 failures.. and every single failure cements my love for my Type 81. Over 2k rounds of chinese, corrosive surplus and ive never once had a failure of any kind.

Thanks for the post and the advice on the Builders Kit. It's a frustrating thing to have to fork over so much, especially considering the political nonsense we're all in. Our laws change by the second and the hoops licensed owners have to jump through seemingly move from side to side while rotating. This wedges Canadian firearms owners into spending more because of the increase in demand. I was quite happy with what I had and could use...that was until the OIC. I can't imagine what it's like being a new up-and-coming manufacturer when the ideologically driven powers-that-be do everything in their power to shut you down. Wolverine Guns and Tackle recently closed its doors and a couple of rural gunsmiths here have as well. I really hope Lockhart Tactical can iron things out because the raven truly is an attractive rifle. RDSC have always been great and... I'm going to be needing one of those barrels of theirs in a little while.

RDSC said they will be making bolt carriers and firing pins for the Raven 5.56

Blows my mind that a company isn't taking this rifle back under warranty, testing, seeing the issues youre havinf for themselves and resolving it. In what world do they just say no to that and make you go aftermarket support?

So your saying - purchasing Lockhart Tactical Raven 5.56 Builders Kit would be the way to go - and have arms supplier build the rest of the rifle for you!

Another great video. Sorry to hear about the issues you have had. What mount is that for your scope?

Thanks, this is super informative! Sorry to hear that you had to go to such lengths to get a functioning rifle, that’s super disappointing from Lockhart. I’ve got an earlier serial mid-length version with over 1000 rounds through it and it’s been basically flawless. I guess yours was one of the later batches with the crappy barrels? Would you mind doing another video on the training/drills you run?

I had the same issue the bolt tried to pickup a round in the mag but then it bent it instread of pushing it to the chamber. I then tuned up the gas by two clicks, the issue is then gone.v

Subscribed!

You said you "had no accuracy issues with the [original] barrel" - what did you measure its accuracy at and with what load? What about the new barrel?

Where did you go to purchase the rifle. I’m also in Canada and having a tough time finding a reputable distributor.

I've been thinking of buying a custom made Raven 556 with a short barrel. The barrel is a 10.5 Faxon Govt. Triggertech 3lb 2 stage. Magpul furniture. What do you think about a custom 10.5 barrel on this Raven? Do you think it would make a good and fast functioning Short Barrel Rifle? I'm not looking to go beyond 150 yards with it so I'm more concerned about accurate and quick repetitive bolt cycling than I am with accurate splits down range. I'd love to change that charging handle and bolt carrier, too bad proprietary. Thanks for these videos. Really good help. Congrats on that new barrel. Cheers

Great vid tho!

Does anyone know what Serial Numbers sre affected? I have recently found out that they have some mid length and some rife length gas systems. I just bought one from CGC and its in the 2400 block of SN. I have a rifle system and im wondering if i am going to have issues

you said the firing pin is not an ar one? im looking at side by side pics and they seem identical. even on their site for the builders kit is says only the bolt carrier is proprietary.

Which serial range is your Raven from? Trying to figure out what kinda luck I might have. Cheers!

Have you been able to determine where the factory barrel is being made, and/or by whom?

Did you buy from RDSC in the first place? If not, you should have gotten a new barrel under warrantly from lockhart Tactical. You wouldn't have had to pay a dime! My rifle was undergassed with a badly dimensioned chamber as evidenced by failure to cycle and bulged casings. I emailed Lockhart on a Saturday afternoon, and an hour later Sam Lockhart called me to discuss the situation. Based on the bulged casings he sent me out a new barrel under warranty in 2 business days and once I installed the new barrel it ran like a champ. The problem with these rifles is faulty QC at the factory, which let a bunch of faulty barrels through the process to reach customers. That issue, when combined with inexperienced new owners who don't understand how to properly adjust the gas on an DI gas gun with an adjustable Gas Block, results in frustration and unnecessary expense. You should have had that Barrel replaced under warranty free of charge. Your "fuck it" regarding contacting Lockhart about Warranty service cost you $500 for no reason. You must have lots of $$$.....

My barrel is shit too.

So siberian or kodiak ? Crusader ? What would you recomend i look at ? Bren 2 is just a tad more then i want to spend , I hear acr slash bushmaster may return.

What muzzle brake is that?

Were you reimbursed for the repair cost by lock heart? Seems like a warranty issue

Plenty of guys have had to drill out their gas ports as an short term fix. But it's likely they have the same barrel issues as you. Terrible

I will never put money on these Canadian-made AR180s...

Drilling out gas ports on direct impingement sporting rifle barrels is a common tuning practice. Next you work on the recoil springs and then buffer weights. It’s like tuning a performance or classic car it needs TLC. People who want something to work right out of the box in all situations or work with all brands of ammo really need some experience or education on semi autos.

Mine has been flawless. Key is to not monkey around too much and just let er run.

Do you know of anyone that is printing the brass deflector and the dust cover that you have installed on your rifle?