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What Lowers Are "In" Now? (Page 1 of 2)
Posted: 1/10/2026 7:37:09 PM EDT
| I am faced with an upcoming AWB in Virginia and I want to get some lowers. What are y'all building on nowadays? I don't have to have the cheapest or the most luxurious. Just a competently manufactured component that doesn't create its own problems from tolerances, etc. Do you like the Harrington & Richardson and H&R Government marked lowers from PSA? I might want one of those. What else should I consider for a small stash? Name anything you have confidence in. Thanks. |
The Second Amendment: Preserving our right to petition the government - with malice.
"I guess it comes down to a simple choice, really. Get busy livin' or get busy dyin'."
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I have a few Aero M4E1 lowers that look to be well made and look good. They have a couple nice features you can read about if you're interested. https://rangeusa.com/product/aero-precision-m4e1-stripped-lower-receiver-ar-15-platform-223-remington5.56-nato-black-hardcoat-anodized A brief search showed them out of stock at a lot of places including Aero. |
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The H&R ones are cool but pretty pricey for what they are. The company legitimately made M16s under contract so they are popular for retro builds but the company only filled one contract for 240,000 M16A1 rifles so all the other variations aren't clone correct. I am not a purist when it comes to clones but why pay a premium for a rollmark that isn't correct anyway? Just buy a bunch of the PSA stealth lowers. I just wish they came with the 3rd position "auto" markings. |
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I picked up a Sharps Bro "Jack" lower when I got my stimi check (didnt need it, was still working, so figured why not). Skull on the front is totally unnecessary, but figured why not. Very pleased with the machining of the lower though. Was thinking about getting one of their "livewire" lowers (more standard style, with built in magwell flare and trigger guard). They are more reasonable on price. I also looked at one of the ambi silencer co lowers the other day. Those were very nicely machined as well. May try one of those next. |
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Originally Posted By Jake1989: $30 anderson lowers or whatever is the equivalent. Paying a premium for a slab of metal that holds components together is retarded. Put that money on spare barrels and bolts. Agree. Anderson lowers are still available at a low price. Aero "blem" lowers are also inexpensive, and whatever qualifies as a "blem" is barely noticeable. If either of those are not available, Spikes are good for a little more. |
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I don't think it matters what is "in" so much as what is available when you are staring at an impending AWB. Grab what you can before you can't. As for quality from my personal experience. Anderson is good for a basic forged lower, Aero has been better, and Mega/Zev has been among the best I've used. For more advanced, billet or feature lowers Aero M4E1 is kind of a staple, however after recently using a Sharps Livewire for the same price (and getting ambi bolt release) I have been very impressed and foresee them becoming a go-to. |
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Most of mine are Aero, with a couple of PSA/H&R and a S&W, all have been perfect for me. I did have one PSA from years ago that was a poor fit to any upper, which they replaced for warranty, and a couple of Anderson lowers that I didn't like the fit and finish of that went away, but overall the Aero and PSA have been great in recent years. |
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| I never thought I would join the A-team but I am so impressed with the Aero M4E1 lower receiver, it is now my go to choice for a non-ambi lower receiver. Aero Precision isn't really known as a top tier company but that lower receiver is definitely one of the best. |
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Are you planning on buying a batch or buying a couple? If you're just going to get a few, then I'd consider getting something nicer. LMT Mars lowers are ambi and when you look at how much other ambi lowers cost, they're fairly competitive with even Aero and other formerly budget brands who offer ambi lowers. |
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Originally Posted By EZ_Money: I never thought I would join the A-team but I am so impressed with the Aero M4E1 lower receiver, it is now my go to choice for a non-ambi lower receiver. Aero Precision isn't really known as a top tier company but that lower receiver is definitely one of the best. Thanks to all for the responses. I have taken a quick glance at every recommendation. Every model of the Aero receivers appear to be out of stock. None? Strange. I continue to like the H&R receivers from PSA. I might get one that is government marked so that it gives a little excitement to my "not gun people" friends when they shoot it with an FRT. (How did he get a government machine gun?) Just for fun. I geeked on the M14 platform for a while and I have a M1A with USGI H&R parts, along with others. I think y'all might be right about the PSA 3-pack. Can't be beat as long as they are not shit. Mostly I have been a Colt snob and bought several complete rifles 20 years ago. Some are still NIB. I have built one single AR lower from a YHM receiver for a SBR. |
The Second Amendment: Preserving our right to petition the government - with malice.
"I guess it comes down to a simple choice, really. Get busy livin' or get busy dyin'."
Virginia Is For Loners (™)
"I guess it comes down to a simple choice, really. Get busy livin' or get busy dyin'."
