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Posted: 12/3/2004 2:58:03 PM EDT
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I just picked up an upper in very good condition for 100.00. It is marked with the initials LM which apparently mean that the upper was manufactured by LAR / Martin Marietta (Army Spares Contract). Since this is my first build up, and I intend on keeping the rifle, I was wondering if any of you guys can tell me which would be a factory correct lower as I've now I've got to go and buy one? I don't know if it matters but it's got a 16 inch barrel with 7 inch front grips. I was told it's a pre ban piece as it has old stlye flash suppressor and bayonet mount. Any help would be greatly appreciated. I'm just looking for a factory correct rifle, not a conglomeration of parts. Thanks, Tony I've moved this post from the Uppers and lowers section in an attempt to properly place it. |
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Not sure I understand what you're after. If the upper is a surplus GI piece, and it has a 16" barrel on it, it's already a "conglomeration of parts". Now my memory on this may be off, but I actually think the "LM" denotes an early Bushmaster upper, not GI surplus. If that'e so, then a Bushie lower would be correct to complete it. If it is, in fact, GI, then any aftermarket lower is as good as any other---since you can't have an original lower  BTW, where the hell did you pick up an ipper WITH a barrel on it for $100?? I want to go there and get me one
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I just need to know which lower to buy for the application I currently have. For example you said you believe the upper I have is a Bushmaster, if so I can get a Bushy lower for say 280.00 complete, where as if the upper I have is a Colt, for example I would want to buy a Colt lower, which will probably cost me another 100.00 or so. One of the other members here sent me to a page that decoded the markings on the uppers that denoted this piece as an LAR/Martin Marietta made upper. I don't know which lower should go with an upper made by LAR/Martin Marietta. That's what I trying to determine, trying to keep the manufacturers the same. Or should I not even be bothered by mixing uppers and lowers. Thanks BTW for your help and your time. P.S.-Just to answer your last question, got it from a friend who intended to do a build up and never got around to it. |
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Hopefully someone else from NY will respond to you here, but if I recall correctly you may still be required to get a 'pre-ban' lower to use with your upper. (since it's got the 'evil' flash suppressor & bay lug and you're in NY) Hopefully I'm wrong but I wanted to give you a heads up just in case. Drop a note in the NY/NJ forum and someone should be able to confirm this. As for the markings, I'm not going to speculate who's is who's, I have 3 Bushy uppers all with different forge markings. Good luck on the build. CDKayak |
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Well, since LAR never made complete rifles for the government, and I'll take your word that the upper is in fact one that they made as a replacement part, the only "governmrnt contractor" of lowers, that sells to the government, and on the civilian market, is Colt. On the other hand, Bushmaster did at one point have a government contract, and Rock River currently has a contract to supply rifles to the drug endorcement people. It's your call, of course, but I'm not sure how far I'd want to go trying to match up what was a repalacement type piece in the first place, with a theoretical matching lower
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shamayim, According to the info here http://www.biggerhammer.net/ar15/uppers/ , it is a piece supplied by LAR / Martin Marietta, so in your opinion I'm just as well off getting a Colt lower as I am a Bushy, or other, so it just comes down to my personal opinion. If this is the case, which lower would you recommend? I've read many good things here about the Colt as well as Bushmaster. Thanks again. |
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Just on price alone, I'd go with Bushie. Inasmuch as it's going to be an "assembled" piece, the added value of having a Colt lower, won't match the amount more that the Colt will cost in the first place. Also, since you've got to find a preban lower to be legal in New York, the difference in price between a preban Colt, and a preban Bushie is likely to be even more dramatic. Or, you could move down here to Georgia (as I did from Massachusetts) and not have to worry about such things
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shamayim, Once I do the final cost comparison between the Bushie and Colt, or one of the others for that matter, I'll make my decision. Thanks for the help. A buddy of mine moved to Kennesau(sp.) GA. a few years ago and has been asking to get me down there. Great motorcycle riding down your way. Stickman, Thanks for the heads up on the finishing. Tony |
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