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Posted: 1/27/2006 5:45:41 PM EDT
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Buy from those companies which have a reputation for consistent specs. There really is no "best", it comes down to what you personally want and/or can afford. Truly, you'll find one mans treasure is another mans trash, and the threads are here to prove it. I've built AR's on Bushmaster, Eagle/ArmaLite, Colt and Rock River Arms lowers. Have had excellent results from all, and all were perfectly in spec. If there were no identifiable marks on the lowers, I would have NO IDEA which was which (except the Colt, which had different size trigger pins-AHHHHHHHHHH, Colt!). Fit and finish were all perfect. And all those for whom the specific weapons were built were pleased. I've never had ONE complaint. So, dude, it's entirely up to you and your wallet. Which is basically a truism for everything else in your life. Prepare for the inevitable "Colt sucks, Bushmaster sucks, DPMS sucks and I'll only use XYZ lowers 'cuz that's what the MILITARY uses and I've got a cuzzin twice removed who knows a Special Forces SEALS Green Beret Marine Recon sniper guy in Iraq who sez he used his XYZ built M16 to launch a new guided weapon which single handedly wiped out the Taliban, but he can't talk about it...", etc., etc., you'll see it all. Good friggin luck 
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Basically a +1, with one added comment. If at all possible, buy your lower at a store or gun show, where you can inspect it brfore putting down the money. Why? Because even the best of the makers will put out pieces that, while in spec dimensionally, may have finish issues or tool marks that you may find hard to live with. It's become a world in which the purchaser is expected to be the final inspector in the manufacturing process. Now, I'm old enough to remember when that wasn't so, but that seems to be the way the world is these days. And please---ignore the guys who may well write in, in response to this, and tell you that they mail ordered brand X, or Y, or Z, and it's perfect. I'm glad theirs was perfect, but I promise you not everything that comes off that production line is 
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| LMT is lewis Machine and Tool, They make parts for themselves, and others, very good quality. Look in the ee section of this site, you will see almost every brand on the market, and compare their prices. I have Bushmaster, and a few stag lowers, I like them both, and the finish is equal. Stag is a lot cheaper than Bushmaster though, as long as you stay with one of the better name Co.s you will get a quality lower. All the ones mentioned so far in your post are good quality. |
| Also LMT seems to be the Cadillac of ARs, but they make other Co's products, so you could get another brand name, and still have a LMT, it would just have someone elses logo on it. Someone correct me if I am mistaken. The Stag lowers I own, have a higher shelf in the rear of the lower, and prevent me from putting an acu wedge in it, no real big deal. The accu wedge takes a little of the slop out of the upper and lower fit, others may or may not like them, but I like the tighter fit. JMO |
Ummm; You see those little steps on the underside of the AccuWedge? They're so you can take a razor blade and slice off enough of the bottom to fit between a Conti built lower, and the rear lug of the upper. (Sigh. We Georgia boys have to tell you Alabamans how to do everything)
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Usually the Stag lowers have a nice tight fit and don;t need a Accuwedge. |
+1 If you are looking for a good Lower from a quality small match rifle builder check out Compass Lake http://www.compasslake.com/CLE%20Lowers.htm You have to fit the upper to the lower with just a little file work, but there is no slop what-so ever. It only took about 5 minutes to get it just right with both a bushmater upper and LMT Upper. I much prefer the fit of this lower and lockup compared to my Factory AR10. IMHO It just makes for a nicer rifle. |
| I'm no guru on building AR's but from what I've read over the last 2 yrs on this forum....A lower is a lower, they might vary SLIGHTLY in color but they ALL fit and look good. Basically, find one that you like the engraving on the side of it and go with it. I have a DPMS lower and a CMMGinc lower and they look the same from 10 feet away. Get up close and you'll notice the different engraving on them. Put a blind fold on and shoulder them....you won't know which is which. |
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