Which budget Anderson lower for my first PSA pistol build?

[Tallbald]

I'm posting a lot here on this build, my first, and a Palmetto State Armory 10.5 inch pistol. Prefer not to join another forum because I'm a long timer here and trust the variety of responses I receive. So bear with me please folks, as I learn things completely new to me--AR platform firearms.
There are a few lower cost Anderson lower receivers available locally. Up to $45 stripped.
One is the Anderson AM-15 for $45.
The other is the Anderson AR-15 for $40.
Please teach me what to look for and why. I read descriptions and honestly don't understand some of the slight differences. Thanks. Don.

 

[troy fairweather]

I'm posting a lot here on this build, my first, and a Palmetto State Armory 10.5 inch pistol. Prefer not to join another forum because I'm a long timer here and trust the variety of responses I receive. So bear with me please folks, as I learn things completely new to me--AR platform firearms.
There are a few lower cost Anderson lower receivers available locally. Up to $45 stripped.
One is the Anderson AM-15 for $45.
The other is the Anderson AR-15 for $40.
Please teach me what to look for and why. I read descriptions and honestly don't understand some of the slight differences. Thanks. Don.

the real only difference is the trigger guards one is closed witch means its part of the lower. the other is open the trigger guard is a removable but u have to buy one there less the $10 for one. most seam to get the open for more custom look. i am liking the closed more and more.

 

[JONWILL]

Honestly I would pass and get a Palmetto lower
I have had problems with 2 Anderson lowers recently. One had the bolt hold open plunger hole drilled undersize. Put it in and it stuck. I had to use a hacksaw blade to get it out. The other one didn’t have the hole for the grip screw threaded all the way through

 

[Elkins45]

When you buy a lower parts kit it will come with a trigger guard. If you buy the lower that has the integral trigger guard then you don’t have to install it.

Honestly the hinged trigger guard is a non issue for a sporting rifle. If it’s so cold my gloves are so thick I need to hinge open the trigger guard then I’m staying inside.

 

[GunnyUSMC]

Honestly I would pass and get a Palmetto lower
I have had problems with 2 Anderson lowers recently. One had the bolt hold open plunger hole drilled undersize. Put it in and it stuck. I had to use a hacksaw blade to get it out. The other one didn’t have the hole for the grip screw threaded all the way through

They have a lifetime warranty, send them back and they will replace them.

Like troy-fairweather said, the only difference is the trigger guard. There are lowers with many different names, but they are only made by a handful of manufacturers.. Anderson is the largest producer of AR lowers in the US. They build lowers for other companies that sell them for two to three times more then what Anderson sells them for. The Colt Expanse lowers were made by Anderson.
Here is the post where I built my last AR, it should help with some questions you may have.
https://www.thehighroad.org/index.php?threads/just-another-ar-build.839086/

I plan on doing a post on my next build that will be more detailed. I’m just waiting on the last part of the rifle.

 

[WestKentucky]

Get the integral trigger guard. It's easier and I have heard horror stories of broken bits when installing the pins. Of my lowers, only 1 has the integral trigger guard but I like the look, feel, and ease. Not possibly breaking the lower is a big plus, but you would have to be really goofing it up to break it.

 

[Skylerbone]

The AM-15 is, if I’m not mistaken, Anderson’s designation for Multi-Caliber. Checking the 5 receivers I have, both open and closed trigger guards are all marked “AM-15” but all are also marked “Multi Cal” (see pics 1 & 5 below).

I’m guessing, and only guessing “AR-15” is the designation for those marked “5.56 NATO” or some such. You’ll have to see them in the flesh to know which trigger guard you’re getting.

 

[Skylerbone]

Now to reply to the second part, look for what you want. I pinned the trigger guard in place on the above Anderson build with needle nose pliers and a small hammer followed by a punch. Take your time, put the guard in place while driving the pin (for extra support), and block up the other side for good measure. I dabbed mine in grease before starting them to ease the process a bit and it really was simple.

I’m still gonna like my Aero lower more but that’s no fault of Anderson as the little extras really do make a difference to me. Didn’t keep me from buying Anderson though and they will all be enjoyed.

 

[Chuck R.]

Get the integral trigger guard. It's easier and I have heard horror stories of broken bits when installing the pins. Of my lowers, only 1 has the integral trigger guard but I like the look, feel, and ease. Not possibly breaking the lower is a big plus, but you would have to be really goofing it up to break it.

Or you could just get this:

https://www.brownells.com/gunsmith-...-trigger-guard-roll-pin-pusher-prod55709.aspx

Broke down and bought it for my 1st build.........now I'm like the trigger guard roll pin guy at work. I've now done like 20 something trigger guards.

 

[GunnyUSMC]

Or you could just get this:

https://www.brownells.com/gunsmith-...-trigger-guard-roll-pin-pusher-prod55709.aspx

Broke down and bought it for my 1st build.........now I'm like the trigger guard roll pin guy at work. I've now done like 20 something trigger guards.

That’s a $40 tool to do a $2 job.

 

[WestKentucky]

Or you could just get this:

https://www.brownells.com/gunsmith-...-trigger-guard-roll-pin-pusher-prod55709.aspx

Broke down and bought it for my 1st build.........now I'm like the trigger guard roll pin guy at work. I've now done like 20 something trigger guards.

I can relate. I bought upper blocks and a staking tool. I now keep a little blue build box ready to go in the garage. I have owned 6 ARs and have built 5 of those. Counting my builds, my rebuilds, coworkers, friends, and family I’m guessing my tools have built close to 50 guns. My only request when the toolbox leaves the house is that it grows by one small tool. It has grown taps, Allen wrenches, a gigatic ziplock bag...

