Help me buy an AR15 lower

[fmunk]

With all the current goings on I have decided to buy an AR15 lower. I know that I am very late to the game but until the events of the recent 6 months I never thought it was worth braving the legal minefield associated with "assault rifle" ownership in California.

However, here I am; I expect to only own one and I have enough money to do it right. I am currently looking for lowers made by:

1. LMT (MARS-L)
2. Knights Armament
3. LWRC
4. Radian

What other manufacturers should I be looking at?
Are there any resources to help me learn what lowers are allowed and not allowed in California? Or do I just find a local FFL and ask him?

If it matters I live in Ventura county.


Thanks again.

Keep this in mind. If you buy a non-standard lower, even though it might be compatible with standard "mil-spec" uppers, you might find yourself locked into matching uppers due to cosmetics or fit and finish. So if you're going to buy something that isn't standard spec, buy a matching upper/lower set. If you want ultimate flexibility, buy a standard pattern lower.

Brands offering standard pattern receivers (just to name a few):
Anderson
New Frontier Armory (North Las Vegas)
Spike's Tactical
Bravo Company
Aero Precision
Adams Arms
James Madison Tactical (slightly non-standard)
Griffin Armament
Primary Weapon Systems
Noveske


Examples of fancier non-standard upper/lower sets:
San Tan
SLR Rifleworks
Juggernaut Tactical (Orange, CA)

[The War Wagon]

BCM


And good luck building it CA-compliant. They always look like "tactical pretzels" to me.

[Franko221]

Thanks to you all for the great info. The plan now is to get shopping and see what I can find (here and a few other websites) for sale. Then I'll probably be back...

[Endless]

With all the current goings on I have decided to buy an AR15 lower. I know that I am very late to the game but until the events of the recent 6 months I never thought it was worth braving the legal minefield associated with "assault rifle" ownership in California.

However, here I am; I expect to only own one and I have enough money to do it right. I am currently looking for lowers made by:

1. LMT (MARS-L)
2. Knights Armament
3. LWRC
4. Radian

What other manufacturers should I be looking at?
Are there any resources to help me learn what lowers are allowed and not allowed in California? Or do I just find a local FFL and ask him?

If it matters I live in Ventura county.


Thanks again.

I went with some AR pistol lowers:

Noveske Gen 3
Sig Sauer PM400
Sig Rattler
BCM
Knights Armament
Daniel Defense

And these all work the same. Just remember that.

[Mac Attack]

[jimbo74]

My First was a Spike's Zombie lower

most recent Aero M4E1, I really like not having to put in any roll pins

[Wordupmybrotha]

What's a strong lower that will withstand a squib load and not blow up in one's face?

[edgerly779]

^^ No such animal must be a parody question.

[naz]

If OP is in Ca that will not work out exactly like that because it is a non compliant lower.

It needs to have the featureless grip installed and stock pinned, or needs to have a mag lock installed before it gets sent into CA.

OP would need to work with an FFL07 for this, which is not a big deal, but does add some time, cost and complexity

[RedBluff]

Also, if you consider it a "legal minefield" to own an AR, maybe err on the side of caution and get a lower that you could separate from the upper, strip and "dispose of" without too much pain if you want to get out of AR ownership. Therefore, consider a budget Anderson ($60 plus tax and DROS and shipping and FFL fee if you ship it).

Like posters have pointed out, it's really all about roll mark unless you're getting something with ambi controls already manufactured into the lower, set screws for detents or bolt catch, integrated trigger guard, etc. A lower is a lower is a lower.

Spend money on a nice trigger (I prefer single stage, flat CMC), ambi safety, highly reviewed parts kit, and a quality buttstock.

Then comes the important, expensive part: the upper

I like my Anderson's.

[FightYouRightNow]

If OP is in Ca that will not work out exactly like that because it is a non compliant lower.

It needs to have the featureless grip installed and stock pinned, or needs to have a mag lock installed before it gets sent into CA.

OP would need to work with an FFL07 for this, which is not a big deal, but does add some time, cost and complexity

As long as a lower is not assault weapon by virtue of its make and model, it is not an assault weapon due to any features is has, as it is not a semiautomatic, center-fire rifle. Only when one attaches a functioning upper to it does it have to either be fixed magazine or featureless to avoid being considered an assault weapon under CA law, because at that point, it is a semiautomatic, center-fire rifle.

So, a complete lower can be sold fully featured, as it is still DROS'd as a "frame only".

Not sure who told you that you had to pin stock, etc.

BTW, is this the proverbial legal minefield of which OP spoke earlier?

[edgerly779]

^^ Exactly I just did a complete lower as frame only . collapsible stock, mag release, pistol grip.

[fmunk]

As long as a lower is not assault weapon by virtue of its make and model, it is not an assault weapon due to any features is has, as it is not a semiautomatic, center-fire rifle. Only when one attaches a functioning upper to it does it have to either be fixed magazine or featureless to avoid being considered an assault weapon under CA law, because at that point, it is a semiautomatic, center-fire rifle.

So, a complete lower can be sold fully featured, as it is still DROS'd as a "frame only".

Not sure who told you that you had to pin stock, etc.

BTW, is this the proverbial legal minefield of which you spoke earlier?

Technically correct. But some FFLs are paranoid and require complete lowers to be transferred with all applicable compliant parts installed. I am not saying they are right. I'm just saying it does happen. And noobs reading this thread should be aware.

[naz]

Technically correct. But some FFLs are paranoid and require complete lowers to be transferred with all applicable compliant parts installed. I am not saying they are right. I'm just saying it does happen. And noobs reading this thread should be aware.

[spfabrication]

Yes. Aero actually does the manufacturing of Spikes, Lewis Machine, Riflegear aggressor, and several others.

LMT manufactures all parts in house and have been since the 1980's.