Are you looking to build an AR-15 from scratch or looking to upgrade your current rifle? One of the great things about the AR-15 platform is its versatility and wide range of customizations. Thanks to its popularity in the consumer market, it became easy to find parts and accessories at a reasonable price for all types of builds.

However, with so many cool accessories any gun owner can add to their AR-15, the lower build is often overlooked. While it’s true that much of an AR-15 lower is a bunch of pins and levers, it’s a very important component that acts as a strong base for your rifle. As such, these little components, including the AR lower can affect everything from rifle longevity to shooting performance.

If you’re looking to upgrade your AR lower, then we’ve got you covered. We have compiled a list of the best AR-15 lower parts kits you can use to upgrade your firearms. Now, let’s get into it.

Best Budget Pick	CMMG AR-15 Lower Gunbuilder's Lower Parts Kit	Affordable lower parts kit Easy to install Great customer service Some parts may need fitting	$30 Shop NowClick to read my review
Top Pick	Palmetto State Armory Magpul MOE Lower Build Kit	Reliable Magpul build Great value for a lower parts kit Crisp trigger pull Stock feels cheap	$100 Shop NowClick to read my review
Best Pistol Pick	PSA MFT Battlelink MOE EPT Pistol Lower Build Kit	EPT fire control group provides excellent trigger pull Nickel coated for better wear and corrosion resistance Straight forward installation Grip is a different color from the rest of the components	$0 Shop NowClick to read my review

Building an AR-15?

Getting an AR-15 lower parts kit is one of the most convenient ways of building your AR-15 from scratch. While purchasing each part separately allows you to customize your rifle, not everyone has the time or experience to take on that kind of project. And trust me, no matter how popular and versatile a weapon is, complete builds can get out of hand real fast. With so many pieces to consider, trying to make sure each piece is compatible with one another may be overwhelming.

What Is an AR-15 Lower Parts Kit?

A lower parts kit also referred to as a lower build kit, is a package of components for the lower half of your AR-15. In a lower parts kit, you’ll find the hammer, magazine catch, trigger, safety, grip, and the buffer assembly.

There can be as many as 100 different pieces in a lower parts kit that you can use to build or repair your AR-15. Also, individually acquiring each of these components is both time-consuming and costly. To reduce both time and money, manufacturers started selling compatible lower components in a bundled kit.

Many gun owners think that buying cheaper lower parts kits also means you’re getting lower quality parts. But as long as you buy from a reputable manufacturer, you can expect the same level of quality across all of the components. Of course, you can do the same thing by buying each part individually. However, you won’t get the same guaranteed compatibility you would have if you buy it as a kit.

Why Buy a Lower Parts Kit?

There are usually two reasons why gun owners purchase lower parts kits. The first obvious reason is when you’re building your AR-15. Second, as I’ve mentioned earlier, you can buy everything individually. However, you can save the tedious task of buying each component as everything is made simpler with a complete lower parts kit.

Buying a lower parts kit is also a good idea if you want to fix up an existing rifle. Purchasing the whole set is definitely worth it. You get a lot of extra parts you can use to switch out old or broken pieces, later on, making maintenance easy. People also find repairing and maintaining rifle parts refreshing. So, it could turn into a fun job for you as well.

Buyer’s Guide for the Best Ar-15 Lower Parts Kit

What’s Included

The most important thing to look out for while you’re shopping for an AR-15 lower parts kit is its contents. Some AR-15 build kits are complete lowers, meaning that they come with everything from stock to extra magazines. On the other hand, some are more sparse with only a few pieces that you might need to replace.

Knowing what’s in a kit will make your purchasing decision easier. It’s best to determine your purpose for buying a lower parts kit and purchase it accordingly. You can make a list of what parts you need for your lower parts kit. Consequently, this should allow you to narrow down your options considerably. If it includes parts you already have, you can consider getting the kit anyway, should you need any spare parts.

Ease of Intallation

The actual part that you need to replace will definitely influence how easy it is to install. For example, it’s a heck of a lot easier to replace a stock than it is to replace a trigger pin. However, if you have even just intermediate experience with AR build, you should be able to get buy. For beginners, however, I suggest doing a lot of research, if not taking it to a professional gunsmith and learning from there.

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Build Quality

When shopping for an AR-15 lower part kit, don’t compromise on quality even if it means you’ll have to pay extra money. The basic rules for selecting an AR-15 build kit should be the same for buying an AR-15 rifle itself.

