Best AR Lower?

[CGRifleman]

I recently completed an AR build using a Tactical Innovations T15 lower and was not pleased with the results... the mag well was too tight to be able to reload reasonably quickly and the trigger pins started backing out (so far that the hammer wouldn't catch) after every thirty rounds or so. Who makes a good, reasonably priced lower that I can replace this crap with?

 

[chuckfw]

I bought a Rock River after checking out all of the others, I am very satisfied that I got one of the better lowers. No problems with it in any way.

 

[longdayjake]

Lowers really don't matter all that much. Most all of them ar mil-spec and well finished. However, some people feel that billet lowers are better. I personally just think that they look cooler.

 

[Z-Michigan]

You drew the unlucky straw. And to think I had come "this close" to buying a TI-15BDX billet lower!

Anyway, the best value quality lower is an Aero Precision, often found for just $60. I have several, all are perfectly machined. Store-brand Palmetto State Armory and Surplus Ammo and Arms lowers are also made by Aero Precision.

The best lower I've seen is from MEGA machine shop. I only have their billet lowers but they are flawless. I would expect their $124 forged lower is great too. However, for a standard forged lower the MEGA offers very slight benefit, basically in finish quality, vs. the $60 Aero Precision.

 

[Z-Michigan]

Good sources:

http://www.rainierarms.com/?page=shop/browse&category=ar15/m16_receivers-lowers

http://www.aimsurplus.com/catalog.aspx?groupid=53&name=Lower+Receivers+&+Low+Receiver+Parts

http://surplusammo.com/index.php?main_page=index&cPath=33

 

[carlsca]

The Rock Rivers are great. If you want it all together, their two stage match trigger would be pretty hard to beat.

 

[Varob]

I remember reading that all but a few AR companies out source there lowers.

 

[Z-Michigan]

By the way, a trigger pin backing out is more likely a problem with the pin or the trigger/hammer, not with the lower. Are you sure the retaining wires are catching the grooves in each pin? If your LPK is a Spike's Tactical, each pin has only a single groove and you must use the center-grooved pin with the hammer and the side-grooved pin with the trigger, otherwise there will be no retention of the parts.

 

[CGRifleman]

The LPK and trigger group are Rock River. Anyone know anything about Spike's Tactical lowers? They seem to be the cheapest I can find locally.

 

[kwelz]

Spikes makes good stuff. Most lowers are going to be fine. Avoid Oly or Hesse. Be cautious of DPMS and Doublestar. Most other name brands will be ok. I personally am partial to DD, Noveske and BCM lowers.

 

[Dionysusigma]

I have never used the same company twice for lowers, instead opting for price. I've used (all were forged) Superior Arms (now defunct, I think), Yankee Hill, Stag Arms, and Mega.

Of all of them, the Mega simply drips of excellent quality craftsmanship, to the point that I'd choose Mega over Noveske (several friends own those). Zero machining marks, every single edge rounded just a smidge, cool logo (I'm a science nerd), and tight (but not too tight) fit with every component and upper it's worn. It even has some weird finish on it that's tough as nails and makes all the moving bits slick as can be.

I've had no real problems with the others, but the Mega is my favorite.

"No real problems" means that the YHM's bolt catch cutout was a little tight, meaning that the catch wouldn't always work when the mag was empty, but that went away after ~200rds. The Stag wouldn't work with an Accu-Wedge (not enough room), but I tossed the wedge anyway. Little things like that, nothing that seemed suspicious or would cause concern for failure.

 

[Z-Michigan]

Spikes Tactical lowers are fine. They are currently machined by Aero Precision (surprise!) and usually sell for a bit more than other Aero Precision-made lowers. But they are definitely fine. Past Spike's lowers were machined by a different shop (can't remember offhand which one) but were also fine.

 

[sonrider657]

My favorite is Cavalry Arms (no longer in production but some are still available if you search). Super lightweight. Built-in A1-style buttstock.

 

[Z-Michigan]

DSG Arms has the Cavalry Arms lowers for $89 for anyone who wants one:

http://dsgarms.com/Category/26_1/Lower_Receivers.aspx