Need some help, what is the best lower receiver for under $200

[Chiefs3232]

Want to build an AR, but on somewhat of a budget. What is the best lower receiver on the market for around $200 or under?

[OverUnderClays]

Complete lower, or a stripped lower? You have to be specific.

[HK Dave]

They're all the same. Just choose the one with the logo (rollmark) you like and buy it.

[Dhena81]

There is no best lower just buy one that is made by an established company that way your less likely to run into problems. I haven't bought a lower in awhile but I would be happy with a Spikes they used to run about $99. The next step up in price from forged would be a billet lower and your not going to buy one for under $200.

[21SF]

More election noobs, all kidding aside, a lower is a lower. Unless you can squeeze a billet for that price.

[bonesurf]

The cheapest that works? NFA LW15. The basic forged ones are all kinda the same. Billet ones are pricier. I like spikes cause they always have nifty colors and designs

[Scuba Steve33]

If you're on a budget check out the NFA complete polymer lower for 109. Buy a budget upper and you will have an AR for under 600. No experience with them but I have read good reviews.

Check out this thread: http://www.calguns.net/calgunforum/s...d.php?t=626537

[HK Dave]

Let's not confuse the poor chap with "billet".

Chiefs... just go into your local gun store that is AR15 friendly, and buy a lower receiver with a logo you like. They're all the same.

[proudofusa]

New here, very excited. Gonna go look at ammobros in Cerritos soon. Anyone been there? Good prices/selection? Thanks.

[SIKwitIT]

If you want a billet, check out henderson defense. Billet lower and forged upper set, np3 coated for $250

[Chiefs3232]

Thanks for the info guys, I think I will visit a local shop and see what they have. Can anyone recomend an AR friendly shop in the OC area.

[razorduc]

I actually found that Turner's has pretty good prices on their lowers, although not too much selection (at least in Corona and West Covine). Riflegear in Fountain Valley has a lot of them and for around $110-125 for most of the basic ones. Ammo Bros in Cerritos has mostly built rifles, but some stripped lowers.

[BBB114]

shop

Riflegear in Fountain Valley

Boyan

[gun4fun]

try here

http://www.riflegear.com/t-contact.aspx

[wash]

There are a few features that differentiate lowers.

I have one that has a set screw to limit trigger pre-travel. The problem is if the set screw loosens and moves inward it can interfere with engaging the safety or trigger reset. I took it out.

Some have set screws to tighten the upper to lower fit but if it loosens while your upper is off or you try to install a different upper, suddenly it might not fit. This one seems a little less dangerous than the trigger set screw but it would just be inconvenient when you change something instead of possibly at any moment.

Both of those features require removing the pistol grip for adjustment.

More expensive lowers might have an ambidextrous bolt catch which is cool.

Some lowers have nice details, like the mag well bevel and maybe some texture on the front of the mag well for grip if you use a mag well hold.

Then there is billet vs. forged vs. plastic. Forged 7075 aluminum is as strong as aluminum gets but it is usually a lot thinner than a billet lower is machined so strength is fairly equivalent but an AR lower doesn't carry a lot of stress so plastic can work too.

Billet can look cool and usually has features like integrated trigger guards and set screw bolt hold open which means no roll pins. The down side is that billet is expensive.

For value I like a Quentin Defense pre-anodized billet 80% and a good CNC build party. Mine was $105 (bought in a group buy) for the 80% and $60 for the build party. No tax, no DROS, no 10 day wait (although the scheduling of build parties and purchasing the 80% probably creates more delay).

That's $165 for a billet lower. If you compare that to a store bought forged lower, DROS fees, sales tax and add maybe $20 for a billet trigger guard, it is very price competitive.

You can save about $20 starting with a forged 80% lower if that appeals to you.

If you can't find a store bought lower for under $145 out the door, look at 80% to see if you can do better.

Here are pictures of my $165 billet lower (with a modified Arredondo mag well, Hammerhead grip, LPK and some laser engraving):