View Full Version : Lowers..
Like a lot of guys, I plan on picking up some lowers in the near future. Are there brands to avoid? Any brands that are preferred? I'm thinking stripped lowers at this point.
Thanks!
Stag, Novekse, LMT (need to buy complete), LCW, superior, Charles Daly, Spike's Tactical, Global Tactical are a few names are great lowers to buy. The funny part is that some are made by the same mfg. and the only diff is the vendor's name engraved.
The only ones that I hear to avoid like the plague are Vulcan, Hesse & Blackthorne.
I would not buy Olympic arms as the mag well tend to run on the tight side of the spec. The two that I have are both tight on some mags that fit good in my Rock River, Bushmaster, Colt, CMMG and Frankford Arsenal lowers.
Superior Arms makes their own lowers. As someone who shares a house with three Superior Arms lowers, and who was involved in a group buy with Superior Arms in which 50+ were sold, I will be avoiding them in the future. Several of the members of this group buy were dissatisfied to say the least; most of the lowers were tight using Magpul mags (serial numbers indicate these were new, not older, receivers, and shouldn't have had this problem), and at five receivers were grossly out of spec and needed to be sent back to Superior Arms for replacement lowers. Their customer service was not impressive.
Olympic Arms is another company I would avoid, with a well-documented history of spec problems. I think a few folks on TOS collect Olympic Arms horror stories for fun (and to illustrate a point).
-B
docsprague
10-05-08, 22:21
I have been thinking about buying some lowers as well. The only thing that concerns me about stripped lowers is the fact they would not be sold as a complete rifle. Who knows what the wording would be if another AWB went down. I truely believe the next issue will be ammo not the guns. Back on topic, I am going to pick up some Global Tactical lowers, but that is because Denny is close by.
Blankwaffe
10-05-08, 22:48
The only lowers I have are LMT and Armalite.Both are excellent quality IMHO.
I really can't say enough about my Anvil Arms lower. We just did a 200-lower group buy over at Northeast Shooters and the quality of these lowers - coupled with the value is absolutely superb. We ordered ours with custom laser engraving, (no extra charge) and got an ATF variance for custom serial numbers, so it took a while. Custom serial numbered, custom engraved forged lowers were $108.00 stripped, (group buy savings apply). We are contemplating buying another 500. However, if custom serials are not on your mind, Jon is fast and anal retentive about quality. The laseer engraving on the magwell and upper is really something - you can have him etch anything you want - or nothing at all. I opened the bubble wrap when I picked up my lower on Friday and the first words out of my mouth were: "Whoa, sweet!"
Jon is also a very knowledgeable about the platform and I cannot wait to get started on my next build with Anvil...Pics forthcoming.
www.anvilarms.com
They're on sale for 100 a pop, right now.. thats without engraving, of course.
I found a local guy who has CMMG lowers..$109 OTD. I think I will go that way... weems like a pretty good deal.
Anyone have experience, good or bad, with Aero Precision or Mega?
Jumping in here, how about the POF lowers generation I and II. Could any one with a gen II tell me if the lower edge of the trigger guard is sharp or rounded? Thanks.
Anyone have experience, good or bad, with Aero Precision or Mega?
I can't testicle to either, but there's some guys around here that seem to like Mega. Start a new thread... although there's generally not much to say about a stripped lower other than "i like the stupid deer head" or "seems kinda tight/loose," or "the parkerization doesn't match any of my uppers," etc.
The lower is the least important component of the whole system, oddly enough. I ran a bushmaster lower with several different quality uppers for a while... the only gayness i experienced was getting made fun of. I'm running an LMT, now... just because it's what the cool kids have.
I'm no "expert" on AR genetics, but i'd say if you're looking to buy bulk stripped lowers, I think you can safely go with whatever is cheap and has some kind of reputation. Except colt. @#$! colt.
spamsammich
10-07-08, 05:18
I've built on 3 Mega lowers and have had no problems with them at all. I never really thought to check the shelf on them though, I'm still pretty new to building these things. A really nice combo is Grant's LPK (my current favorite) with a Mega lower. I prefer to use the Megas because I like to support local businesses as much as reasonable. Aero is also local to me so I may give them a look if I can find an example somewhere that compels me to plunk down some cash.
