2aHawaii

General Topics => General Discussion => Topic started by: TastesLikeMetal on April 17, 2016, 08:46:48 PM

Title: Stripped Lowers around town
Post by: TastesLikeMetal on April 17, 2016, 08:46:48 PM
Picked up 2 Spikes lowers from KGS for later...  Turns out later is now as both are built with 1 waiting on an upper/Trigger :P.  Was thinking of picking up a couple more later just to hold for future builds.  Anyone have any suggestions on shops and what stripped lowers they have, wanted to try something other that Spikes if possible.
Title: Re: Stripped Lowers around town
Post by: macsak on April 17, 2016, 08:53:55 PM
Picked up 2 Spikes lowers from KGS for later...  Turns out later is now as both are built with 1 waiting on an upper/Trigger :P.  Was thinking of picking up a couple more later just to hold for future builds.  Anyone have any suggestions on shops and what stripped lowers they have, wanted to try something other that Spikes if possible.

check with prime sports, they have some cheaper ones, and a new matched upper/lower set that looks nice
xring and ogc should have a variety too
Title: Re: Stripped Lowers around town
Post by: ren on April 17, 2016, 09:04:46 PM
.
Title: Re: Stripped Lowers around town
Post by: London808 on April 18, 2016, 01:19:46 AM
Picked up 2 Spikes lowers from KGS for later...  Turns out later is now as both are built with 1 waiting on an upper/Trigger :P.  Was thinking of picking up a couple more later just to hold for future builds.  Anyone have any suggestions on shops and what stripped lowers they have, wanted to try something other that Spikes if possible.

Why not have some fun with an 80%
Title: Re: Stripped Lowers around town
Post by: asinapple8805 on April 18, 2016, 07:32:10 PM
Just curious, but what makes spikes lowers so popular? Like why do people pay such a premium for them?
Title: Re: Stripped Lowers around town
Post by: TastesLikeMetal on April 18, 2016, 07:47:07 PM
Just curious, but what makes spikes lowers so popular? Like why do people pay such a premium for them?

It's what KGS had that I heard of :P  Is $100.00/ea high?  Honestly if it is I just didn't know any better, they are nice though I like the Spider/Pirate on the side.
Title: Re: Stripped Lowers around town
Post by: TastesLikeMetal on April 18, 2016, 07:49:34 PM
Why not have some fun with an 80%

Doesn't that require Machining?  I think I better work on mastering assembly first, which is questionable at best :thumbsup:.
Title: Re: Stripped Lowers around town
Post by: TastesLikeMetal on April 18, 2016, 07:50:33 PM
check with prime sports, they have some cheaper ones, and a new matched upper/lower set that looks nice
xring and ogc should have a variety too

Gonna stop by OGC when I'm in the neighborhood, thanks for the suggestions.
Title: Re: Stripped Lowers around town
Post by: ren on April 18, 2016, 08:38:54 PM
.
Title: Re: Stripped Lowers around town
Post by: macsak on April 18, 2016, 08:44:15 PM
Doesn't that require Machining?  I think I better work on mastering assembly first, which is questionable at best :thumbsup:.

Www.kmconceptshawaii.com is having an AR lower building class Saturday May 7 at noon

Space is limited
Title: Re: Stripped Lowers around town
Post by: TastesLikeMetal on April 18, 2016, 09:45:08 PM
Www.kmconceptshawaii.com is having an AR lower building class Saturday May 7 at noon

Space is limited

I attended the Youtube AR lower building class :crazy:  Now I know how to assemble one and spent over $300.00 in tools from Midway USA (jk) that Potterfield guy is quite the salesman
Title: Re: Stripped Lowers around town
Post by: stangzilla on April 19, 2016, 12:48:28 PM
this is the class I attended, had all the info I needed:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wNTP7GNU6DY
Title: Re: Stripped Lowers around town
Post by: London808 on April 19, 2016, 01:40:37 PM
Doesn't that require Machining?  I think I better work on mastering assembly first, which is questionable at best :thumbsup:.

