10-31-2011, 04:16 PM
I would try either the Spike's ST-T2 or the ST-T3. I have used my ST-T2 with Grendel and 5.56 in mid and carbine-length gas systems, all with 16" barrels, and have had zero reliability issues in either.
I'm not sure where you're measuring your gas system lengths from, but a Carbine-Length Gas System (CLGS) is 7" from the receiver extension face to the gas port drilled in the barrel, a Mid-Length gas System (MLGS) is 9", and a Rifle-Length Gas System (RGLS) is 12.5". The upper receiver extension face is where the threads for your barrel nut are. You have to look at an upper with the barrel pulled to see them.
Right now, I think the best deal on lowers is from Templar, and I would have ordered two from them for $55 or $65 before ordering the two from PSA for $49.95, although the anodizing on the two PSA lowers I received is better than most I have seen in the industry in a long time. The Templar lowers have a generously and well-executed funneled mag well, and a captivated take-down pin detent channel. They are basically a $175 lower for $65, in my opinion.
I've dealt with or owned lowers from PWA, Bushmaster, RRA, DPMS, Olympic Arms, DSA, Armalite, Colt, CMMG, American Spirit Arms, Fulton, POF, Essential Arms, Eagele Arms, JP, LMT, Spike's Tactical, High Standard, Noveske, Century, S&W, MGI, Wilson, Double Star, Mega, Sun Devil, Superior Arms, Aero Precision, NoDak, McKay, and a bunch of custom-made versions to boot. All those lowers I just mentioned are made by only 9 different machine shops around the country, and LAR makes the highest volume of them for the big names like Bushmaster, DPMS, CMMG, Double Star, Spike's, and others.
I personally don't care what name is on my lower, but price first, fit with uppers second (this is a trial-and-error game, unless you buy a custom-matched set), and anodizing third. Then I look at differentiation in features, which is usually only funneled mag wells in your basic forged lowers. Whatever you do, don't pay for a standard forged lower based on what name is engraved on it, as that is pretty meaningless nowadays. There are minor tolerance differences in mass-produced parts, but I just don't see many functional problems like I occasionally used to in the early 90's.
I'm not sure where you're measuring your gas system lengths from, but a Carbine-Length Gas System (CLGS) is 7" from the receiver extension face to the gas port drilled in the barrel, a Mid-Length gas System (MLGS) is 9", and a Rifle-Length Gas System (RGLS) is 12.5". The upper receiver extension face is where the threads for your barrel nut are. You have to look at an upper with the barrel pulled to see them.
Right now, I think the best deal on lowers is from Templar, and I would have ordered two from them for $55 or $65 before ordering the two from PSA for $49.95, although the anodizing on the two PSA lowers I received is better than most I have seen in the industry in a long time. The Templar lowers have a generously and well-executed funneled mag well, and a captivated take-down pin detent channel. They are basically a $175 lower for $65, in my opinion.
I've dealt with or owned lowers from PWA, Bushmaster, RRA, DPMS, Olympic Arms, DSA, Armalite, Colt, CMMG, American Spirit Arms, Fulton, POF, Essential Arms, Eagele Arms, JP, LMT, Spike's Tactical, High Standard, Noveske, Century, S&W, MGI, Wilson, Double Star, Mega, Sun Devil, Superior Arms, Aero Precision, NoDak, McKay, and a bunch of custom-made versions to boot. All those lowers I just mentioned are made by only 9 different machine shops around the country, and LAR makes the highest volume of them for the big names like Bushmaster, DPMS, CMMG, Double Star, Spike's, and others.
I personally don't care what name is on my lower, but price first, fit with uppers second (this is a trial-and-error game, unless you buy a custom-matched set), and anodizing third. Then I look at differentiation in features, which is usually only funneled mag wells in your basic forged lowers. Whatever you do, don't pay for a standard forged lower based on what name is engraved on it, as that is pretty meaningless nowadays. There are minor tolerance differences in mass-produced parts, but I just don't see many functional problems like I occasionally used to in the early 90's.