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Xenophobe, Great information, I have a question regarding the Lauer lowers. Any idea when Lauer stopped using LMT lowers and changed to Superior Arms? Trying to determine if my Lauer is a LMT or Superior lower. It has a 4 significant digit serial #. I bought it since it was advertised as a LMT product, and the particular dealer still advertises it as such........I think. My lower has the forward portion of the trigger area flashing removed but retains the flashing immediately behind the trigger itself. It also has safe and fire stamped on left & right sides of the receiver. One peculiar thing, the floor depth below the rear take down pin hole is much shallower than my other lower, so much so that an Accuwedge will not fit correctly between the upper receiver pin boss and the lower receiver floor......?? thank you for any information |
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Xenophobe, Thanks for your post and information - very useful and informative!!! I tried looking up all of the lowers made by MMS: MMS = Mega, Gunsmoke, Dalphon, POF (forged), Alexander Arms, Stinger, Spike's Tactical(old) The only company that I could find a complete A2 style of receiver by MMS was Gunsmoke - Gunsmoke receivers. I couldn't find web sites for Dalphon or Stinger, did I miss them? If not, it looks like I'll complete my first AR with a Gunsmoke lower. |
| Thank you very much for the info. I was almost one of those "What is the best lower for my money." posters. So to sum it up.....all lowers to the average person just out to learn how to built, plink at the range and have fun would be acceptable? I am looking at LAR made lowers from Spike's tactical for my first build. Thanks again! |
 Now now BR_Addict, From an outside standpoint. Take a deep breath! First.. Everything on this board may not be 100% correct. He may have contracts with 2 companies and when you asked, LAR may have been producing them but next week someone else. I don't work for Spikes or own a Spikes lower (not yet anyways  ) just trying to squash some rumors that will now fly because of your 2 posts. If it bothers you that bad. I'll buy your lower because you were lied to I guess.. whoopie.. |
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Spike himself rectified this issue. For everyone’s information, Spike’s Tactical has never had MMS manufacture any Spike’s Tactical lowers. As I explained to BR_Addict, the information in the threads on this forum can be incorrect from time to time. Spike’s Tactical offered a full refund to BR_Addict if he is not satisfied with his lower receiver. |
| As an owner of 10 spikes lowers and rifles, i can tell you that the only company that has made his lower is LAR , NOT MMS as stated before. this is from the very early lowers that had Ted's Gunsmithing Deland, FL rollmarked on the side of the lower near hte selector to the current productions lowers that he is selling. and as stated before the only other company now that is producing more lowers for spike is a company called API and thier lowers are marked by the start of the serial number that says "THUG" and then the serial number. so pretty much know your facts before ya start spouting off false information that you cannot physically prove (do you have purchase orders from MMS with spikes information, will MMS verify that they have "manufactured" Spikes early lowers, i think not. just because they may look similar does not mean they are the same manufacturer. remember what happens when you assume. im willing to financially back my facts... are you?? |
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I have 5 lowers from Spikes and one Bushmaster. They are all the same, with the same tool marks, etc. I bought the first Spikes lower about two years ago, and the last one about 6 months ago. Their fit and finish is excellent, and they build into a great AR. I have used a variety of uppers, all bushmaster barrels, and have had a lot of success with them. And the best thing, I've got them all for around $100 ea, plus the background check and sales tax. Can't beat that! Mark |
This is incorrect. These different forging styles are period specific (time) and don't have anything to do with a specific manufacturer. |
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I know for a fact that; Gunsmoke Lowers are LAR, they were Mega for a period of time, now LAR, LAR makes the Lauer Lower so no diff., also as stated all "L" serial number prefix Bushmaster lowers are LAR. |
I'd like to know too. I'd buy one to go with my Sabre Defense barrel, but those dot peen characters look horrible. I have not seen another manufacturer that has dot peen characters. |
| I noticed you left out armalite. They are the only manufacturer I know of that forge, machine and broach there own lowers and forge and machine there own uppers hence the AR markings on the uppers. I have wondered if they supply anybody else with there lowers. |
IDPA is not gunfighting, there is a difference.
