Best High-End AR-15 Lower Receivers

If you’re into spending a couple of hours at the range decompressing while you rip off a few magazines in your AR15, you may not have given much thought to the type of lower receiver your rifle has.

The game changes when you must depend on the rifle to defend yourself or need the ultimate lower receiver to help you win competitive shooting matches. During a competition, most AR15 owners understand that not all lower receivers are equal.

The manufacturing process alone can make all the difference between proper and practical functionality. If you’re a DIY builder, there are a few things to consider when picking out a lower receiver that will function well above your expectations.

Material

While the industry has many types of lower receivers made of various kinds of material, remember the outcome you’re trying to achieve. You want a functional and high-end lower that will take a beating and continue to perform flawlessly.

You’ll probably not want to think polymer yet, as most of the quality lower receivers these days are made of aluminum alloy. If you’ve been building for a while, you probably know the difference between 6061-T6 and 7075-T6 aluminum alloy. For the less informed, while both types of alloy will fit most of your lower receiver requirements, it boils down to which will do it better.

There’s a significant difference in tensile strength and corrosion resistance between the two types of aluminum alloy, and 7075-T6 alloy outperforms its aluminum cousin in the strength department by almost twice as well under the most rigorous conditions. However, the 6061-T6 aluminum alloy consistently wins in the corrosion arena. 

There is, however, a trade-off if you’re attempting to build a high-end lower receiver on a tight budget because 7075-T6 aluminum is more expensive. Selecting a high-end lower receiver will require understanding how you plan to use your AR15 and under what conditions.

Casting or Billet

Another thing to consider is whether you want a lower receiver cast or one manufactured from a billet. The difference between the two is simple. One is aluminum alloy poured into a mold, and the other is a lower receiver machined from a solid aluminum block.

Keep this in mind when making your pick of lower receivers. Cast aluminum alloy receivers are safe and will function well but casting always results in the receiver having crystalline construction, making it the weakest of the two types.

When it comes to creating a show gun and decking out your AR15 with a competition-class lower receiver, one cut from a single billet of 7075-T6 aluminum alloy will do the trick as they’re stronger and provide the owner a much more pleasing finish.

If budget isn’t the main issue, and you want to go top-of-line and build a high-end rifle with the best lower receiver, then you need to consider one that’s forged aluminum. Not only will a forged aluminum lower give your AR15 a take-no-prisoners look, but the process of forging a single billet of aluminum into shape increases the tensile strength of the receiver.

One of the best high-end forged aluminum lower receivers manufactured today comes from Anderson Arms. If you plan on using your AR15 a lot and lugging it around almost everywhere you go, this AR15 lower receiver is worth every penny.

Lightweight

For the more weight-conscious builder, a polymer lower receiver may be the answer. Still, there is one thing you need to understand if choosing a polymer solution, and that is polymer has inherent weaknesses under high-volume situations.

Your best bet when choosing to take the poly route is a monolithic polymer lower receiver. Shaving off weight when you’re out in the field all the time is essential, but you also need an AR15 to function correctly when the time comes.  

One of the best high-end lower receivers to solve the lightweight problem with a monolithic polymer solution is the KE Arms KP-15 complete lower, weighing a mere 1.7 pounds.  

Ambidextrous Or Not

Admittedly, many DIY budget builds don’t often consider the ability to operate an AR15 with both hands. Some lower receiver manufacturers will promote their receiver as ambidextrous, but there are a few things to look for when making your choice.

One of the best things to watch for is a dramatic price difference. If a particular high-end lower receiver you have your eyes on costs nearly double than others, it is likely a real ambidextrous lower receiver.

At a bare minimum, your high-end ambidextrous lower should have a safety switch on both sides, but most true ambidextrous lowers have far more features than a safety switch. A quality high-end lower receiver that’s truly ambidextrous is likely to have a safety switch, a magazine release, a bolt release, and a bolt catch on both sides.

When it comes to the ambidextrous operation of your AR15, think about all the things you do with your hands and double it. If the process of operating your rifle with either hand becomes necessary or is a feature you’ll need, then look at Aero Precision’s Ambi lower using a PDQ Ambi- Bolt Release and Stop.

While the lower receiver from Aero Precision is a little pricier, it truly exemplifies the ambidextrous handling of your AR15.

Look Before You Leap

Suppose it’s all about sufficient tensile strength because you intend to give your AR15 several heavy-duty competitive workouts. In that case, you may want to choose a high-end lower receiver such as Battle Arms Development’s forged lightweight receiver.

Battle Arms Development offers a best-in-class lower receiver that has a futuristic look and delivers consistently. If you’re looking for the perfect race gun to use in a competitive match, the Lightweight Lower from Battle Arms Development should be at the top of your list.

There are many manufacturers these days that will offer appealing options for the average DIY AR15 builder, and it’s more important that you understand what you need and why you need it before rushing off and making a purchase you’ll regret in the future.