Simple question: I'm looking for high quality lower for 223 and for 308. Recommendations appreciated.

My last two were ‘Spikes’, worked out fine, 223.

It seems there’s a fair amount of relabeling going on, a few make them, then many etch their name on them.

I have both Spike's & Anderson lowers - all have the integrated trigger guard and to be honest my Andersons actually have cleaner roll marks and the finish was better even though they cost half of the Spike's. Some of the other lower brands: Mega, Aero have some features like an adjustment "screw" that tightens the upper & lower fit, ambi controls, using a screw instead of a standard roll pin for the bolt catch.

I have used Aero Precision on my last two 223/5.56 builds and have been more than pleased.

I also have a matched factory Gray Spikes stripped upper/lower waiting for a build. It looks good also.

Regardless of the brand, check magazine fit before building.

I had an Aero lower that was tight as hell with PMAGs and straight 20rd aluminum mags. To the point you couldn't use them.

AP made it right, but it would have saved some time and frustration if I had checked earlier.

I have a Spikes and had a couple Anderson lowers. The Anderson lowers were both out of spec in a few areas-bolt catch area was too small,grip screw threads weren't threaded all the way up,( the other was barely threaded) and the bolt catch pin hole was drilled uneven/canted. I am handy enough to fix the issues with the Anderson lowers but right now I would pay a little more for a quality lower in order to bypass any issues. Spikes,RRA, Sig (if you can find them), are the ones I would start a build on.

I have an Aero Precision lower receiver and it's very nice. I have five Anderson Manufacturering lower receivers and all perfect. I have four Rock River Arms lower receivers and they too are in spec., I have an old forged Olympic Arms lower receiver and a cast Essential Arms lower.

The Olympic Arms has a slightly tight magazine well, that doesn't play well with some MagPul magazines, as in they just don't fall out, but a small shake and the magazines clear fine.

I have never had a problem with my Anderson Manufacturering lower receivers, and I have a couple of friends that have a couple of them and likewise, but I know that there are reported problems, so there's that.

My Aero Precision lower receiver was probably the best bang for the buck, I picked it up for $65.00. it is very well made and finished. So I'm happy with that.

That said, they are all pretty much the same if they are in spec., and better known lowers will most likely be in spec., though I have seen even top end one get out the door with problems.

All my Anderson Manufacturering lower receivers we're bought locally and I looked them over well before I purchased them. I was so confident in one of my Anderson Manufacturering lower receivers that I SBR'ed it.

As for AR 10 lowers, well. I can't say, I have never delved into that platform. I would like to have an AR 10 one day, but I have never really been serious about it, so I have never looked into what's out there.


ARman

Do not discount PSA.

I've had no problem with Spikes either. The 308 came as a set and they are extremely tight.



The 308's receivers aren't standardized yet like the AR15, so whatever company you go with for that lower, be sure and get their upper receiver too. At one time I had 4 different brands and none would interchange.

My SOT prefers YHM and Novesky but for a budget build likes Anderson ...

For simple forged lowers, Aero Precision, then Anderson if you cannot afford Aero.

I prefer the fit and finish on Aeros, and I like how they include the tensioning screw for the back receiver lug.

Also, it would seem that Aero Precision makes the least expensive full-ambi lower, if full-Ambi controls are a consideration.

All of my New Frontier Armory lowers are good. I had one, years ago, that had a sloppy magazine well. They have since changed how they have them finish machined. They swapped out the sloppy one, no questions asked.

Bruce

My Mega forged lower is my favorite but I don't know if you can still get them anymore.

Uncertain of your definition of "high quality" and your budget.

IMO a matched upper and lower helps to make an AR-15 more accurate, but this isn't absolutely necessary. I have good uppers and lowers of different brands -- swapping them among each other doesn't affect accuracy or cycling. This probably means that the manufacturing tolerances are very tight among the units.

As stated in an earlier post here, AR-10 uppers and lowers really should be of the same brand. You may be able to mix upper/lower brands and have an accurate and functioning AR-10, or maybe not.

My AR-15 lowers are Wilson Combat, SI Defense, and Rock River. My AR-10 lower is Black Rain. And no, these lowers are not cheap. I recommend determining your budget before buying lowers -- not only for the lowers themselves, but the entire rifles.

As others have said, aero and anderson are both good choices. I have had great results with palmetto state armory as well.

quote:

Originally posted by motoboy:
I have used Aero Precision on my last two 223/5.56 builds and have been more than pleased.

same. $60 for an Aero.

My first couple lowers were Spikes, last few I have bought were Aero both have been great. I wish I had bought more Aeros when I found a good deal this last time.

My favorite lowers are my Sun Devils, but in these days of lowers on sale for $45, nobody wants to pay $190 for a lower.

11 forged Lowers & 1 Billet from different companies and zero issues.
There was some reall garbage put out by a few companies during the panic but I've been lucky to not have experienced any of that.

quote:

Originally posted by fritz:
Uncertain of your definition of "high quality" and your budget.

...

Pistols in the household include S&W 41's, 52, Sig 228, 229, 210, Browning HP, H&K P7's. So I'm not looking to skimp.

The budget can afford quality ... just NOT crying over junk.

Somehow I'm assuming Geissele has some decent triggers --- don't know if this is a bad assumption.

quote:

Originally posted by old rugged cross:
Do not discount PSA.

+1

Myself and a few friends, have had success with PSA products.