Billet lowers....

[Stickman]

I think we can all agree that a lower receiver needs to hold the Fire Control Group, receiver extension, and magazine. As long as those parts are in spec, everything else tends to be a matter of personal preference.

I've got a few different billet lowers, and recently added another one to the collection. The Tactical Innovations T15BDX billet lower has got a good look, and just a hint of texture to its surface. In the below two different pictures, the lighting in one shows the surface a little more than the other. In real life, there isn't really all that much to notice, but its very subtly there.

I'll get up more pictures later after I drop in the parts, and see how it assembles. I think this lower is going to be dedicated as an extreme beater. I've been kicking around the idea of thrashing a billet lower to see how they hold up, and this might end up being the beast I do it with.

[Stickman]

In the below picture, I edited out the serial number....

[Trace Rinaldi]

Looks tough as a brick $hithouse! Very cool!

[Cohibra45]

Stick,

Looks very cool!!!!!!! I see that they bevel the inside of the trigger guard, but I can't see if they do the same to the outside of it??? That is the only thing I see that I would ask them to do.

Kelly (Cohibra45)

[caporider]

They don't bevel the outside of the trigger guard. This is one of the "constructive suggestions" I emailed to the company a while back. My T15BDX billet lower sits on my 6.5 Grendel precision rig right now, as I would not use it on a fighting carbine due to the sharp edges on the trigger guard.

[Uglyduck]

That's a beautiful lower Stick. Let us know how it performs. I'm curious to know if it handles PMags well. It certainly rivals the SMOS lower but for 2/3 of the price. I may have to get one.

[Stickman]

That's a beautiful lower Stick. Let us know how it performs. I'm curious to know if it handles PMags well. It certainly rivals the SMOS lower but for 2/3 of the price. I may have to get one.

No problem, I'll let you know as soon as I assemble it and throw an upper on it. Inserting a PMAG in its unassembled form shows it to be free of restriction.

[TigerStripe]

They need to add a full auto or burst pictogram for posers like me. It does look sharp though.


TS

[beagle]

These lowers just recently came onto my radar. They seem to have a lot of nice features and great fit&finish.

Stick,
Would you happen to know (or be able to ascertain) if this lower is compatible with a Redi-Mag? I asked the good folks over at TacInnov, but they had no idea.


v/r,
B.

[MadMax]

Hey Stick,

New guy here(MadMax), you know the price of the Magpul or the TX15?

MadMax

[beagle]

Hey Stick,
New guy here(MadMax), you know the price of the Magpul or the TX15?
MadMax

The Tactical Innovations deluxe billet lower is $215 from the manufacturer.
They have 2 other options at lower price-points.

The Magpul lower can only be found on the secondary market.


v/r,
B.

[TigerStripe]

I think finding a Magpul lower will be almost impossible. I believe they dropped the lower as a project to allow them to catch up and keep up with other projects. I would imagine that ACR parts and UBR stocks would be at the top of the list currently.


TS

[Stickman]

I've not seen any of the Magpul lowers on the market (new or used). I've been offered some obscene prices, so I know that some people want them pretty bad.

[Uglyduck]

Stick you're a danger to my wallet. Thanks John and Rainier Arms for getting this to me so quickly. This was a purchase I certainly don't regret. It went together fairly easy, except for the trigger insertion. The trigger well tolerances were tight for my RRA 2 stage. I had to use a needle file to widen the well so the trigger would fit. A minor inconvenience. The rear pin detent capture screw was a great touch, it really made assembly less frustrating. Brand new PMags insert easily thanks to the flared magwell. They fit snug but drop free, contrary to another billet receiver I own. Its obvious some thought went into the design. A wonderful piece of kit!

[Stickman]

I like the layout and execution of that picture.