Lower Parts Kit: DD or Spikes Enhanced?

[Badkharma]

Considering my first AR build.

Which LPK would you get and why? Trying to decide between the DD LPK here:

http://www.riflegear.com/p-1104-daniel-defense-lower-parts-kit-with-moe-trigger-guard.aspx

or the Spikes Enhanced here:

http://www.spikestactical.com/new/z/lower-kit-spikes-enhanced-parts-kit-p-422.html

Of course the Spikes is more $, but is it worth the extra cost? I'm looking for MOE grip as well so both of these options fit the bill.

Any other suggestions other than these brands? Would prefer to stay around $100 or less (yes I know the Spikes enhanced is more than this...).

Thanks in advance for the help!

 

[taliv]

the spikes includes a plated trigger and kns trigger pins. the trigger pins are useful if the lower is investment cast, 25 yr old full-auto that would cost $10k to replace. if your lower is a month old, forged and costs $80 to replace, then spending $30-50 on kns pins is just silly. honestly, most people do it because they think it looks cool.

why would you want nickle boron plated mil-spec trigger? save the $ and put them towards a geissele.

 

[68wj]

why would you want nickle boron plated mil-spec trigger? save the $ and put them towards a geissele.

If you want a smooth, even trigger pull with common parts interchagability should anything ever go wrong. I don't regret mine and feel that I got more than I paid for, but it is definately no geissele.

 

[Badkharma]

why would you want nickle boron plated mil-spec trigger? save the $ and put them towards a geissele.

I don't know why, that's why I'm asking. See, I learn something new every day.

 

[taliv]

68, it might make a great trigger. i honestly don't know. but with so many fad coatings and platings out there right now, it's hard to know what the real characteristics are or even if one vendor's "nickel boron" is the same as anothers. i really don't know, but if it would still show 'holster wear' from plastic or leather after a while, it's just not clear to me what the hammer/sear would look like after a couple thou rounds of rubbing against each other. or what the normal milspec parts would look like after rubbing against a plated part.

i'm just skeptical, mostly after my experiences with titanium nitriding

 

[68wj]

@taliv, Perfectly reasonable reaction to the many gimmicks and snake oil solutions that can pop up. I only have ~250 rounds over mine so it is WAY too early to tell. So far, so good.

 

[TonyAngel]

Why are you limiting yourself to those two options? Personally, my knee jerk on parts is usually in the direction of Daniel Defense. Everything that they put out seems to be at least as good as everyone else's.

With that having been said, unless things have changed, Stag was the best buy in a LPK if a standard GI trigger is what you want. If a standard GI trigger is not what you want, then I'd give either PKFirearms.com or Ranier Arms a call and get them to put a LPK together for you to include the trigger that you want. At least that way, you won't be wasting money on parts that you will soon be replacing. BTW, I'd also opt for a Magpul trigger guard as well. I usually get the plastic version. They don't get bent.

 

[Badkharma]

I'm not limiting myself to those two options. Those just happened to be the two I am comparing. That's why I started this thread, and thus my comment at the end of my post "Any other suggestions other than these brands?"

Thanks for the other ideas - I'm new to the build-the-AR game so I'm very open to suggestions.

 

[Destructo6]

I was disappointed with my DD lower parts kit.

The mag catch was not peened/swaged over on the catch side. It looked like it had been loctited, but it should be mushroomed over per mil spec. DD didn't seem to understand why this was important and replaced it with the exact same setup.

The trigger didn't reset properly. When it reset, you could still push the trigger forward a bit which meant that engaging the safety also had to push the trigger back into it's proper place. DD replaced the trigger group and the replacement is good.

The bolt catch and the trigger guard split pins seemed to be slightly oversized, which caused some finish damage around the holes when installing them.

I can't remember the other brand that I considered at the time, but went with DD because of their reputation and the fact that the kit came with a MOE trigger guard, which I would purchase anyway.

Just my experience.

 

[LiquidTension]

http://www.palmettostatearmory.com/1361.php

I've got one of those in a 6.8 build and another one sitting here waiting to be built in a stripped lower. They get their parts from the same places FN does.

 

[CFletch08]

+1 for psa
I got a build kit from them and i have been very happy with the quality of the parts for the price. The geisseille (i know i spelled that wrong) is awesome and the price at psa is great.

 

[Z-Michigan]

These are the very best in my experience:

http://www.gandrtactical.com/cgi-bin/commerce.cgi?preadd=action&key=GRT-LPK

The cost is going to be around $90 for equal set of parts.

