Best parts for my stripped lower?

[mshootnit]

Looking for advice, stripped lower is Armalite. Want best parts without wasting money. Looking for A2 style stock that matches the black rifle. What would you get, where would you go to buy? Decent matching finish too.

Last: Is there good online tutorial?

 

[TonyAngel]

All of the A2 stocks that I've seen were all pretty much the same gray color. I may be wrong, but an A2 stock is an A2 stock. Pick your vendor. Bravo Company, PKFirearms, Aimsurplus, Midway, etc. As for the lower parts kit, the consensus seems to be that the Stag is the best bang for the buck. Since you used the term "best," I'd say go to PKFirearms or Adcofirearms and let them put a lower parts kit together for you that includes something better than the stock trigger. Maybe a Timney, Geissele or at least a Rock River match.

I order a lot of small parts from PKFirearms. The have good stuff and ship lightning quick. I usually have my stuff in two days.

 

[Quentin]

I just built up an ArmaLite stripped lower and used an ArmaLite LPK from

http://dsgarms.com/Category/20_1/Lower_Receiver_Parts.aspx

The LPK is excellent and I really wanted to get the custom ArmaLite style bolt catch that you may be able to make out in the pictures below. I got the $82 single stage kit but also agree the Stag LPK is one of the best for the money, and certainly a cut above the DPMS kit.

I went with a BCM receiver extension and M4 Gen 2 stock kit but you can find A2 kits everywhere.

Here's the completed lower:




And here's the complete rifle (with my ArmaLite U15A4CB upper that had been on my S&W lower):




.................................... M15

 

[mshootnit]

Thats excellent tony and quentin, I appreciate the info. What is special about the Armalite bolt catch?

 

[DBR]

I avoid kits that use notched hammers. They a throwback to one of Colt's modifications to its civi ARs.

I like Spikes Tactical for medium priced good quality kits.
http://www.spikestactical.com/z/index.php

I think LWRC has the best quality kit I have used. It has a very good trigger.
http://www.lwrci.com/

 

[Z-Michigan]

I just assembled a lower with an Armalite LPK (one with the 2-stage trigger) and quality is noticeably better than LPKs I've used from DPMS, DoubleStar, and Del-Ton. I would second a recommendation for Armalite.

Supposedly, G&R Tactical makes about the nicest standard LPK you can buy. If money is no issue and you want "the best," that might be worth a look. Spike's Tactical would also be worth a look.

 

[TonyAngel]

As long as you get a quality LPK, the small parts should all fit and work, like the pins and springs. The biggest/most important part of the LPK is the fire control group. I mentioned the Stag because almost everyone seems to think that they are the best bang for the buck. What I personally do is go to PKFirearms and just buy the individual parts that I need to make up a LPK and use my own fire control group. I've used Rock River (OK, but the ones I had didn't last long), Timney and my favorite Geissele.

 

[Z-Michigan]

Here is a good online tutorial:

http://www.ar15.com/forums/topic.html?b=3&f=4&t=226782

I highly recommend getting proper roll-pin punches and not attempting the "vise grip" method. I also recommend the $3 pivot pin installation tool from Model 1 Sales (available at Midway) - not essential but makes that task really easy.

As for stocks, I would suggest you consider some other options including:
ACE ARFX - really nice "skeleton" fixed stock

A1 length stock from Cavalry Manufacturing - the 5/8" shorter length makes it work better for more different shooting positions and styles, assuming you are under 6'4" tall

Magpul UBR, Ergo F93 - both are tele-stocks that lock up 100% solid with good cheekweld

 

[Quentin]

Thats excellent tony and quentin, I appreciate the info. What is special about the Armalite bolt catch?

If you zoom in on the ArmaLite bolt catch in my picture above then compare it to a standard BHO you will see more metal and a different design. I'm sure it really doesn't matter since the standard part is plenty strong but since I was building an ArmaLite lower for my ArmaLite upper I liked the idea of using their LPK especially because it's one of the better ones out there.

But the BCG (Daniel Defense) and RE/stock kit (BCM) are upgrades.

