Do you keep more AR lowers or uppers on hand?

[berettaprofessor]

Just a poll for interest. It seems like the AR platform would lend itself to keeping multiple uppers for each lower, but I usually have one more lower around than my number of uppers; in essence, I seem to always have each lower matched to an upper and an extra lower waiting for a as-yet purchased or constructed upper. But maybe that's just me.

 

[adcoch1]

I usually have matched sets, but I have a form 1 for an SBR in process, so that might change. Multiple short uppers may just show up...

Sent from my LGLS740 using Tapatalk

 

[Bobson]

Wow. Gotta say the poll results are surprising so far. I don't understand the idea behind "piling them high against the ban." What would be the goal there? Get stick with a bunch of lowers that you can neither sell nor complete building? Or hold em until a ban is passed, and then ship em off to the highest bidder before the effective date comes? In that case, why would a lower be a particularly desirable commodity?

 

[badkarmamib]

All of the AR's in my house (only one is technically "mine") have a 5.56 upper. There is one extra 6.8SPC2 upper, that two of the lowers share.

 

[pdjms1]

Bobson, The lower is the portion that is controlled and requires an FFL/background check to buy. So if things are similar to the 94-04 ban pre-ban parts will still be able to be sold and used by individuals but new lowers will not be able to be sold. Pre-ban lowers can still be bought and sold because of grandfathering. This does create the potential for a shift in the supply/demand curve resulting in price increases.

The uppers haven't ever had a ban federally, that I am aware of (anyone correct me if that is wrong), just the lower (part with the serial that requires FFL's involvement to ship). This poll i assume is joking in the "stack them high" part of that answer.

I selected that answer but I only have one extra lower with the idea that I might build one in the future and if a ban happens the value may or may not jump up. If it jumps up high enough I will probably sell it and be happy if not I will have a project for the future and be happy. Either way, it was about 100 to ensure I have the ability to have a project in the future or the potential to sell it down the road so it was cheap insurance/investment.

 

[Rollis R. Karvellis]

I just picked up another new Anderson a couple of hours ago. The main resone is for projects I have rolling around in my head.

If a panic happens will I sell any? Maybe if the money is right. If a ban happens I will have a couple for future projects as mentioned.

Think of this window of opportunity as the equivalent of when those $300-$400 SKS' were selling for $90.00.

 

[Quentin]

I almost always have an extra stripped lower and a spare BCG. But a few months ago I caught a nice PSA sale on a KeyMod upper so at this time am even on uppers and lowers. I did get an Aim Surplus BCG for a spare. Hard to ignore their nice $100 NiB!

So anything goes once you have a spare lower, upper or BCG!

 

[BSA1]

I didn't vote as I am not "piling them high against the ban." In fact I don't have any real interest in AR's although I am working on putting together my first rifle.

For me it is the prices for lowers will probably never be any cheaper than now. It is hard to pass up $40.00 Anderson stripped lowers. Extra lowers are more for the kids to use if they want to do their own builds. One of my kids (the one that lives in a free state) is likely to get a build from me for Christmas one of these days. The other kid has to move out of Maryland first to a less restricted State before the gun elf visits his house.

Add "It is because it is a buyers market" and I will vote.

 

[bannockburn]

Currently I have one upper to go with one lower. My next build is going to be a .300BLK.

 

[berettaprofessor]

Yes, pdms1, the "piling them high" comment was meant as humor, however misplaced.

 

[adcoch1]

$40 Anderson lower? ! I would have a few at that price. I always have a few ar project ideas in my head. By the time I actually get one they are about $75 with the transfer fees and such.

Sent from my LGLS740 using Tapatalk

 

[Mosin Bubba]

Looking around the internet, it seems like lowers are really starting to sell. Bud's only has plastic lowers available and Brownells is pretty much sold out of stripped lowers. PSA does have some complete lowers available for good prices, so the well isn't dry, but I've been looking around for stripped lowers and really can't find any.

Meanwhile I can still buy 16" M4gery uppers for $300 to $400 anywhere I look.

Lowers are far more likely to get banned than uppers, and for the flippers, lowers offer a much more profitable turnaround in a potential banic. And with stripped lowers running under $50, grabbing some in the face of pre-election uncertainty is a no brainer.

 

[Ibmikey]

I don't know where you guys are coming up with your prices but the cheapest Anderson lower i have found at a gun show in Texas was $89, every supplier I normally deal with has uppers and lowers marked in the $85 range but all indicate "sold out".
The greatest indicator will be when CTD doubles or triples their prices on everything AR then you will know another self made shortage confronts the American people. So get out there and buy up all the ammo and AR parts you can find cauz if "ya snoze ya lose" and then wait a year for the supply to catch up with the demand.

 

[Acera]

Lowers are far more likely to get banned than uppers, and for the flippers, lowers offer a much more profitable turnaround in a potential banic. And with stripped lowers running under $50, grabbing some in the face of pre-election uncertainty is a no brainer.

