Well, this is embarrassing…. I logged on here intending to finish the post recommending people pick up a few stripped lowers. I had planned to add a few links at the end with a few good places to pick up AR lowers. To my surprise, when I got to the dashboard page, it was already online and had 36 comments. Oops. I have no idea how that post submitted other than one of my kids must have done it, so I feel a little silly. Usually I close my computer when I get up because my two year old likes to press buttons, but obviously not this time. So, here’s Part II.
There are a lot of places you can buy these items. The list below is by no means exhaustive. If you have a better place or know of a good deal going on right now, post it in the comments. I’m always in the market. Just to be clear, I have no affiliation or financial interest or anything like that with any of these places. I’m just listing sites that I’ve found and ordered from before that have good prices and I have had good experiences with. You can build a good rifle out of just about any stripped lower.
The parts you put into it, as well as the upper you build/buy will have a lot more to do with the quality of your rifle than what brand lower you buy. That said, some are a little better than others. I’ve found the finish on some of the higher end brands do tend to be a little more scratch resistant, for instance. If you’ve never built one of these before, you WILL scratch it. Although these are mostly all adonized black, there are also some slight variations in color between brands, so if you want your lower/upper/handguard to all match exactly, its something to consider. So, onto the links…
https://dkfirearms.com/product-category/ar-15-parts/lower-receivers/
DK Firearms. They don’t have a huge selection of lowers, mostly Spikes Tactical. There are cheaper lowers out there than Spikes, but this is the cheapest place I’ve seen Spikes lately. I really like their lowers that have the trigger guard integrated, and the Spikes trigger guards are flared out to a larger size. One of the most useful modifications you can make to a milspec lower is giving yourself more room with an extended trigger guard. These make that unnecessary, and it also does away with one of the weakest parts of the lower – the little ears that piece must be pinned into. This site offers free shipping with orders over 90$.
The Spikes lower I just ordered was $86, so rather than pay for shipping, I dropped one of the Anderson lowers for $36.99 into the cart, got free shipping, and an extra lower. As an aside, the pictures of the gun supposedly used in Ohio was an Anderson, so they may be feeling a little extra heat in the coming days, so I threw them a little money in the process. Total cost was 122 and change, shipped to my local FFL. This site has the cheapest deal I’ve found so far – the Anderson Manufacturing lower on this site for 36.99. You have to order 3 to get to free shipping, but thats three stripped lowers for 110.97 delivered. You can’t beat that. If you just want to have a few stashed away, you won’t do better than this. No, they aren’t the highest quality, but they are made out of T7075 aluminum like all the rest and will do anything you want them to do.
https://www.primaryarms.com/MCategories+AR-15-Lower-Receivers
Primary Arms. They carry a wide selection of lowers, from mild to wild, most major brands, and several cerakoted options. There aren’t any super deals at present, but they do have very good sales periodically, and have good prices pretty much across the board for everything gun related. They will have Aero Precision lowers on sale quite regularly, which are a great mid-range option for starting a build. Shipping is usually prompt, and if you sign up for their emails, you’ll get the sales in your inbox, which are often worth waiting for. This site sells just about everything. If you want something for an AR, they probably have it and at a good price.
https://palmettostatearmory.com/ar-15/lowers.html
Palmetto State Armory. They always have good lowers for 40-50$ each. They will also have built lowers at very reasonable prices in just about every configuration you can think of. I just ordered a pistol build kit from there to complete a Spikes lower I ordered from the site above. I’ve noticed that when you order something that comes with free shipping, they tend to take a couple days longer to box it up and send it than if you pay shipping, so its slow at times, but it always shows up. They offer complete rifles as well, and at very low prices, but I do believe those complete rifles are a case where you get what you paid for.
I have personally had to send a barreled upper back to them to get re-barreled, which they did at no cost, but I had to fix a couple problems with the rifle myself and still had to send it back for repair afterwards. A friend of mine had a brand new PSA AR-9 blow up in his face the first time he shot it. They do sell a lot of rifles and parts, and most people seem happy with them, so YMMV, but just be aware. If you are a big Trump fan, this is the place to go. They sell one-time-manufacture lowers like “Build the Wall” and “Space force” models, as well as a special Betsy Ross flag edition. They even have a “Storm-51” regarding the Facebook plan to storm Area 51.
https://www.joeboboutfitters.com/AR-15-Lowers-s/9729.htm
Joe Bob Outfitters. Carries a decent selection, mostly Spikes, at good prices with free shipping on orders over $90 as well. Shipping has always been prompt, and the website makes it easy to add your FFL as the ‘ship to’ at checkout. Also have a good selection of other parts.
https://www.recoilgunworks.com/lower-receivers-c-98_100.html
Recoil Gunworks. They make an inhouse stripped lower for $50 and have other brands as well. Prices on the other brands are OK, not great. However, if you are looking for a quality used handgun, this is also a great place to find one. They do a lot of Police Dept trade ins. You can often find a Very Good or Like New grade pistol for a lot cheaper than retail.
