New AR project insipired by you!

[SeanAce1]

So I decided to scrap my POI and leave it as it, who knows maybe 20 years from now someone will think of it as a "collectors item"..or i will shoot it until it breaks..anyways. I want to build a target AR off of a .223 platform, but I do want to be able to shoot 5.56, I think I like the Wylde chambers and what I hear from them.

My question as of now is what lower receiver to start with. Since it is serialized I guess I will get this first. I have seen stripped receivers on gunbroker for anywhere from 100 to 200 dollars from companies mainly bushmaster, DPMS, Rock River, Olympic, Wilson Combat and Stag Arms,which I have never heard of honestly). I am assuming that the differences are mediocre, but do any of these offer exceptional quality, tolerances or difference in alloys?

Also, is it worth is bumping up to buy a NM parts kit and trigger?

Thanks!

 

[billmo]

I like the RRA best. Their clearance is advertised at zero between the upper and lower and I have none with my rifle. Also, I ordered a 6mmAR upper from Robert Whitley and it fit so tight to my lower that I called Robert just to verify nothing was wrong. I finally got it to go together by wetting a q-tip with break free and wiping all of the surfaces that join together and working with it a little. That is a very tight fit and I really think it is mostly due to the zero clearance of the RRA lower. Robert said that he has tried other brand of lowers that actually had flop and play between the two pieces. He agreed with me that the tightness was good for accuracy. Also, with the RRA you will get the NM trigger and that is a plus from every angle. Just my opinion. Thanks, Bill

 

[memilanuk]

I've used Bushmaster, RRA, Grizzly, & Mega lowers. So far all of them have worked pretty well for me. Stag is actually not too bad in the AR world. Something to keep in mind is I don't believe there are all that many places that actually produce the raw castings for the lowers... most of them probably come from the same place, with some of the final machining done 'in house',such as logo, S/N, etc.). Then again... I'm not as picky as some about the 'fit' of the lower. I like snug, but I've never gone so far as to actually bed them or anything like that. An Accuwedge, yes. Bedding, no.

The best thing to do with a RRA NM 2-stage trigger... is to send it to John Holliger @ White Oak Precision for his tune-up work, and tell him its for a space gun, not a Service Rifle.

 

[SeanAce1]

It seems that everyone agrees that RRA is one of the best. DSA and Stag Arms seem to also be good bets for reputation of quality. I like that Stag produces for S & W and Colt and has military contracts.

The DSA seems to have different pin sizes however, not so sure as to why though.

 

[SeanAce1]

Also, what about these stainless lowers you can get from DPMS, is there really any advantage in going with stainless over aluminum in a lower receiver anyways? I believe Im right in saying that DSA Stag and RRA all use the 7075-T6

 

[billmo]

Sean, I have no experience with anything except RRA. I like mine so good that I ordered another lower this week for my new 6mmAR upper. And to be honest with you I really did not like the idea of swapping the two uppers out so much. Bill

 

[Spotcheck_Billy]

Sean,
Some shooters like the extra weight of a stainless steel lower. The extra strength isn't really necessary. Personally I wouldn't bother with one.

A mil-spec lower is forged, not cast, and is made from 7075-T6 aluminum and not the cheaper 6061 alloy that was used in the very early M16's and by the manufacturers that are building on the cheap.

 

[brian923]

i love my colt. now, i know that some people have problems with colt, but i think that there on e of the best. they've been doing it for a long time. the only problem is that there early lowers have a smaller front take down pin hole, but since you are looking at buying new, i wouldn't worry about it.


the hole tight fit is a shooter preference thing. the upper has all the propriety parts in it, so the lower is just to hold the trigger, and give you something to hold onto. many shooters who have a tight fitting upper to lower have something in between them to make them fit that way. some use tension springs, and some use what they call a wedge. ,little piece of rubber.) Patrick Sweeney builds lots of AR's and in his book, GUNSMITHING:RIFLES, he goes through a really detailed step by step procedure on how to build a good shooting AR. he even shows how to glas bed an AR. the book is really good, and can be gotten at an bookstore. ,i really liked it)

if you are really wanting to go with a good lower, my choices would be between the colt, and wilson combat. then RRA and stag and then the rest. i would say away from the DPMS, and OLYMPIC.

if you already ha vent been to the AR15.COM forum, i would visit. many good people with a lot of good advice on how to work with the AR. i hope this helps and want to say that if i had affended anyone, dont be, this is just what i have come to see from reading and building. ,opinions) BRIAN

 

[billmo]

Brian, I dont't think you have offended anyone. Everybody is entitled to their opinion. I have never owned an AR until I bought the RRA so that is the only one I can speak for. I am still learning about these things too. I am aware of the wedge but I don't think it would do any good on my uppers. Both of them fit really tight without it. I was totally surprised at the accuracy of these things too. Best Regards, Bill

 

[brian923]

its really amazine on how bad a rep that this rifle platform gets, but again and agin it just keeps proving itself, and making believers out of those how doubt. i think that there great because they are like the 1911 of the rifle world. everbody is selling parts, and there are so many ways to make the rifle your own. even REMINGTON is makeing an AR now. i dont believe that its out yet, but they all ready have a MSRP on there website. it just goes to show how many people are jumping on the AR15 bandwagon, and its a good wagon to be on. the space gun is here, and its here to stay. brian

 

[SeanAce1]

What is this Remington AR? I cant find what youre talking about online but I may be looking in the wrong spots..all I see is there regular tactical 7615 and the 700

 

[Spotcheck_Billy]

What is this Remington AR? I cant find what youre talking about online but I may be looking in the wrong spots..all I see is there regular tactical 7615 and the 700

Remingtons new owners recently bought Bushmaster and are making some changes there. They've appointed some Bushy management to positions at Remington. There's been some word about it on the Daily Bulletin. Rumor has it that they will go after the military M16/M4 contracts currently held by Colt and FNMI.

AFIK rumors about a Remington branded AR are just that! I haven't seen anything concrete about it. Then again, what the heck do I know? These days anything seems possible

 

[swehrman]

There's a picture of an AR on Remington's web page.

http://www.remington.com/images/products/sneakpeek.jpg

-- Scott

 

[SeanAce1]

speak of the devil, look what I got in an email from remington today:

http://www.remington.com/products/sneak_peek/model_r-15_vtr.asp

R-15 VTR AR platform
..in camo?!

 

[Austin]

Ok iv never liked bushmaster just because im not a big fan of their smaller diamiter barrels but for a calling gun you do want a lighter gun.The paint job on this gun is guna be coyotes worst night mare.When they come out many pros will have 1.

 

[constructor]

I've been building cutom ARs since 93 and I've only had 1 bad lower,EA). IMO if you stay away from cast lowers anything you get will work. I bought a POF billet lower with the enlarged trigger guard about a year ago, it is now my favorite lower.

 

[SeanAce1]

POF? never heard of them personally, ill have to look into them.. I have pretty much decided to go with stag arms or rock river however, Since my company has an FFL I can get a good deal on a stripped stag lower for about 82 dollars.