 

[ANDREWMENDEZ]

I would go RRA for both the LPK and the A2 Buttstock. They come in a gray finish, but to give it that nice black finish, you will need to rub CLP into it a couple times. Get it nice and wet, put it away for a week or some, and do it again. After a few applications is will look damn good! Post pics when its up!

 

[Tirod]

There's nothing wrong with buying the armorer's tools - but it's not a inexpensive way to build one firearm. The visegrip method works just fine. I would even suggest it's less prone to marking up a lower considering the skill level of the user. Hammering pins with punches has definitely broken more trigger ears and scratched lowers than vicegrips - and the Army doesn't care much about finish. They only worry about function.

A2 stocks come GI and commercial. Fixed stocks all use the same tube, the GI stocks are fiberglass foam filled with a cleaning kit receptacle on butt trap models. Commercial stocks are Fiberglass reinforced nylon, which means you can get different colors that go all the way through. They are usually hollow with no foam, and they are injection molded under heat and pressure that foam can't withstand. The sling mount hole is also located slightly differently. Get the makers lower swivel screw with it, some GI screws aren't threaded enough to work (like my CAA.) It's either 12-28 or 3/16- 28, taps and dies aren't generally laying around to fix the problem, and cost a lot more than the right screw.

 

[mshootnit]

OK I am going with the armalite single stage kit, as I have heard that their standard trigger is not too bad and 100% reliable. I still have not orderedt the stock yet and am leaning toward that Cavalry C1 because I am shorter. I may get the Armalite or RRA A2 stock also haven't made up my mind. I do really love the Ace stock too... thanks for posting the link to the tutorial! Also what do you guys know about detachable carry handle sights? Is the Armalite match unit the one I want or is there another good one?

 

[Z-Michigan]

The Cavalry C1 stock is a good idea; the A1 length is more useful all-around than the A2 length, and Cavalry Manufacturing makes quality products, noticeably better than other OEM's for standard AR furniture. I really like their handguards also.

The ACE ARFX is a nice stock also, I have one. And it's about the same length as an A1 stock. It's kinda spendy, but is a good solid stock if you think you want its look.

If you want a detachable carry handle with sights, you have three options:
-standard USGI carry handle
-standard carry handle with national match type sights installed
-horrible Chinese-made junk copy of the carry handle.

Avoid the Chinese one. The match sights are only useful if you're doing CMP style competition, and otherwise are a needless complication. I would recommend a standard US-made, USGI type carry handle. The lowest price I've found on them is $50 for a no-name but US-made one from CDNN, here:

http://www.cdnninvestments.com/arcahausmane.html

It's apparently on sale for $40 at the moment, that sale will end Monday. Caution - CDNN also sells one of those awful Chinese copies, don't get the imported Chinese one, the quality difference is orders of magnitude lower.

 

[mshootnit]

I just bought one from Armalite, for 99. Hope its a good one. Do you need a different receiver extension for the Cav Manufacturing A1 stock?

 

[kwelz]

Daniel defense makes a really good parts kit. For the quality I think the price is hard to beat.

You can also look at one of Grants LPKs.


You can configure it the way you want it.

 

[mljdeckard]

I would get the Midway and Brownell's catalogs so you can at least see the options. You might want toput on things like an oversized safety or a different bolt release. If you decide first, you won't have to build it twice.

 

[wally]

I highly recommend getting proper roll-pin punches and not attempting the "vise grip" method. I also recommend the $3 pivot pin installation tool from Model 1 Sales (available at Midway) - not essential but makes that task really easy.

+1
Cheaper Than Dirt sells a nice Lyman roll pin punch kit for like $11, but check Midway first for it, so you can save by only paying one shipping charge. Both ship very fast.

I've nothing bad to say about the DPMS LPK, the point of assembling my own ARs was to save a few bucks and get my number of lowers to match my number of uppers. "Quantity has a quality of its very own"

Wear safety glasses when installing the front pin detent and spring the detent flies vigorously should you slip!

 

[kwelz]

DPMS kits tend to have over sized pins. I have also had to take a grinder to the sear on a couple of their kits.

 

[Z-Michigan]

Do you need a different receiver extension for the Cav Manufacturing A1 stock?

No, it works with a standard rifle-length buffer tube. However you do need a slightly shorter screw attaching the stock to the buffer tube.