To be honest though, my Megas and my only Noveske lower have been my favorites in terms of workmanship. They kick the shit out of the LMT I ordered this summer, they make it look like it was sent to anodizing half way through the machining process. But the LMT is my second favorite LPK so far, I'd rank RRA or Armalite as my 3rd favorite.
its amazing the different experiences/opinions people have with different components...
spamsammich
10-07-08, 06:12
Isn't it though? Every LMT lower that people have posted as custom built for them by Grant have looked like museum pieces. Mine looks like it slipped out of the vice during the machining process. And mine came directly from LMT with tags and everything. It functions fine, but when you put it side by side with my Noveske lower it looks like a factory second. I love the lower parts kit but the lower itself was a bit of a disappointment. I've had uppers from LMT end up the same way, a little weird looking, but function fine. Not quite enough cosmetic problems to warrant a return, but enough to say "whoa, that's different".
Mine looks like it slipped out of the vice during the machining process.
how so? mines a factory defender from a distributer.. it's flawless.
that's gay. you must be very forgiving. have any pictures?
seekretsqrl
10-09-08, 07:53
I have a DPMS lower on my BCM upper, Mags work well with it.
uscbigdawg
10-09-08, 09:35
Basically look at lowers as a non-stress part that as long as the holes are where they're supposed to be and the magwell is cut correctly, then it comes down to what critter you want on the side (except for a select few that use shapes...got it).
For my customers, I'm generally building off of DPMS, Doublestar, Sun Devil and POF. Like others have said before, keep in mind that many folks have them machined by others. Case in point. LAR out of Arizona does them for like 5-6 folks. I don't have the list, but looking around the net will quickly yield it.
Any of the above will do you well.
Rich
bethroberson
10-09-08, 10:06
Sabre Defence in Nashville, Tennessee makes very good stripped lowers.
Anyone have experience, good or bad, with Aero Precision or Mega?
Megas are considered to be nice. I have one and it has been fine. It drops majority, but not all, PMAGs freely. I had some issues with hammer pin walking off; I still don't know if it was a lower or trigger/pin size issue.; ended up using KNS pins.
Jumping in here, how about the POF lowers generation I and II. Could any one with a gen II tell me if the lower edge of the trigger guard is sharp or rounded? Thanks.
If you do a search, you'll find a couple of threads voicing some dissatisfaction with those. Nobody knows true prevalence, of course. I have one 2008 Gen II and I'd call it "barely in spec". As is, it functions well, but at their price point, one would hope for "truly in spec". The lower edge of trigger guard is mildly dehorned and is not sharp on mine.
tango-papa
10-09-08, 14:23
Oops...
tango-papa
10-09-08, 14:24
I can't testicle to either, but there's some guys...
:D Freudian slip? :D
spamsammich
10-09-08, 21:10
how so? mines a factory defender from a distributer.. it's flawless.
that's gay. you must be very forgiving. have any pictures?
I don't build museum pieces or safe queens so I don't really care about how it looks other than noting how well it is machined initially, I spend a lot of time in machine shops and around machinists so they've trained me to have a critical eye. While I'm mildly disappointed in the look, the function is what matters and I have no gripes about how the lower receiver holds parts.
I accepted it because I didn't want any down time with the rifle and shooting is more fun that looking at it. I'll post a picture when I get back from Australia.
SS
spamsammich
10-09-08, 21:13
[QUOTE=YVK;230187] I had some issues with hammer pin walking off; I still don't know if it was a lower or trigger/pin size issue.; ended up using KNS pins.
[\QUOTE]
I'd put money on that being a j-spring issue and not a receiver issue. I've had some hammers that had j-springs that just wouldn't sit nicely in the trigger pins. I might take a lathe to the pin and see if that helps.
