Some other questions:
- You can buy lower receivers for a variety or price points. I know some lowers are better quality than others, but for less intensive shooting, are they worth the extra money? What do you get?
- Suppose you mate a lower cost lower to a higher cost (more accurate?) upper. Wouldn't this hit a sweet spot for general shooting?
CMMG's blem lowers are the best deal going now. I have one and the only "blem" is that Magpul mags don't drop free when empty. I can live with that. Teflon finish is perfect. PSA's blem lowers are also a great deal. Blem there is actually in the finish, I believe.
Most uppers are keyhole uppers. My CMMG lower is also a keyhole lower. Same forging, but slightly different finishes. I couldn't care less if the finish on my upper is an exact match to the finish on my upper...........but I'm old.