[Deer Hunter]

Ok, locally there are two stores close to campus selling stripped lowers for the AR-15. In one store, they have DPMS and CMMG. In another they have a Rock River Arms.

My question, for 125 dollars for each of them, what would be the best buy?

[ArmedBear]

Probably whichever logo you like.

It's possible they all come from the same shop.

[highorder]

most people say there is little difference, but some would think the RRA is the best.

[DoubleTapDrew]

If you know which upper you want maybe ask them if any one has a better match for it in terms of fit and finish. They are all quality brands.
Full-auto may never be a concern but I have heard the RRA's won't accept an auto-sear without serious machine work, not sure about CMMG. I think DPMS will.

[HorseSoldier]

+1 on it not making much difference at all on just a stripped lower.

[Organdonor]

Out of those three, I'd say it's almost too close to call. But if I had my choice, I'd go:

1. RRA
2. CMMG
3. DPMS

[ArmedBear]

I bought a couple stripped lowers at a gun show. They had a whole bunch of them strung on a steel cable through the magwells. They were many different brands.

There were differences in finish.

Some were probably teflon-coated, whereas some were hard anodized. Some were semi-gloss black, some were rougher flat black.

Some of the machining around the trigger guard was slightly different, 1/16" here or there, but nothing functionally different. All had rounded edges where you'd want them.

On the inside, they were identical. If one would need a lot of machining to fit an M16 sear, so would any of the others -- not that I would care, since I'm not in any of the priveleged groups who might be able to get a new full-auto firearm anyway.

Now there are some lowers out there, made of various materials. But they vary in price. A $125 lower from a reputable manufacturer is not going to be made differently from a $125 from another.

Furthermore, Cavalry Arms makes one-piece molded lower halves and they run well. They have a lifetime warranty, too.

http://www.cavalryarms.com/MKIIs.jpg

The lower is not the barrel. It doesn't have the same sorts of stresses on it. It needs to be made well, but $125 should cover that.

[RockyMtnTactical]

I like the RRA roll mark the best of those 3. The quality should be no different among them all.

[MMcfpd]

I've never used one, but I have seen many comments to the effect that the RRAs are sometimes an uncomfortably tight fit with many uppers. OTOH, $125 is a good price for an RRA lower, as they often command a premium.

I have used CMMGs with nary a problem.

[Zach S]

Out of the three, I like the RRA logo the best. That's the only real difference in them, although the anodizing on my RRA lowers hasnt held up as well as the BMs I own. The RRA uppers held up fine.

No experiance with DPMS and CMMG lowers.

Full-auto may never be a concern but I have heard the RRA's won't accept an auto-sear without serious machine work, not sure about CMMG.
Last time I looked at the site, CMMG said their lowers accepted RDIASs and RLLs.

[dscottw88]

RRA all the way.

[Deer Hunter]

Alright. I guess it'll be between the RRA and the CMMG now.

I believe I just snagged a job that'll pay me 8 bucks an hour starting out, with 10 an hour later. Too bad I only do 15 hours a week and it starts next semester (if I get it).

I know, don't count your chickens before they hatch and all, but I'm guessing a few weeks and I'll have a good start for building an AR.

[Onmilo]

Of the three choices,
1.DPMS
2.CMMG
3.Rock River Arms

I don't buy for logo, I buy for quality.
The DPMS are uniform in machining and finish and will fit any upper with very little slop and no struggles.
CMMG tend to show more finishing flaws in the machining and the anodizing is a bit thinner.
RRA lowers are usually undertolerenced and installing fire control parts, roll pins, and upper receivers can be a bit of a struggle.
The machining and finishing are superior to CMMG however.

[Deer Hunter]

Well then the verdict is still out.

I'll probably see what's availible this coming semester, then decide. I'm sure I wont go wrong on either build.

[ftierson]

Of the three...

RRA
CMMG
DPMS

And that also seems to be the general consensus here...

:)

Forrest

[strat81]

Buy whatever matches the upper best, has the finish you prefer, or the rollmark you like.

However, RRA will probably hold its value a little better.

[Frog48]

There is little, if any, difference between lowers.

[Deer Hunter]

Well I bought the DPMS.

I was in the shop with my Ishapore Enfield, seeing how much they'd pay me for it. I got enough to pay for the receiver, then I bought the DPMS lower parts kit (minus the buffer tube, spring, and stock). All in all, I spent around 80 dollars at the shop. I'll pick up their collapsable stock kit and then look around for a decent upper online.

On a side-note, since I had no internet at my house as of now, so the only thing I had to go on was a little diagram showing all the parts and sorta how they fit into the upper that came with the lower parts kit. I got them all in except the hammer, couldn't figure that one out.

By the way, that take-down pin is a :cuss::cuss::cuss:

The lower kit was from DPMS, but it didn't fit nearly as well as I thought it would with the receiver. I had to bang and form and pray those parts into the small holes (Yes I got them all right, that's not the problem). The worse was the bolt catch/release lever roll pin. I scuffed up the receiver a bit trying to get that one in. But I don't mind it, I like dirty beat-up guns.

[Canuck-IL]

I had to bang and form and pray those parts into the small holes (Yes I got them all right, that's not the problem). The worse was the bolt catch/release lever roll pin. I scuffed up the receiver
You install it with a vise grip using tape on the jaws - not a punch and hammer.
/Bryan

[Deer Hunter]

Oh well. It's in, and that's what counts. :) Now I get to shop around and pick up piece after piece for the next few months.

[Don't Tread On Me]

The quality is likely all the same, but the RESALE VALUE IS NOT.

These are in HIGH demand. That whole brand is. If you need to sell - that lower, or even the entire rifle it is attached too will sell faster, easier and for more money than if you have a CMMG or DPMS lower.

[Darthbauer]

It really depends on the upper your going to go with I think. RRA lowers and uppers fit together real tight. No slop.

[IndianaBoy]

The quality is likely all the same, but the RESALE VALUE IS NOT.

These are in HIGH demand. That whole brand is. If you need to sell - that lower, or even the entire rifle it is attached too will sell faster, easier and for more money than if you have a CMMG or DPMS lower.


Only if he sells it to someone who is uninformed.

Which, evidently, is quite likely.


If he had asked this question on ARFcom, it is likely that the answer would have been skewed towards CMMG.

The real answer is, he won't notice a single solitary modicum of difference when firing the rifle, regardless of which of the three he chooses.

[Deer Hunter]

I got the lower receiver put together. Now I'm taking a look at Del-ton to see what exactly I want. Going to buy a adjustable buttstock later this week and use the rest of the money (What else would you use your stimulous check on?) on parts. It'd be cheaper buying the entire upper, unless I had to get the rear-sights seperate.