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Posted: 11/28/2009 9:18:17 AM EDT
| What is the difference between buying a lower/receiver complete and a upper complete and buying a complete gun off the shelf? Am I missing something? Is the upper and lower all that would be needed to complete a build? At first glance it appears buying the 2 parts separate you can get a better deal. |
| You can get a better deal by buying separate. One reason its cheaper is because the federal tax would only be on the cost of lower receiver instead of the cost of whole rifle. Typically you won't get the lifetime warranty that most of the manufacturers offer. A complete upper and a complete lower is all that would be needed. |
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You can get a better deal by buying separate. One reason its cheaper is because the federal tax would only be on the cost of lower receiver instead of the cost of whole rifle. Typically you won't get the lifetime warranty that most of the manufacturers offer. So, a complete lower and complete upper is all that's needed? |
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You can get a better deal by buying separate. One reason its cheaper is because the federal tax would only be on the cost of lower receiver instead of the cost of whole rifle. Typically you won't get the lifetime warranty that most of the manufacturers offer. So, a complete lower and complete upper is all that's needed? Yes. The other nice thing is that you can often put together a rifle you like as opposed to what the manufacturer's want to sell you. BSW |
By all means build one yourself. One of the big advantages is you don't have to lay out all the cash at once like buying complete. I ran out and bought a post ban Bushmaster about ten years ago. Shot it, had fun with it, but sold it a couple years ago. The first AR I built a couple months ago turned out with a tighter lock-up than the Bushy and it was the rifle I wanted from the start. Be warned you won't stop at one  Kevin62
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I've been looking around at lowers and, of course, I really don't know the difference between any of them. They all look the same, so I've been trying to find the least expensive for my first build. Close to $300 I think is my goal and I have found these 2
LCW Complete Sabre Defense w/6 position Thoughts on either one of thses? |
| Either of those options would work fine but if you are wanting to save some money you can get a complete Aero lower here Complete Aero Lower . Aero manufacturers lowers for many other companies. I purchased a lower and LPK from them and the transaction was super smooth and the lower is very nice. |
| There is not a huge difference in lowers, there are only a handful of manufacturers. Most companies have someone else produce the lower and then put their company's rollmark on it. Most people buy them based on price and the rollmark. I have lowers from Daniel Defense, Smith and Wesson, Double Star, Stag and Aero. You cannot go wrong with that Aero lower. |
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There is not a huge difference in lowers, there are only a handful of manufacturers. Most companies have someone else produce the lower and then put their company's rollmark on it. Most people buy them based on price and the rollmark. I have lowers from Daniel Defense, Smith and Wesson, Double Star, Stag and Aero. You cannot go wrong with that Aero lower. I keep from driving myself crazy looking and looking trying to find the best deal I orderd the Aero. Done......After x-mas I'll start looking for the upper. Thanks |
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Cruz, if you think it's confusing shoppinf for the perfect lower, just wait til you start looking at uppers! No kidding, what little bit I've already looked there are tons of possibilities. I think I want something pretty basic with a tactical handguard, something like this: http://www.stagarms.com/images/2ht11.gif Stag Arms has this one complete for $695, looks like a pretty good deal from what I've seen so far. |
| You can get that same upper from Legal transfers for $654 shipped. Thought that may help. If your interested in A Middy this is a great deal on a CMMG with a Troy rail here. |
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Buy or build?
Buy: Lots of good deals right now, but only a good deal if they have what you want. Build: You make it the way you want it and you can shop. Lots of parts on sale now. You can put together a higher quality rifle for less money. I can put a RRA carbine together for a couple of hundred less than what many dealers want for them. Fact is, one local shop that carries RRA still wants $1,300 for a rifle I can put together, with RRA parts bought locally, for $750. Of course, I won't get the plastic case or the two magazines. But for $550 difference! Get real! For $650 or so you can build a lot of nice rifles. If you want a FF with rails that will add more of course, but it would on a factory build also. |
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Good evening cruzthepug, all.
