• Watch Out for Scammers!

    We've now added a color code for all accounts. Orange accounts are new members, Blue are full members, and Green are Supporters. If you get a message about a sale from an orange account, make sure you pay attention before sending any money!

Billet vs forged, and help me decide on a lower

TheBigCountry

TheBigCountry

Green Weenie
Supporter
Full Member
Minuteman
    • Dec 9, 2013
    3,053
    4,227
    I am starting to itch for a precision 5.56, thinking I will end up building myself a Mark 12.

    For lowers, I was set on a forged, but after going to my local GS and seeing that my buddy there also is in the same boat, he started showing me billet lowers...

    Now I am all confused. I have beat the hell out of and used straight forged receivers on A4's and M4's in the Corps, and am wondering is there really any reason to spend the extra money on a billet receiver?

    Also, for what I have in mind, what do you suggest for a stripped lower? I have been looking at Mega, Spikes, and POF USA to name a few.
     
    I plan a MK12 build in a 6.8SPC in the near future and I plan on a Mega Arms Matched set. Basically I don't know if it will be any better but my barrel manufacture recommended the Mega stuff.
     
    Take a look at Seekins Precision lowers as well.

    AR Lowers - Parts & Accessories

    image.jpg

    image.jpg
     
    Billet lowers look cool. As far as overall strength, it's doubtful you'll see a difference unless your a materials scientist/engineer. Whichever one you get will likely stand up to more abuse than you'll dish out.
     
    Since you've been in the Millitary and have first hand witness on what Forged Lowers can take then I'd say just go with what you know. Billets looks better because their easier to machine as it is being cut out of a solid piece of metal whereas Forging is A Lot Hard Process and the compressed metal during the process tends to be stronger.

    I am no scientist but the concepts themselves suggests Forged Lower would technically be Stronger than Billet. However 99% of us who are building these rifles are just for Recreational use as a enthusiests. Rare will we ever put our firearms through the type of abuse that will litterally test the structural integridy of the actual metal compound material used. Therefore I suggest if you're going to spend the money might as well get what you like and pleases to the eye. Billet generally looks Better which is more important to some than others.

    Theyall shoot the same for what we need them for, Billet will generally cost you more. I myself is looking into getting a Seekins SP223 Lower for the next build as well. My primary rifle is a piece together with CMMG Forged Lower. I also have a MAG Magnesium Light Weight lower as well which also has been holding up well.

    Buy what you want, it's your money so spend it your way.
     
    Billet lets pretty much anyone get in on the lower receiver manufacturing game. The equipment to turn out a functional billet lower is not very high in terms of cost. The equipment to turn out forged lowers on the other hand is much much more since you must subject the material to high pressure and heat. There are only a few actual manufacturers of forged lowers. The rest just press their roll mark on them and sell them. Forged is actually stronger given the same size and shape of materials. Billet gives manufacturers the ability to tweak the design, put in ambi bolt releases, etc. You can have tighter tolerances and you can also have incompatibilities with other parts.
     
    You will not go wrong with Mega. I have 2 LMTs Monos and a Mega Maten Mono and none of them have any slop and I have run them hard. If your precision shooting you can't have a loose fitting gun. Either Billet or forged is fine just get a matched Upper/Lower set along with quality parts and you shouldn't have any problems.
     
    Depending on your budget and given your end purpose, I'd save the money and put it towards barrel or optics.
     
    With any reputable manufacturer I think the only practical difference between forged and billet lowers is cosmetics. I would focus on getting an upper and lower that fit together with little slop. While this may not be an issue of functional importance, I think it leads to a much nicer feeling rifle.
     
    Billet is actually more fragile than forged due to the metals properties. But because of the process and type of metal being harder is why it's more $$. But because it's harder than forged it's like plexi glass verses normal glass. One will flex before it snaps the other will snap or crack instantly. Of course the glass is an extreme example but gets the point across to those who aren't too familiar with metal and the fibers of metal.


    In short no it's not worth it at all from a performance stand point. Looks or specs yea it's "better" I guess because usually has features the gear snobs like.
     