Exactly my thoughts. I did sell/trade a few during some of the obama panics, worked out pretty well for me. Since the prices have fallen I've restocked. Some buyers especially like purchasing from an individual with no paper trail as a hedge against future legislation. I think it will be a lot easier for them to legislate the serial numbered and controlled receiver rather than currently unregulated parts. Magazines and specific bullets are the only exceptions I see to that now.



.

 

[morcey2]

For completed items, it's 1:1. At the moment I have more stripped lowers than stripped uppers, but that may changed depending on what goes on sale or what catches my interests.

Matt

 

[Buzznrose]

I'm not "stacking them high before a ban", but I do see the possibility what I want later may not be available, and most are expected to be gifts for children down the road.

Every AR lower I buy, I either buy it complete or I buy the "guts" to go with it. That means a quality lower parts kit, good trigger, a good buffer, buffer tube, stock, and grip.

I will worry about the uppers in due course...not really sure if they are going to be SBR's, pistols, or 14.5"/16"/18" rifles at this point, to be honest.

 

[pdjms1]

berettaprofessor, I made that comment in response to bobsons' comment about the "stack them high" part. I got your humor. Putting it in italics and parenthesis made it pretty obvious to me But some folks aren't familiar with some of those queues and as with any communication of written form (internet, letter, e-mail, text) there is always the opportunity to misinterpret i.e. the "assume". Interesting poll and responses so far. Thanks for posting it.

 

[cfullgraf]

I voted one and one but I did not consider what was in the parts box.

Since 2008, I've tried to keep a rifle or two of parts ahead of things just in case of a shortage. I do not keep barrels or for ends on hand only because I'm not sure what I may build. Those parts tend to be relatively available for the most part.

 

[Buzznrose]

Sorry I missed the humor. I did not mean any disrespect if that was taken.




Take Care,

Buzz

 

[kimberkid]

Generally I'd say uppers ... .22LR through ...

Well, is 300AAC bigger or 7.62x39? ... doesn't matter as I have them both

However I have a few complete lowers in the safe too because everything won't fit in the safe without rubbing up against each other.

​

 

[BSA1]

$40 Anderson lower? ! I would have a few at that price. I always have a few ar project ideas in my head. By the time I actually get one they are about $75 with the transfer fees and such.

I don't know where you guys are coming up with your prices but the cheapest Anderson lower i have found at a gun show in Texas was $89, every supplier I normally deal with has uppers and lowers marked in the $85 range but all indicate "sold out".

I have brought mine from local gun stores. However the prices between stores is all over the place. A couple of LGS's have Anderson stripped lowers marked at $90.00.

The LGS that gets most of my business was selling them for $40.00. However they say they can not get any more Anderson's in.

Another LGS was selling them for $40.00, went up to $50.00, then $55.00 before running out. They got a new shipment in Wednesday which they lowered the price to $50.00 so I brought another one.

$50.00 is the most I will pay for a Anderson. Higher than that and I start looking for other brands such as SAA and Areo.

 

[Ibmikey]

BSA1, I too prefer Aero Precision for my builds however they seem to be on BO more than in stock. I have two sets of upper and lowers on BO from Brownells for 1 1/2 months, my BO directly from Aero was filled after several weeks wait but the last time i checked their site everything was out. Stock changes all the time so one must check often.
I have more AR's than I can shoot if firing a different one each day for a month now so will back out of the line and let others have access to the already limited supply.

 

[sota]

I've taken to the idea of stocking up on parts that I like.
Example: I bought several sets of lower build kits recently, since I bought one and liked the quality of parts and there was a sale on them.
The same goes for other bits like BUIS, triggers, comp/brakes (being in NJ we have weird requirements.) The latter I found one I really like that's inexpensive, so I have 1 spare waiting. If I were to see a sale on them I'd probably pick up 2 or 3 more, just to have on hand, as I have at least 2 or 3 more builds in my head.

Given the uncertainty of the times, having extra lowers on hand (the only part of a rifle that's considered the "firearm") seems like a good idea. I'm of course betting that any potential future "ban" would have a grandfather clause in them.
I'm currently researching and debating which uppers I'd like to eventually get to pair with them. I can then build completed rifles whenever.

Finally, and i know some will get all pissy about it, I'm considering some as a future investment. Do with that knowledge what you will.

 

[kimberkid]

Finally, and i know some will get all pissy about it, I'm considering some as a future investment. Do with that knowledge what you will.

There's a lot to be said for being in the right place at the right time and planning for the future. I used to think the "Profiteres" were scum ... but in reality that is how our economy works ...

However when I've made a good deal on something (bought or sold) I don't feel that what I'm doing is wrong ... especially when the other party is happy ... so maybe I'm a bit of a hypocrite

 

[berettaprofessor]

The interesting part here to me is that these results (not a high percentage have more uppers than lowers) helps to explain why I see lots of used complete AR's for sale, but more rarely a separate used upper.