If you can use a drill and a router you can do it, I did my first in about 2 hours. If you have a drill press you can do it in about 30 minutes
Title: Re: Stripped Lowers around town
Post by: drck1000 on April 19, 2016, 02:07:43 PM
Just curious, but what makes spikes lowers so popular? Like why do people pay such a premium for them?
What makes you say that people are paying a premium for them?

At around $100-120 a lower, they are what I think are about right in terms of stripped lowers that are available locally.  Yeah, you see sales for stripped lowers online for much less, but then you have to add in shipping and FFL fees.  I've even considered buying a bunch (like 10 or more) the last time I saw a sale on stripped lowers for Aero and Andersen in the $50-60 range.

I haven't built a lower from a Spikes, but I've heard that they are good.  I think as long as you stay with known quality manufacturers, there's not much difference.  That is unless you are looking for something like a billet receiver or one of those with the trigger guard machined into the lower.  I have a Noveske billet lower that I paid a premium for, but Noveske stuff generally demands a premium. 

Interesting that the only lower I've actually had a problem with is one from Daniel Defense.  The hole for the grip bolt was off.  It would fit with the A2 stock grip that came with it, but it wouldn't fit with any of my many Tango Down grips or even A2 grips off of other guns (Colt, BCM, LMT, etc).  I eventually sent it back to DD for inspection and with the Tango Down grip that wouldn't fit.  They sent it back with both the hole in the lower and the grip filed (bubba'ed fix) slightly and they called it good, but the grip still didn't fit properly (it had some tilt).  Anyways, that sort of ruined it for me and I ended up selling that gun off to a friend for a good price. 
Title: Re: Stripped Lowers around town
Post by: K30l4 on April 19, 2016, 02:17:50 PM
I had a small kine build party at speedtek's garage during the 2a gtg. I showed up with a stripped lower and all the parts to build. The usual attendees are always helpful.
Title: Re: Stripped Lowers around town
Post by: asinapple8805 on April 19, 2016, 03:09:32 PM
What makes you say that people are paying a premium for them?

At around $100-120 a lower, they are what I think are about right in terms of stripped lowers that are available locally.  Yeah, you see sales for stripped lowers online for much less, but then you have to add in shipping and FFL fees.  I've even considered buying a bunch (like 10 or more) the last time I saw a sale on stripped lowers for Aero and Andersen in the $50-60 range.

I haven't built a lower from a Spikes, but I've heard that they are good.  I think as long as you stay with known quality manufacturers, there's not much difference.  That is unless you are looking for something like a billet receiver or one of those with the trigger guard machined into the lower.  I have a Noveske billet lower that I paid a premium for, but Noveske stuff generally demands a premium. 

maybe it's just me, but I've definitely seen Anderson and Aero lowers for way less than $100 locally, and these are at normal prices as in not marked down.
Title: Re: Stripped Lowers around town
Post by: TastesLikeMetal on April 19, 2016, 07:53:02 PM
What makes you say that people are paying a premium for them?

Yeah, you see sales for stripped lowers online for much less, but then you have to add in shipping and FFL fees.

I guess for me Firearms are the 1 thing I'll pay a little more to buy local.  I actually bought those lowers from KGS because he FFL'ed (is that what it's called???)  an AK for me so figured 1 HPD trip and spend a little locally.  I feel if these guys fold up shop that'll suck for us long term.
Title: Re: Stripped Lowers around town
Post by: TastesLikeMetal on April 19, 2016, 07:56:48 PM
this is the class I attended, had all the info I needed:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wNTP7GNU6DY

I saw that guy use a center punch and call it a roll pin...  no thanks :P, found this one most informative.

