Thanks for all the replies to my last question about complete lowers and complete uppers. Next question - any suggestions on where to buy - what websites. I'm very interested in Rock River, because of what I see about quality and price. I've read good things about adcofirearms.com, but RRAs are pretty much all on back order. Any other website suggestions to get complete lowers and uppers for RRA or a comparable brand? Thanks.
Next AR15 complete upper and lower question
- Thread starter RicVa
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dmftoy1
Member
Just my .02 (I'm doing it right now).
I'd buy a stag arms receiver from wherever you find the best deal. (I bought 2 from RB Precision but they're maybe $5 higher than some other places). I'd then pick up a lower parts kit and put it together. (great write-up on AR15.com). The reason I'm recommending this is that I "tried" to buy an RRA lower before I started my project and was told that it would take 4-6 months for them to get one in.
I'm going to have $235 in my lower (with transfer, etc) when I'm done. (I picked up buttstock from the local gunshow for $10 and the buffer/parts for $36 from http://www.model1sales.com . . you can buy the complete kit for something like $55 + s/h)
Once I get some more $ saved up I'm going to pick up a complete upper. Right now I'm leaning towards the 20" RRA DCM upper from RBPrecision but I'm not sure. I need to do a little more research into whether a flattop w/scope is allowed for DCM competition or if iron sights are required.
Right now I figure I'm going to have a nice setup with a match chamber (Wylde) and a good heavy 20" barrel (free floated) for around $775.
Have a good one,
Dave
I'd buy a stag arms receiver from wherever you find the best deal. (I bought 2 from RB Precision but they're maybe $5 higher than some other places). I'd then pick up a lower parts kit and put it together. (great write-up on AR15.com). The reason I'm recommending this is that I "tried" to buy an RRA lower before I started my project and was told that it would take 4-6 months for them to get one in.
I'm going to have $235 in my lower (with transfer, etc) when I'm done. (I picked up buttstock from the local gunshow for $10 and the buffer/parts for $36 from http://www.model1sales.com . . you can buy the complete kit for something like $55 + s/h)
Once I get some more $ saved up I'm going to pick up a complete upper. Right now I'm leaning towards the 20" RRA DCM upper from RBPrecision but I'm not sure. I need to do a little more research into whether a flattop w/scope is allowed for DCM competition or if iron sights are required.
Right now I figure I'm going to have a nice setup with a match chamber (Wylde) and a good heavy 20" barrel (free floated) for around $775.
Have a good one,
Dave
Fed168
Member
Take a look at Doublestar. I picked up a complete lower for $250 and mated it to a varmit upper. Fit and finish on both are great, good specs and it shoots very well.
aguyindallas
Member
I have a doublstar lower, works great.
Take a look at Lone Star Wholesale for lowers
and
Texas Star Group for uppers.
They are dealers that are friends and are at most of the Texas shows. Good people and good prices on good products.
I have purchased parts from Model 1 Sales and ADCO, both were also great experiences. They were small parts, other than the barrell I got from ADCO
You may also want to check out Bravo Company USA. I have not purchased there yet, but will soon. I have heard good things about them also.
Take a look at Lone Star Wholesale for lowers
and
Texas Star Group for uppers.
They are dealers that are friends and are at most of the Texas shows. Good people and good prices on good products.
I have purchased parts from Model 1 Sales and ADCO, both were also great experiences. They were small parts, other than the barrell I got from ADCO
You may also want to check out Bravo Company USA. I have not purchased there yet, but will soon. I have heard good things about them also.
Zach S
Member
www.adcofirearms.com
As I stated in another thread, I think RRA is a little reluctant to ship uppers and lowers so they can make production rifles, lowers at the above sight have been backordered for a while. Most 5.56 uppers are normally in stock.
Dont get one of the elite uppers with their tacticool carry handle. Its cheaper just to add the tac handle to a plain A3 upper. I hate the tac handle, but I didnt know I'd hate it when I ordered it, and it was cheaper than the A2 handle.
LiquidTension
Member
I did some pricing on RRAs because I'll build one eventually, but it looked like it would be cheaper to buy a whole rifle than to piece it together because their complete rifles come with the NM trigger. Did I do the math wrong? I was looking at the Elite UTE2.
receiver - $155
lower kit w/nm trigger - $180
complete upper - $560
stock kit - $57.50
Total - $952.50
The complete rifle is $935. Isn't it usually cheaper to buy parts and do the labor yourself? They're charging less for a complete rifle where they have done all the work already. Weird. Oh, those are the prices on their website. I don't know how much they actually cost (dealer discount). Oh, there's a question for you guys - what is the dealer cost on RRAs? I get dealer cost on everything through a friend.
receiver - $155
lower kit w/nm trigger - $180
complete upper - $560
stock kit - $57.50
Total - $952.50
The complete rifle is $935. Isn't it usually cheaper to buy parts and do the labor yourself? They're charging less for a complete rifle where they have done all the work already. Weird. Oh, those are the prices on their website. I don't know how much they actually cost (dealer discount). Oh, there's a question for you guys - what is the dealer cost on RRAs? I get dealer cost on everything through a friend.
iamkris
Member
J&T upper -- $350 - 450
Stag lower -- $99
Lower parts kit -- $50
Buttstock kit -- $75
$600-700 total
I did a complete DPMS lower and J&T upper. $600 before adding toys.
