Building an AR with unknown receiver?

[TanklessPro]

I'm wanting to build a couple more AR's. I have been on a kick of late of supporting local businesses. Well long story short, I have found a local shop that manufactures upper and lower receivers in house. Their receivers are all billet. I think hey have only been in business for a couple of years but I have only heard good things locally. The lowers are $150 and the uppers are $200 so the price is not bad for billet. I could build using forged parts and save money but I have not found a local shop. So, Is it ill-advised to build an AR with small and unknown, at least in the AR world as a whole, shop?

http://www.reddotarms.us

 

[Monkeybear]

I would give it a shot. I'm all about shopping local.

 

[barnbwt]

Only so many ways to screw up an AR lower; give it a shot, and it'll either work or it won't. Just get around to finding out before the shop goes out of business (AR/component prices are crashing already) and can't answer your questions.

TCB

 

[kilibreaux]

That one markets an AR upper that's all billet only points out the fact that they do not have the ability to FORGE aluminum receivers.

Nowadays anyone with enough cash can buy a high-dollar CNC machine and use it to chop out nifty parts from blocks of "billet" (been doing it myself).

Billet is NOT the same as forged from a molecular standpoint.

On the other hand, from a practical standpoint, a billet upper is equal to one forged (kinda) so why pay MORE for any one over the other? If you're that keen to support local business...sure, why not...that's why I add extra to the NRA "round-up" when I order online.

The fact is, "how" and in "what manner" the lower and upper of an AR is built is irrelevant...as evidenced by the use of PLASTIC uppers and lowers...all the stress of firing is contained between the barrel extension and bolt, and when it all "unlocks" the receiver is under very LOW strain....

 

[1911 guy]

Quote:
The fact is, "how" and in "what manner" the lower and upper of an AR is built is irrelevant...as evidenced by the use of PLASTIC uppers and lowers...all the stress of firing is contained between the barrel extension and bolt, and when it all "unlocks" the receiver is under very LOW strain...

^This.^

If the dimensions are correct, the holes are in the right places and the anodizing is adequate, you're good. And quite frankly, the anodizing is for longevity, not functionality. Exhibit "A" would be the plastic receivers mentioned above.

 

[hentown]

I can't think of one cogent reason for spending the money for a billet over a forged receiver. My choice would be to go to DOA and buy a few of their Aero Precision forged receivers @ $60 each. AAMOF, that's exactly what I recently did.

The Aero receivers come with the rear takedown pin detent/spring channel threaded for a 4-40 setscrew, which is nice.

 

[Walkalong]

I bought a $64 billet upper from SA&A and it is really nice. If the $75 complete upper had been in stock I would have gone that route, but instead bought BCM parts to finish mine.

There are lots of cheaper options out there for billet or forged uppers than $200, and since it can ship straight to you, that is the route I would go. There are also expensive billet uppers out there. Are they worth it? I have no idea, but if I was going to pay $200 for an upper, I might want a "name" brand.

 

[dprice3844444]

for the 200, i would rather have an upper like the colt 6940.
http://www.majorpandemic.com/2012/02/aero-precision-cop-monolithic-ar15.html like this
http://www.brownells.com/search/index.htm?k=ar-15+upper&ksubmit=y if it's for just the aluminum short unfinished receiver,it's kind of high.