 

[TTv2]

Get the integral trigger guard. It's easier and I have heard horror stories of broken bits when installing the pins. Of my lowers, only 1 has the integral trigger guard but I like the look, feel, and ease. Not possibly breaking the lower is a big plus, but you would have to be really goofing it up to break it.

Fully agree, also the trigger bars themselves cost money and bring the price up to that of the closed ear lowers.

I have one closed lower and two open lowers and wish I had just bought all closed lowers.

 

[Chuck R.]

That’s a $40 tool to do a $2 job.

Yup, but next month I'm helping a friend put together a new AR for 3GUN, so with that I'll be down to something like $1.95 per trigger guard!

It's a lot quicker payoff than the $700 post hole digger I bought for my tractor that's now done 8 holes at $87.50 per hole......

I can relate. I bought upper blocks and a staking tool. I now keep a little blue build box ready to go in the garage. I have owned 6 ARs and have built 5 of those. Counting my builds, my rebuilds, coworkers, friends, and family I’m guessing my tools have built close to 50 guns. My only request when the toolbox leaves the house is that it grows by one small tool. It has grown taps, Allen wrenches, a gigatic ziplock bag...

Like you I've got an AR15 "Build/Maintenance" tool box, mines black. Tools are one of the things I don't mind spending money on, take care of them and they'll be passed on.....

I do like the idea of the "add a tool" build fee!

 

[boom boom]

That’s a $40 tool to do a $2 job.

He is making it up in volume!

 

[WestKentucky]

Yup, but next month I'm helping a friend put together a new AR for 3GUN, so with that I'll be down to something like $1.95 per trigger guard!

It's a lot quicker payoff than the $700 post hole digger I bought for my tractor that's now done 8 holes at $87.50 per hole......



Like you I've got an AR15 "Build/Maintenance" tool box, mines black. Tools are one of the things I don't mind spending money on, take care of them and they'll be passed on.....

I do like the idea of the "add a tool" build fee!

I have a decent supply of gutter nails I will never do anything with, the guy who has the box right now asked me if I had a roll pin starter punch set... no, but he has a lathe so he is going to face off and counter bore some of those gutter nails and I will have starter punches when the set comes back home.

 

[boom boom]

I have a decent supply of gutter nails I will never do anything with, the guy who has the box right now asked me if I had a roll pin starter punch set... no, but he has a lathe so he is going to face off some of those gutter nails and I will have starter punches when the set comes back home.

In a pinch, regular nails can be used both as starter punches or can be made to serve as bubba replacement pins in an emergency if you don't have drill stock or something like that.

For me, the best roll pin starters are those like Squirrel Hollow or some such that have cupped ends to prevent the roll pin from spreading when putting it in place. The dimpled ones are ok but you have to be careful starting with those as the steel on a lot of these roll pins is really soft. Brass and steel starter punches each have their place along with a bit of very light lube. Sometimes if you are careful with padding the jaws, you can use vises to slowly push pins in using those hollow tipped starter punches or certain wrenches in a pinch. Be especially careful of those spiral pins used as replacements for roll pins. If you remove a roll pin, it is also generally wise to simply replace it rather than reuse it as well.

 

[GunnyUSMC]

A set of roll pins and roll pin starter punches is the best tools to start off with for someone wanting to build an AR.

 

[Chuck R.]

A set of roll pins and roll pin starter punches is the best tools to start off with for someone wanting to build an AR.

When I started messing with HKs I bought a couple sets of Grace punches; short & long roll pin punches and a set of starter punches. Well worth the money....no more screwing up the ends of roll pins.

 

[giggitygiggity]

I like the Anderson closed ear trigger guard models more I have both open and closed Anderson lowers. Both are AM-15 and both types are labeled as multi-caliber. The quality of the Anderson lowers are on par with the lowers of other plain Jane AR makes that I own (Bushmaster, Colt, RRA, S&W). I bought three Anderson closed ear lowers for $30 each plus about $9 shipping from Primary Arms about a month and a half ago. With an FFL transfer fee, I got three lowers for about $117 out the door ($39 each). Primary Arms runs deals where you can buy either type of Anderson lower for $30 plus shipping. Usually, they limit purchases to 3 per household. I like to buy the max number to spread load the shipping and FFL transfer costs.

 

[GunnyUSMC]

Yup, but next month I'm helping a friend put together a new AR for 3GUN, so with that I'll be down to something like $1.95 per trigger guard!

It's a lot quicker payoff than the $700 post hole digger I bought for my tractor that's now done 8 holes at $87.50 per hole......



Like you I've got an AR15 "Build/Maintenance" tool box, mines black. Tools are one of the things I don't mind spending money on, take care of them and they'll be passed on.....

I do like the idea of the "add a tool" build fee!

My punch set has paid for itself several times. Now if I had the tool, I would use it.

 

[Mosin Bubba]

Depends how handy you are with a pin punch, I guess. I'd personally go with the solid trigger guard and not risk hammering the ears off, but if you know what you're doing, that should be a non-issue

 

[Chuck R.]

Guys,

Since this has already wandered off into AR15 build tools, what if anything are you guys using for a dimple jig???

I figure my next build I'll have to dimple the barrel myself so I'm looking at getting one of these:

https://slrrifleworks.com/index.php?route=product/product&product_id=579

Thoughts??

I'm also adopting WestKentucky's idea and getting the next guy I help build to pony up for it....maybe.