ATI Omni lower

[USAF_Vet]

I picked up a complete receiver at the gun show in Grand Rapids today.

I've been working on a budget AR build, and was considering the New Fromtier or Plum Crazy lowers. Saw the ATI lower, and was impressed overall. The one thing I didn't like about New Frontier and Plum Crazy was the plastic fire control group. The ATI has a steel FCG, take down pins and buffer tube. It came equipped with a single point sling mount as well.
The 6 point stock is a little wobbly, but that seems par for the course. The Colt M-4 I carried in Iraq had the same issue, so it isn't surprising or problematic.

Can't beat the price, $90 plus a couple SKS mags that I didn't use.

 

[xjsnake]

Wow, the gun show I went to in TN today had the Plum Crazy complete lowers for $240. I walked away from the table laughing to myself thinking I can order two of the New Frontiers (which are supposedly superior) for that much...

 

[USAF_Vet]

$240 for the Plum crazy? Wow that is nuts.

From what I hear, and its complete speculation, is that the ATI are supposed to be better than either.

Hunting for a decently priced upper to slap to the ATI, still. Looking at Palmetto, I hear good things, but I wish their uppers included the BCG and charging handle.

 

[highbrow]

Picked up an ATI Omni lower a couple of weeks ago for 139.95. Very tight fit with several uppers. When I could get the upper on, it put enough force on the rear of the lower that the buffer tube had a slight downward angle, causing the bcg to hang up.

Problem seemed to be the buffer tube protruded through far enough to interfere with back of the bcg. A couple of minutes with a file took care of that.

Fit was still very tight but now the bcg moved freely.
Have about 500 rds through it so far this last week with no problems.

 

[mastiffhound]

Palmetto does offer BCG's and CH's, you add them on when you order. They don't offer them with the MADNESS uppers though. My 20" came with everything to slap it on a lower and shoot.

 

[USAF_Vet]

Highbrow, which upper did you mate to it?

 

[Fishbed77]

Please let us know how the OMNI lower works out for you.

I'm curious about these for a .22LR build I have in mind.

 

[meanmrmustard]

Highbrow, which upper did you mate to it?

Inquiring minds wanna know. I'd like to know how these hold up. I've heard nothing but good things but the Omni, what with its metal innards and NOT being a Plum Crazy remake. I wouldn't mind a PSA upper on an Omni lower budget build.

 

[henschman]

One of those with a pencil profile upper would make a sweet lightweight setup... hmm, tempting!

 

[meanmrmustard]

One of those with a pencil profile upper would make a sweet lightweight setup... hmm, tempting!

You're right, I didn't really think of that. Bet bottom dollar one could build a sub 6# rifle!

 

[henschman]

Oh yeah, I bet you could get down around 5#. Throw a TRS-25 on there and a MBUS rear sight, and you would be ready to boogie.

After running the Pecos Run n' Gun with a 10.5 lb. scoped M1A last weekend, something like that sounds awfully tempting!

 

[USAF_Vet]

How bad is the barrel whip on those pencil barrel?

 

[meanmrmustard]

Oh yeah, I bet you could get down around 5#. Throw a TRS-25 on there and a MBUS rear sight, and you would be ready to boogie.

After running the Pecos Run n' Gun with a 10.5 lb. scoped M1A last weekend, something like that sounds awfully tempting!

Are you a mind reader! That's my favorite AR RDS! Adds negligible weight, small foot print...and I'm reading good things about the Omni.

 

[USAF_Vet]

FedEx should be delivering my upper tomorrow, and I'll hit the range on Saturday. Report to follow.

 

[meanmrmustard]

FedEx should be delivering my upper tomorrow, and I'll hit the range on Saturday. Report to follow.

What upper did you decide on? I'm guessing something lightweight, so as not to impede the results?

 

[highbrow]

Tried 3 separate uppers, 2 Bushmasters and a franken upper using a Palmetto State stripped upper. These all fit multiple aluminum lowers with no problems. Used the PSA upper for the shooting. Now at 800rds with no trouble. Weighs 7.5 lbs with 1-4x Optisan scope and empty 30rd mag. 16" M4 profile barrel.

 

[justice06rr]

Inquiring minds wanna know. I'd like to know how these hold up. I've heard nothing but good things but the Omni, what with its metal innards and NOT being a Plum Crazy remake. I wouldn't mind a PSA upper on an Omni lower budget build.

I have one of the ATI complete lowers. paid a little more at a local shop since I wanted it the same day and I'm happy to support a local business.

The fit with an upper is very tight. No wobble at all. The fit is even tighter than my Spikes 5.56 AR. I have the ATI currently mated to a complete PSA 300Blackout upper. I tested it out at the range and it performed very well, no malfunctions yet.



the only downside is that the mags don't fall free when you push the mag release, so you have to manually grab the empty mag and pull it out. Not a big issue for me, but it is something to take into consideration.

 

[meanmrmustard]

No biggie for me.

 

[henschman]

I bet metal mags would drop free.

Yes, TRS-25's are pretty awesome. They are no Aimpoint, but then again they only cost $80; and while their battery life isn't measured in years, it is measured in months (3 or 4 months constant on IIRC), and that isn't too shabby in my book. Realistically if you turn it off in between use like most people do, the battery life IS measured in years.

 

[USAF_Vet]

What upper did you decide on? I'm guessing something lightweight, so as not to impede the results?

I went with a DPMS oracle upper. Tight fit with zero gaps or wobble. I actually had to file off a micron or so of the rear slot so the pin would slide through.

The upper, fit and finish wise, looks very good. I was surprised to see it had M4 feed ramps cut into it. Was t expecting that. The hand guards are pretty basic, I'll probably replace it for a rail system to hang do-dads from, and mount my Streamlight vertical grip.

It's wearing an inexpensive red dot just to put it through its paces. It looks great, feels great. It's a post ban model, so it lacks a flash hider, but any gunsmith worth his tools can thread it. Depending on the muzzle blast, it might be worth having that done.

I didn't have a lot of time to fiddle with it since I had to get to work, but I plan on doing a full tear down of the BCG tonight.

 

[blackrifle1]

I just finished my first AR budget build with this lower. I did have the tight fit problems with the upper(Aim Surplus 64$ stripped). 2 minutes with a dremel and I was in business! As for the mags not releasing, I do not have this problem. I am using the Pmag 30 from Magpul. Empty or full, they both fall freely. As soon as I figure out how to upload decent pics, I will put up a pic of it with a complete list of all parts used. I would appreciate all criticism. Thanks in advance.

 

[USAF_Vet]

I'm using USGI steel mags, and they drop free just fine.

So I think I've gotten it broken in pretty well just through general plinking. I'm going to start a more serious bench test when time allows.

I showed this to a vet buddy of mine. He was an infantry soldier, now 100% disabled. He really liked my rifle, and at first he did not believe me when I told him the lower was polymer. He's now looking into building one with this same lower.

I'm probably going to pick up another lower or two. Next projects will be a dedicated .22LR upper, and an ultra light build with a pencil profile barrel.