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2/14/2012 12:20:35 PM EDT
Hey everyone. I have just started looking into building my own A2. But my current problem is choosing a lower. I am between lowers from the following Manufacturers: DoubleStar, Olympic, Bushmaster, Fulton, Rock River, and DPMS. I know most of these manufacturers are reputable, but does anyone have any first hand knowledge on these lowers or companies in general, negative or positive? Any feedback would be appreciated. I know there's price differences, but I'm more interested in quality. Thank you.
2/14/2012 12:25:04 PM EDT
[#1]
Quoted:
Hey everyone. I have just started looking into building my own A2. But my current problem is choosing a lower. I am between lowers from the following Manufacturers: DoubleStar, Olympic, Bushmaster, Fulton, Rock River, and DPMS. I know most of these manufacturers are reputable, but does anyone have any first hand knowledge on these lowers or companies in general, negative or positive? Any feedback would be appreciated. I know there's price differences, but I'm more interested in quality. Thank you.


I hate to be so blunt but as long as you don't by a Vulcan/Hesse lower you are pretty much good to go. I have used all the ones you mentioned except for the Fulton and I have heard those were good from others who have used them.

Buy what you like and can afford.  Good luck and post pics!
2/14/2012 1:01:32 PM EDT
[#2]
Okay, first off did you intend to post this in the A2 section for some reason?















Most lowers are fine except real junk. I did get one Doublestar that was screwed up but I have only heard one other similar complaint. I had a dpms years ago and it was a nice looking lower. I would be more careful about recent dpms lowers, at least make sure to inspect it before accepting delivery. One of the nicest lowers I have owned was a RRA. Beautiful finish.













I have a Bushmaster lower that will not accept a sully stock while my other lowers will.












don't know about Fulton armory, I would assume they are fine, those might be DPMS.







mega are the nicest lowers I have had.













 
2/14/2012 1:34:23 PM EDT
[#3]
I have a Double Star that won't drop GI mags.
2/14/2012 3:33:31 PM EDT
[#4]
DPMS, Bushmaster and Fulton Armory have been and/or are machined by LAR. Doublestar have been machined by LAR and JVP.  RRA is machined by  CMT. Olympic mills their own.


Just to help out I give you the list as I have it:

LMT (Lewis Machine Tool) - mills for
LMT, Lauer, DS arms, PWA, Eagle, [Armalite ?], Knights Armament, And Barrett

CMT (Continental Machine Tool) - mills for
Stag, Rock River Arms, High standard, Noveske, Century, Global tactical, CLE, S & W, MGI, Wilson Tactical, Grenadier Precision

LAR- mills for
LAR, Bushmaster, Ameetec, DPMS, CMMG, Double star, Fulton Armory, Spikes tactical (CCR), Grizzly

JVP- mills for
Double Star, LRB, Charles Daly

JD Machine (Kaiser Defense) mills for
Spikes Tactical (CAK)

Mega Machine Shop (MMS) - mills for
Mega, GSE, Dalphon, POF, Alexander Arms, Spikes Tactical (BMT)

Olympic- mills for
Olympic, SGW, Tromix, Palmetto, Dalphon, Frankford, Century (old)

Sun devil was designed by TKS engineering

Sonju Industrial mills
SI Defense

Superior arms mills for
Superior, Lauer (new), Defensive Edge/CY6, Del-Ton

SMOS mills for
SMOS, Larue, custom

Aero Precision Inc. mills for
Aero Precision, Spikes Tactical (COLE), Surplus Arms & Ammo

Territorial Gunsmiths mills for
Territorial Gunsmith’s, Six Sigma Arms, CY6

Tactical Innovations mills for
Tactical Innovations, Global Tactical

Essential Arms mills their own

Hughes Precision mills their own

A O Precision (was Advanced Ordnance) mills for
FNMI, Spikes Tactical (RM)

Sabre Defense milled their own

Colt mills their own

Yankee Hills Machine mills for
YHM, Spikes Tactical (MIKE)

Mind you this list is somewhat incomplete. Manufacturers do change suppliers from time to time. Some manufacturers get special FFLs to machine their own parts. It's usually more economic to buy your custom lowers from an established parts producer. At one time LMT, CMT and LAR were the big three that made all of the non-Colt lowers.
2/15/2012 4:50:33 AM EDT
[#5]
Quoted:
DPMS, Bushmaster and Fulton Armory have been and/or are machined by LAR. Doublestar have been machined by LAR and JVP.  RRA is machined by  CMT. Olympic mills their own.


Just to help out I give you the list as I have it:

LMT (Lewis Machine Tool) - mills for
LMT, Lauer, DS arms, PWA, Eagle, [Armalite ?], Knights Armament, And Barrett

CMT (Continental Machine Tool) - mills for
Stag, Rock River Arms, High standard, Noveske, Century, Global tactical, CLE, S & W, MGI, Wilson Tactical, Grenadier Precision

LAR- mills for
LAR, Bushmaster, Ameetec, DPMS, CMMG, Double star, Fulton Armory, Spikes tactical (CCR), Grizzly

JVP- mills for
Double Star, LRB, Charles Daly

JD Machine (Kaiser Defense) mills for
Spikes Tactical (CAK)

Mega Machine Shop (MMS) - mills for
Mega, GSE, Dalphon, POF, Alexander Arms, Spikes Tactical (BMT)

Olympic- mills for
Olympic, SGW, Tromix, Palmetto, Dalphon, Frankford, Century (old)

Sun devil was designed by TKS engineering

Sonju Industrial mills
SI Defense

Superior arms mills for
Superior, Lauer (new), Defensive Edge/CY6, Del-Ton

SMOS mills for
SMOS, Larue, custom

Aero Precision Inc. mills for
Aero Precision, Spikes Tactical (COLE), Surplus Arms & Ammo

Territorial Gunsmiths mills for
Territorial Gunsmith’s, Six Sigma Arms, CY6

Tactical Innovations mills for
Tactical Innovations, Global Tactical

Essential Arms mills their own

Hughes Precision mills their own

A O Precision (was Advanced Ordnance) mills for
FNMI, Spikes Tactical (RM)

Sabre Defense milled their own

Colt mills their own

Yankee Hills Machine mills for
YHM, Spikes Tactical (MIKE)

Mind you this list is somewhat incomplete. Manufacturers do change suppliers from time to time. Some manufacturers get special FFLs to machine their own parts. It's usually more economic to buy your custom lowers from an established parts producer. At one time LMT, CMT and LAR were the big three that made all of the non-Colt lowers.


Cool, thanks for that info.
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