ar15 lower and more info needed

[hdgirl1340]

I havent been on this board for quite sometime but thought i would check things out since all the big scare has been coming down. I also have been thinking of getting an AR15. Actually i thought about getting one quite a long time ago but got into handguns instead. I'm new to the AR15 and need all the info i can get because i was thinking of getting one. I keep running across them at MFF but am hesitant to buy. They had 3 korstag uppers yesterday at brooklyn park and i had the opportunity to buy one but then i thought hmmmm what if i can't get a lower and mags or even ammo? They also had a full one down in carver for something like $1100, it was also korstag. Then i talked to one of the sales guys and he said wait till you can find a base model and work from there or just wait till all the heat dies down and prices will come down. I then decided to surf around and see what lowers were available and if mags were avail. I found a guy that has a lower with 3 pmags. for $550 so realistically what should i be paying for a lower? Should i piece one together? or just keep looking for an already built one? Or stick with handguns! LOL also as i'm thinking of it, gas operated or piston? Any help or advice would be greatly appreciated. Thanks

[FJ540]

These prices are all based on reputable manufacturer's regular pricing. No import or hesse crap, and no super sales or blem pricing.

Stripped lower = 120-250 depending what you get (some are were more expensive before the insanity). Only talking about forged aluminum here. Plastic lowers sold for as low as $40, and you can get compete plastic lowers ready to slap on and shoot for $100 (there was and might be another group buy to get them even less).
Lower parts kit = 50-100 also depending what you get. Add more if you get a nicer trigger with the kit.
Stock kit (includes buffer, spring, and receiver extension) = 50-100 give or take, again there's some options which bump things up from there.

So lets do the math: 220 for a bare bones aluminum, or 450 for pimped out forged aluminum, or that same 100 bones for a plastic one complete.

Your Korstog upper is a good unit from what I saw of the one I looked at last night. If you hold out, you'll be able to assemble the rest of your gun for around the $850 mark with decent stuff.

[tenmilmag]

Ah, there are lowers and uppers available in the FIREARMS forum. Sure them fellows would love some action.

[hdgirl1340]

Thanks for the info! i really appreciate it. It would be a real challenge for me to build my own AR. It sounds like a lot of fun. Sorta like customizing a harley davidson. I have the opportunity to buy a complete ardel engineering lower with 3 30 rd pmags 1 20 rd pmag for $500 does that sound unreasonable? It was put together with dpms parts. It sounds like it's brand new. Again anyones help is greatly appreciated!!

[ArtVandelay]

I guess the real question is what's your budget? Parts kits are a little harder to find now for stripped lowers and "fair" pricing right now is really in the eye of the buyer. I would just keep checking the firearms forum for a reasonable complete AR.

[AFTERMATH]

Thanks for the info! i really appreciate it. It would be a real challenge for me to build my own AR. It sounds like a lot of fun. Sorta like customizing a harley davidson. I have the opportunity to buy a complete ardel engineering lower with 3 30 rd pmags 1 20 rd pmag for $500 does that sound unreasonable? It was put together with dpms parts. It sounds like it's brand new. Again anyones help is greatly appreciated!!

If it's just the standard dpms parts, that entire package would have probably cost you around $300, in November. So the question is whether or not a $200 premium, given the current hysteria, is reasonable to you. I just built a del-ton lower with magpul/psa parts and it came in at $220 all together. So, to me $500 for a basic lower assembly, seems pretty unreasonable. I wouldn't pay it. But if I didn't have a defensive rifle/carbine already, I'd probably bite, given the current times and circumstance.

In this market though, you are probably better off holding out for a complete rifle, even if it costs you about a grand.
Daniel Defense appears to be still taking orders but to avoid extreme back-ups they're only accepting what they can fill within a certain time period. It seems they re-evaluate this every 24 hours so, if you hit their website at the right time you can get it. I believe it's around midnight. They're not the cheapest on the block, but they never have been and they're a reputable company. Granted, if you buy a complete rifle you won't get the fun of building one. But you could always completely disassemble and reassemble a complete rifle.