Virginia Is For Loners (™)
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Originally Posted By DancingInAshes: Are you planning on buying a batch or buying a couple? If you're just going to get a few, then I'd consider getting something nicer. LMT Mars lowers are ambi and when you look at how much other ambi lowers cost, they're fairly competitive with even Aero and other formerly budget brands who offer ambi lowers. I think I will get two for sure, maybe three. I tend to buy mid-price for most of the things I buy. Obviously a PSA 3-pack isn't that, but I find no value in $300+ stripped receivers. |
The Second Amendment: Preserving our right to petition the government - with malice.
"I guess it comes down to a simple choice, really. Get busy livin' or get busy dyin'."
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The H&R lowers are nice, but you’re paying a premium for a roll mark. They are also made to fit nicely with H&R uppers and as a result they occasionally don’t have great fit with other uppers, they tend to be tight in my experience, which usually works out nicely but occasionally results in a combo that can’t be separated without a punch. |
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An LGS on I30 that I pass on the way to Louisiana has an Anderson Painted Pony still. So tempted to get for yet another build I don’t need. |
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I doubt stockpiling lowers is going to help you from a legal perspective. It only took a few months into the 1994 ban before our masters figured out that the serfs were building stuff from stockpiled lowers. They immediately added an "assembled before" clause. If you do pick up lowers, I would build now and take dated photos for proof if you don't save all your parts receipts... |
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Originally Posted By Lexington: I think I will get two for sure, maybe three. I tend to buy mid-price for most of the things I buy. Obviously a PSA 3-pack isn't that, but I find no value in $300+ stripped receivers. Primary Arms has a really good selection of stripped lowers. You don't necessarily have to buy from them, but it makes for a really quick comparison since their website is fairly well designed for the user experience. They do have some Larue stripped lowers for $265, but that's still kind of pricey. |
| Thanks. Lots to see at Primary Arms. Only 4 are in stock under $190. I wonder what is going on with inventory across the board. Other places are thin, too. |
The Second Amendment: Preserving our right to petition the government - with malice.
"I guess it comes down to a simple choice, really. Get busy livin' or get busy dyin'."
Virginia Is For Loners (™)
"I guess it comes down to a simple choice, really. Get busy livin' or get busy dyin'."
Virginia Is For Loners (™)
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Originally Posted By CatBacker: Free SBR registration probably has a lot to do with it. Originally Posted By CatBacker: Originally Posted By Lexington: Thanks. Lots to see at Primary Arms. Only 4 are in stock under $190. I wonder what is going on with inventory across the board. Other places are thin, too. Free SBR registration probably has a lot to do with it. This. ^^^^ |
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| Understandable. But it’s funny, though, that apparently people were more concerned over $200 than being on “the list”. And now thousands more firearms are being registered. |
The Second Amendment: Preserving our right to petition the government - with malice.
"I guess it comes down to a simple choice, really. Get busy livin' or get busy dyin'."
Virginia Is For Loners (™)
"I guess it comes down to a simple choice, really. Get busy livin' or get busy dyin'."
Virginia Is For Loners (™)
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Originally Posted By Lexington: Understandable. But it’s funny, though, that apparently people were more concerned over $200 than being on “the list”. And now thousands more firearms are being registered. I agree, but is there some sort of data available to support that idea? |
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Originally Posted By Jake1989: $30 anderson lowers or whatever is the equivalent. Paying a premium for a slab of metal that holds components together is retarded. Put that money on spare barrels and bolts. I have looked at lowers like engine blocks.It is what is put inside of the frame and around it is what makes it a great rifle.Just like an engine can be a bowtie block or a stock chevy 4 bolt with same internals it will produce the same power and have the same reliabilty.Toss junk parts in either one it will have a custom hole made from the inside. |
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If I were potentially stuck with a set amount of lowers, never to get more again I would want a few nice ones over a mass supply. You can swap spare uppers onto lowers. Best I have had is the Radian ADAC. Expensive fully assembled but great kit. I like my KAC lower as well but the Radian is better. I would want a Colt lower of some sort just because. I really like Daniel Defense so I would want one of those. |
| I don't need a huge stash because I have (generally) enough rifles. I just need to have receivers that aren't blocked like the Colts I have. |
The Second Amendment: Preserving our right to petition the government - with malice.
"I guess it comes down to a simple choice, really. Get busy livin' or get busy dyin'."
Virginia Is For Loners (™)
"I guess it comes down to a simple choice, really. Get busy livin' or get busy dyin'."
Virginia Is For Loners (™)
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Originally Posted By WilsonCQB1911: If I were potentially stuck with a set amount of lowers, never to get more again I would want a few nice ones over a mass supply. You can swap spare uppers onto lowers. Best I have had is the Radian ADAC. Expensive fully assembled but great kit. I like my KAC lower as well but the Radian is better. I would want a Colt lower of some sort just because. I really like Daniel Defense so I would want one of those. Spending more for features (flared mag wells, ambi bolt catches and mag releases) makes sense. Spending more for a roll mark? Pass. |
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Originally Posted By Moondog: Spending more for features (flared mag wells, ambi bolt catches and mag releases) makes sense. Spending more for a roll mark? Pass. I will pay $119 NOT to get Sparkle Farts. |
The Second Amendment: Preserving our right to petition the government - with malice.