https://www.aeroprecisionusa.com/sale/blemished
Aero Precision. They make quality lowers, uppers, and handguards at a reasonable price. While they do sell non-blemished items, the above link is to their ‘blemished’ page where you can buy parts that have slight cosmetic defects that in no way affect the way it functions. I’ve bought ‘blem’ items before and have been unable to find the alleged imperfection. Once you assemble it and go to the range a couple times, any cosmetic flaw will likely have disappeared into the wear and tear you’ll put on it anyways, so this is a great way to save a little money.
https://www.80percentarms.com/
For the more hands on type, you can buy an 80% lower and finish it yourself. Depending on your skills and tool set, it will take a few hours to finish one. But, you can buy them with no back ground check and have them sent to your house. Its not considered a firearm until you mill the rest of the metal out. You can also pay cash for them at gun shows and there will be zero record of you ever having bought one. The above site sells both 80% lowers as well as the tools to finish them. The initial investment isn’t cheap, but afterwards you can make your own lowers, as many as you want, with the tools you already own, using 80% lowers you buy with cash in person. These will have no serial number so i guess you could call it a “ghost gun”. No, the .30 caliber ammunition clip is not included.
This site has deals from all over the internet. Lowers, uppers, whole rifles, pistols, shotguns, optics, parts, knives, ammo, magazines. Just about everything. If one of the above mentioned sites or another one I didn’t list has a good lower receiver promotion going on, chances are it will be listed on this site.
Thats a short, quick list of places I’ve ordered from before with good prices. There are others. As I said above, this list is by no means exhaustive, so if you know of another good one, please list it in the comments.
The 80% lowers, perhaps a good gift for friends and relatives that live behind the wire in places like NY, not a gun so they can be mailed, not a gun so can be held in reserve until the rule of law disintegrates
I built an 80% AR lower and it was a major pain in the ass. I’m not a machinist by any means but I’ve built and worked on stuff my whole life. The problem(at least for me) was keeping everything in spec. I also built a Glock 19 Gen3 lower and it was very easy. However, putting a complete pistol together is rather expensive. A private sale Glock(or whatever) might be worthy of consideration. Used a knife and portable drill and it took about an hour. I may be wrong but isn’t an 80% lower considered a “Ghost Gun” in shitholes like NY, NJ, Mass, &TC and already against their fucked-up laws?
Nice list ,been aware of these sites for years but good for new sets of eyes.
80 percent lowers been around a long time,keep in mind also 80% for AR-10’s/glock pistols/1911’s/10-22’s and the list goes on.Even better,many sites with build from scratch instructions for those interested.
Do not ever, and I mean EVER, purchase something like this through the internet online and have it mailed to you fucking house. Bad advice this author is giving when the US is now a full blown police state.
I won’t mention any names but there are some excellent how-to videos provided by some of the folks you see advertising parts and accessories and tools on places like the Outdoor Channel.
Keep calm and make sure you have all the tools and be patient enough to wait for the right one if you have to order or go to the store. Nothing takes away value like some big amateurish looking gouges.
You are going to need a really big vice. Please do not try anything involving applying torque without your upper or lower placed in the receiver blocks you will have to have for locking it into the really big vice. Otherwise you will destroy the machined aluminum upper or lower.
Watch them build one online or DVD beforehand. It is tremendously satisfying to build an AR. I recommend ordering a lower receiver from a top manufacturer without a grip or trigger but with everything else in place from the factory. Let a pro armorer get all the little springs and pawls in place and just concentrate on your favorite style grip and an aftermarket trigger like the one package drop-ins or my personal favorite for a gunfight gun, the Geiselle SSA or SSA-E which comes in a couple of parts and is a bit more difficult than the self contained McCormick or number of other good drop-ins.
Doing the buttstock assembly and upper requires a lot of good roll pin punches, and roll pin drivers. The guys with the videos will sell you an AR-15 punch set of all the required ones along with the Armorers wrench. You will also need a torque wrench.
Soon you will disappear in a frenzy of building and customization. When you buy accessories, buy the high end stuff because it is easy to sell for a decent price if you decide to switch it for something else.
Yep, thats right!
HR,the grip holds the safety detent and spring on AR-15 and also the rear take down pin on some AR-10’s.The little springs/deents a learning curve,also will have to deal with buffer detent and spring installing buffer tube.Many spare part kits with doubles of everything,get a bunch and learn how to do it.A clean floor aids greatly in detents/springs that want to fly,and……,at times they do!
I have lost and buggered a few springs, especially the stock spring that holds pressure on the take down pin detent. I keep multiples of any easy to lose parts in my parts bin. I would add a clean floor AND a magnet.
