AR15 lowers

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aglo

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I posted this in another thread but then realized it was probably better here.

I have an rPAL and own a few handguns. I also have a few semi-auto long guns (carbine and shotgun). My question is about the restricted AR-15 types. I am actually not particularly interested in this type of firearm at the moment but don't want to be shutout from owning one in the future. It appears that some people are positioning themselves to be able to be "grandfathered" in case the legislation changes as it has done in the past. Good plan and something I want to do too. I'm a little unclear on this idea of buying a "stripped lower". I understand that the lower is the serialized part of the firearm. So I buy one and then later could add the rest of the parts and build up a complete firearm, presumably because the rest of the parts are not restricted and readily available.

So my questions are these: is any AR15 lower basically 100% compatible with the parts needed to complete the firearm or is there some differences in the lowers that would tie you into a particular manufacturer or design? Is there any difference in the lowers in quality or reliablilty that would make me choose one over the other?

I think the expectation from some is that the anticipated grandfathering will mean that if you own one you will be able to buy others or at least buy the parts to complete the lower you already have registered.

Could someone please post a few sources for the stripped lowers and some comments about the reason for choosing one over the other, if any? My research leads me to think that I'd want to get something like a Stag 10 but that is considered to be non-reg. That's good but doesn't position me to grandfathered if that situation occurs. So, I want to buy something in the restricted class that will put me in the anticipated grandfathered group relatively inexpensively but not waste my money on something that isn't good-quality when I decide to buy the parts to complete it.

Thanks
 
The Aero Precision set is the best bang for the buck.
The lower costs about $100 and the upper about $130, if bought separately.
I think you save a few bucks if you buy the set.

All milspec uppers and lowers should be interchangeable, but you can’t beat the AP set for a couple hundred bucks.
 
The Aero Precision set is the best bang for the buck.
The lower costs about $100 and the upper about $130, if bought separately.
I think you save a few bucks if you buy the set.

All milspec uppers and lowers should be interchangeable, but you can’t beat the AP set for a couple hundred bucks.https://www.saskatoongunworks.com/aero-precision/
 
45C said:
The Aero Precision set is the best bang for the buck.
The lower costs about $100 and the upper about $130, if bought separately.
I think you save a few bucks if you buy the set.

All milspec uppers and lowers should be interchangeable, but you can’t beat the AP set for a couple hundred bucks.
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Hah! We posted at the same time. I saw your reply and did a search and found the same source. Thanks.
 
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OK, another question; I know for some the building and fine-tuning is an important part of the process but for someone who maybe wasn't interested in that by itself is there any real advantage, price-wise or quality wise, in building from parts or is it just better to buy something complete?
 
aglo said:
OK, another question; I know for some the building and fine-tuning is an important part of the process but for someone who maybe wasn't interested in that by itself is there any real advantage, price-wise or quality wise, in building from parts or is it just better to buy something complete?
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It is possible to save some bucks by parting together an AR. That hinges heavily on what you're after and what you find on the market. If you aren't sure what you want then I would suggest buying a complete upper and simply assembling an AR vs building an AR. Many will tell you "an AR is easy to assemble, give it a go". I will tell you that there are many many mistakes made in assembling by people who haven't a clue what they're doing or lack the proper tools to do so. Based on your needs/wants from an AR rifle, I think you would be better served with a "plug and play" upper. The lower can be assembled with very little issue, even for the novice. Do your homework and take your time.

The quality question with regards to buying vs building, different animal. Quality parts are quality parts. That being said, for some they wish to have specific quality parts in their build that are otherwise not offered in a "factory" configuration. In such cases you are forced to build over buy. Again, your purpose for the rifle doesn't lend me to believe that you're after any sort of very specific setup. At least not yet.
 
aglo said:
OK, another question; I know for some the building and fine-tuning is an important part of the process but for someone who maybe wasn't interested in that by itself is there any real advantage, price-wise or quality wise, in building from parts or is it just better to buy something complete?
Click to expand...

I'll echo yyc. Get a prebuilt upper. Piece the lower yourself. Not to pull specific plugs but the cc tops are actually fairly well priced atm. Skip the 399 cc bcg and get a dd or bcm bcg and put the savings towards a bcm lpk with the pnt trigger. Be aware if you wanted to take the gun to the us the 15.7 might not be allowed in.
 
Thanks yycbulletandbrass and r34skyline. In my research I found this listing for a complete rifle : https://truenortharms.com/ar15_default_store_view/fabrique-nationale-fn-15-18-patrol-sbr.html

I realize that this is more expensive than a build-yourself option but am wondering about the real difference in the end - is the difference a few hundred dollars or is it likely to be more like a thousand dollars? Is the end product significantly different? I'm pretty handy with tools and know which end of the screwdriver to hold but if it's a case of a bunch of fiddling around to save a few hundred I'd probably just source out a complete firearm and be done with it.

I guess my question is: how much do you really save by building it up yourself vs buying a complete firearm and what is the difference in the end with regard to reliability, accuracy, etc.
 
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You can usually find a complete lower on the EE for $250 - $300.
, maybe cheaper.
If you buy the stripped lower and then get a LPK( lower parts kit) $100
Buffer tube assembly/ stock $100+
Trigger guard $10
As you can see , your already at $300 plus.
Add in a set of punches, armourers wrench as well.
So once you go there, a upper with cheap barrel,cheap handguard,Gas block,muzzle device, is going to cost you $450 -$550.
So buying separately or complete, your looking at $800 +\- .

You can pick up a used AR15 for $550- $650 off the EE.
As a matter of fact Irun guns has a PSA for about $550 ish all in.

So if your just buying for the sake of having it , I’d go with the PSA or the stripped lower and buy the parts a bit at a time.
 
45C said:
You can usually find a complete lower on the EE for $250 - $300.
, maybe cheaper.
If you buy the stripped lower and then get a LPK( lower parts kit) $100
Buffer tube assembly/ stock $100+
Trigger guard $10
As you can see , your already at $300 plus.
Add in a set of punches, armourers wrench as well.
So once you go there, a upper with cheap barrel,cheap handguard,Gas block,muzzle device, is going to cost you $450 -$550.
So buying separately or complete, your looking at $800 +\- .

You can pick up a used AR15 for $550- $650 off the EE.
As a matter of fact Irun guns has a PSA for about $550 ish all in.

So if your just buying for the sake of having it , I’d go with the PSA or the stripped lower and buy the parts a bit at a time.
Click to expand...

Good advice, thanks, and thanks for the lead. That might be the way to go. I'd like to save some money (who doesn't ) but in the end what I really want is something with decent quality and usability.
 
aglo said:
Good advice, thanks, and thanks for the lead. That might be the way to go. I'd like to save some money (who doesn't ) but in the end what I really want is something with decent quality and usability.
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Ah man , it’s a tough call, I’ve had a couple of higher end an a couple of lower end ARs.
I e built a few as well.
In my experience, barrel and trigger are what counts for accuracy.

If I were to go back and keep only one, it would be my Colt Canada 15.7 barrel.
I see them on the EE every now and again for around $1700.

But now I have a AP set for my restricted status, and I’m building a ATRS MS non restricted rifle.

If I were going to spend $2000 right now, it would be on an ATRS Stripped set and parts to build a non restricted,as close as your going to get AR15.
 

This is a 6.5 Grendel built on an AP set.
I got about $&50 into it.

If I want , I can remove all the parts and install them on my MS set and be under $2000.
 
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