    Forged it is.

    Now, what do you all say is the "best" stripped lower for the money? There are numerous ones on the market, and wanted to see what one you all would suggest for my intended purpose. A matching upper would be a major benefit as well.
     
    Im not no metal specialist but I just purchased a billet seekins upper and lower. Very nice. I've always heard with heavy and long barrels the standard upper is not stiff enough to support for the best accuracy. I can say that after changing some heavy 24" bull barrels to
    Billet uppers improved my accuracy. They may be more brittle but I was told they have much more strength as stiffness goes
     
    ajv35XX said:
    Forged it is.

    Now, what do you all say is the "best" stripped lower for the money? There are numerous ones on the market, and wanted to see what one you all would suggest for my intended purpose. A matching upper would be a major benefit as well.
    Click to expand...

    As long as you go with a reputable manufacture they are basically all the same thing. Most don't know manufactures actually don't make their forged lowers. There are distributors of either 80%'s which manufactures buy in lots then mil out to their specs and etch their logo and S/N #s. So in all most of them are the same thing so find one at your LGS which you like the logo or features (some like my mega arms "gator grip" have serration features on the mag well) you like and go with that. That's about all it comes down to is logo and some have extra features.

    Also that is why many forged lowers have the same features and specs because like I posted above they are all basically the same thing and come from the same places.

    But if you need a starting point. Daniel defense, Spikes, Stag, LWRC, Noveske, JD machine, Mega arms, Areo Precision just to name a few great companies who offer stripped lowers.
     
    I am kind of a purist when it comes to Mk12s

    if your going to build a clone try to get colt on the side.

    if you get too far off track you start building a precision gun not a MK12

    Img_00111.jpg
     
    Last edited:
    Muskyjerk said:
    I am kind of a purist when it comes to Mk12s


    if your going to build a clone try to get colt on the side.

    if you get too far off track you start building a precision gun not a MK12

    Img_00111.jpg
    Click to expand...

    I Google searched for a Colt lower and they are a tad pricey.
     
    precision308 said:
    Im not no metal specialist but I just purchased a billet seekins upper and lower. Very nice. I've always heard with heavy and long barrels the standard upper is not stiff enough to support for the best accuracy. I can say that after changing some heavy 24" bull barrels to
    Billet uppers improved my accuracy. They may be more brittle but I was told they have much more strength as stiffness goes
    Click to expand...

    Would a forged lower and billet upper work running the SPR barrel?
     
    Last edited:
    ajv35XX said:
    Awesome. Torn between Seekins and Noveske right now
    Click to expand...

    If they are had at the same price Noveske WITH OUT A DOUBT. Their logo alone will hold resale for the fan base they hold.
     
    CK_32 said:
    If they are had at the same price Noveske WITH OUT A DOUBT. Their logo alone will hold resale for the fan base they hold.
    Click to expand...

    That's swaying my decision a lot. Noveske is a big name, and price is similar to the Seekins I believe. Gonna check into it.
     
    Browsing Rainier I found they have their own billet upper/lower combo for about what I would pay for a Noveske upper and lower. Anyone have experience with Rainier uppers/lowers?
     
    My last two builds were from Seekins receivers, one for myself and one for my gal, and they were a "no holds barred" his and hers set. Built for looks as much as function, hence the Seekins for the looks as they are the most unique out there. But they will likely be my last billet ventures in lieu of budget sensibility. It's hard for me to justify an additional $300 just for looks.

    My MK12 Mod 1 (Centurion built upper) shoots better than both (Noveske 18" LW and Rainier 16" Ultramatch barrels), and that was built on JD Machine forged receivers.
     
    Forged are fine... M-16A1's were forged and are still being used today by LE agencies across the country. Just make sure it's 6065 and type 3 anodized.
     
    From my experience forged is just fine. If by break a forged set I'd say you are pretty hard use. I think billet plays a role in looks mainly but when running heavy or longer barrels 20" or more I think the extra rigidity helps in achieving the best accuracy. Just about everyone building match ARs that I know will tell you that. They will also tellbu to loctite the barrel and gas block for accuracy. Ive even started lapping the front of my receiver to make them true. Out of my heavy vvariant rifles that I've tried and loctited I've had increases in accuracy. FYI I like my seekins but the front of the receiver was just as far from be true as 60$ forged aero precision receivers.
     
