Who makes the best AR lowers

[DogBonz]

Hi all. Time for the dumb question of the day.

Who makes the best, in your opinion, AR lower receivers? I know that there are only 3 or 4 factories that actually make (forge) the lowers, but who's finished product is the best?

Thanks,

Fred

 

[Thernlund]

I choose whoever puts the prettiest logos and artwork on them.

That's my way of saying that, in my opinion, I don't think there's much difference so long as it's a "name".


-T.

 

[86thecat]

Stag's customer service was great when I received a lower with the mag well slightly off. All else being equal good customer service means a lot to me.

 

[brentn]

Dlask's lowers have the same metal and heat treatment that is made for colt canada for the c7a1 rifles in the canadian infantry.

I would think with that noted that they are damn good.

 

[CleverNickname]

They're not out yet but the Magpul billet lowers that are going to be released in a few(?) months look really nice. Supposedly stripped lowers will be going for about $400 though.

 

[MMcfpd]

Double Star and CMMG run ~$100 and will do well for you. I've also used a Noveske which is nice, but I'm not sure it was really worth an additional $20-30 over the others.

A lot of what choice to make may boil down to how picky you are about the markings.


ETA - I buy my stripped lowers at gun shows - whatever sales tax you might pay is easily offset by the savings of not paying shipping or an FFL transfer fee, and you can inspect the one you're buying before the purchase.

 

[viking499]

Doublestar

 

[rbernie]

I've got four Stag/CMT lowers from Global Tactical, four DPMS, two Armalite, one Bushmaster, one RRA, and one from LCW (and I don't know who Lauer really got them from).

Other than surface finish (straight matte anodizing vs. anodizing plus some form of teflon overcoat), I couldn't tell you the difference between any of 'em. The LPKs all installed properly, nothing didn't line up, and the rifles just work.

I tend towards DPMS (with CMT LPKs) for my 223/5.56 NATO builds because that's what I can get locally. I used the CMT lowers from Global Tactical for my 6.8SPC builds because they aren't caliber marked.

 

[RandolH]

I like doublestar. They're cheap and local. I also like their logo much better than Stag, although they font they use for everything else leaves much to be desired. Still, 100 out the door is good enough for me.

 

[GunTech]

Mega.

Once you have looked at one, you'll see why. I've build a couple hundred ARs over the years, and I have yet to see one more nicely machined, or more dimensionally correct.

http://www.commtechreview.net/firearms/megalwr.htm

 

[RockyMtnTactical]

They are all fairly equal for the most part. As long as you buy a forged aluminum anodized lower with milspec hole size and placement from a reputable manufacturer you are good to go.

You may like a particular roll mark or the price of one vs. another. That is usually reason enough to decide on one or the other.

I have Stag, LAR, RRA, DPMS and they are all comparable in quality. Other decent stripped lowers are double star, Mega, Bushmaster, among others...

 

[aloharover]

I have built on Double Star, Bushmaster, RRA, CMMG, DPMS, Stag, Armalite, Oly

Other then machine marks, rollmarks and different shades of color I don't see any difference.
I can't justify the additional price on a BM compared to the others.
DS, CMMG, and Stag ship very quickly so they are the ones I use the most of. RRA and DPMS have taken as long as 4 months to ship in the past, so unless a customer specifically requests them I don't bother.

As far as quality and ability to build a working, reliable lower I have yet to see a difference.

 

[DogBonz]

Thanks for the replies

But I was mainly speaking to the dimensions and the materials.

Who makes the lowers that are dimensionally the most accurate and consistent?

Who uses the best aluminum? I know that POF uses 7000 series aluminum, some others use 6000 series, etc

 

[trbon8r]

I highly recommend the Lauer Custom Weaponry lowers. I've put two of them together with no problems. My two Bushmasters look like crap compared to the Lauers.

 

[jerkface11]

Anything that isn't a Vulcan/Hesse.

 

[KMBRTAC45]

Anyone ever tried receivers from http://www.sundevilmfg.com/? I saw these at the gun show the first weekend of December, they look like they would hold up well but I am just getting into AR's.

 

[Enron Exec]

Good question. Im a noob too and am thankfull for all the input.

 

[aloharover]

Anyone ever tried receivers from http://www.sundevilmfg.com/? I

Yes, good stuff. They are billets, not forged or cast. So more machine work. Very nice receivers. As such they run more then the forged ones. ($135 shipped)

 

[Gunfighter.45]

Sundevil is my lower

 

[aloharover]

^nice^

I just picked up a MUR yesterday to go with a SD lower
CTR and MIAD in FDE with matching panels.
DD rails.

:lol:

 

[ElrodCod]

There are two kinds of lowers...forged & cast. The forged ones are best, it doesn't really matter what name is on them.

 

[rero360]

Gunfighter.45: what is that on the lower in the pic right above the trigger?

 

[MMcfpd]

rero360, if you mean the thing that looks like this:

that's the connector for KNS anti-rotation pins.

 

[rero360]

ah, I see, they're there to lower the amount of wear and tear on the weapon over time. interesting.

 

[rangerruck]

come to think of it, i remember seeing a revue of the mega lowers, about 6 months ago in Small arms review' magazine, one of your better arms mags.
They were absolutely glowing about these lowers, showing measurements of the diff way they were made up against others, with close up photos, how much thicker the push pin hole supports were, etc., they really made these seem to be the greatest thing since sliced bread.... So i will say Mega as well.