Looking to build a 9mm AR pistol for the misses, she shoots ARs better than normal pistols so I figured it made sense to have one for her in 9mm. Currently my 11.5" sbr with a AAC 7.62 is our main HD weapon.

The glock lower makes sense as I have a shit ton glock mags in 9mm but.....and it sounds silly, I prefer the looks of the colt lowers.
Opinions......any issues with either?

Also who do we like for colt pattern mags?

If you’re stocked in GLOCK mags I’d go that route. You’ll want some of the 30+ rounders just cause. I went with a Colt pattern CMMG and it’s been great. The Brownells brand 32 round mags are what I’ve used. The main drawback to the Colt pattern is the mags are a PITA to load, get a Maglula if you go that route. And the mags can be more expensive if you can’t wait for deals.

I agree with you, the Colt pattern does look better. That being said I went Glock just to keep it simple as I already owned a bunch of Glock 9mm mags.

Colt !

You'll get to look at more than you'll get shoot it.

I have a Colt and really have no regrets - but at the time I wasn't carrying Glocks, so if I was to buy it now I might go that way, assuming they have all the bolt hold open issues worked out.

My DDLES lower / YMH SBR upper has been a peach, about 1500 rds through it, all suppressed - it's like a paintball gun and reliable.

Colt. No contest.

As I read this thread it again lights the fire that makes me wanting to take one of my multi-caliber AR registered SBR lowers and put together a 9mm AR. Two questions please to this knowledagble group.

1- what is the difference between a top drop in vs.a bottom insert unit?

2- What is the most reliable brand for the dedicated conversion block?

Thanks.....Mark

Another vote for the Colt, just because it looks better.

Go Colt!

Having a stockpile of Glock magazines I went that route. Used all PSA and she runs like a top!

quote:

Originally posted by sigarmsp226:
As I read this thread it again lights the fire that makes me wanting to take one of my multi-caliber AR registered SBR lowers and put together a 9mm AR. Two questions please to this knowledagble group.

1- what is the difference between a top drop in vs.a bottom insert unit?

2- What is the most reliable brand for the dedicated conversion block?

Thanks.....Mark

Buy a dedicated lower! I bought a block with the same thoughts as you.
I now have a dedicated lower because it was more of a hassle than it was worth to pull the block.

But to the original question I prefer the Colt.

Glock. Easy to extend for high capacity. I'm running a glock 33 round mag with a Taylor freelance +10...mag holds 41 rounds and perfect reliability.

I went CMMG Colt dedicated. The mags can be had at decent prices if you watch and wait. Zero problems.

+2 on the CMMG dedicated lower. No anchor pins and drilling of holes nor do you have to slide in from the top and hope everything lines up.

I have a PSA Glock mag dedicated lower with a PSA 16" 9mm upper. My son, FIL, BIL, and I put about 400 rounds though it this weekend...nasty, dirty lead reloads...and it shot them all with only one single hickup (a light strike on one round that fired when I cycled it back through the gun).

The Glock lower is pretty nice. Mags fit well and drop free, including the cheap magpul Glock mags. The mag release is a little less positive than I'd like, and it can be kinda hard to seat a full mag, but I think that's more a mag issues than anything.

I got mine on clearance, and it is one of the models that does not include a last round bolt hold open capability, but I think they offer one now that does, if that's important to you. I put mine together as a cheap range toy, so I figured I could live without that. For under $450 delivered, I've been very happy with it.

I built mine Colt style. Mags can be had for $20 or less.

I have an MPX as well. I shoot the 9mm AR SBR more.

Both suppressed of course.

Colt 6991 9mm factory SBRs are about $1100. That’s what I would buy if I was in the market for a AR/9.

Colt ...Looks better and less problems. Both can be reliable but I see more guys have trouble getting the Glock mag version working reliable if the build it, but usually in the end both work.

Even though I have Glocks I went Colt for looks and trouble free out the box for my SBR build. Built it as a pistol and ran about 1500 rounds thru it before the form 1 was approved and another 3000 since with no problems. Plus like someone above said you can get 32 round mags for $20.

I went Colt, twice. Dedicated PSA lowers both times. Only issue I had was the PSA lower and my Rainier upper didn't play well together. Worked great with q stripped Aero I had on the shelf.
PSA was selling colt mags for $12.99 with free shipping on 10 plus for a while. They can be had cheap if you are willing to wait.

Rather than fiddling around building something I would just get a Colt sbr right out of the gate and be done