Whats Your build plan for the 125$ NEA lower?

Nice to see a side by side.

I would paint the fire/safety. First off I think it looks good painted in but it will also draw attention away from any finish flaws. Then I would soak it in G96 and hope the finish darkens while it soaks in. This should help preserve the finish from scratches as well.

I have a couple Hera HLS 7075 billet lowers. The quality is on par with the ATR lower you have pictured. Perfect desig, machining and finish. But as mentioned it's 3x the money.

At $125 I also considered picking one up just to see and compare. Especially after the 6061 vs 7075 thread. I wanted to put this product to a direct comparison. I tried to convince myself I could Use it for a target or cheap plinker rifle. Then I realize I could get an Areo precision 7075 forged for $139 or those Palmetto armory ones for cheap when they come in. Ultimately my cheapness and not having a use for one of these lower stopped me.

Thank you very much for posting the side by side. It's good to see a direct comparison. I'm sure there are many here that will read your posts and be able to make a decent decision based on a direct comparision. Good job.
 
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Epoxy7 said:
.... I'm sure there are many here that will read your posts and be able to make a decent decision based on a direct comparision. Good job.
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Oh yes, I'm sure these pics will help the "many" here who are wondering, "Hmmmm, it's just so damn close that I can't decide, should I get an NEA or should I get an ATRS?" ;)

I do appreciate the comparison pictures and I can see that NEA's machining process has improved - I can't see any of the tooling marks that so offended some here.
 
Runningfool said:
Oh yes, I'm sure these pics will help the "many" here who are wondering, "Hmmmm, it's just so damn close that I can't decide, should I get an NEA or should I get an ATRS?" ;)

I do appreciate the comparison pictures and I can see that NEA's machining process has improved - I can't see any of the tooling marks that so offended some here.
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Really? look below the stock threads.
 
mg4201 said:
Really? look below the stock threads.
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Sorry, I guess I need to be uber-specific...I was referring to the parts of the lower that are visible when the rifle is assembled :rolleyes: ...perhaps I could take a picture of the inside of my buffer tube so you could provide your learned opinion on that?
 
rivetc78 said:
Look where the detent goes for the safety, not even cleaned out properly. It would be Awesome to have your safety seize when debris jams it up.
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mg4201 said:
The safety detent hole is ugly, too fast feed rate on a dull drill, shorter pecks at the bottom of the hole would have left less burr as well
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That's the detent hole for the takedown pin, not the safety...

But go on, tell me more about how AR-15's really work.
 
Runningfool said:
Sorry, I guess I need to be uber-specific...I was referring to the parts of the lower that are visible when the rifle is assembled :rolleyes: ...perhaps I could take a picture of the inside of my buffer tube so you could provide your learned opinion on that?[/QUOTE
Knock yourself out.
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So you're admitting you never really looked at the picture, you're just here because the bandwagon stopped here? It's one thing to troll, it's another to admit to trolling.

In all seriousness, the crap near the hole looks like anodize. I'm guess it would go to powder if Rivetc98 installed a LPK.
 
CarbineOne said:
So you're admitting you never really looked at the picture, you're just here because the bandwagon stopped here? It's one thing to troll, it's another to admit to trolling.

In all seriousness, the crap near the hole looks like anodize. I'm guess it would go to powder if Rivetc98 installed a LPK.
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You don't have a clue what you are talking about. I never said I never looked at the picture. Further "anodize" as you call it doesn't pile up like paint. That is a big nasty burr. I would bet that you have little to no knowledge of what annodising actually is or how it is done. An if anyone is trolling it is you.
 
Runningfool said:
Oh yes, I'm sure these pics will help the "many" here who are wondering, "Hmmmm, it's just so damn close that I can't decide, should I get an NEA or should I get an ATRS?" ;)
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The comparison shows the difference between how it's done with a quality billet lower and how NEA does it. What it shows me is if going billet them go high quality. Also that there are design flaws in the NEA such as their "un enhanced" trigger guard and the thin corners of the magwell. If going low cost then I'd go 7075 billet. Spend the extra $10 or go higher quality for billet.
 
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My NEA literally just arrived, I happen to be home for lunch and it showed up.

I was satisfied with my first impressions of the lower itself, but am a little concerned after I tried to slide my stripped Spikes upper receiver into the lower to see how it would pair color wise... key word there being tried... There was no way that upper was going to slide into place on the NEA lower. It wasn't even a tight fit, it would take some serious sanding/filing to get enough clearance for the upper to go into place (which I am not really comfortable with).

Is it normal for an upper not to slide right into the lower? The stripped Spikes upper mounted right up to my Motiuk lower right from delivery with no issues, a perfect fit. Should I be concerned, has anyone else encountered a similar problem, or what are suggestions to resolve this issue?
 
Well, my lower just showed up, a light coat of oil really darkened the appearance up and the machining looks way better than the one in your photos. The lettering is also deeper and better done.

rivetc78 said:
Lettering.
ATRS - crisp and bold

NEA faint , spacing is not right. The dash after the number 12 has no space. another screw up.
look at that silly magwell............

Why is the bend in the trigger guard at the back of the trigger guard? Just to be different.
It should be at the front, where your finger is!

atrs_zps36b4c8b9.jpg


Buffer tube threads.
NEA is garbage. Threaded right through. Look at the metal! look at the porous material. Look where the detent goes for the safety, not even cleaned out properly. It would be Awesome to have your safety seize when debris jams it up.
Looks like the metal is stressed and breaking apart when formed. This is some really CRAP 'Billet'

Look at the 'Real Billet' from ATRS. Super Clean cuts and Bevels. Precise threading that ends at the buffer tube detent.
Smooth metal and cuts. A high quality piece of Billet.

neacrap_zpsf6e4592d-1_zps2b243473.jpg
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