    Regalkismet said:
    Once you use/have Mega Arms matched set it's hard to use anything else.
    Click to expand...

    +1 on this. Mega is about the only receivers I will use on a build. They are also one of the very few who build their forged and billet units in house.
     
    I just recently finished a Recce 5.56 precision build and used AeroPrecision Forged upper and lower. Couldn't be happer, tight fit and extremely accurate with the WOA 16" barrel

    Sent from my Sprint Galaxy S4
     
    ajv35XX said:
    That's swaying my decision a lot. Noveske is a big name, and price is similar to the Seekins I believe. Gonna check into it.
    Click to expand...

    You haven't even built it and you are worrying about resale? Seekins Precision has a very good fan base as well. They make excellent products. Did a quick search and at Rainer Arms a Noveske forged lower is $183 and a Seekins forged is $123. If the name is worth $60 or a third of the cost then go for it but I would go Seekins.
     
    Iooking like I will be picking up the Seekins forged upper and lower or the forged Rainier upper/lower combo.
     
    Last edited:
    I'm scheduled to receive one of the Ranier sets Tuesday. It said it had a tensioning screw I'm curious about. They had the upper on sale last week. Buying them separately was cheaper than the combo.
     
    woojos said:
    I'm scheduled to receive one of the Ranier sets Tuesday. It said it had a tensioning screw I'm curious about. They had the upper on sale last week. Buying them separately was cheaper than the combo.
    Click to expand...

    Let me know what you think of it when you get it.
     
    Picked it up from my FFL a few hours ago.

    I will say that the finish on the lower is nice, a very dark shade of black, and it has a tension screw that goes in underneath the grip. It's a plastic tipped set screw and I cannot comment on function yet as I need a tool that I'm not going out to the garage to get. There's a small flare to the magwell and one of the ranier logos on the front of it. The rest of it is pretty standard. No complaints here, except I'd still like to see minimal logos.

    The upper I ordered is one of the older ones and now I know why it was on sale. It doesn't match the finish and the fit is poor as well. If you order one of the Ranier sets, get the matched set or the Gen 2 upper. I think this is the one that matches the lower.

    Hope that helps. Looking at the Seekins on the website, with the machining in front of the handguard versus the Ranier logo, I'd probably go that direction if I did it over.
     
    Buy a spikes lower, put a nice trigger in it, and then spend the rest of your money on your upper and nice optic.
     
    Sounds like you've already found that either will do.
    I've spent too much money over the years on both.
    I now have one AR, the coyote rifle, and it's a JP. Wish I got it decades ago.
     
    rdinak said:
    Buy a spikes lower, put a nice trigger in it, and then spend the rest of your money on your upper and nice optic.
    Click to expand...

    I do have a Spikes lower but I'll never buy another after getting my first Mega.... It's that much nicer IMHO... Well worth the extra money...And the screw to take out any upper/lower wobble is one feature I wouldn't do without on any lower.... But that's just me.
     
    Last edited:
    You must log in or register to reply here.

    Similar threads

    Capri_Man
    Mega Billet Upper Handguard Compatibility?
    Replies
    20
    Views
    806
    Cascade Hemi
    C
    LRRPF52
    2024 Updated List on Billet Receiver Set Manufacturers
    Replies
    41
    Views
    1K
    RichS
    R
    W
    First Post, hello from NE Texas
    Replies
    4
    Views
    139
    Makinchips208
    Makinchips208
    txbass97
    SOLD LMT MWS 15.3" MLOK upper, LMT MARS-H semi-stripped lower
    Replies
    1
    Views
    437
    txbass97
    txbass97
    LRRPF52
    10yr Review of 17.6” Lilja 6.5 Grendel
    Replies
    25
    Views
    904
    LRRPF52
    LRRPF52
    Top Bottom
    Back