AR Lower Time

[AggieC05]

I dont have the funds to bite the black bullet, but figure like everyone else with the election rolling around its time to look into at least a lower.
Can I get a stripped lower or should I buy a full lower receiver? What brands is everyone using? Totally new to the AR world.

[KC5AV]

Stripped or full depends on how comfortable you are putting it together. I was a little bit nervous putting mine together, but it wasn't a big deal.
I got my CMMG stripped lower at Cheaper Than Dirt for about $129.

[iratollah]

I don't think there's much difference between many of the lowers, especially considering that the same few companies are manufacturing and private labeling the majority of the lowers on the market.

By the time you add in freight and FFL, there's no bargains to be had on the internet. Do your fellow Texans a favor and keep your business in state and find a shop from where to purchase your lower. Some of the smaller shops will assemble the lower for the same price at which you're buying the receiver and parts kit.

No reason to spend a lot on a lower, save your money for a good trigger group, the right barrel and lots of ammo and mags.

[KC5AV]

I don't think there's much difference between many of the lowers, especially considering that the same few companies are manufacturing and private labeling the majority of the lowers on the market.

I asked the guy at CTD what the real difference was in the lowers.
His response: "The price."

[txmatt]

That's pretty much the boat I'm in, so I bought a stripped lower a few months back and just recently bought the parts kit and a couple of mags. If you are buying this in anticipation of a new AWB you probably want to get mags now, too. The guy at the store I bought the lower from said the only reason to get one brand over another is if you know what upper you are getting so the finishes match (if you care about this.)

It was really easy to put together, just needed some punches. I found it helped to squeeze down one end of the roll pins and insert that end first to get it started to make it go in smoother. Of course now that I have the lower together I'm really anxious to get an upper so I can go play....

[G.A. Heath]

I have 1 DPMS stripped lower sitting in the safe right now, with 2 other stripped lowers I purchased that have since been built into functional rifles. All three of those are DPMS units purchased from a local FFL (1 purchased at a gun show, two purchased in his store). I also have an Anvil Arms lower on order along with one of their uppers with dust cover and forward assist installed. I have all the parts I need to assemble one of the stripped lowers (the AA unit when it comes in) into a complete lower. To go with the upper receiver I have a custom match grade barrel and bolt ordered and most of the parts needed to assemble the complete upper.

I purchased the DPMS stripped lower with the intention of building an M4gery and later building the gun based around the AA lower. My plans changed when I saw exactly what a similar gun to what I was planning for the AA rifle did on a feral pig and the M4gery got put on the back burner. My advice when building an AR is decide what you will use the gun for, what you want option-wise, what you can do assembly-wise, and how much you are willing to spend. You can get a Fireforeffect.com M4 kit for $599 to put with your stripped lower and have a fully functional AR on the cheap (Including magazine, sling, and carry handle). Or you can build a completely tricked out rig that can make you a single man (or keep you single if you already are) for more money than many people spent on their first car. In many cases its actually cheaper to get a production rifle if you want just a plain Jane generic AR15 after you figure in S&H, gas, tools, changing your mind, FFL fees, ect.

[WillieD]

Just pick up a stripped lower and build it up yourself.

A local dealer (http://www.sportingarms.com" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;) sells the CMMG lowers for only $110, but with the demand increase over the past 2 days I would assume their supply may be kind of tight. I picked up a pair back in May and they only charged me $105 each. A reason I like buying from this company is that they are literally just a couple hundred yards away from my house, and I can't overlook the fact that they have good prices.

[WarHawk-AVG]

http://www.aimsurplus.com/acatalog/Receivers.html" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

They have one for $79.95

[lrb111]

sold out of the79.95, but show stock on others.

[MyNameIsPaul]

So I happened to drive by Pruitts Guns & Ammo this morning. As usual, it was packed, but I got helped immediately. I ended up purchasing a M&P15 Stripped Lower in 5.56/.223 for $179. I know they are cheaper online (if you can find them) but local gun shops are the way to go! I was in and out in roughly 15 minutes. I'm heading to the High Caliber gun show tomorrow to find a lower parts kit. I have no Earthly idea how these things work, but I'm anxious to learn while I have the chance and the annointed one has not taken it from me yet. I can get a LPK for $57 shipped from AIM, so what kind of pricing should I be looking for at a gun show? Is it cheaper? D you think I'll be able to find a LPK with all the frenzy going on lately?

[KaiserB]

So I happened to drive by Pruitts Guns & Ammo this morning. As usual, it was packed, but I got helped immediately. I ended up purchasing a M&P15 Stripped Lower in 5.56/.223 for $179. I know they are cheaper online (if you can find them) but local gun shops are the way to go! I was in and out in roughly 15 minutes. I'm heading to the High Caliber gun show tomorrow to find a lower parts kit. I have no Earthly idea how these things work, but I'm anxious to learn while I have the chance and the anointed one has not taken it from me yet. I can get a LPK for $57 shipped from AIM, so what kind of pricing should I be looking for at a gun show? Is it cheaper? D you think I'll be able to find a LPK with all the frenzy going on lately?

There are a bunch of parts dealers at the gun show... you will need a number of items to complete the lower:

LPK (About $60)
Buffer Tube, Spring, Castle Nut, Buffer ($60 - $100 depending on brand and configurations)
Stock ($60-$300 depending on brand and type)


Then you will have to find and upper ($300-$1500 depending on brand, type, caliber, features, etc)

[MyNameIsPaul]

So I happened to drive by Pruitts Guns & Ammo this morning. As usual, it was packed, but I got helped immediately. I ended up purchasing a M&P15 Stripped Lower in 5.56/.223 for $179. I know they are cheaper online (if you can find them) but local gun shops are the way to go! I was in and out in roughly 15 minutes. I'm heading to the High Caliber gun show tomorrow to find a lower parts kit. I have no Earthly idea how these things work, but I'm anxious to learn while I have the chance and the anointed one has not taken it from me yet. I can get a LPK for $57 shipped from AIM, so what kind of pricing should I be looking for at a gun show? Is it cheaper? D you think I'll be able to find a LPK with all the frenzy going on lately?

There are a bunch of parts dealers at the gun show... you will need a number of items to complete the lower:

LPK (About $60)
Buffer Tube, Spring, Castle Nut, Buffer ($60 - $100 depending on brand and configurations)
Stock ($60-$300 depending on brand and type)


Then you will have to find and upper ($300-$1500 depending on brand, type, caliber, features, etc)

Thanks for the Guidance! I've been looking at the Del-Ton Assembled Upper Kits, any thought with those? Where else can I get a slap-in kit for a reasonable price?