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Posted: 11/7/2004 3:08:33 PM EDT
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What is your favorite lower receiver, and why? How does the quality of the lower receiver compare to the others available? I am especially curious to know opinions of Stag, Ameetec, Bushmaster, Mega, PWA, and LMT. Thanx. Sammy |
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One with the extra hole in it, accompanied by paperwork that makes it legal for a civilian to own. The one on my main rifle, which I machined from a raw forging all by myself. The cool factor outweighs its cosmetic flaws and minor dimensional errors in a few spots. Bushmaster and Colt, as long as the Colt is small hole all around, milled like a mil spec receiver, and doesn't have a sear block....and says AR-15 (or M-16) instead of Match Target. CJ |
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From what I know some PWA are, I just don't know if they ALL are. Besides Colt, what lower receivers are manufactured by CMT, and the next question is do all CMT lower receivers have a high shelf/sear block? Thanx. Sammy
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Over the past ten years I have used early PWA current OLY Arms, DPMS, RRA and now I am using current PWA/LMT they (LMT/PWA) seem to be very good no goo in the detent spring holes (OLY) no chips or scratches (DPMS) no missaligned fire control group pins (RRA) they just go together. I also use Cav Arms Lowers and of course they are an entierly different animal but work well as well. Red XRING PRECISION RIFLES. |
My very biased view is: I like the SNS MAX-15 receivers I mfg the best  I would them go Mega, Oly, Pac West Arms(orig), because they are local to me, I would much rather support a local business in my community than send my money to another state or region of the country. After those previously listed.... I would start looking at the others in no particular order as long as they're black and not purple ..... with Colt's copy of the AR-15 being dead last.... or bottom of the barrel... wait.... it wouldn't even qualify to be on the list... so nevermind that last one. ~Devin~ SNS Ind., Inc. |
I own Ameetec, RRA, and LCW/LMT lowers, so that is what I will give my opinion on. Of those three, I would most likely use an Ameetec lower for a build because for the price, the quality cannot be beaten in my opinion (and it has a low shelf). After that, I would use an LCW/LMT lower, and then the RRA. However, the all around coolest lowers in my collection are the two LCW/LMT lowers I have. Ya just can't beat that roll mark. I also own Cav Mk II lowers, but I am not including those in the round-up because they fall into their own class.
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I agree. The L Prefix Bushmaster looks a lot nicer than A Prefix Bushmaster's, but I don't know if I can say they look better than CMT lowers. Those new Colt LEO lowers are pretty damn nice, with the exception they have large trigger pins and a sear block. However, on the same token, I didn't know CMT made RRA lowers? I know Stag and RRA are made by the same people - whether or not that is CMT - I thought Stag was the manufacturer. I am still curious what other lowers are manufactured by CMT, and whether there are CMT lowers out there with small trigger pins, no sear block, and a low shelf (mil spec). In regards to Ameetec and Stag, is there any competition between the two? Confirmation, LMT manufactured PWA lowers have a high shelf? Thanx. Sammy
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I have a newly aquried favorite... ...the SNS Industries Stripped Lower SNS MAX-15.  and a SNS Flat-top Upper. If you are looking for a BLACK finish and excellent fit. These are the ones to use. MT edit: Did I mention the upper and lower are BLACK and even the same shade of BLACK  |
If I remember correctly, CMT came out with the Stag line so they could sell under their own banner. I can't help you out with how the Stags compare to the Ameetecs, because I don't have a Stag to compare mine with. One thing about the Ameetecs: They have forge lines running along the bottom of the receiver. This in no way affects function of the lower, but some people really care about small details like that. That being said, it doesn't bother me one bit. |
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1. COLT M16A1 W/ KAC F/A TRIGGER. 2. LMT W/ MCCORMICK 2-STAGE DROP-IN TRIGGER. 3. KAC SR-15 MATCH (LMT, REALLY) WITH KAC 2-STAGE SEMI TRIGGER. 4. LMT W/ LMT 2-STAGE MATCH TRIGGER. I HAVE ONE AS GOOD AS MY KAC, ABOVE. 5. COLT SPORTER W/ ACCURACY SPEAKS TRIGGER. WES GRANT M.S.T.N. |
Those are my fav too. [cough] I wish  [/cough]
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There are Bushy lowers with an 'A" prefix? I was only aware of an "L" and "BFI." |
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CYBIN, BFI is the company name. I have never heard of a BFI prefix. Corporal_Chaos, thank you for the clarification on CMT and Stag lower receivers. Would that mean the only difference between a Stag lower receiver and an Colt LEO lower receiver is that the Colt has been drilled to use large trigger pins? Wes, whether this be fortunate or unfortunate, my M16 is a Colt M16A1 Carbine registered receiver, so I don't think I will be shopping to replace that lower receiver. Thanx though Sammy |
They're out there. There was a good pic of one in the Bushmaster forum some time ago, but I can't seem to find it. The snake logo is more detailed on the BFI receivers. |
I can't answer that definatively, because I don't know. However, I would speculate that Colt finishes the lower themselves, so the finish between the two MAY vary. |
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Yet the manufacture is the same? Thanx again. Sammy
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By finish I mean anodizing. Some manufactures anodize their own receivers when they get them from the machine shops. |
Where did you get that CMT manufactures Colt receivers? I have not heard this. I believe Colt machines and finishes their own receivers. I'm sure they get their raw forgings from a number of places, but any work done to the forging is done in house. Therefore there would be noticeable differences between the quality and finishes on a Colt and any other companies who get their forgings from the same place. So even if Colt gets their forgings from CMT or from the same souirce as CMT, the machining and finish on the Colt would be much different than the machining and finish on a Stag or RRA receiver. I have recent examples of Colt and RRA, not identical in the least. |
Go look at the thread with lower reciever pictures & the Colt recievers marked with a CM prefix for the serial number are CMT made |
Maybe before LMT started making them but not now. The best lower I ever handled was an older BM unit. I don't know who made that one but it's fit and finish was perfect and it was milled out to accept a RDIAS. I have not seen any LMT made lower (regardless of which roll-mark it had) that would accept a RDIAS and of the ones I've seen, their fit and finish isn't anything to write home about either. Colt's are nice but only when they are actually marked "AR15" and even then, they drill the fire control pin holes too large! The RRA receivers I've gotten have had great fit and finish except for the rear shelf being milled narrow and the parkerizing on the ones I've gotten have actually been too dark. In short, I haven't found the perfect AR lower yet. All of the ones I've dealt with have had some short comings. Two that look promising but I have yet to try are DPMS and Ameetec. |
A parkerized AR lower, eh? |
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TROMIX! I built my AR using a Tromix lower. I'll buy another when I build my next one. Hey...I gotta support my local guy. Tony's shop is only about 5 miles from the house. Tromix |
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I've only owned a few lowers. RRA US Property BM Century Arms PWA Mega I found little difference between the CAI, BM and RRA lowers quality and finish wise. I hated my PWA lower because it had the preban glossy black finish. I just picked up the Mega lower today and I don't know if I like it or not. It seems to have a very Black finish to it and maybe teflon coated? I do like the Gator Grip because I prefer to use the front of the magwell vs. a vert grip. |
I agree. I have a couple of these and they are great. The new ones are good too. I also really like the recent Doublestar ones that I just bought a few months ago. |
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