"I guess it comes down to a simple choice, really. Get busy livin' or get busy dyin'."
Virginia Is For Loners (™)
"I guess it comes down to a simple choice, really. Get busy livin' or get busy dyin'."
Virginia Is For Loners (™)
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Originally Posted By Lexington: Originally Posted By Moondog: Spending more for features (flared mag wells, ambi bolt catches and mag releases) makes sense. Spending more for a roll mark? Pass. I will pay $119 NOT to get Sparkle Farts. They'll hit you $144 for that weirdness. |
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The Aero lowers I usually get have a slightly flared mag well, a set screw to fine adjust upper to lower fit, and a 4-40 threaded take-down hole to hold in the detent and spring so the end plate can be installed or removed without losing the spring...we've all dome that at least once.  Some of their more proprietary lowers add ambi controls if you value those. |
Left-handed and right-minded!
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Originally Posted By Mike_314: I have a few Aero M4E1 lowers that look to be well made and look good. They have a couple nice features you can read about if you're interested. https://rangeusa.com/product/aero-precision-m4e1-stripped-lower-receiver-ar-15-platform-223-remington5.56-nato-black-hardcoat-anodized A brief search showed them out of stock at a lot of places including Aero. Ballistic Advantage has the M4E lowers in stock. They are the stripped lowers. They have no complete lowers in stock. kwg |
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Originally Posted By kwg020: Ballistic Advantage has the M4E lowers in stock. They are the stripped lowers. They have no complete lowers in stock. kwg Not seeing that on their web site. I only see the BA brand stripped receiver. No mention of Aero anywhere. |
The Second Amendment: Preserving our right to petition the government - with malice.
"I guess it comes down to a simple choice, really. Get busy livin' or get busy dyin'."
Virginia Is For Loners (™)
"I guess it comes down to a simple choice, really. Get busy livin' or get busy dyin'."
Virginia Is For Loners (™)
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Originally Posted By WilsonCQB1911: If I were potentially stuck with a set amount of lowers, never to get more again I would want a few nice ones over a mass supply. You can swap spare uppers onto lowers. Best I have had is the Radian ADAC. Expensive fully assembled but great kit. I like my KAC lower as well but the Radian is better. THIS!!! My Radian ADAC is OUTSTANDING! |
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I am getting some H&R receivers from PSA. The BLACK M16A2 Special Forces COTS Marked is what I want and is in stock. I also want the BLACK U.S. Property Marked M16A2 Lower Receiver but it is out of stock. I can instead choose the GRAY U.S. Property Marked M16A2 Lower Receiver, but don't have any feel for just how gray it is relative to black. I am not doing any retro builds. I just prefer black. What do you think? EDIT: Sort of answered here. |
The Second Amendment: Preserving our right to petition the government - with malice.
"I guess it comes down to a simple choice, really. Get busy livin' or get busy dyin'."
Virginia Is For Loners (™)
"I guess it comes down to a simple choice, really. Get busy livin' or get busy dyin'."
Virginia Is For Loners (™)
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Originally Posted By MaxSpeed74: I doubt stockpiling lowers is going to help you from a legal perspective. It only took a few months into the 1994 ban before our masters figured out that the serfs were building stuff from stockpiled lowers. They immediately added an "assembled before" clause. If you do pick up lowers, I would build now and take dated photos for proof if you don't save all your parts receipts... If “once a rifle, always a rifle”, then a person might build the lower, mate it to an on-hand complete upper, and take the dated picture. Then disassemble the lower, build the next lower with the same LPK, mate with the complete upper, and take the picture. Disassembled lowers are still rifles now. That’s my story and I’m sticking to it, your Honor. 
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The Second Amendment: Preserving our right to petition the government - with malice.
"I guess it comes down to a simple choice, really. Get busy livin' or get busy dyin'."
Virginia Is For Loners (™)
"I guess it comes down to a simple choice, really. Get busy livin' or get busy dyin'."
Virginia Is For Loners (™)
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Originally Posted By Mike_314: I have a few Aero M4E1 lowers that look to be well made and look good. They have a couple nice features you can read about if you're interested. https://rangeusa.com/product/aero-precision-m4e1-stripped-lower-receiver-ar-15-platform-223-remington5.56-nato-black-hardcoat-anodized A brief search showed them out of stock at a lot of places including Aero. Areo did not relocate after Washington state went full tard about manufacturing parts for evil guns.... they pretty much done unless they get outa Wa. |
What Lowers Are "In" Now? (Page 1 of 2)
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