Have an opportunity to pick up a spikes lower for around 90 bucks from a buddy of mine who ordered 2 to get a discount. What are y'alls thoughts. Does it really matter what lower I use so long as I get a solid upper?

I have two spikes lowers and love them. They're top quality in my book and you can't go wrong. I have had problems with PSA before, but you will never have any problems with a spikes. Buy it while you can.

You buy em stripped or completed. Btw talked to you earlier. Just asked my room mate what he thought and he knew a guy getting a couple

The rollmark looks kinda like 2 dicks fighting, but other than that they're fine.

I always buy them stripped--much cheaper and you pick the parts you want. I'll help you build it out.

Two dicks fighting? Always looked like a face to me. I guess that spider should be on an ink blot test.



[This message has been edited by artifact_collector101010 (edited 3/22/2012 12:03a).]

Lower manfacturer really doesn't matter as long as it is forged aluminum. Most of them are produced and finish machined by only four companies, and then they put the rollmark of the final vendor on it.

I've built on RRA, Spike's, DPMS, High Standard, Double Star, LRB, McKay, and NoDak Spud with no problems.

[This message has been edited by Log (edited 3/22/2012 12:54a).]

Someone of barfcom posted it, now it can't be unseen.

And you have proof otherwise............???

Sure, there are a few small places out there that do their own (Nodak, McKay), but the vast majority that are available are still machined by the Big 4. If nothing else, look at the rollmarks on the lowers. Early Doublestars were done by one of the Big 4, then they started procuring them from another of the Big 4 at a later date. The rollmark changed, and the font and spacing on the receivers from each era match up with what each of the Big 4 that produced it. I've got one of the early DS receivers, and I built one for a friend on one of the later DS receivers. Same thing with and early RRA I built for myself and a later one I built for a friend.

Billet machined lowers aren't included.

Log- who was that post directed towards?

I don't see anyone disagreeing with you.

Now that I reread it, I realize you were referring to the sword fight.

I thought you were taking exception to this:

http://www.ar15.com/forums/t_3_12/318113_AR_Lower_Receiver_FAQ__56k_beware__MMS__CMT__LAR__LMT_compared___.html

My bad.

No worries.

I'm in agreement on the lower thing. Doesn't matter, just choose one with a rollmark you like.

quote:

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Now that I reread it, I realize you were referring to the sword fight.

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You struggle with synthesizing and understanding information that is presented to you? You are definitely ready to move from engineering into the MBA world.

Just think of NRH's second post as a dangling participle that gives two meanings to a sentence, depending on how how you read it.

--------> Off to take the GMAT in an hour.

damn, I'm not going to be able to look at that spikes logo the same again after seeing that picture with those parts highlighted...

I will say that I got some PSA lowers and each was different. On one, the grip tang was out of spec and I had to hammer the magpul MOE grip on...the other had a trigger guard roll pin hole that was way too small...

The Spikes and PSA lowers I have drop pmags free as well, while my PWS lower does not drop them free (have to use an emag to get the same results). I have tried Noveske and Colt lowers and they also drop them free.

It won't make a gigantic difference which one you buy, but if you want a flared magwell to drop mags free or if the finish matters, then that's something to consider.

Also, the PWS buffer tubes will not index properly on Spikes lowers and I had to sand down the end plates to get them indexed perfectly, where as they indexed Perfect on the PSA lowers.

There are definitely differences among lowers--they are subtle though and unless you're completely OCD or assemble a lot to know the differences, you probably won't notice all that much.

[This message has been edited by artifact_collector101010 (edited 3/22/2012 10:00a).]

[This message has been edited by artifact_collector101010 (edited 3/22/2012 10:01a).]

quote:

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I will say that I got some PSA lowers and each was different. On one, the grip tang was out of spec and I had to hammer the magpul MOE grip on...the other had a trigger guard roll pin hole that was way too small...

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For a while, PSA had both high and low shelf lowers. I know Aero was making many of them under a variance. Aero also makes Spikes lowers. IDK who is making PSA's now.

It's hard to go wrong with a lower since as mentioned, they're all made by 4-5 primary companies. It's all about the roll mark you like the best.