https://youtu.be/e1omm6jY7Gg
Title: Re: Stripped Lowers around town
Post by: drck1000 on April 19, 2016, 11:18:54 PM
maybe it's just me, but I've definitely seen Anderson and Aero lowers for way less than $100 locally, and these are at normal prices as in not marked down.
Spikes seem to be popular, so maybe that drove up the cost. Also depends what pricing is available at distributors. A couple of good friends are gun dealers on the mainland (AK and AZ) and they have mentioned that the pricing can take swings either way. Sort of depends on whether or not they have cash on hand when deals come up.
Title: Re: Stripped Lowers around town
Post by: drck1000 on April 19, 2016, 11:27:15 PM
I guess for me Firearms are the 1 thing I'll pay a little more to buy local.  I actually bought those lowers from KGS because he FFL'ed (is that what it's called???)  an AK for me so figured 1 HPD trip and spend a little locally.  I feel if these guys fold up shop that'll suck for us long term.
I hear ya and I'm generally the same way. Out of my many guns, only one came through an FFL and that was because none of the local shops could get exactly what I wanted. In general, I can usually get firearms they I want from local shops at prices that are competitive and at times better than available online. In any case, I've certainly spread the wealth across many of the local shops. That doesn't mean that I'm not often tempted by sales and ads that I see online. Haha

In the part that you quoted, I was just wondering if the poster that I was responding to was comparing pricing of the lowers available online to local.
Title: Re: Stripped Lowers around town
Post by: stangzilla on April 20, 2016, 12:36:47 PM
I saw that guy use a center punch and call it a roll pin...  no thanks :P


I didn't see him use a center punch
he lists his tools in the vid description of which there is a brass punch and a 3/32 punch, no mention of a roll pin in the tools
he does mention roll pin when he installs a roll pin.
Title: Re: Stripped Lowers around town
Post by: TastesLikeMetal on April 20, 2016, 08:10:58 PM
I didn't see him use a center punch

@ about 9:55, I was actually kidding about not liking his videos but this made me say wtf

https://youtu.be/67lcXDKS7dk
Title: Re: Stripped Lowers around town
Post by: 83rdrecon on May 01, 2016, 01:21:14 AM
Brought a bunch of Anderson lowers with me to hi.   Built a dozen of them already with no issues at all.  Well worth the coin. Seen advertised for less than 100 each on island.  Only issues I have encountered was the standard grip screw (1") is too long as the grip screw hole is not tapped all the way through.  Solved easily by using the magpul grip and screw that comes with it.
Title: Re: Stripped Lowers around town
Post by: TastesLikeMetal on May 04, 2016, 11:05:56 PM
Only issues I have encountered was the standard grip screw (1") is too long as the grip screw hole is not tapped all the way through.  Solved easily by using the magpul grip and screw that comes with it.

Good to know, thanks for the info.
Title: Re: Stripped Lowers around town
Post by: London808 on May 05, 2016, 08:19:50 AM
Just picked up 2 Spiked from Kanehoe Gun store, 2 for 200 special
Title: Re: Stripped Lowers around town
Post by: Prime Sports on May 05, 2016, 08:36:17 AM
We got preorder speical on aero gen 2 right now. $85per or $75 for two or more.
Title: Re: Stripped Lowers around town
Post by: London808 on May 05, 2016, 08:42:02 AM
We got preorder speical on aero gen 2 right now. $85per or $75 for two or more.

Now that is a deal......
Title: Re: Stripped Lowers around town
Post by: 83rdrecon on May 05, 2016, 06:04:57 PM
Good to know, thanks for the info.
the last spikes lower I built up had the same issue
Title: Re: Stripped Lowers around town
Post by: TastesLikeMetal on May 05, 2016, 07:42:04 PM
We got preorder speical on aero gen 2 right now. $85per or $75 for two or more.

Ooh, it's this or try and get a Hi Power.

Decisions, decisions...
Title: Re: Stripped Lowers around town
Post by: London808 on May 05, 2016, 08:23:50 PM
Ooh, it's this or try and get a Hi Power.

Decisions, decisions...

Which do you think they are going to ban first ? Its not a purchase its an investment :)
Title: Re: Stripped Lowers around town
Post by: TastesLikeMetal on May 05, 2016, 08:37:17 PM
Which do you think they are going to ban first ? Its not a purchase its an investment :)

That's a good way of thinking about it.
Title: Re: Stripped Lowers around town
Post by: Bigkahuna808 on May 06, 2016, 09:17:45 PM
Seen prime sports had a spike honey badger lower just under $100.  Also seen them doing a presale for aero lowers for pretty cheap as well