AR Lowers: Opinions & Prices

Miggy · August 4th, 2007, 10:36 AM

I am giving it a great deal of thought and I am planning on postponing all other aquisitions untill I get an AR lower receiver as a starter for a new future project and just in case a new Assault Weapons ban comes into life. I eventually want an AR in my collection but here is the deal: Tight budget which means a long time project as I go along getting parts. I know nothing about ARs (plan to inmerse in it) but I know the Lower is the basic starter point not to mention the FFL part.

If you AR folks are kind enough to give me a few pointers regarding ease of assembling parts v. buying a complete, overal quality and price, I'd appreciate it.

dimmak · August 4th, 2007, 11:16 AM

I recommend researching the views of Pat Rogers, Greg Sullivan, Clint Smith, etc...

I'd avoid looking for advice from the interweb (or gunshop) average end user regarding a "fighting" rifle....

Good luck with your build and progress reports would be great...

dimmak · August 4th, 2007, 11:25 AM

BTW, I PM'd you ....

unrequited · August 4th, 2007, 12:07 PM

could you pm me as well? interesting question i might be interested in also

stickybeatz · August 6th, 2007, 03:50 PM

Tactics has stripped lowers for $125

clicky

raysheen · August 6th, 2007, 04:19 PM

What are you looking for in the gun? a true budget AR that performs well and is mostly accurate? a "working" gun? something in the sub-MOA range?
Assuming you just want an inexpensive yet good quality AR then I would suggest building one.
I like Spikes Tactical lowers, but any forged AR lower these days is pretty good quality and many are made in the same factories. Superior Arms, Stag Arms, Doublestar, Lonestar, Mega, POF, etc will all give you a good product...prices will range from $89 to well into the $200s for a stripped lower.

Deacon51 · August 6th, 2007, 04:19 PM

All lowers are generally built to a standard. Of course, quality may vary. I would be a little fearful of a sub $100 lower, and I wouldn't pay more than $150.

As for how hard it is to build one, well I built my lower in about an hour, with the help of my 10 year old son. It's like Lego's. Insert this part into that hole. Easy.

For the upper, I went with a already complete upper, I got mine from Rock River Arms. I didn't have the tools or the knowledge to do the head spacing and stuff.

I have a bare bones 16" HBAR with a collapsible stock for ~$550 in parts and $50 in Maryland transfer fees.

ar15.com has a ton of great information, if you can find it.

Hobbes · August 11th, 2007, 10:45 AM

As already stated, most forged lowers are comparable. I have used 4 stripped Mega lowers that were about $90 and had zero problems with any of them. If fact they are made in the same factory as some of the big names (don't remember which).
The parts that go into the lower are a different story however and I would go with a known quality manufacturer such as RRA, CMT or LMT.

AKsrule · August 11th, 2007, 01:01 PM

FYI - If you pay more than $130 for a standard stripped lower , you're
paying for a rollmark.

A decent quality lower internal parts kit will run you about $60.

Most of the cost is in the upper,barrel,and specialized furniture.

A basic 16" or 20" complete upper half from a Name Mfg. will run you
$500 and UP.

Miggy · August 11th, 2007, 04:39 PM

To everybody, thanks! Doing the math as we speak and trying to convince the wife that no, I am not buying a whole AR at once and that this project will take MONTHS until I hunt and buy all the parts on the cheap...she ain't buying

August 4th, 2007, 10:36 AM	#1
Miggy Moderator Join Date: Jul 2005 Location: Miami-Dade, FL Posts: 4,826	AR Lowers: Opinions & Prices I am giving it a great deal of thought and I am planning on postponing all other aquisitions untill I get an AR lower receiver as a starter for a new future project and just in case a new Assault Weapons ban comes into life. I eventually want an AR in my collection but here is the deal: Tight budget which means a long time project as I go along getting parts. I know nothing about ARs (plan to inmerse in it) but I know the Lower is the basic starter point not to mention the FFL part. If you AR folks are kind enough to give me a few pointers regarding ease of assembling parts v. buying a complete, overal quality and price, I'd appreciate it. __________________ You have to make the shot when fire is smoking, people are screaming, dogs are barking, kids are crying and sirens are coming. Randy Cain. GunFreeZone.net

August 4th, 2007, 11:16 AM	#2
dimmak Distinguished Member Join Date: Feb 2006 Location: TN Posts: 1,755	I recommend researching the views of Pat Rogers, Greg Sullivan, Clint Smith, etc... I'd avoid looking for advice from the interweb (or gunshop) average end user regarding a "fighting" rifle.... Good luck with your build and progress reports would be great... __________________ "Ray Nagin is a colossal disappointment" - NRA/ILA Executive Director Chris W. Cox. "...be water, my friend."

