08-01-2013, 12:08 AM
cory Wrote:Bwaites if AA is at the mercy of so many different manufacturers why not start manufacturing some of this stuff in house, like bolts.
I'm sure you've read it inside and out, but I'm going to reference the AA lead times thread.
http://www.65grendel.com/forum/showthrea...Lead-Times
With a 12 month backlog, they've got enough orders on the books to recoup the cost in equipment, before they get their current orders out the door. To be honest I'm surprised Bill would leave the supply of such a critical and relatively simple components to vendors completely out of his control.
Bill would love to do everything in house, I know! My experience with startups of machining companies is very limited, but from what I know, its not something you just jump into. Machining bolts, carriers, etc. requires a lot of precision, and from what I understand, those machines only make money if you can keep them running 24/7. I know companies rent time on them for some projects, and I'm sure Bill has considered a lot of options over the past few months. He has started doing barrels in house, but expanding to more and more employees is not a simple task in the best of times, and with a clear outlook. Right now arms manufacturing is an iffy business, and most of the players are completely unwilling to add capacity in a market that might be snatched away with an executive order! AA is in that same boat, willing to expand what they do in house, but only slowly and carefully.
If you've got an investor ready to pony up several million dollars of capital to make the expansion, I'm sure that I can arrange to have Bill and the other necessary people at AA sit down with you and the investor!
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