Best A2 Lower?

[PeteDavis]

]I want a traditional A2 lower to match my second Grendel upper. I got tired of switching removable carry handle and optic with rings. So now two uppers. Which upon consideration implies a second lower. Wonder about RRA. Maybe get Alex Arms. Ideers?


PD

[CJW]

Boys,
I know the Vile Horde is the most opinionated group on the face of the Earth!!’

Which lowers do u you like or dislike??!

Chuck

[VASCAR2]

I have numerous lower receivers from several manufacturers. The only issues I’ve ever encountered was one lower where the grip screw whole wasn’t threaded deep enough to accept the grip screw for a magpul grip. A quick trip to Ace hardware solved that problem. Another lower had tight clearance for the pivoting bolt catch. We weren’t sure whether the bolt catch was to thick or the slot in the lower was to thin. We manually filed and sanded the bolt catch to fit. We polished the surface and re-blued the bolt catch and it has been fine for many years. One of these receivers belonged to my brother in law and the other belonged to my brother.

Many people used to complain about RRA mag wells being minimum spec and mags would not always drop free but I never had that problem.

Unless your running a billet upper or want a matched set I’ve had no problem using different brands of uppers and lowers. Sometimes the finish doesn’t match perfectly but I’ve seen Colt’s with receivers that didn’t match in color.

I think it boils down to personal preference and how your going to use your build.

I have 4 RRA, 3 PSA, 3 Anderson, 1 CMMG, 1 Double Star but I have helped Friends and family assemble several other brands of lowers.

[PeteDavis]

Thanks for your insights. I may just go shoppin'.

PD

[A5BLASTER]

Doesn't matter a lower is a lower. Biggest difference is the name on the side makes the price go up.

Anderson-cheapest, works fine

Aero-more money, has a few upgrades that are nice.

These are the 2 ar15 lowers I have used the most.

[OneHitWonder]

The best lower out there is Mega Machine. Built many brands and Mega has perfect fitment of all pins. Threads are smooth. Easiest build of any. Best anodizing of all too.

Mega supplied other manufacturers. Noveske is one and known for their quality.

[video]https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=YXs6yoAfOd8[/video]

[Mustangfreek]

Mega arms stuff is hitting the shelves again, rainier arms and others have full ar15 and 10 receivers and sets

[Jakal]

For a forged lower and a no-hassel barrel nut, I'd go with Aero's M4E or M5E(AR-10) builder sets or just the get the lower. Really like the nylon adjust screw that takes up the slop between the lower and upper. I get mine just tight enough that you need a pencil, pin etc to start the take down pins. The AR was intentionally designed with slop in it. Most people say accuracy is not harmed. I don't agree with that. If you can move your upper 1/8 to the left and right, that has to cause issues downrange trying to keep a tight group.

[VASCAR2]

I agree more people get concerned about the logo on the forged lower receivers than about anything else. The most important thing to me is having a good trigger. I like two stage triggers and currently LaRue MBT 2S is a very good trigger for the price. I currently only have one lower with an A-2 fixed stock and it is a factory RRA lower with a RRA NM trigger.

[1Shot]

I have one Bushmaster and 4 Anderson lowers and have never had a single problem. I think joeboboutfitters.com or primaryarms.com has Anderson on sale right. now. I have heard of people having more problems with the high dollar one's with too tight mag well than anything.
The Bushmaster that I have was a factory complete rifle. The first AR I ever got which was a Clinton era no muzzle device or bayonet lug A-2 that I got to use for matches. It is a fixed carry handle that I put match sights on it. Now that my eyes have changed and I can't see open sights like I used to I am contemplating getting another upper rail frame, handguard and gas block and taking everything off the upper and building a SPR type rifle. The lower has a CMC 2.5 lb single stage trigger that is NICE.

[FLshooter]

They is no best lower. They’re all about the same. I have a half dozen PSA complete MOE lowers that I paid around $150 delivered.If you like the A2 style stock. PSA sells an A2 build kit. What makes a huge difference to me in a lower is the trigger.

[montana]

Anderson is the best basic mil spec lower you can purchase for the price. I have built many AR rifles with these lowers with zero problems. If you would encounter a problem, Anderson will back it 100% with no cost to you. I Cerakote all of my rifles and their anodizing is one of the best, it is very hard to remove compared to many more expensive brands. Aero Precision is my other favorite lower receiver. If money is not a problem the best Gucci receivers are from SLR rifle works.

[Old Bob]

I've had no issues with any of the forged lowers I have & they all mate well with their uppers - Even one upper that's a billet upper. My lowers are CMMG (1), Spikes Tactical (2), Stag Arms (1) & Anderson (1). Three of them have G.I. A1 buttstocks which I prefer over the A2. The other two have Magpul fixed stocks.

[PeteDavis]

Renewed/updated thanks to all. I found an Alexander lower on GB and purchased it. It has the collapsing CAR buttstock on it-so I will need to swap that, if possible with the A1 or A2. Old Bob, what is the advantage of the A1? I am assuming I could swap my CAR collapser for the A1. Pete Davis

[brian y]

I know you found one but there is an other way to go 80% lowers, Once you have made one it becomes very addictive.

[PNWTargets]

I use Grey Ghost Precision. I have their forged and billet products. Some of the main Mega Arms people made the move to Grey Ghost Precision back in the day.

[Klem]

Mega arms stuff is hitting the shelves again, rainier arms and others have full ar15 and 10 receivers and sets

Mustang,

Are you sure?

Mega's site is still down. I don't see anything advertised on the Zev site (the new owners). Brownells lists all their parts as 'Discontinued' and Ranier which was always big on Mega has some part but mostly 'Out of Stock'. They may have found some in storage is what I am thinking.

I understand Mega's machinists moved on after the take-over.

What do you know about Mega coming back?

[Old Bob]

Renewed/updated thanks to all. I found an Alexander lower on GB and purchased it. It has the collapsing CAR buttstock on it-so I will need to swap that, if possible with the A1 or A2. Old Bob, what is the advantage of the A1? I am assuming I could swap my CAR collapser for the A1. Pete Davis

There's no particular advantage, it's a personal preference matter. The A1 stock is 3/4" shorter than the A2. I feel more comfortable with the shorter stock. If you have long arms, the A2 might be better for you. Good shooting, Pete!

[tdbru]

for my very first AR, which also happened to be my first build, i had an Anderson lower with a PSA A2 lower kit. went together smoothly (surprisingly so). the GI trigger in the kit got replaced with a foxtrot mike FM-9 2 stage NiB for $89 from Brownells. much nicer than GI, but the GI was "serviceable".
-tdbru

[Mustangfreek]

Mustang,

Are you sure?

Mega's site is still down. I don't see anything advertised on the Zev site (the new owners). Brownells lists all their parts as 'Discontinued' and Ranier which was always big on Mega has some part but mostly 'Out of Stock'. They may have found some in storage is what I am thinking.

I understand Mega's machinists moved on after the take-over.

What do you know about Mega coming back?

From a really credible source in the industry

Well looks like in a reversal, the Mega name is being brought back. If you noticed, several retailers, such as Rainier and DSG Arms had Mega uppers/lowers restocked this month. Rainier told me that ZEV will push out Mega Orders quarterly.


Them in my backyard with many other big companies, I tend to hear stuff..