For the post on the 1st page regarding POF lowers, I have one and they're nice. Obviously the catch here is that's they're not cheap. They are extremely easy to install of LPK on and if you like HK pictograms are sweet. That said they don't have any magical powers over the $100 stag lower either.
ChoppinFatTony
10-11-08, 05:38
If you really want the HK style selector stuff, Spikes has them for alittle over $100, I think i paid $115 for one when i was home on R&R.
spamsammich
10-21-08, 19:32
how so? mines a factory defender from a distributer.. it's flawless.
that's gay. you must be very forgiving. have any pictures?
http://web.mac.com/supermarkus/iWeb/Site/LMT%20stuff_files/IMG_1884.jpg
this is what I was talking about. you can see it wasn't machined all the way down and there are tool marks walking up the side of the trigger well.
The staking sucked too but I fixed it.
Before
http://web.mac.com/supermarkus/iWeb/Site/LMT%20stuff_files/IMG_1857.jpg
http://web.mac.com/supermarkus/iWeb/Site/LMT%20stuff_files/IMG_1858.jpg
After
http://web.mac.com/supermarkus/iWeb/Site/LMT%20stuff_files/IMG_1874.jpg
http://web.mac.com/supermarkus/iWeb/Site/LMT%20stuff_files/IMG_1880.jpg
Not deal breakers and easily corrected except for the poor machining. This is the only LMT lower I've ever seen with this issue so I chalk it up to dumb luck for me. I don't care, it's still my favorite rifle right now.
this is what I was talking about. you can see it wasn't machined all the way down and there are tool marks walking up the side of the trigger well.
yea, it looks like they went back to the workbench after parkerizing. my "flawless" LMT is similar- but at least its fully coated.
http://c3.ac-images.myspacecdn.com/images02/6/l_4402dfb41fa8468bb6235b0e244b2dc2.jpg
http://c1.ac-images.myspacecdn.com/images02/57/l_4f31ce85dec04bf098c01aabe2ef791c.jpg
and my castle nuts, also, were pretty weak. he went to the effort of dabbing loctite on the steak, but couldnt handle the extra 3 inches of swing to actually steak them?
http://c4.ac-images.myspacecdn.com/images02/37/l_6a71663b8b8945d4b9c82eb5f0529027.jpg
http://c3.ac-images.myspacecdn.com/images02/9/l_991b3c7579ea449ebd2eedd0f629b9ae.jpg
guess i should have looked at my receiver before claiming perfection. however, like you, i dont really give a crap. toolmarks in the trig well are really common. you'd just think for the money you spend on an LMT they'd take it a step further.
spamsammich
10-22-08, 04:13
That's not loctite, it's probably bluing compound. I sometimes put Birchwood Casey Aluminum Black on my stakes and scratches to purty them up some.
That's not loctite, it's probably bluing compound. I sometimes put Birchwood Casey Aluminum Black on my stakes and scratches to purty them up some.
i think this was actually loctite... it flaked off into little transcluscent pieces when i re-steaked em.
spamsammich
10-22-08, 04:36
Perhaps. All the true loctite compounds I have used only kick off in the absence of oxygen and remain liquid or uncured when exposed to normal atmosphere. I'm thinking it was some sort of touch up paint if not bluing compound.
LMT, Mega, Eagle Arms, Stag, Yankee Hill Machine and Essential arms.
Semper Fi, Mark
I own or have built lowers from a few companies. My favorite lowers are from Spike's. They seem to be in spec all the around, at least dimensionally. USGI mags, as well as Pmags drop free.
I have a Superior lower that's been sitting for a while. I got it out to do a build and checked it over. Sure enough, Pmags don't drop. So it's still on the shelf. I haven't taken the time to contact Superior about it, and I expect they'll say that if USGI mags drop then it's fine. Does anybody know if there is a particular cut that isn't made properly to cause this? Easily fixable?
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