August 4th, 2007, 11:25 AM	#3
dimmak Distinguished Member Join Date: Feb 2006 Location: TN Posts: 1,755	BTW, I PM'd you .... __________________ "Ray Nagin is a colossal disappointment" - NRA/ILA Executive Director Chris W. Cox. "...be water, my friend."

August 11th, 2007, 10:45 AM	#8
Hobbes Member Join Date: Aug 2006 Location: Centralia, VA Posts: 384	As already stated, most forged lowers are comparable. I have used 4 stripped Mega lowers that were about $90 and had zero problems with any of them. If fact they are made in the same factory as some of the big names (don't remember which). The parts that go into the lower are a different story however and I would go with a known quality manufacturer such as RRA, CMT or LMT. __________________ Hoplophile

August 11th, 2007, 01:01 PM	#9
AKsrule Senior Member Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Pennsylvania Posts: 695	FYI - If you pay more than $130 for a standard stripped lower , you're paying for a rollmark. A decent quality lower internal parts kit will run you about $60. Most of the cost is in the upper,barrel,and specialized furniture. A basic 16" or 20" complete upper half from a Name Mfg. will run you $500 and UP. __________________ ------- -SIG , it's What's for Dinner- know your rights! http://www.handgunlaw.us "If I walk in the woods, I feel much more comfortable carrying a gun. What if you meet a bear in the woods that's going to attack you? You shoot it." {Bernhard Goetz}

August 4th, 2007, 12:07 PM	#4
unrequited Member Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: V Posts: 88	could you pm me as well? interesting question i might be interested in also

August 6th, 2007, 03:50 PM	#5
stickybeatz Member Join Date: Jul 2007 Location: Phoenix, AZ Posts: 167	Tactics has stripped lowers for $125 clicky

August 6th, 2007, 04:19 PM	#6
raysheen Senior Member Join Date: Dec 2005 Location: New Hampshire, USA Posts: 791	What are you looking for in the gun? a true budget AR that performs well and is mostly accurate? a "working" gun? something in the sub-MOA range? Assuming you just want an inexpensive yet good quality AR then I would suggest building one. I like Spikes Tactical lowers, but any forged AR lower these days is pretty good quality and many are made in the same factories. Superior Arms, Stag Arms, Doublestar, Lonestar, Mega, POF, etc will all give you a good product...prices will range from $89 to well into the $200s for a stripped lower.

August 6th, 2007, 04:19 PM	#7
Deacon51 Member Join Date: May 2007 Location: Maryland Posts: 238	All lowers are generally built to a standard. Of course, quality may vary. I would be a little fearful of a sub $100 lower, and I wouldn't pay more than $150. As for how hard it is to build one, well I built my lower in about an hour, with the help of my 10 year old son. It's like Lego's. Insert this part into that hole. Easy. For the upper, I went with a already complete upper, I got mine from Rock River Arms. I didn't have the tools or the knowledge to do the head spacing and stuff. I have a bare bones 16" HBAR with a collapsible stock for ~$550 in parts and $50 in Maryland transfer fees. ar15.com has a ton of great information, if you can find it.

August 11th, 2007, 04:39 PM	#10
Miggy Moderator Join Date: Jul 2005 Location: Miami-Dade, FL Posts: 4,826	To everybody, thanks! Doing the math as we speak and trying to convince the wife that no, I am not buying a whole AR at once and that this project will take MONTHS until I hunt and buy all the parts on the cheap...she ain't buying __________________ You have to make the shot when fire is smoking, people are screaming, dogs are barking, kids are crying and sirens are coming. Randy Cain. GunFreeZone.net

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