Home Forums Hunting & Shooting AR and Tactical Rifles AR lower of choice?

I have just returned from Sacramento Black Rifle and viewed several stripped lowers that ran from $100 to $200. When I asked the young man behind the counter what explained the difference in price, he said "the quality of anodizing" Huh? What say you? What is your lower of choice to use in a milispec build?

Mostly, whatever I can get my hands on.

Anodizing, when I priced it, was about 6 bucks per lower... FWIW. A bit more if its a hardier anodizing, but certainly not 100 bucks at all...

Noveske, Knight's, LMT, or Daniel Defense.

I went with the Stiller Precision Billet Lower. I haven't put it together yet, but the quality seems excellent.

John

Lowers are either in spec or not. I prefer forged over billet and won't touch cast or plastic. I don't like gimmicks such as building high shelves for a tight upper/lower fit. Roll marks mean little, I hate obnoxious skulls, spiders and such. Don't even care for the S&W on the side.

Basically, fit you upper and lower and hope its in spec.

i suspect if I was going into battle or an LEO and my life would eventually depend on it, i"d be a bit more picky. But over the years having used a myriad of lowers depending on what was available at the time, I"ve yet to see one with an issue that hasn't allowed a couple of barrels to be burned out on them.. Read that at least 4-5K rounds if not close to 10K per barrel depending...

Always wanted to drop the coin on a SS lower but never did....

YMMV.

Any milspec forged aluminum lower is fine. Avoid billet, it's heavier and more expensive and makes no difference. I have a Delton and Rguns and couldn't tell the difference if I didn't look at the rollmarks. No problems with either of them.

I for one don't understand the "zombie" thing, I guess I am too old to get it.

http://www.zombie-defense.com/

I always thought that Zombie was a code word, kind of a PC bullshit thing meaning the Muslim Hordes.

I would happily exercise my Noveske against a solid wall of those suckers. Just keep the 30-round Pmags coming!!!!

God Bless,

Steve

Same here Steve! I don't have cable TV, so it was fairly recently that I found out there is a series called walking dead about "zombies". Kinda sheltered life I gots.

We've grown from a nation of needs to a nation of wants. Marketing plays a huge role in almost everything we see. Make it cute, odd, strange or unbelievable and they will buy it.

I agree. Just look at our last presidential election for proof.

Anyone have any experience with the polymer lowers?

NoDak Spud lowers dont have a roll mark fyi.

I'd really like to get a Larue lower for my up coming SBR build, but not for 275.00 for a stripped lower.

you don't get chit from a LR for 275 that a 125-150 buck lower won't do. Except pay for the name.

I've never had any problems with any lower reguardless of who's name was on it, from Colt to CMMG. I may just be lucky in that reguard but they have all worked well for me. I can understand someone wanting a particular brand though. We like what we like.

I've never owned a plastic one and probably never will. I heard recently PLUMB CRAZY has gone the way of the dodo bird. I guess the "lifetime" guarantee has ended on those

"I heard recently PLUMB CRAZY has gone the way of the dodo bird. I guess the "lifetime" guarantee has ended on those"

Good things come to those that wait. lol.

I have put together 2 Frontier Armory polymer lowers One for me, one for my dad. They are very affordable, light weight, and I like like how they turned out. I won't tell you they are a direct replacement for a decent forged, but I like the weight savings. I used all metal pins/springs and triggers when building them. To date I have several hundred rounds through both of them.. no issues.

2 notes: 1. The tolerances are tight. Meaning the pins are difficult to install and take some use before they smooth out. 2. Don't use any lock-tight on the pistol grip screw. It literally won't come back out. (Don't ask me how I know that last part :))

My go to AR is my Spikes, but I have just as much fun shooting the New Frontier.

Thanks, Skivvy, and it looks like I'll be trying a New Frontier polymer lower for my next AR project build. Will advise the Fire on my progress, naturally.

Sounds good. I'm interested to hear what you think.