I'm bit by the bug and I'm going in. While reading some documentation on the site I saw the following as manufacturers of AR-15s:

A.ArmaLite
B.Bushmaster
C.Colt
D.Defense Procurement Management Services (DPMS)
E.Olympic Arms

It seems like there are a slew of people who make the lower receivers. Does anyone have a list of these manufacturers? If so, would you please point me to them or post here?

Cost is critical in my build. Where would you suggest I can find the least expensive stripped LR?

I see mention of the following colors:

A.Black
B.Green
C.Tan

Are there any other colors? Do the LR kits come in different colors? Thanks!
--
Tom

the cheapest lowers i can think of is either essential arms for around $70 or superior arms for around $80


google essential arms



search for superior arms here.

a guy on the EE is selling stripped stag arms lowers for $87 shipped

www.essentialarms.com

You could have guessed that one.  This is the cheapest lower on the market, and despite being cast, work well.  Have never seen one break.  The machining, fit of the parts, is precise. You can get them in the old gray color or a black coating.  


My last four builds have been on DPMS lowers.  They fit and match color on most all upper receivers.

You can't buy an Armalite stripped lower, unless someone disassembled an Armalite and sold the lower.  You can buy an Eagle Arms lower (made by Armalite).  They reserve the Armalite name for factory built Armalites.  The Eagle Arms lower is identical but for the name.

Double Star, Rock River, Stag, LAR, PWA, and others are also good lowers.

As far as colors, they are all going to be black.  You can have them coated another color.  I did a few with Norrell's Moly Resin OD.  Armalite now markets the synthetic lower made by Cavalry Arms.  They are stamped Eagle Arms.  These lowers are an excellent value.

Some of the popular low cost uppers around these parts:

Stag www.eaglefirearms.net/
Mega Machine  www.ar15.com/forums/topic.html?b=7&f=21&t=153544
Superior www.ar15.com/forums/topic.html?b=7&f=21&t=243582
Ameetec www.ar15.com/forums/topic.html?b=2&f=150&t=147793


All are high quality forged lowers, not cast.  You should be able to get ahold of any of these for between $85 and $95.

Saving $20 and getting a cast lower wouldn't be worth it to me.  All my weapons are long term, and will be passed on to family meembers, and while a cast recevier holds up fair, it still isn't the worth the minor savings in the long run IMHO.  


Save an extra month if it means spending the extra $20 for a forged receiver.  

What color are you looking for?

Avoid OLYMPIC ARMS at all costs!  I wouldn't take one for free!

(Don't make me post my Anti-OLY testimonial....  AGAIN!!)

I would look around at the next gun show in your area.  Even if you find one online for $70, you have to pay shipping and usually a transfer fee.  You could probably find one at a show for less than $100.  I bought mine for $99 total, no tax.

Quoted: Avoid OLYMPIC ARMS at all costs!  I wouldn't take one for free! (Don't make me post my Anti-OLY testimonial....  AGAIN!!)

I've used plenty of their receivers off their new equipment and not had any problems.

Quoted: Quoted: Avoid OLYMPIC ARMS at all costs!  I wouldn't take one for free! (Don't make me post my Anti-OLY testimonial....  AGAIN!!) I've used plenty of their receivers off their new equipment and not had any problems.

They're still a bunch of low class mullets with shitty customer service!!  (Even if they have moved into the 20th century!)

A few things:

You can't get an Armlite lower receiver by itself, they only sell them as complete rifles.  You can get an Eagle Arms lower, which is a sub of Armalite.

Other than penis envy, there's no good reason to get a Colt lower.  They simply cost too much.

DPMS is teflon coated, while nice looking, don't rank high in my book.  Personal preference, that's all.

Olympic I have no experience with, but there is better out there, so I'll  likely never pursue an Olympic, but I probably wouldn't pass up a good deal on a forged one.


Check out Stag.  They are pretty good receivers.

I thought tan would be a good color like what this fella did:

http://img38.exs.cx/img38/2241/odm433nf.jpg

Quoted: a guy on the EE is selling stripped stag arms lowers for $87 shipped

Great price, and great lowers!!

tag

I just built my first AR on Sunday. I picked up a CMMG lower for $109. Fit and finish is supurb! Parts kit installed without a hitch. I wouldn't hesitate to buy another.

http://members.cox.net/nato762/ARRec.jpg

I have an olympic and it is dirty compared to my bushmaster and RRA receivers.

THe front take down pin was so hard to move in and out I had to take out material with a file.
The inside of the magazine well is slightly bowed and it prevents mags from falling free 100% of the time. The anodizing around the take down pins is chipping off.

The lower works fine, but the fit and finish needs improvement.