Thinking about getting this lower

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Big_E

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One of the local sporting goods stores is having a sale and they have A LOT of these BMG Raptor AR Lowers

http://bmgtactical.com/storefront/i...ducts_id=519&zenid=qbejc8h4nq28tm43ml2e1048i6

My grandma lives pretty close to Bend, OR. So that is one of the selling points for me. Is the material and process they use really that much better than the other lowers? It is hard for me to justify spending $165 whereas a nice Charles Daly or CMMG goes for about $130. Are the BMG lowers really worth that much more?
 
You'll probably get various opinions, but from what I've gathered from most people most stripped AR15 lowers are about as good as any other. FWIW, when I built mine I used a Stag that I got for $135 at a gunshow and it has worked fine.
 
Billet Receivers are always more. Metallurgist seem to feel that forging is stronger than billet receivers however i am no expert so I don't personally know.
 
Ok, I was wondering about that because somewhere on here I've heard the saying, "A lower is a lower." I figure the normal lowers are built strong enough and that it is the uppers that matter more.

If the lower was built in my hometown then I would probably buy it in a heartbeat but I have been to Bend once so its not that important. The site does brag about tighter tolerances over others but is it just a sales pitch??

They also have POF's that are going for $225-300! What makes the POF lowers so much more? Name?
 
Ok, I was wondering about that because somewhere on here I've heard the saying, "A lower is a lower." I figure the normal lowers are built strong enough and that it is the uppers that matter more.
Click to expand...

I agree with that statement. A lower is a lower...as long as it's built to correct specs. I've seen a couple that have had issues like holes drilled incorrectly, but that's about it. That's a QC issue and not a material issue. I'd buy a Stag for $125 or so and spend the extra money on a better upper or accessory.

If you really want a billet one for some reason, you can get a Mega or a Sun Devil for $175.
 
the POFs MAY have ambi controls.. dunno

"A lower is a lower."
Click to expand...

a better way to say this is "99% of the lowers out there are good enough." some are better, but lowers are rarely the cause of malfunctions. if they're machined wrong, you know right away when you put it together. occasionally, you'll have a tight magwell and pmags wont drop free. other than that, they're mostly good enough.

some do special things to them, like add tensioning screws (debatable whether this is a pro/con), ambi controls, different trigger guards, magwell flair, etc. some add features to the trigger pin holes. others engrave for free.

at a given thickness, forged is stronger than billet. but many billet receivers are extra thick. so they may well be stronger/stiffer/heavier

imho, the best lower on the planet is Knight's. The coolest is magpul's china doll one. The best value is essential arms or tactical innovations (though the latter is not the fastest shipper in the world). The most ridiculously priced is noveske's (which usually goes for $400+ and as far as I know, the only difference between it and the essential is the logo.)
 
Billets are supposed to be more dimensionally accurate. However dimensional accuracy is only as good as the machinist. You shouldn't have problems if your lower is within specs, billet or forged.
If you really want a billet one for some reason, you can get a Mega or a Sun Devil for $175.
Click to expand...
I have a sun devil lower and have no complaints. Parts fit pretty good. I got lucky and my Sabre defence upper fits perfectly on my lower. Pins run in and out like butter.
 
atomd, afaik, you can get TI direct for $1 less (that's $109 for the mathematically challenged) (though rainier would likely ship 3-5 days faster, so it may be worth the buck), essential are still $100 even (though I bought some as recently as 2 yrs ago for $74 and $86 just days after the election)

i don't think they ever sold any china doll ones, though i did buy one of the 50 they sold through noveske

don't think i've seen the tom sawyer one. got a link?
 
Tom Sawyer has been out of business for a while, but I always wanted one of those lowers. I shoulda bought one when I had the chance. Here are some pics I dug up of it (not my pics).

m4-pirate-receiver1.jpg

m4-pirate-selector1.jpg
 
Well ! I don't have anything to add to what people have told you. But I did want to comment on the Tom Sawyer Lower... That's pretty cool. Maybe I will produce a lower with any picture a customer wants on it.

Well maybe not "anything." I don't think I would put a picture of another lower on it. :scrutiny:
 
Alright thanks for the input. I think I will go with the CD. I like the finish on it better than the CMMG and I heard that CD's are really nice.

This is good because I don't want to fork over the money for a complete AR and can slowly work on it as I get sufficient funds.
** Oh and that Jolly Roger fire control made me lol.
 
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