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Posted: 1/11/2010 6:27:31 PM EDT
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Who makes the best Lower Parts Kit for use in Retro builds?
I have used Stag with good results but wonder if there is a better choice. Thanks. David |
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DPMS steel parts can be naval jellied to make them gray.
The selector does have a tick, so you'll want to replace it. The aluminum trigger guard can be lightened some with 000 steel wool. Aluminum magazine button is good for throwing at your dog. A2 pistol grips make good packing. |
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The Stag mag release is, like TexSquirrel said, good for throwing at your dog. Same for the A2 grip. My last LPK purchase was a RRA. Course I had to buy a retro mag release and selector from the EE. The RRA selector has a tic mark as well.
It really depends on what you are trying to build. |
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Quoted:
It really depends on what you are trying to build. Willmar makes a good point. I am finishing up the parts collection for my New York State Legal XM177E2 build. My Bushmaster SuperLight berrel is off with 45Bravo; I picked up one of the Colt complete uppers from APEX; I am waiting on a NoDak blem lower; I already have the handguards, pistol grip, and a neutered collapsible stock. While I do have a spare lower parts kit, I was wondering if there was a better choice than Stag for the Naval Jelly process. Additionally, I love my dog and would never throw anything at her that she could choke on, i.e. mag release button. However, the A2 pistol grip does make a fine chew toy. 
Thanks for the input. David |
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Quoted:
Quoted:
It really depends on what you are trying to build. Willmar makes a good point. I am finishing up the parts collection for my New York State Legal XM177E2 build. My Bushmaster SuperLight berrel is off with 45Bravo; I picked up one of the Colt complete uppers from APEX; I am waiting on a NoDak blem lower; I already have the handguards, pistol grip, and a neutered collapsible stock. While I do have a spare lower parts kit, I was wondering if there was a better choice than Stag for the Naval Jelly process. Additionally, I love my dog and would never throw anything at her that she could choke on, i.e. mag release button. However, the A2 pistol grip does make a fine chew toy.
Thanks for the input. David Bottom line - there is no "perfect" LPK for retro builds currently available. It comes down to what you are comfortable with. Stag has an obviously bad mag catch. Armalite (as I just learned here) has a modern bolt release. DPMS seems to do better with the naval jelly treatment but still has some issues. For an XM177E2 you have a little more leeway as these had more "modern" parts than say a 601. Stag makes excellent LPK's...for "modern" AR's. For "retro" AR's, a Stag LPK would probably at minimum warrant a correct mag catch. But that's just me. You may be perfectly happy with it. This Retro BRD is a virulent, expensive strain. You might finish your rifle and then, six months later, think "Wow, this needs a NoDak lower with a cool roll mark" and then you are off to the races. But I digress. 
Cheap solution - buy a DPMS LPK and use Naval Jelly to "grey" the visible parts. The slightly more expensive solution is to send the lower parts off to US Anodizing and have them re-done. YMMV. |
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Never mind. I just got an email from Del-Ton with a Product Code for a discount on their LPK (TXL581). This discount plus the AR15.com Member discount makes the Del-Ton LPK shipped less than the product cost of a Stag or DPMS LPK.
Does anyone know if the Naval Jelly trick works on Del-Ton parts? Thanks. David |
| I don't think the Del-Ton selector is a quality part. I just bought a couple for R&D and they were not hardened. They also have a tic mark that looks like it was done with a disc grinder. The bolt stops seemed pretty good as did the pins. The mag catches are nicer than DPMS in that they have a bigger rivet head. DPMS used to have a nicely formed head, but about the time parts got short they must have changed them because now they are flatish although some I get from them are still like the old stock. |
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Quoted:
Never mind. I just got an email from Del-Ton with a Product Code for a discount on their LPK (TXL581). This discount plus the AR15.com Member discount makes the Del-Ton LPK shipped less than the product cost of a Stag or DPMS LPK. Does anyone know if the Naval Jelly trick works on Del-Ton parts? Thanks. David Hey, thanks for mentioning that. I've bought a bunch of stuff from Del-Ton over the years, but didn't know about the ARFCOM discount... |
| I like the DPMS LPK's cause they are quality,so far that is.the price is competitive and the fit is spot on.I love del-ton but everytime I order parts(separate) from them I always end up with something on back order.Like their A1 rear sight parts.They should put a complete kit together instead of sell individual parts.It's a hassle and costly in shipping to run around the net and EE collecting the parts you need from 8 different vendors when you could get them in one spot..OK rant off.. |
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Naval jelly only works for steel parts.
Don't try it on aluminum. Not all manufacturers will work, some end up completely stripped. I use DPMS and haven't have any come out ruined. What I do is pour some naval jelly onto a paper plate. I dip one part in the naval jelly and make sure it covers all the exposed areas. Set it aside for about 90 seconds. Then using a shop towel or paper towel I wipe off the naval jelly. Usually I have to dip parts in a second time. Once all the black has wiped off, I put it under running water to wash away all the naval jelly. Then I blow dry the parts and install them. |
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Quoted:
Naval jelly only works for steel parts. Don't try it on aluminum. Not all manufacturers will work, some end up completely stripped. I use DPMS and haven't have any come out ruined. What I do is pour some naval jelly onto a paper plate. I dip one part in the naval jelly and make sure it covers all the exposed areas. Set it aside for about 90 seconds. Then using a shop towel or paper towel I wipe off the naval jelly. Usually I have to dip parts in a second time. Once all the black has wiped off, I put it under running water to wash away all the naval jelly. Then I blow dry the parts and install them. My RRA parts are completely stripped. On the plus side, they are a nice shade of gray.
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