Ambi AR-15 Lowers for BCM C8 Upper?

Karura

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Hi, posting for the first time here. I am in the process of selecting my first AR-15 and was thinking of going with the BCM C8 upper and an ambi lower.

My first choice would be the AXTS AX556 but I don't think it is being sold in Canada; please let me know if anyone knows if they're coming here. The SR-15 lower is nice too, but pricey. What other choices do I have?

Also, since civilians cannot get a semi-auto only C8, what C8 inspired AR-15s have people come up with? With the new BCM C8 upper, I am willing to bet that we will be seeing a lot of them here! :D
 
Pick any lower you want - they can all be made ambi, it's just a matter of putting in the right parts, or swapping them out as needed.

ETA - the only non-ambi part I'm aware of is the bolt catch.
 
As mentioned, there are some parts you can add to a lower receiver to make the magazine catch, or safety selector, ambidextrous. I do recall seeing an LWRC ambi bolt stop, but I think that was a proprietary piece for their specific upper.

I myself just ordered a pair of Troy ambi safety selectors and magazine release from One Shot Tactical. They also had Knights Armament and Battle Arms ambi bits.

Anyhow, Alberta Tactical Rifle Supply, comes to mind, I do believe their Gen 4 lowers are built with ambidextrous support from the factory, and you'd be getting top of the line product that was built that way. Might give some peace of mind.

I suppose it all comes down to budget and whether or not you want something intended as ambi or converted to be ambi. ATRS, Troy, KAC, BAD, or whatever other flavor you prefer.

If you want an affordable, personalized, AR I recommend Motiuk. I have one of their engraved lower receivers and I love it with the single remaining fiber in my heart.

For a first AR, the world is yours to choose from. A $500 Norc, or a $5000 custom rifle, all depends on how far you want to go and how much you want to flaunt it. I'll say it now though, research what you buy. Some expensive and well-made guns will actually have more malfunctions than cheap guns under less than ideal circumstances. If you get a race gun it might need to be in perfect condition every time or it jams up tight, whereas a cheap Norc might get dragged through a mud puddle without even slowing down. I get a special satisfaction from hearing of people who buy superguns and feel dissatisfied because they themselves are unable to properly appreciate it. Like me, I'm a horrible shot so if I did get a custom ATRS gun I would not be able to appreciate it properly.

A big part of ARs, I daresay THE point of ARs is the components. You don't so much have an "AR" as you do a chassis in which to put various parts. Some work together great, some are less than good ideas, and some will ruin your day. As such, a cheap gun with a few replacement parts might be a much better choice than a fancy gun that's not set up the way you want it. Any part of the AR can be changed, often with only a few minutes work.

My untimate recommendation is to try to get into a store to put hands on an example. Failing that, browse lots of websites. When I first started getting into ARs I'd systematically go through every single dealer to see what sort of options they had. When I first started I didn't even know there was more than a single manufacturer or model, I thought there was only one kind. Now I know of so many I've forgotten more than I remember.

Have fun. :)
 
Thank you all for the replies; it has all been very helpful.

I am envisioning a AT-15 lower + BCM C8 upper (with BAD ambi bits + Raptor ambi charging handle) if they are compatible, but also keeping my options open and still looking at the other suggestions.
One question about the bolt catch; is it normally an upper or lower part? Is the one on AT-15 ambi?

About getting the Motiuk engraved to resemble the C8 SFW: as much as I like the C8, I would like to keep the trademarks legitimate and simply look to the C8 SFW as inspiration for the build.

Thanks again and keep the suggestions coming; much appreciated!
 
The bolt catch is part of the lower receiver. I'm not sure about the AT-15, you might be better off asking them.

The only "drop in" ambi bolt catch part I know of is the BAD Lever. The others all looked like they required special machining to fit.
 
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