[hdgirl1340]

Again i appreciate the help! The decision has been made. Someone else bought the lower so i don't have to worry about it. lol It's nice to know what prices were a few months ago. I've been told by a couple old timers to just wait it out but i guess i get worried about what might happen like everyone else. As far as what my price range would be, I'm more worried about getting raked over the coals and paying to much. It still sounds fun building a custom one. It does seem like a few years ago you could get into a AR for under $1000. I thought of getting one a couple years ago but then got more into handguns. If anyone knows of someone wanting to get rid of a lower or a whole rifle send em my way! Thanks again.

[AFTERMATH]

Well, if you don't mind waiting and want to start from the bottom up, this seems like a decent deal: viewtopic.php?f=27&t=38391#p420757
While you're waiting you can piece together the rest as it becomes available.

[FJ540]

Delta 3 Tactical is still taking orders for Noveske N4 Gen2 lowers for $245.

[hdgirl1340]

Ok Problem solved! I went to Mills Fleet Farm and they had a Korstog ar ...the whole thing. I hymmm'ed and haww'ed and finally decided to get it. I was a bit hesitant because the guy was telling me it was direct impingement rather than gas operated and that it would be dirtier and harder to clean. Any thoughts on this? Not knowing anything about these and being more of a handgun gal i'm wondering what do i do with this thing now?? LOL It does look like you can put a lot of custom stuff on these and really personalize them which looks like fun! Oh one thing it didnt have was a rear site. Any thoughts on what i could possibly do for a not so expensive rear site? the model i got is called korstog brann

[FJ540]

What you got is a good gun. I don't like the piston guns, not that they're bad, they're just not for me - so you bought the right one in my opinion.

What do you want to do with it? That's the real question. Will you be shooting competitions, plinking pop bottles and milk jugs, prairie dogs, strictly paper punching? All of that effects what kind of sighting device you want (optics or iron sights).

[Snowgun]

Ok Problem solved! I went to Mills Fleet Farm and they had a Korstog ar ...the whole thing. I hymmm'ed and haww'ed and finally decided to get it. I was a bit hesitant because the guy was telling me it was direct impingement rather than gas operated and that it would be dirtier and harder to clean. Any thoughts on this? Not knowing anything about these and being more of a handgun gal i'm wondering what do i do with this thing now?? LOL It does look like you can put a lot of custom stuff on these and really personalize them which looks like fun! Oh one thing it didnt have was a rear site. Any thoughts on what i could possibly do for a not so expensive rear site? the model i got is called korstog brann

Piston = able to take more abuse / less accurate
Direct impingement = more accurate / gets dirty

Here is the deal. Are you going to be running around in a dirty place shooting thousands of rounds before you clean your gun? I"m gonna say no. Piston tech was built for hard use/battle conditions.

Cleaning your gun is a wonderful experience, it's a zen like action where you learn the parts of your tool and bring it up to peak operating conditioning. All the parts get shiny and are nicely lubricated, the mechanism slides easily. If you learn how and make sure you clean your gun regularly (I do it every time I shoot I like it so much, but you can go 200-500 rnds easily depending on how slicked up your parts are and how dirty your ammo is).

So short story is don't worry about it and enjoy!

[grousemaster]

Thanks for the info! i really appreciate it. It would be a real challenge for me to build my own AR. It sounds like a lot of fun. Sorta like customizing a harley davidson. I have the opportunity to buy a complete ardel engineering lower with 3 30 rd pmags 1 20 rd pmag for $500 does that sound unreasonable? It was put together with dpms parts. It sounds like it's brand new. Again anyones help is greatly appreciated!!

That's pricey. I have some Aero lowers with build kits I'm selling for $350....and yes I'm still making profit.

[AFTERMATH]

Don't fuss the cleaning/reliability.
DI is reliable and battle proven - It's the system the rifle was designed around.
If you use standard quality ammo, you ought to be able to fire thousands of rounds without cleaning. Not that you'd necessarily want to - As snowgun said, it's Zen.

I've had mine up near 2000rds with no cleaning/lube. The only malfunction I ever had was magazine related, and that was with a thermold mag. Some would say that's to be expected...

Magpul MBUS is a cheaper option for a folding rear sight. That or you could go with a detachable carry handle. Generally, they're pretty affordable and good quality. I'd avoid UTG/leapers, though they do work. Mine was just a little sloppy for my liking.