The gold standard for durability is opting for a build kit made of high-quality 7075-T6 aluminum steel with a stainless steel barrel and an anodized or nitride finish hard coating. This type of build kit would not only be strong and durable, but it would also hold up very well against surface wear, moisture, and rain.

Compatibility 

Building a working AR-15 is a lot easier compared to other rifle configurations out in the market thanks in part to its popularity and that there’s a standard military specification that manufacturers go off of. A good rule of thumb when buying parts for an AR-15 is to expect them to be compatible as long as the caliber doesn’t change.

Follow the Law

Remember to abide by all applicable federal, state, and local laws. When in doubt, err on the side of caution. As you’re probably well aware, there are certain states, including Illinois, New York, and California, that have very tight gun laws and heavily regulate AR style weapons.

Also, be aware that there are some jurisdictions where ARs as a whole are legal. However, certain upgrades, components, and parts are illegal. So before purchasing a rifle build kit, make sure you are aware of all applicable local, state, and federal firearms regulations in your area.

Best AR-15 Lower Parts Kit for 2022

CMMG AR-15 Lower Gunbuilder’s Lower Parts Kit

The CMMG AR-15 Lower Gunbuilder’s Lower Components Kit is a good choice if you’re looking for a basic AR-15 lower parts kit at a reasonable price. It’s a very simple lower parts kit that lacks a trigger, a grip, or a trigger guard. However, this lower parts kit contains almost all of the important additional components for the lower receiver that you’ll need to finish the job.

In addition to being a suitable option for building an AR-15 from the ground up, this lower parts kit may also be used as an additional component for repairs or replacements. Parts for AR-15s and other gun equipment are flying off the shelves faster than they have in recent years and with the current supply shortages, having extras components on hand is always a good idea.

Palmetto State Armory Magpul MOE Lower Build Kit

If you’re looking for a sturdy mil-spec lower build kit made out of high-quality Magpul materials, the Palmetto State Armory MOE Lower Build Kit is an ideal option. Built to military standards for maximum compatibility, the PSA Magpul MOE Lower Build kit is specifically designed for MOE standards for guaranteed durability.

The PSA Magpul MOE lower build kit comes with a Mil-spec MOE stock, grip, trigger guard, and buffer tube. Just remember that this lower part kit is designed to compliment Magpul uppers and accessories, so if you don’t enjoy Magpul furniture on your rifle, this might not be a  good aesthetic fit for you. Despite that, it’s going to be very hard to find a lower part kit of this caliber for its price.

PSA MFT Battlelink MOE EPT Pistol Lower Build Kit

If you’re looking for a complete, high-quality build kit for a reasonable price, then look no further than the PSA MFT Battlelink MOE EPT Pistol lower build kit. This complete lower parts kit comes with everything you need to build an entire AR-15 Lower, except, of course, the lower receiver itself. The contact surfaces have a neatly polished feel. It also has a slick nickel coating finish for advanced surface wear and corrosion resistance.

Built to military standards, the PSA MFT Battlelink lower build kit features PSA’s Enhanced Polished Trigger (EPT) fire control group that promises a smoother, crisper trigger pill. This kit also comes with an MFT Battlelink Pistol Stabilizer with dual-sided QD point that allows you to sling mount your AR to your preference. You can also rest assured your parts are going to last since they’re durable enough to be backed by PSA’s lifetime warranty.

Our Pick

The Palmetto State Armory MOE Lower Build Kit gives you everything you need to compliment your lower receiver at a price that’s difficult to beat. It’s also manufactured to military specifications. So, it has maximum compatibility with other AR-15 parts and accessories. Just make sure you use this one with a Magpul upper, otherwise, your firearm would look a little off and you might run into some compatibility issues.

Wrapping Up

Any one of the lower part kits that we’ve covered here today will make a solid choice for your next AR-15 build. If you do end up going a different route, you can always follow our buyer’s guide section above to help you find a feature grip that works better for you. 

Keep in mind when choosing an AR-15 lower part kit that you need to be aware of what you’re buying. Certain state laws might prohibit some of the parts that are included with the lower part kits on the market, with the pistol grip a hot topic in a majority of states with stricter gun restrictions.

Also, try not to worry so much about buying a lower part kit with a lot of excess parts. These will be good to have for an emergency or to maintain your gun, and with the current parts shortages, it’s not such a bad idea to have extra parts for integral components of your rifle.

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