I've used two of the Spike's LPKs. They are pretty good but not ideal with the selector chosen, and on one the finish flaked off the mag release button. Minor issues. Separately I have an ST "battle trigger" with the NiB coating. It is noticeably smoother than a new GI trigger, and nowhere close to a Geissele or RRA trigger. I have mixed feelings about it. Most GI triggers get smoother with use - but you won't notice much until 1000+ pulls (live or dry fire).

Armalite makes a pretty good LPK as well, and you can get it with their 2-stage trigger for only $120 at the Armalite website. A good deal, although that trigger is not as good as the Geissele. (Compared to RRA it is a worse feel but likely more durability.)

 

[Badkharma]

Great ideas guys, keep 'em coming. I'm liking the PSA option, seems like a great value.

 

[CFletch08]

One benifit of psa is that they offer "build kits" that include stock assy and stock. Helps save a bit of money if you have yet to get a stock.

 

[TonyAngel]

Hey Fletch, that's Geissele. Don't feel bad. The first time I called over there, I called him je-sell, and he says, that's guys-lee. I felt like an idiot.

To the OP, where ever you order from, call them and see if they'll put something together for you. On my very first lower build, I was almost disgusted to see all of the parts that I wound up replacing from the original kit. The trigger, the trigger guard and the grip. Probably 80% of the cost of the LPK. It's best to just get what you want from the get go.

 

[Badkharma]

Great idea Tony thanks.

For the record I was pronouncing it 'Geese-lee' in my head.

 

[TonyAngel]

Well, you were closer than I was.

 

[ugaarguy]

The price of the Spikes kit puts you within $65 of the PSA kit with Geissele trigger & MagPul MOE grip. http://palmettostatearmory.com/1071.php

 

[Fishbed77]

http://www.palmettostatearmory.com/1361.php

I've got one of those in a 6.8 build and another one sitting here waiting to be built in a stripped lower. They get their parts from the same places FN does.

One benifit of psa is that they offer "build kits" that include stock assy and stock. Helps save a bit of money if you have yet to get a stock.

Another +1 here for Palmetto State Armory. I have one of their lower build kits (with Magpul furniture) paired with a Spikes M4 LE upper, and both are fantastic.

And my lower kit just has PSA's standard trigger, but it's better than any other standard AR trigger I've come across. Very smooth and crisp for a plain-jane trigger.

 

[Badkharma]

Thanks for all the input, I really appreciate it. I've deduced that this is probably my best value/option here, especially since I want MOE.

http://www.palmettostatearmory.com/1361.php

 

[ForumSurfer]

especially since I want MOE.

I've got the miad grip on my current build. The moe grip I had on my last build is actually more comfortable for me.

 

[Fishbed77]

I've got the miad grip on my current build. The moe grip I had on my last build is actually more comfortable for me.

I also prefer the MOE grip to the MIAD. It's about the same size shape as the mid-size MIAD option, but the one-piece construction just feels better to me, and looks better too.

 

[BamAlmighty]

PSA is by far the best quality bang for your buck parts kit at the moment.

 

[Kwanger]

I've had a Spikes coated trigger and was less than impressed. The problem was not the coating....it was the underlying trigger, not the best. And that's the trouble with any GI trigger....there is variation in the manufacturing tolerances so you can never guarantee a great GI trigger, coated or not (although I agree with Tony Angel, in my experience the ones from CMT(Stag) seem to be more consistent than most).

If you want an LPK with a coated trigger done right, and using very high quality xrayed and machined parts, LWRCs kit is a great one, albeit expensive (however, not much different to the Spikes enhanced...). Nice touch they have "LWRC" stamped on each part....shows attention to detail. Their polymer trigger guard is also very nice and is pretty cheap vs Magpuls polymer one. What I do nowadays though is order all the parts except the trigger from LWRC (comes to about $40) - then put in a Geissele trigger of some sort.

If I was going to build a budget rifle, I'd most likely go for either a Stag LPK or possibly a Palmetto State Armory one (not used one of those, but by all accounts great bang for the buck (like most of their stuff....I have had several stripped lowers, uppers and BCG's from them).

Whichever kit, I am also a fan of the Magpul MOE grip.

 

[gotigers]

I've used 3 Palmetto State Armory LPKs this year. I had no issues with any of them. They all have had hundreds of rounds thru them.