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  • CodyK

    Well-Known
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    2   0   0
    Sep 5, 2019
    1,324
    96
    Houston
    Ordered an AR lower parts kit and I’m gonna give building a lower a try. But looking at uppers has me a little confused. My local store has an Anderson (I think) for $45 and they have the Spikes Tactical for $99. Are the Spikes a better made product? I would think a forged mil. spec lower is a forged mil. spec lower.


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    SQLGeek

    Muh state lines
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    4   0   0
    Sep 22, 2017
    9,591
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    Richmond
    The difference in price is usually in the machining and QC. There have been several instances reported online of Anderson lowers being out of spec in various ways.

    Also lots of anecdotes of them being fine.

    As long as you end up with one in spec, it should be fine. And many seem to.

    Spikes tends to be more expensive in general. Unless they have a particular roll mark mark you want, it's probably not worth spending the premium for one of their forged lowers.
     

    DyeF9

    In Thrust We Trust
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    1   0   0
    Jan 25, 2019
    2,407
    96
    Red Oak TX
    I've also been looking to do my first AR build. Is Aero Precision fairly decent? Or should I just couch up the money and buy BCM?

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    Big Green

    In Christ Alone
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    5   0   0
    Mar 5, 2018
    4,641
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    College Station
    I've also been looking to do my first AR build. Is Aero Precision fairly decent? Or should I just couch up the money and buy BCM?

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    The Aero Precision M4E set is one of the nicest on the market. Several little things that make it easier to build and it looks really nice. Looks like billet but at a forged price.

    Get a good LPK, middle of the road trigger, decent barrel and go have fun. After that you’ll figure out what you really want. And you can put it all on the same receiver set it but another and start again from scratch. I’m telling ‘ya, they’re addictive.
     

    Geezer

    Mostly Peaceful
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    13   0   0
    Jul 23, 2019
    5,221
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    Silsbee, Texas
    Someone will probably try to tell me that I'm wrong but, the purpose of the lower is just to hold other parts in place. A slicker finish, snazzy roll markings, cool or funny selector markings all mean nothing for function. If in spec, a PSA, Anderson, Del-Ton lowers will get the job done just as well as some of the designer lowers.
     

    Dawico

    Uncoiled
    Lifetime Member
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    14   0   0
    Oct 15, 2009
    38,009
    96
    Lampasas, Texas
    As stated, fit and finish are going to be the biggest differences between a cheap lower and a more expensive one.

    What name is on it does make a difference to some people but I am not one of them.

    On the low end Aero seems to have very consistent quality though.
     

    Southpaw

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    14   0   0
    Mar 30, 2009
    17,862
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    Guadalupe Co.
    As stated, fit and finish are going to be the biggest differences between a cheap lower and a more expensive one.

    What name is on it does make a difference to some people but I am not one of them.

    On the low end Aero seems to have very consistent quality though.

    I agree. I have my share of Anderson stuff and have no complaints but for the price right now, I think Aero is the way to go.

    Question for the OP though.....

    Is this your first AR or is this just your first assembly of one?
     

    grumper

    TGT Addict
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    0   0   0
    Jul 5, 2012
    2,993
    96
    Austin
    There are no milspec lowers that ordinary people can buy and take home the same day. (Autosear pocket milled out, sear axis pin hole drilled, i.e. a machinegun)

    So dont fret over 'milspec' because they aren't. As long as all the other holes are drilled in the right place and other measurements correct it's pretty much just personal preference. Pick the rollmark or other features you like to have.

    That said there are/were a few manufacturers with piss poor QA that let pieces of garbage out the door that you could never install an in-spec upper on without grinding.

    Never had any issues with DPMS, Doublestar, McKay, or Colt lowers.
     
    Last edited:

    Dad_Roman

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    1   0   0
    Apr 1, 2018
    6,301
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    Teague
    As stated, fit and finish are going to be the biggest differences between a cheap lower and a more expensive one.

    What name is on it does make a difference to some people but I am not one of them.

    On the low end Aero seems to have very consistent quality though.
    Likewise.

    Like Dawico says, fit and finish, or a name. After you build a few you learn the tricks to adjust and how to solve problems that might be encountered or to how to clean up std mil-spec parts. This is more obvious in triggers. 10 dollar set from PSA? Yea it will work but its gonna be rough. You buy a LaRue or Giessele trigger for fit and finish. Kinda the same with uppers and lowers though not as dramatic. I like to have around 250-350 in a rifle but I spend a bit of time on internals and shop the sales with Southpaw....thats just me. Easy to spend up to 1500 or better on one if thats what you prefer.

    .
     

    Dad_Roman

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    Apr 1, 2018
    6,301
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    Teague
    Your in Houston. Buy one at Primary, 30 bucks today, they'll hold it till you pick it up. A smidge of tax and no freight and no transfer fee.

    Cheap lower parts kit and cheap lower, definitely the thing to learn on.

    Easy peasy.
     

    zackmars

    Free 1911 refinishing
    Rating - 0%
    0   0   0
    Nov 4, 2015
    5,609
    96
    Texas
    andersons are ok, but the finishing on them isn't so great, like the hole for the bolt catch roll pin might not be cut all the way through, the front of the mag well is a rather sharp edge... stuff that is either easy to fix, or doesn't matter. some magwells can be tight, and might not play well with polymer mags, but that's not unique to Anderson.
     
    Every Day Man
    Tyrant

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