AR lowers

[Helix_FR]

OK thanks to some of you all once again my interest has been tweeked into building a AR again. I looked into doing it a few years back, moved on to getting my studies going first and then Obozo's administration came in and the market went stupid on AR stuff so I didn't bother. Seems now its settling down now but there are a lot more AR lower manufactures out there than the last time I looked. So who's good? I've been looking at Spikes and of course CMMG (b/c they are not to far from me) and some of the 80% lowers but I figure for another 50 bucks I can get one that's finished so why ruin my endmills and waist my time.
I haven't spent much time in the AR world. I know how they work and know who makes a good complete AR but what about the kits and the lowers?
BTW when to a local shop to get a new holster and got to spend a little time with a LWRC M6A2, who needs Viagra? but at 2600.00 bucks??? dang......

[USMCSpeedy]

I've wanted to build one on a JP Enterprises lower. They look to be very nice and I love their trigger setup that I have in my current AR.

http://www.jprifles.com/

[cakes]

I've built on several brands of lowers, and prefer Spike's. The prices of rifles has dropped recently, though, and I would look for one built to my specs before I built one. The cost savings of building your own AR is very low right now.

For kits, check out:
www.model1sales.com
www.mapartsinc.com
www.del-ton.com

[Helix_FR]

I was noticing that too on the cost. The complete pieces compared to kits were very close in cost. Within 50 buck or so.

[cakes]

If the rifle comes with a warranty, that last fifty bucks did pretty well for you.

[Helix_FR]

Posted this elsewere by accident

while doing some research on the AR platform I found a lower made by Sharps Rifle Company St Louis that happens to be 5 minutes from my in-laws house. Anyone heard of Sharps Mil Spec? Can't find any info on them except were they are and that they are forged lowers. I was going to drive by tomorrow evening to see if they still exist.

[Tony22-250]

NOVESKE NOVESKE NOVESKE NOVESKE NOVESKE!

http://www.noveskerifleworks.com/

[copenhagen]

POF's look pretty nice to me. www.pof-usa.com

[Tony22-250]

Originally Posted by copenhagen

POF's look pretty nice to me. www.pof-usa.com

POF are very good as well but what they dont tell you is that they dont accept magpul P mags!!!

[runswithscissors]

Hi Helix,
If you are buying a non forged receiver which most folks do, then make sure you just get one that has a logo you like and a price that is right, because if it is mil spec made in USA, you are where you want to be. I bought a CMMG for $180 before the price dropped slightly here in Ca and then purchased an M4 heavy bbl (DPMS Panther Arms) complete upper with standard carry handle from MIDWAY and their lower assy kit and it is spot on quality with the Colt M16-A2's that I used in the Marine Corps. Very happy.
Best-Mike

[mjmd]

If i was building a rifle i would probably opt to build it on a billet upper and lower.

[bluesea112]

All I can offer is the result I have had with mine. I have a S&W M&P15 .223 rifle. It is one of the lower cost AR's, but it feeds flawlessly and I can shoot 5 holes that touch each other at 100 yards. It has never, ever jammed or misfed a cartridge even when dirty. Light loads, heavy loads, expensive brass, cheap metal casings....it all cycles without a single hick-up. I think somebody forgot to tell my rifle that it was not expensive. You would spend more bulding a rifle, and it may not function as well, or be as accurate as an "off the shelf" M&P15.

[LDBennett]

I recently bought a bare receiver here in CA (legally) by Double Star. In the process I was offered three different receivers, all forged, all MIL-SPEC, at three different price points. This dealer sells tons of bare receivers, mostly at local gun shows. His point was buy whatever you want because they are all basically the same. Even when it was obvious to him that I would pay extra money for the more expensive version he did not rule out the $129 version.

Forged products are stronger than: cast, investment cast (all Ruger products are investment cast), and even billet. That's because the pounding action in the forged process lines up the grain structure of the metal making it stronger where it needs to be stronger. Forged is better assuming the materials used are the same.

When it comes to AR lowers, all they do is hold the trigger system and hold up the real accuracy piece, the upper. Since the AR is designed so that the recoil from the upper goes straight line into the recoil buffer and the stock, excessive strength is not needed in the lower receiver. If all the holes are of the right diameter and in the right places, if all the clearances are adequate for the components to install without interferences, if the receiver is made to MIL-SPEC requirements, and the material choice and process is adequate, then there is probably little difference between AR-15 lowers. So spend your accuracy money on the upper and its barrel. It will do the most good there.

I built the gun up off the Double Star receiver with no problems.... everything fit as it should. At $129, I think I won.

LDBennett

[copenhagen]

Tony22-250:

POF are very good as well but what they dont tell you is that they dont accept magpul P mags!!!

Tony,

This was true of the old POF Lowers, but the new ones do not have this problem. I can tell you this beyond the shadow of a doubt as I just confirmed it several days ago in person. The POF Lower is, in my opininion, one of the best available.

[Helix_FR]

Thanks all for the comments. It seems that they are all pretty much the same. I kinda took a different step towards this. Even though I could get stripped lowers for around 80 bucks I decided to mill my own with a forged blank. If I screw it up I'm out 25 bucks and I learned something. Its defiantly the long way (and maybe the wrong way) of building a AR but Its kinda like building your own engine

[JLA]

Spikes are good, I aint had no problems and I have 2 under my belt with spikes tactical, one had a neat punisher logo on it. the other was plain. both guns assembled without issues. and were fine shooters at the range We used a DPMS heavy stainless 24" bbl on one and a 18" 6.8 spc by rock river on the other. In both cases the barrels cost more than an assembled lower

[LDBennett]

Helix_FR:

You may want to check with the BATF before you start to get the regulations for such a task. Manufacturing a gun (and the bare lower is a gun by the BATF regulations) can be illegal if done the wrong way (??).

LDBennett

[Helix_FR]

Got it covered. I contacted my investigating agent about such task. We are good to go. Just can't sell it which after the hours of work I have in it, I don't want to. Serial numbers are a option and a good idea for identification reasons like if it is stolen.

LD you probably know this but here it is for reference for those people that are searching info.

"With certain exceptions a firearm may be made by a nonlicensee provided it is not for sale and the maker is not prohibited from possessing firearms.

However, a person is prohibited from making a semiautomatic assault weapon or assembling a nonsporting semiautomatic rifle or nonsporting shotgun from imported parts. In addition, the making of an NFA firearm requires a tax payment and approval by ATF. An application to make a machinegun will not be approved unless documentation is submitted showing that the firearm is being made for a federal or state agency."

[18 U. S. C. 922 (o), (r), (v), and 923, 27 CFR 178.39, 178.40, 178.41 and 179.105]

[bluesea112]

"An application to make a machinegun will not be approved unless documentation is submitted showing that the firearm is being made for a federal or state agency."

I thought the government was suppose to fear the people, and not the other way around?

[Gunkpowder]

Originally Posted by LDBennett

I built the gun up off the Double Star receiver with no problems.... everything fit as it should.

I had the same results.