You don’t order any firearm parts over the internet, ever? Or anything firearm related? Obviously cash and carry in person is the PREFERRED method, but thats not feasible for all people. Im listing the easiest method. Do you think that, if we/I are at risk of getting the door kicked in for ordering such things in the past, that you are under any less risk for saying things that outright state or imply that you have all these same things but just buy them in person on the internet? Do you actually think you are anonymous on here just because you are using a screen name and other people reading this can’t see who you are? I also happen to live in a place where “I sold it to some guy that shoots at the range I go to” or “I sold it at a garage sale” is a perfectly legal answer if asked where a certain (non NFA) item went if ‘anyone’ ever asks. Individuals buy and sell these things to each other all the time where I live.
As far as the full blown police state thing goes, I’m not arguing against that. But, I buy things off the internet, firearms related, all the time. I don’t really worry too much about the police state thing at this point. I’ve ‘crossed the rubicon’ so to speak a long time ago. I have bought a bunch of guns over the years through regular dealers, had the background check, etc. I’ve gotten carry permits in three different states. I read and comment about such things on here and other sights. Lastly, I have NFA items in my name (its a trust, but might as well be my name). So, if there’s some kind of ‘list’ out there that you can get yourself on for doing these things like ordering 80% lowers off the internet, I’m already on it and always will be. If you’ve bought anything through a regular dealer with any kind of frequency, you are too.
Now the gun shows are capitalizing on the recent shootings by upping their admission prices. $10 to get in? Holy shit!
https://gunshowtrader.com/gun-shows/murfreesboro-gun-knife-show/
I actually wonder if the insurance/security costs ect. have gone up because of this,whatever actually happened in Nevada with the concert and all the supposed gunman was doing a gun show.
Oh,and BLOAT.
BLOAT
Like those decomposing exploding whale videos on ScrewTube
There are always $10 door fees at douchebag Yankee northern gun shows.
Yankees fleeing the North?
.22,easy on the yank comments.A lot of folks in the hills of Northern New England are living to a large degree(excepting weather)as so called “rednecks,the only real difference between us is accents.I mean folks who get things done,just want to be left the fuck alone/hunt/fish ect.,you get the idea.
When things go very wrong will be like the line in the Charlie Daniels song about all the folks getting together,including the one”The rebels and the Yanks”.
You caught me starting shit.
When people write off white resistance to government in the Northeast, I laugh.
It’s historically where all the guns were produced.
A rifle is a poorly designed club without ammo…
Lowers are great but think long game
Primers are the true choke point in a modern rifle
Home cooked ARs are fine but they need fed
You can cast bullets if need be
Reuse brass / anneal if necessary
Good luck cooking up primers if ammo/primers gets choked off
CCI 41 for 5.56
Get some and learn to feed your passion
Gub,while I agree reloading and materials a great thing feel folks while they can get cases delivered/picked up what have you for about 300 a 1000 rounds or less should stack and stash first,got that covered then move on and learn reloading ect.
James,
Re-loading will also be a strong barter skill/product for trade. My closest friend is a re-loader (I’m not) and I have tons of prep he is not putting away (I give up trying to convince him). I expect we will be doing some barter one day.
I buy a case of something every 6 months and wander into Wally World (always armed) twice a month. I have a standard rule, whenever and whatever I shoot I always replenish with MORE then I shot, so the stash is always increasing. I never violate that rule.
Im not saying buying a few lowers to build and calling it good is all you should be doing. I’m saying that these are the biggest thing that, in my opinion, is at risk of being banned, because thats the only part thats considered an “assault rifle” because thats the only part that is legally considered a firearm, has a serial number, etc. Obviously, yes, you should be doing all of those other things. The advice I’m giving is, right now, to go ahead and spend a little money and get those things squared away.
Reloading is for retirees and rednecks!
Just load fresh with 13 cent staked-primer Taiwan brass
AND BE DONE WITH IT
https://ammunitionstore.com/products/223-rem-primed-brass-wolf-performance-1000-piece-case.html
$262/1000 at SGAmmo. Clocks 3150 fps out of a 16″ barrel. Buy it already loaded for only another 13 cents.
I’ve been watching the gun and ammo market closely and it’s nothing like 2013, yet.
Certainly ammo and ammo components has not been this affordable in ages.
Complete AR rifles and pistols were closing at all-time-lows on GB for between $290 and $330 the last three months, but that may be creeping up a bit.
Don’t crap on these no-name rifles either, because even at this price point, they are known to fire 3 to 5k rounds or more before busting a part.
I agree about the need for UNLIMITED AMMUNITION too, which is now taxed, tracked, background checked, and the whole 9 yards in the worst Red Communist rackets in existence, Massachusetts and California.
Gun Grab ERPOs and Ammo Background Checks for President 2020!
.22,the reason we see these prices is simple,the market met the demand.I will say it makes me happy there was such a huge demand among citizensand a market that met it.
The kids all have .300blk pistols in their trunks.
I say good for them!