AR Sponsor
[ARCHIVED THREAD] - perfect lower (Page 1 of 2)
Posted: 9/13/2006 8:00:24 PM EDT
|
what do you think is the perfect lower for a first build. Fit-Finish-color match-all that good stuff... |
|
Any forged lower is pretty much as good as any other. I am partial to the Global Tactical branded CMT lowers from Denny at globaltactical.com. This latest batch is awesome. Of course, from your post you seem to be most interested in how "pretty" it is. If that is the case, look at billet machined lowers like Sun Devil. |
I was looking at Denny's lowers and also the Lauer Custom Weaponry by LMT..I am not so much worried about pretty, because it will probably getting a coat of duracoat from me..I am more worried about the Fit to uppers than anything...I like quality, nothing real cheap...Like i said its my first build and have no experince on buying just parts...Denny's price's are also attractive...
|
|
I have two stag lowers ...one is for my .223 and the other one will be builded on the CZ vss Upper that I just got on this board.... I plan to build one more later for a Swap of .50 caliber but i havetn decided yet .. Love the stag, but i would get the sun devil next time. I just looks sooo H O T ! |
i went with a lower from Denny as well. top notch quality, and Denny is great to work with. |
| I am very happy with my global tactical lower. one of the great things about it, is that there are no caliber markings. Its only cosmetic, but if you plan on using a non 556 caliber, or swaping out different caliber uppers, it looks better. mega and sun devil dont have caliber markings either, but milled receivers are supposedly not as strong as forged, and the atom symbol on the mega is kinda lame. |
|
The Wilson's won't be cheap. I second the DPMS recommendation. I also like the SunDevil. Stag is also good. Unless you're going to put an RRA upper on it, I wouldn't get an RRA lower sometimes the fit is too tight on those. DPMS is cheap and has a low shelf. Stags are good and not too expensive. Sun Devils are just damned sexy. TS |
 Top is a Bushy. The fit and finnish on the P.O.F. is probably the best I've seen on any AR-15 lower. Three were ordered for a couple customers by my local dealer back in December and they just arrived 8 monthes later.  Needless to say those who origionaly ordered them got tired of waiting and completed their builds with other lowers leaving these to be bought by a lucky few.   
|
| I don't think they're available stripped (yet), but IMO, MGI Military's Modular Lower with interchangeable mag wells is the "perfect lower" - especially with their QCB upper. Just change out the bolt, mag well and barrel to change from 5.56x45 in AR mags to 7.62x39 or 5.45.39 in AK mags or (if their website is to be believed) 7.62x51 in M14 mags. |
|
Most companies' uppers and lowers will have a slight difference in coloratio, but buying an upper and lower from the same company will most likely give you the best match. Are you looking to build an AR with a specific upper? I mean do you have a complete upper already or are you looking to buy a particular built upper? TS |
| If you want a fitted match and finish match for your upper and lower. Consider Essential Arms. I sent them a pre-ban lower and they refinished it and matched it up for fit with one of their new flat tops. The marriage made in Lousianna is on its way back as we speak. |
OK, I think I made a decision. I am going to go with the Les Baer matched Upper and Lower set. I like quality...I need Pros and cons, if possible... And in real life how hard is it to place barrel in upper. And one more question, I would like to have M4 feed ramps..Does this completely depend on the Barrel? or does it also include something with the upper? |
|
Here's some vendors I've delt with off the top of my head...from good to bad Colt - I hate to sound like a Kool-Aid drinker (because I'm really not) but Colt has proven to me, over and over, that is has some of the best quality, most consistant products. I hate their politics and policies (though they're getting better now) but I can not fault their products. For me, they have been 100%, not 99%, but 100% consistant with the products that I've bought from them (lowers, uppers, BCGs, barrels, etc...) LMT - Subs for Lauer, DSA, PWA, Knights, plus their own brand. Good stuff. Up there with Colt in every way. LAR - LAR subs for a lot of other vendors...CMMG, Ameetech, Fulton, etc. Between my buddies and I, we have serveral lowers manf. by LAR and they're great. Everything fits perfectly and the finish is nice. Sun Devil - Good if you're interested in a billet lower that looks a little different. No advantage over a forged lower. Early versions had tight rear channels that required a lapping to get the upper to fit but once it did, it was nice and tight. Newer ones are machined a little looser. Not worth the extra cash IMO unless you're getting for close to dealer cost ($100) DPMS - Personally, I wouldn't buy a DPMS lower just because of the brand itself. DPMS has a bad reputation for a reason (and I've experienced it, just not with their lowers) so why support them? There are plenty of other brands to buy for the same money and sometimes less. I'm sure the DPMS cheerleaders will be along shortly...but let me say this, if DPMS is still using LAR as the subcontractor for their lowers then it will most like be good. DoubleStar - I've had some issues with a few DoubleStar lowers (all JVP manf. ones). Selector hole was drilled slightly crooked. Still worked but the selector didn't sit at exactly 0 or 90 degrees. Also, the pistol grip hole location was just a fraction off and it made mounting the MIAD with the trigger guards a little bit difficult. Again, not a big deal. It works fine but I won't be buying another JVP manuf. Doublestar (again, far too many other brands to choose from). LAR also sub'd for Doublestar and I would consider a LAR manuf. one. CMT - John Noveske recieved a batch of bad CMT lowers. The pistol grip holes were drilled at the wrong position so you couldn't put on a pistol grip. John fixed it by selling these lowers with custom drilled Tango Down grips (with FULL disclosure of course and discounted)...that's great if you like the TD battlegrip but if you ever wanted to change grips, you're SOL. There were also a batch of Stag branded lowers that had very bad finishes....on the same token however, there are other CMT made lowers that are perfect so YMMV. "Roll the dice" should be CMT's slogan. 
|
It has been my understanding that LBC machines thier own upper and lower in house - they also sell 0% & broached forgings. My LBC matched upper and lower should arrive tomorrow - will post pics when they arrive. |
|
Les Baer makes a matched set, too. $342, IIRC. They say they have a special tool that holds the upper and lower together while the pin holes are drilled. A buddy of min is a Les Baer fan and wants to use the matched set for his first build. Oops - didn't see page 2 - too late 
|
WTF are you talking about? You make a couple of very broad generalizations without substantiation & act like you are the all-knowing guru. Where do you get your information? 
|
wilsoncombat.com/r_ar_receivers.asp I checked out a noveske not long ago, I was rather impressed with it and i just ordered 2 of 'em |
[ARCHIVED THREAD] - perfect lower (Page 1 of 2)
AR Sponsor