First AR 15 Lower - Advice Please

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mmeloche

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Hey CGN, I would appreciate some of your collective knowledge.

I'm feeling the itch to obtain an AR-15. At this point it's mostly a political statement, and I've got some other financial priorities right now, so buying a complete gun is out.

I would like to obtain a stripped lower though (Big Brother doesn't know the difference), and complete the gun (lower kit + complete upper, full build, I don't know yet) as dollars, my wife, and interest allows.

I've got no illusions that I'm anything resembling an 'operator,' if and when the gun is completed, my objectives would be a reliable, reasonably accurate firearm.

I've been doing some reading here and elsewhere, and these things seem to be the ultimate 'lego' guns. Too many brands, and far too many choices.

So, where I need some help, is what precisely should I be looking for in terms of features or brands? and where should/can I obtain this from?

Thanks in advance for all of your help.
 
check out aero precision. nice lowers, very tight tolerances and cheap price.
ive got one. ide recommend not getting a DPMS lower parts kit, but they work. i had to do some fitting work on the mag catch....not a big deal though.
 
I run a couple of STAG lowers and have no complaints, right now I think it would be a question of availability? rather than manufacturer?
Cheers
 
Yup, the American stuff is starting to run out up here now. There is a few Canadian manufacturers making stripped lowers though. NEA, DLask and Motiuk all make a stripped one. ATRS just sells complete lowers.

Check Saskatoon gun works and see if they have stripped AP lowers, $139 and it's American.
 
Looks like OST has some Cadex in stock, with a LPK option. Maybe ask around and see what folks think of them. Not cheap.
 
sithinside said:
Yup, the American stuff is starting to run out up here now. There is a few Canadian manufacturers making stripped lowers though. NEA, DLask and Motiuk all make a stripped one. ATRS just sells complete lowers.

Check Saskatoon gun works and see if they have stripped AP lowers, $139 and it's American.
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Incorrect!

Read the following:

alberta tactical rifle said:
This is untrue. IF you have a LPK we ASK that you send it to us so we can do the modifications required to some of the springs and small parts that are required for the LPK to operate in our lower. We offer this work at NO COST in order to assure that the finished product functions and is assembled correctly.
We tried selling stripped lowers to purportedly informed consumers as well as dealers who work on ARs daily. In too many cases parts were improperly modified or improperly installed and ofcourse we got blamed for the malfunctioning lower when it was an assembly issue by persons not capable of doing the minor modification. Consequently we decided to solve this problem by only selling the lowers as functionally tested assembled units. This policy could be called quality control and customer service above and beyond.

Why anyone would prefer or want to chance either a fubar during install or having an EXPENSIVE high quality precision lower that does not function correctly over 1 that is professionally assembled and tested at NO ADDITIONAL COST eludes me.
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I went with the Aero Precision lower, DPMS lpk and then swapped the trigger for a Geiselle. Could also look at Blue Line, Dlask, Motiuk, NEA etc...all will be good.
 
sithinside said:
Yikes. Re read that post by ATRS and read the OP's original post - that's not what he's looking for. They don't sell stripped lowers.
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We DO sell stripped lowers but prefer to install the LPK. Either 1 you supply or 1 we do , it matters not. The reason we prefer to install the LPK is so that it is done correctly. We have seen toooooo many guys who KNOW an AR can be assembled by an imbicile, yet strangely we get calls from some asking us to sort out the mess they have made of it. SO in order to prevent expensive damage AT NO CHARGE we are willing to install the LPK for anyone who purchases 1 of our AT15 stripped lowers.
 
sithinside said:
Yikes. Re read that post by ATRS and read the OP's original post - that's not what he's looking for. They don't sell stripped lowers.
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I'm sure if you contact ATRS with the understanding of their captive springs, they would sell you a stripped lower. If you wish to install mil-spec pins and springs instead, that can be done as well. Or they can install for you whatever brand kit you can afford.

If you're referring to the OPs budget, then you shouldn't have mentioned ATRS in the first place as their lowers, (stripped or not), are priced to get what you pay for.

I think a stripped lower for the first timer is the wrong way to go about a very first AR15. All new stripped lowers will need some kind of fitting to derive to a proper functioning gun. It's not always as "Lego" fitting new components as many here profess.


ETA: I'm glad ATRS chimed in on the matter and beat me to my last post and point.
 
My stripped Aero precision lower arrived today, and I am impressed. it looks excellant and is a perfect color match to my stag upper that I got last week. For $139 you can't beat it with a stick.
 
Lots of you guys need to lay off the coffee. Wow.

As per the ATRS website

Gen4 lowers are only shipped as an assembled lower and are available with standard Mil-Spec LPK, RRA two-stage trigger or Timney match trigger.
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As per the OP's original post

I would like to obtain a stripped lower though (Big Brother doesn't know the difference), and complete the gun (lower kit + complete upper, full build, I don't know yet) as dollars, my wife, and interest allows.
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Don't get me wrong, I own a complete gen4 upper and lower from ATRS, I was just suggesting another route for the OP. In times like these he might not have any other choice.

If he wants to build it himself then I wouldn't recommend a lower from ATRS.
 
$125.00 for a stripped lower at Freedom Ventures a site sponsor. The finish is very nice on them. The engraving could be a little thicker though. Site says they should have more in by mid-april. I have the matching upper/lower set for a future build.
 
easy said:
All new stripped lowers will need some kind of fitting to derive to a proper functioning gun. It's not always as "Lego" fitting new components as many here profess.
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Maybe I have been lucky. I have completed two builds and fit perfect. One was with a Spikes Tactical Lower/ RRA LPK and another Noveske Gen 2/ DD LPK.

Its pretty easy to do.
 
easy said:
think a stripped lower for the first timer is the wrong way to go about a very first AR15. All new stripped lowers will need some kind of fitting to derive to a proper functioning gun. It's not always as "Lego" fitting new components as many here profess.
Click to expand...

This couldn't be further from the truth.
 
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Thanks Everyone for the great comments.

I appreciate all the feedback. Some of the sources you mentioned lowered the price beyond what I was expecting, always cool when it plays out that way.

Also, thanks for the heads up that fitting may be required when the time comes. Forewarned is forearmed.

I'm getting the message from the comments that specific brand isn't really an issue for the performance level I'm hoping to drive, grab a known Canadian or American brand, and I should be good to go. Am I reading these comments right?

Thanks,

mmeloche
 
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