| How are the Stag Arms lowers? I'm interested in getting one for a SPR/ SAM-R type project but i'm not sure what lower to go with. I have heard good things about Stag. And also where is a good place to order the lower receiver. I saw Del-ton and they seem fairly priced. |
I have a Sabre lower and it is probably the best made of my 5. It has some distinct differences in machining/forging compared to my DS Arms(LMT) and CMMG(LAR) lowers. The only issue I had with it while building was some sand blasting media compacted into the buffer spring retainer hole and bolt catch plunger hole. It was easily cleaned out with a needle and q-tip. I rather like the dot matrix markings on mine. They are not deep, and not even noticeable if you are not holding the rifle in your hands. The markings on mine are pretty clean and well done, perhaps they have become more crude lately. |
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How about Superior Arms lowers? How do they stack up? Kiser is selling 10 lowers for $800. Also, a question: The manufacturer of a lower is required to engrave their info. How can one company make the lowers for another? |
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"Life is tough, but it's tougher when you're stupid." -John Wayne
2007 Nor'Wester Regatta Champions! www.sss601.org
I don't know if Essential Arms has made any lowers for any other company recently. Prior to the 1994 AWB they used to make cast receivers (J-15) and then they sold that tooling to DPMS and got out of the lower business until after the AWB expired in 2004. After the AWB they started making cast lowers again (J-15-2) but they have since stopped making cast lowers and are currently making forged lowers.(J-15-F). I have 6 of the J-15-F lowers and they seem to be of excellent quality, just as good as the Bushmaster lower I have. If I was going to buy any more lowers I'd probably go with Essential Arms again as they were good to deal with and I can't see any reason to pay more plus my dealer's FFL is already on file with them. |
I recently ask Jon from Anvil Arms this very question but he told me via email that Anvil Arms does not release this information. He further stated that, "Each manufacturer provides their own set of specs. The machine shop does not make them all the same." I have heard good things about the Anvil Arms lowers and their engraving. Jon was very helpful in his email and that's the kind of customer service I like, so I will definately be sending them some of my business. Besides, how can you beat that deal on lowers with free laser engraving!!  |
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This thread indicates that Lauer lowers are again made by LMT. Lauer lowers. |
Make yourself sheep and the wolves will eat you. --Benjamin Franklin
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It looks like Armalite lower receivers need to be added to the list and Eagle Arms lower receivers will be a thing of the past. Armalite Recievers See the last post of this discussion. |
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says on first page dpms is under the lar section with a question mark. gunsmoke told me face to face at the tamps gunshow in dec he is using lar at the moment and was waiting on the mega lowers. bought 2 lar rec from him. awsome deal. too much brand whoring. who cares who makes it. pick the logo u like and build away. i wasted 2 months once waiting to get a rock river because they were "the best"available. and i can tell u that was the worst build I've ever had. i have used stinger, mega,bushy. rra and now working on gunsmokes lar and except for the rra all went together and functioned flawlessly. turned out the rra had misaligned pivot pin holes. but those things happen to all manufacturers from time to time. but some will never realize that their lower is "generic" and except for small subtleties the same as everybody else's regardless if you paid 25% more than the other guy because yours is big name brand. not trying to po anybody just had to get that off my chest after some gun guru at the local show this weekend had to tell me how superior his bushy lower that he wanted 185$ for was to my new lar. hmm imagine how depressed i was to realize i paid less than that for 2 rec out the door in dec. i'll have to go see a therapist for sure. |
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Does anyone know the best way of filling engravings on the receiver ("coloring them in")? I assume it is some kind of enamel, but given the porous finish on many receivers, just wondering if there is a 'tried and true' approach that works. Thanks! Non sibi sed patriae |
I used Automotive touch up paint on the above Superior Arms pics. Worked well, but you can't thin it with stanard oaint thinner. You can remove any over spill with a careful rub of brake fluid on the paint you want to remove & then blow off with air compressor. Wes |
For a "How-to-white-letter-firearms" tutorial ----> CLICK HERE Moderation is key. This practice can be overdone. welcome aboard, 2tall. |
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This is a great resource but probably needs some updating. I just got off the phone with the CMMG (which stands for central missouri machine gun) folks earlier today to comment on my wonderful new lower that I purchased from AIM and asked them the obvious question, specifically, "So who really makes your lower, LAR?" To which Carson from the sales dept. replied, "Nope, we make 'em ourselves, machining them from Alcoa milspec aluminum blocks. We do send them out for anodization." Someone probably needs to change that info in the comparison matrix. Carson also mentioned that Colt and FN also make their own lowers. Interesting stuff. |
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