Whats the deal with AR kits?

Its just an empty receiver. All internals are removed.

An AR parts kit? Those are the springs, pins, and other peices needed to assemble a complete lower. The lower reciever is the regulated part and must be bought through an FFL.

This is a stripped lower.


This is a parts kit.


And it contains this.

Then you need to buy an upper reciever and bolt and carrier...

a "Lower Parts Kit" usually contains all the various pins, switches, levers, and springs that go inside the lower receiver.

If you buy a stripped lower and an LPK, all that's left is a complete upper assembly (barrel, upper receiver, charging handle, bolt-carrier-group) and a buttstock assembly (receiver extension/buffer tube, stock, recoil buffer and spring), a pile of magazines and about a hojillion rounds of the appropriate cartridge.

~GnSx

they come with everything but a stripped lower receiver. what is a stripped lower receiver exactly?

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to clarify many of the replies so far are assuming you're talking about a Lower Parts Kit when you say "AR kit", which is as illistrated a blister pack or industrial ziplock, full of the guts for a lower.

If on the other hand, as i suspect, you mean an AR "rifle kit" such as sold by the likes of Del-ton, or Model 1 Sales. then that is everything except the stripped lower (ie complete upper, an LPK, stock assembly/buffer). basicly it's every non-regulated part of an AR, and can be shipped directly to your home.
after which you hit a gun show or other source for a stripped lower. now you are a set of instructions (good set on AR15.com), a couple of basic tools, and depending on skill with tools (and if nothing rolls under the bench), an hour or less away from a functional rifle.

and if you're ordering it, see if you can order a few extra pivot pin detents and springs at the same time.

Just trust me on this.

and if you're ordering it, see if you can order a few extra pivot pin detents and springs at the same time.

Just trust me on this.

Click to expand...

also wear safety glasses during install of said part!

and btw the an L shapped allen wrench the about the same size as the pivot pin works well as a stand in for one of those "pivot pin insertion tools"

I was told to use a dry cleaner bag to keep the detent and spring from launching across the room. Put the lower in the bag, and try to insert the pin. When you fail, the detent will hit the bag, and fall down onto the well lit, clean table you are working on.