AR-15 companies - who knows?

[cashflyer]

On another forum, I read that there are only "about 5" companies who manufacture AR-15 parts, and that all other names are just private label brands.

I went to my local Palmetto State Armory location, and the clerk confirmed that they obtain their lowers from somebody else but he would not say who. He also confirmed that their barrels are made for them by FN.

I have built on Rock River lowers, Spikes lowers, and PSA lowers. All seem just fine. But now I'm wondering who makes each brand. I mean, is there a reason I should pay $190 for a DPMS lower when I can get a PSA lower for $90?

[id10t]

I know Stag was providing for S&W a while back...

[cashflyer]

The guy at the store told me that even Colt buys a lot of stuff from subcontractors.
I would have thought that at least Colt would be making their own stuff!

Next somebody will tell me Armalite does not make their own stuff.

[HHI944]

I'm pretty sure Arma lite uses sourced receivers as well.
PSA has it go on. .. I've never had a problem with any of their components and the price is great.

Even noveske get barrel blanks in then finishes, rifles and reams them... I think their barrels are fn blanks

[targa911S]

They are all pretty much made by a couple of suppliers. They are all mil spec so they source only a few manufacturers.

[fred cook]

There are a lot of upper and lower receiver manufacturers, but only a couple that make the bolts and bolt carriers. I bought a civilianized Colt A2 a few years ago and discovered that the replacement lower receiver was made by the same company that makes them for Remington. The trigger assembly was also replaced and the bolt carrier milled to civilian specs. Every thing else is pure Colt A2.

[nynor]

there are symbols on the side of the parts that will tell you where the part came from:

https://www.ar15.com/archive/topic.html?b=3&f=118&t=535160

[cashflyer]

Thanks nynor... I'm going to check my builds now and see what I have!

But basically, from that link and a few follow ons, I see that there is very little in the way of differences other than the brand name they are marked with. Following what targa911s said, being milspec, any reputable brand should be as good as any other. In other words, the DPMS lower is not really worth $100 more than a PSA lower.

[nynor]

its quite possible that both lowers came from the same company.

i have been nothing but happy with my PSA spoon. good fit, finish, etc.

[HardDrive]

Go buy a bicycle. Very small number of companies involved with 95% of the bikes out there.

[SilberUrS6]

Originally Posted by HardDrive

Go buy a bicycle. Very small number of companies involved with 95% of the bikes out there.

Yup.

But in that 5%, wow, there is a LOT of choice on builds and styles and materials, and sizing...

I was thinking the other day about getting a piston upper. I start poking around the interwebz and found some interesting stuff that I didn't know.

I don't know if I'm actually going to buy a piston upper now, but I think I want a 6.8 now. LOL.

[cashflyer]

I have a friend with a 6.8 and he swears it's the bees knees.

Originally Posted by nynor

its quite possible that both lowers came from the same company. i have been nothing but happy with my PSA spoon. good fit, finish, etc.

That is sort of why I started asking the question; I have built on 3 different brands and have not had any problems and have not really seen any differences. This led me to wonder why the prices are all over the place between companies. It's not like they are only "similar". No, they seem the same other than the artwork. In our car hobby, people talk about "paying for the name" and it seems that when it comes to lower receivers, this is exactly what you are paying for.

[allaircooled]

They may be all basically the same, but I know Stag has a lifetime warranty on their rifles including the barrel if it was purchased as a complete rifle and not home built.

[id10t]

Originally Posted by SilberUrS6

Yup.

But in that 5%, wow, there is a LOT of choice on builds and styles and materials, and sizing...

I was thinking the other day about getting a piston upper. I start poking around the interwebz and found some interesting stuff that I didn't know.

I don't know if I'm actually going to buy a piston upper now, but I think I want a 6.8 now. LOL.

If'n you wanna get into pistons, I'd look at the Daewoo models, or find a SAR4800 (FAL in 223, takes AR mags). Or if you want to spend the $ a FN-FNC (relatively cheap to convert to full auto too)

[nynor]

Originally Posted by allaircooled

They may be all basically the same, but I know Stag has a lifetime warranty on their rifles including the barrel if it was purchased as a complete rifle and not home built.

as does PSA.

[Arizona 911]

I am a CNC machinist at a company that makes upper & lower receivers and other parts for m16/ar15 and other weapons also.

[cashflyer]

fwiw, my upper from DSA has a "square" forgemark.

[nynor]

Originally Posted by cashflyer

fwiw, my upper from DSA has a "square" forgemark.

brass aluminum forge.

my upper is the same.

i have a carry handle with the keyhole, cerro forge. i cannot find the casting mark on my lower. some folks say it gets milled off.

[Rick V]

Mine has the logo feces of bushmaster all over it

[nynor]

you don't like your bushmaster?