Which AR lower, price/value important issues to me

[offthepaper]

I want to get an AR lower (will have to save for the upper). I've been checking out some of the internet sites and found a complete lower w/6 position stock. Complete lower made from Stag parts. Price is $239 delivered to FFL. I know I can't afford the Colts. Are there others in that price range I should be looking at? Also, I would like the finish to match . how much difference is there in the various mfg's finish, some appear more grey than black, some even appear to have a purple-ish tint to them? The Stag I saw seemed to have a simple dark black finish to it.

 

[Kindrox]

Search out Stag/CMMG/RR/DPMS and buy which one is cheapest, they won't differ by more than $20. The secret is, there are a number of quality lowers and buying a more expensive lower than these won't improve function of the gun.

Others may be able to add other names to the list. Personally I would also pony up for the 2-stage trigger as well.

 

[ryoushi]

Hard to beat Stag. High quality/low price. Many of these lowers all actually made by the same company and differ only in the markings.

 

[1911ShooterTJ]

I bought a Stag lower receiver, LPK, and stock not too long ago for a lower build. Stag came highly recommended by many, and gets a lot of good reviews on AR-15.com (which I suggest you join – a great resource for AR builds). They were of excellent quality and a great value. I highly recommend them also!

 

[goon]

Sir, a little off the subject but do you mind sharing what site you found them for that price on.
I have also been wanting another AR but I can't afford it unless I go a peice at a time. (a complete lower is a really big peice !)

Another option I have been looking at is watching the EE on ar-15.com. Sometimes good stuff comes up for sale on there pretty cheap. So that may be an option for you too.

 

[RNB65]

Stag and Rock River seem to be the popular choice. I recently bought a RR lower with the 2-stage trigger and it's excellent.

 

[Gary G23]

Stag lowers are a great value. The stripped lowers are as good as any. Their LPK's are better than most. They are the only one in their price range to use a mil-spec buffer tube.

 

[Bill73]

Here is a Stag with a Colt upper I pinned together. Came out great. I got the Stag lower at http://www.lonestarwholesale.com/

 

[taliv]

better value = essential arms

 

[bblumen]

Also check the $200.00 lowers from Ameetecarms.They get good reviews at AR15.com.

 

[Essex County]

Put me firmly in the Stag camp. They run just as well as my Colt. Essex

 

[buzz_knox]

Stag makes parts for many other AR "manufacturers" including S&W. By all accounts, they are good and everything will be in spec.

Uppers are where one has to watch out (many of the cheap uppers aren't worth the price paid) but one still has to be concerned with the quality of the lower, as an out of spec lower can be either a pain or a deal killer.

 

[RockyMtnTactical]

Hard to beat Stag.

 

[Coronach]

As long as the lower is in spec, a lower is a lower is a lower. Buy the cheapest of the major makers: Stag, CMMG, RRA, DPMS, Bushmaster, Colt
(ha! I keed!), Armalite, Essential, Superior, etc etc etc. If you see some off-name lower and want to make sure its kosher, just check here or on AR15.com ... I'm sure someone has used one before.

Mike

 

[Duncan223]

I've bought Bushmaster and DPMS Panther, and both seem as good and in spec as any of the others. I recently picked up another DPMS lower and parts kit and with shipping/bg check was just a shade over $200.00.

 

[Correia]

I want to know where he's getting $239 delivered also. I'm a Stag dealer, so I know what dealer cost is on a complete lower. That's a decent price for a Carbine, and screaming deal for a Tactical.

Is that a "Tactical" or "Carbine" lower? (new or old stock)

 

[Bill73]

I beleive that is from JKiser, dealer, on ar15.com.

 

[gaweidert]

You may want to look into a Rock River Arms lower with a National Match trigger group. I am very happy with mine. I got the lower while in my travels and didn't get an upper for almost a year when I found an FNMI upper with a 20" HBAR with 1/7 twist rate. They mated fine and it is one accurate rifle.

 

[offthepaper]

Thanks all.
Yes Bill is correct, I got this price from Jkiser on the AR15.com
The lower is the carbine model.
Well from the input here sounds like a fairly good deal, but after reading some of the other posts stating that the lower could be a very generic model as long as it is spec, I have found another lower complete for $200 + s/h., but by the time I pay s/h I would be pretty close to the $239 price, sos I will likely stay with the Stag since it comes so highly recommeded.
So is the general opinion here that the upper is where I should make a more quality minded investment and not go with a more generic upper?

 

[Correia]

I'm against generic lowers, but generic uppers especially.

There are a few places where you can go really cheap on a lower (for example, Rock Rivers new crappy, loctited stock retaining ring that will crack if you give it a good whack) But there are lot of places that you can go cheap on an upper, and cause all sorts of problems.

Do a search for Bart Robert's excellent post about why some ARs are cheaper than others. I can't recall what the actual title was, but it had a great list.

 

[Coronach]

Oh, and FWIW, when I said "a lower is a lower is a lower", I was referring to stripped lowers, not complete lowers.

Mike

 

[sorensen440]

I picked up a stripped lauer for 150 seems as good as any other

 

[distra]

I just picked up a Stag A2 lower with stock ~$250. I put on a 20" standard, ban compliant upper from http://www.model1sales.com. Whole thing for less than 8 bills.

 

[10-Ring]

IMO, if you can afford the Stag, get it! From what I've experienced, they seem like good stuff!

 

[slylikea_fox]

I have 1 complete stag rifle, 1 complete lower on a varmint rifle and just finished a stripped lower. I've been pretty impressed by them so far.