What makes an ATRS lower so great?

[sewktbk]

This is a genuine question.

ATRS lowers are 2 to 3 times the price of regular AR lower receivers, and I'd like to understand why.
In my head, and I may be mistaken, a lower is a lower is a lower.

Could someone with actual technical knowledge, wether ATRS themselves or a knowledgeable customer, explain to me the differences that make it worth the price?

Thank you.

 

[Rosco19]

http://www.albertatacticalrifle.com/why-us/faq/24-why-do-at15-rifles-cost-more

 

[Daver_II]

I guess I should buy one. That way I will know for sure.

 

[voncosbies]

You get a few features that not all lowers come with and get a high end lower, but realistically you're paying to support a small shop that makes parts in small batches.

 

[RCMIV]

Here's why I bought an ATRS Gen 4 Lower;

It's Canadian, it has an actual Ambi bolt release instead of the abortion that is bad lever and its clones and the price includes a Mil Spec LPK installed ($150 value IMO). I live in Calgary so I was able to go into the shop and see with my own eyes before I purchased, plus no shipping. They machine out of 7075 instead of 6061 and hold to tighter tolerances than a big producer. To me all of that was worth the extra $$$$. To make my decision really easy, on my first trip to ATRS while I was waiting to speak with Dustin a gentlemen came in with a scope or bipod that had a small piece of plastic break off some cosmetic part of it. Rick didn't even need to see the receipt. He took one look, reached under the counter and handed the guy a brand new one.

In short, great product, great service, worth whatever "extra" money you spend.

I currently have my Gen 4 lower mated to a BCM upper (shoots like a dream!), but my next AR will be all ATRS.

 

[RCMIV]

I gave $50 for the labour to install it, tune the trigger.

 

[RCMIV]

Wow, nitpicking much. Sorry, when I made the purchase I allotted not gave $99 for the LPK, and $50 for the installation of said LPK to save me the hassle of doing it myself. So that's $150 out of the $685. To me it's worth $50 for the peace of mind if anything doesn't function correctly on first firing I can take my (yes expensive) lower back to Rick and he'll make it right. But less $150 and the Gen 4 lower is $535. Which is about what I would pay for something like a Noveske lower and it doesn't have an ambi bolt release, or a shop I can drop by any day of the week.

 

[Ntloukas]

Quality is great but there is nothing wrong with milspec lowers(counting that it is milspec), if you have deep pockets and want a custom built AR15 than ATRS would be a great choice. Their top shelf prices don't sit well with most milspec users, I thought about getting one myself but didn't want to drop the coin on something that is designed to be meshed perfectly with one of their uppers.

Currently running a Bushmaster lower and BCM upper with no complaints.

 

[tulsah]

Their components are priced at exactly what they have determined the market will bear, relative to the cost vs. profit that they as a business have determined appropriate. If their products were truly overpriced, they wouldn't sell any and they would either have lower their prices or turn off the lights and lock the doors.

Dustin built up a complete ATRS rifle for me last year, and it cost me a small fortune. That said, it is second to none in fit and finish and I always had the choice to go elsewhere. Doing so would have saved some money, but I don't believe I would have received the same level of product or service that ATRS had provided. In the end, there are no truly good deals and you only get what you pay for.

 

[MUGEN]

I don't think they charge anything for installing the LPK when you buy their lower. You can ship them your LPK and they will take off the price to $485, I think. Well still not cheap but this is what it cost for non-mass produced product.

 

[alberta tactical rifle]

IMO they are very over priced when you compare to a Colt LE6920. A lower should not cost that much.

Only benefit I see if you really want to have a "Canadian" made AR that is not complete crap.

You are comparing mass produce loose spec 6061 with no added features to a custom made hand fit 7075 lower that has many unique features in it. So your comparison would be about the same as comparing a Kia to a Bentley, both will get you to work most days, but there is a significant difference between the 2.

 

[alberta tactical rifle]

I don't think they charge anything for installing the LPK when you buy their lower. You can ship them your LPK and they will take off the price to $485, I think. Well still not cheap but this is what it cost for non-mass produced product.

Close but not quite correct. Our lowers are $550.00 PLUS whatever LPK you opt for, be it 1 we sell as an additional item or 1 you supply.
Right off our website however is why we prefer to install the LPK.
" If you have a trigger group or LPK you would like to use, we do not charge to install it. With some of the features we have employed and additional parts and fitting required, we want to ensure your Gen 4 lower is functioning flawlessly before it leaves our shop. We are now selling our Gen4 uppers and lowers as a matched set for the tightest possible fit."

 

[alberta tactical rifle]

You are right it would be ridiculous, however we DON'T

 

[MUGEN]

Is mil spec ar lower made of 7075 forging?

 

[alberta tactical rifle]

Is mil spec ar lower made of 7075 forging?

Some are others are made of 6061
Ours are all made of billet 7075

 

[Leg]

Some are others are made of 6061
Ours are all made of billet 7075

Name one company that uses 6061 in their forgings.

Some machined lowers are made in 6061 (Sundevil and..?) but I can't think of a single company that uses 6061 in a forging. Colt switched to 7075 in '69, 45 years ago. They may have used up existing stock in commercial rifles after that but they haven't had any made since then. Using that as a selling feature is kind of grasping at straws.

 

[t_102]

Some are others are made of 6061
Ours are all made of billet 7075

FYI, Bushmaster and Aero Precisions are also 7075.

 

[stove08steve]

I can't get my head around the fact that they won't sell these lowers stripped!? I'm all for supporting local business but.... If the cost wasn't enough to scare a guy away that "little" fact sure just did. I do think they look like really nice lowers and the ambi part I'm definitely a big fan of. With the other options out there I really think they should reconsider price a little and the only we can build your firearm part. I'd certainly reconsider buying one

 

[M16LR.50]

Like any other business they know their target customer. It's like the photography business... A good professional photographer will charge 300+ to take your portraits, while walmart and sears may charge nearly 1/8 that price. The walmart customer is NOT the pro photographer's customer. Just like a kimber customer is NoT a norinco 1911 customer.

If you can't afford ATR prices, why complain about it? Move along and buy the many other options out there for cheaper prices.

I don't get it...

 

[BooSSted]

I can't get my head around the fact that they won't sell these lowers stripped!? I'm all for supporting local business but.... If the cost wasn't enough to scare a guy away that "little" fact sure just did. I do think they look like really nice lowers and the ambi part I'm definitely a big fan of. With the other options out there I really think they should reconsider price a little and the only we can build your firearm part. I'd certainly reconsider buying one

Im going to make an assumption and answer your question...

Their lowers are made to very tight tolerances and some parts kits probably won't fit without some work. If they shipped out a stripped lower and someone with little to no experience tried to install a kit and it didn't fit, there would be a potential that said person would broadcast that their $500 stripped lower was "out of spec". SO, in an effort to avoid this potential pain in the ass, they insist on installing it for you so that there are no issues.