AR lower manufacturers?

[JWF III]

Alright, I'm not too "into" or up to date on the whole EBR scene. (Even though at 33 yo it would be expected.) I used to own an AR about 18-20 years ago.

Back then there were 3-4 manufacturers of ARs around. Choosing one was between Colt vs. the other guys jam-o-matic. The other guys jam-o-matic is what ruined me on ARs for the past 20 years or so.

Help me name all the different companies that produce AR variant recievers. I can come up with the main ones...

Colt, Bushmaster, DPMS, LMT, Remington, Armalite, ...(that's about all I can name)

BTW, I know Remington doesn't "produce" theirs, but they are jumping on the EBR bandwagon and putting there name on one. That's why I included them. Any other companies that do this, please name them.

Wyman

 

[grunt0311]

you also have Rock River Arms, Stag Arms, Smith & Wesson, Charels Daily, Barret, Wilson combat, Leas Bare. I'm not sure if all will sell just the lowers or not. If I think of any more I will let you know, These were fust of the top of my head.

 

[22LRFan]

Roggio Arsenal makes a lower.

 

[nicholst55]

Good luck naming them all! Seriously, it seems like a new AR lower manufacturer pops up every week.

 

[Brian Dale]

Here's a thread (this is a link) at ARFCOM that lists who made what for whom, in part.

Here's a thread (yeah, another link; WARNING: picture-intensive; dialup warning is in effect) with more details than you probably wanted.

I bought mine from Lauer Custom Weaponry, the Dura-Coat people, back when they had theirs forged by Lewis Machine & Tool. Nowadays, you can choose LMT or Superior, when they're in stock.

I've heard stellar reports on Sabre Defence stuff; I'd also love to have an upper from Bravo Company USA.

Don't forget Cavalry Arms; they're good people.

 

[JWF III]

it seems like a new AR lower manufacturer pops up every week.

Yeah that's why I'm wondering about this. I'm not really in the market for one, I just wonder if we have the need for so many different companies making the same gun (minus a few subtle differences in manufacturing & quality). But I guess all of them can't really keep up with the market as of late, so they are needed.

But what's going to happen when everyone has what they want, and stop buying? That's when the bad econ. is going to catch up to the gun market.

Wyman

 

[get_the_roof]

Anvil Arms, nice unit, free engraving.

 

[Acera]

(Even though at 33 yo it would be expected.) I used to own an AR about 18-20 years ago.

So you owned one, and got your impressions of them when you were 13!

That could be one issue, having the ability and responsibility that you have now, as an adult, will probably allow you to better understand the weapon system.

 

[JWF III]

So you owned one, and got your impressions of them when you were 13!

At 13 yes. Compared to another average 13 yo's gun knowledge, more like 18-20. I was feild stripping Garands and M1 Carbines at about the same age. Age had (almost) nothing to do with it. I had the knowledge about care and maintenance, just the gun didn't function as intended.

Wyman

 

[EHL]

Don't forget the small but steller company out in Bonners Ferry ID, Tactical Innovations that make all their AR lowers in house and have some very fine AR lowers, when compared to thier competitors.

 

[jeff91s]

What about Essential Arms out of LA. I got a lower from them, now waiting for my upper to be shipped.

 

[freakshow10mm]

If the lowers are made to the blueprint, they are fine. There are about a half dozen actual manufacturers of lowers in the country. LMT, LAR, CMT, Mega, Superior, Essential, Tac Innov, and a few other small shops that roll their own, such as myself.

The vast majority (say 70-80%) of the lowers in the country are made by three companies: LAR, LMT, CMT. Mega is gaining market share.

I've built rifles with just about every lower out there that is half way popular. Never had a problem with any of them and can't recommend one over the other. Really it's the subtle differences that people usually pick over. Finish is one. The finish on Anvil, Double Star, and Mega lowers is a nice finish. They just look good. Some people like the checkering on the front of the mag well, but I do not use a "magazine grip" when I fire my weapon so that's not something I'd want or need on a lower.

Truth is the AR15 is a parts gun. There is not a single company that makes every component in house. None. They are mostly parts assemblers with their logo cut in a lower that someone else makes for them. There are a few guns out there that are junk (Vulcan/Blackthorne/Hesse, etc). The others are all good quality and measuring the difference is a pissing match.