Stag lower -- $99
Lower parts kit -- $50
Buttstock kit -- $75
$600-700 total
I did a complete DPMS lower and J&T upper. $600 before adding toys.
Fed168
Member
Brownells sells RRA matched uppers and lowers.
Stinger, Mega and Stag Arms lowers are all about $90 shipped. Anything more expensive and you are paying for a logo. Bushmaster has excellent (and very competitively priced) uppers, its the lowers that are way too expensive. RRA is good also, but not all of their barrels are chrome-lined, in case that's a requirement (would be for me).
RRA is good but they are in pretty short supply, the Stag Arms lower is CMT's house brand, CMT makes the lower receivers for Rock River.
I have a rifle I built about a year ago using an RRA lower receiver and got a kit to complete it, I recently built my second AR15, got a Stag Arms stripped lower receiver and a kit from J&T Distributing, Double Star is J&T's brand for complete rifles.
I have a rifle I built about a year ago using an RRA lower receiver and got a kit to complete it, I recently built my second AR15, got a Stag Arms stripped lower receiver and a kit from J&T Distributing, Double Star is J&T's brand for complete rifles.
Interesting on the Stag mention. That's now a couple of places that I heard that a Stag lower is basically an RRA lower without the RRA branded on it. Definitely something to consider. I've glanced at the instructions on assembling the lower on ar15.com, I'll have to give them more a more detailed look. It sounds like it doesn't require special tools and is fairly simple.
lycanthrope
Member
The Stag lower is identical to the RRA save for the rollmark.
Stripped Stag or RRA lower from Eagle firearms: $85
Complete KIT from Model 1 sales: $415.
Total: $500 and change for a base AR.
For a full RRA gun.......
Complete lower from Eagle: $200
Complete upper from Adco:$425
Total$ 625
Stripped Stag or RRA lower from Eagle firearms: $85
Complete KIT from Model 1 sales: $415.
Total: $500 and change for a base AR.
For a full RRA gun.......
Complete lower from Eagle: $200
Complete upper from Adco:$425
Total$ 625
Lycanthrope - you may be on to something here.
Does anyone know anything more about the complete kits from Model1Sales.com? I don't see any reference to any manufacturer, it just says, "all US made parts". Is it maybe lots of different manufacturers?
Anyone have any experience with using one of these Model1Sales.com kits? I'm interested in the 20" Standard Rifle Kit - A3.
Does anyone know anything more about the complete kits from Model1Sales.com? I don't see any reference to any manufacturer, it just says, "all US made parts". Is it maybe lots of different manufacturers?
Anyone have any experience with using one of these Model1Sales.com kits? I'm interested in the 20" Standard Rifle Kit - A3.
dmftoy1
Member
There appears to be good and bad about Model1. If you go to ar15.com and do a search on it you'll find widely varying opinions.
Have a good one,
Dave
Have a good one,
Dave
lycanthrope
Member
I've shot a couple Model 1 guns. They were fine. Nothing like my White Oak gun in terms of fit or finish, but nice enough that my next build will be a carbine kit from Model 1. To my knowledge they are using the same small parts kits as most manufacturers and Wilson barrels.
If you have any doubts, just go with the RRA tops and sleep easy.
If you have any doubts, just go with the RRA tops and sleep easy.
jason10mm
Member
I built a lower a few months ago and while it may not be NECESSARY to have specialized tools, they CERTAINLY help! I'm talking about a vise block to hold the lower, the special punch for the captured pins, a hammer drop block for testing the trigger, the appropriate set of punches, and the buffer tube wrench. I get the FFL discount from Brownells (my C&R license has paid for itself MANY times over!!) which helps, but all those tools still adds up. I don't ever plan on buying a complete lower again, so it was a good investment for me, but wouldn't be for a single build.
One thing that really ups the cost of a home build is adding in the go-fast parts. If you can limit yourself to the cheap kit you will do ok, but once you start tossing in match triggers, TD grips, ambi switches, mil-spec parts, etc, it really adds up, though it is still cheaper than adding those things to a stock AR down the road.
dmftoy1, I don't think optics are allowed in DCM, at least not in the regular matches. I'm not sure a flattop with a carry handle would be allowed either, at least I've never seen a DCM rifle offered with anything other than the A2 receiver.
One thing that really ups the cost of a home build is adding in the go-fast parts. If you can limit yourself to the cheap kit you will do ok, but once you start tossing in match triggers, TD grips, ambi switches, mil-spec parts, etc, it really adds up, though it is still cheaper than adding those things to a stock AR down the road.
dmftoy1, I don't think optics are allowed in DCM, at least not in the regular matches. I'm not sure a flattop with a carry handle would be allowed either, at least I've never seen a DCM rifle offered with anything other than the A2 receiver.
lycanthrope
Member
No optics in service rifle class, but detacheable A2 handles on the flat top are now legal.
dmftoy1
Member
That's good to know. I guess my plan will be to use the RRA 20 inch National Match upper that I'm getting with a scope and then put on my bushy's detachable carry handle to try to do some of the DCM shoots. At least that's the plan! 
Have a good one,
Dave
Have a good one,
Dave
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