Great posts. cruzthepug, I've got an Aero Precision stipped upper that'll be waiting for me when I get home from work tomorrow. It'll be going on top of my billet lower that I assembled yesterday. I paid $59.99 + $10.88 shipping for it. I hope it's as good the Aero lowers people are praising. Be assured I'll post a reveiw and pics. With a beautifully made billet lower receiver being on a closeout sale for $71.00, $109.00 off, I couldn't help but buy it. Here's my latest and greatest budget Frankenplinker build break down: Second Frankenplinker Build Specifications Includes Supplier Names, Manufacturers names, and prices with shipping costs, taxes, and fees. Part DescriptionSupplierManufacturerPart PriceS/HTaxFeeTotal Upper ReceiverSurplus Ammo.comAero Precision$59.99$10.88$0.00$0.00$70.87 Billet Lower ReceiverMidwayUSABartlett Enterprises$71.00$14.00$5.75$30.00$120.75 16” HBAR Chrome-Moly Barrel AssemblyMidwayUSAModel 1 Sales$130.00$9.03$0.00$0.00$139.03 Standard Charging Handle MidwayUSAModel 1 Sales$14.00Incl.$0.00$0.00$14.00 Ejection Port Cover AssemblyMidwayUSAD.P.M.S.$5.59Incl.$0.00$0.00$5.59 Pre-Ban A2 Flash HiderMidwayUSAOlympic Arms$5.49Incl.$0.00$0.00$5.49 Carbine Length Buffer SpringMidwayUSAD.P.M.S.$3.49Incl.$0.00$0.00$3.49 Buffer Tube End PlateMidwayUSAD.P.M.S.$3.19Incl.$0.00$0.00$3.19 Buffer Tube Lock RingMidwayUSAD.P.M.S.$3.19Incl.$0.00$0.00$3.19 Lower Parts KitBravo Co. USAD.P.M.S.$49.95$7.95$0.00$0.00$57.90 Gas Tube w/PinBravo Co. USAUnknown$13.00Incl.$0.00$0.00$13.00 Front Sight PartsJSE SurplusD.P.M.S.$5.00$13.52$0.00$0.00$18.52 Forward Assist AssemblyJSE SurplusD.P.M.S.$10.00Incl.$0.00$0.00$10.00 Delta Ring AssemblyJSE SurplusD.P.M.S.$9.00Incl.$0.00$0.00$9.00 Carbine BufferJSE SurplusD.P.M.S.$8.50Incl.$0.00$0.00$8.50 6 Position ButtstockJSE SurplusAdv. Tech., Inc.$36.00Incl.$0.00$0.00$36.00 Flip-Down Rear SightAmazonUTG$27.95Incl.$0.00$0.00$27.95 Bolt Carrier AssemblyDel-TonUnknown$97.00$12.27$0.00$0.00$110.00 6 Position Com. Buffer TubeDel-TonUnknown$19.95Incl.$0.00$0.00$19.22 Standard Carbine HandguardsAR15.com EE ClassifiedsUnknown$12.00Incl.$0.00$0.00$12.00 TotalParts$584.29 TotalShipping/Handling$67.63 TotalTax$5.75 TotalFees$30.00 Grand Total$687.67 I cut and pasted the above info from a Microsoft Word Table so it's kinda funky but you get an idea what shopping around could get you. Have a safe and happy holiday season all. |
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Other than my 14.5" barrel (which isn't offered by many manufacturers), if I had it to do all over again I would have bought a pre-built (or at least a complete upper) vs building my own. I would have spent less money and had less of a headache when it came to installing the barrel. My .02? Go for a Smith and Wesson M&P MOE. Plus with their current promotion, you get 5 free PMAGs! |
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Other than my 14.5" barrel (which isn't offered by many manufacturers), if I had it to do all over again I would have bought a pre-built (or at least a complete upper) vs building my own. I would have spent less money and had less of a headache when it came to installing the barrel. My .02? Go for a Smith and Wesson M&P MOE. Plus with their current promotion, you get 5 free PMAGs! I've already ordered the complete lower and will order a complete upper when ready. All I want to do is be able to put them together and go. |
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Upper suggestions.
Option 1: BCM Midlength Upper. BCM, Colt, or Dennys Super Duty, M16 Full Auto BCG. Forged Charging Handle. Troy Folding Rear Sight. Daniel Defense Omega 9.0 Rail. Option2: BCM, Sabre or Colt 20” M16a4 Upper. BCM, Colt, or Dennys Super Duty, M16 Full Auto BCG. Forged Charging Handle. Troy Folding Rear Sight. Daniel Defense Omega 12.0 Rail. |
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You can get that same upper from Legal transfers for $654 shipped. Thought that may help. If your interested in A Middy this is a great deal on a CMMG with a Troy rail here. Screw waiting.....I ordered the CMMG with Troy rail. |
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