Anderson AR-15s

ridgleyart

My LGS seems to have a steady supply of them and I essentially know nothing about ARs or Anderson, so I'm looking for experience from Anderson users.  How is reliability, accuracy, and fit and finish?  Thanks in advance for any information.

Ricci.Wright

In that price range go with the Smith & Wesson M&P15 Sport II. A really good rifle. From there look at Colt 6920 or Daniels Defense. 

Aztngundoc22

OK : 
I got an Anderson : works just fine , we used a bunch of these lowers when we had the 'shop' & was building Ar's ::: 
and : as I have said before , an AR is a AR .....
Thanks !!!

Don McManus

You are taking the right steps.  Find a few people that have used them.  Price seems reasonable, given the current climate.

Ricci.Wright

Just a side note. Anderson sold a lot of lower receivers which lots of folks used to build AR15's at home. Be sure you aren't buying a gun that was built at home or even in that gun shop but a factory gun. 

savage170

I have a Anderson lower no complaints. 

Ricci.Wright

So Much.

Horse Plains Drifter

Ricci.Wright said:

Just a side note. Anderson sold a lot of lower receivers which lots of folks used to build AR15's at home. Be sure you aren't buying a gun that was built at home or even in that gun shop but a factory gun. 

I wonder about that but how can one tell, other than contact the manufacturer with the S/N, and find out how it left the factory?

Mr. Perfect

Anderson are pretty much bottom barrel.

Grunt2

All my AR's have Anderson lowers...I have no issues with them...And I get the lowers at a ranch supply store for $50 ...

grdad45

My take on AR lowers is they all pretty much the same. I measured and inspected a lot of them, and all were within standard specs. Not saying there aren't premium pieces out there, but a receiver is just a receptacle for parts. What you put in it and attach to it makes all the difference.

Toolman286

There are only so many companies that make the receivers. They just put the name of who ever ordered that batch on them. There is a site that lists casting marks for each foundry. 

varian

bought one from Nunn several years ago.  shot it a lot, didnt know they were crappy AR's  guess it will fall apart any day now.

Ricci.Wright

I have sold a lot of Anderson lowers and never had any complaints. A few years back I could buy them for around $30.00 if I bought like twenty five at a time.

mark christian

I have several stripped Anderson receivers, as well as a few completed rifles/pistols which I built on Anderson receivers. They work fine; which includes accepting every make of upper with no issues. The old Olympic Arm lowers had a terrible reputation for not accepting certain uppers, which included the forward pin binding and the rear pin needing a blow with hammer to latch/unlatch.

90% of AR buyers don't need to spend huge $$$ on a LWRC or Daniel Defense (which come with very ugly stocks- IMO), so Anderson fits their needs. 

bpost

Mr. Perfect said:

Anderson are pretty much bottom barrel.

Horse pucky.  I have used about 50 or so Anderson lowers and they are the MANUFACTURER for over 800,000 AR receivers a year.  They MAKE THEM for most other gun builders.  All they do is put the name on the side to increase costs to the consumer that is name brand focused buyer thinks matters for zero gain.  Every Anderson receiver AR I built was excellent, all holes were correct and the machining was spot on for trigger assembly floor depth and magazine well broaching was within specs.

bpost

Look guys, I ain't NONONSENSE with huge buck rifles and huge buck scopes but I have built 94 AR15 rifles in 5.56, 300BO, 450BM and Wylde chambered .223.  Most of the receivers were ANDERSON.  I called them, talked to them, watched youtube videos of their production and EXPERIENCED shooting every one of them for at least 30 rounds.  Some of them have had over 2,000 rounds with ZERO issues. 

The biggest issue I have with the AR design is the trigger.

I have paid BIG bucks for Gisselle and bought $100 triggers here on GB's auction side.  The trigger is key.  The trigger makes the gun, all other things being within spec.  The 18" SS Wylde chamber shooting 52 gr Sierra MK's is a sub MOA gun, I built it.  The off the shelf "blem" 16" Palmetto State Armory upper with a $100 3.5 pound trigger attached to the Anderson receiver will do 1-1/2 -2" at 100 yards off a bench with a $40.00  red dot on it.  Put a Vortex 3X9 and reduce the group by 1/3.  Anderson receivers are name branded by the folks that make them.

Buy ANDERSON and be confident you got a good-un'.

Mobuck

I have numerous Anderson lowers(all assembled by myself) and haven't had any glaring quality issues with any of them.  Factory (mil spec) triggers are generally unsatisfactory regardless of who sells them.  Expect to do some trigger swapping unless you're paying big bucks for a gitty up go match ready type lower.

jltrent

I have built at least ten.  Watch the video and skill level to build, on a scale of 1 to 10 as a 3 could put one together.  I have never had an issue with the Anderson lowers as they go bang every time I pulled the trigger.  Compared to the Bushmaster and Colt I have they work just as good.  The parts kit will work without any problems and the upper will go on and they will work like they should immediately.

jimdeere

Like bpost said, the trigger is the key. I assembled an AR on an Anderson lower. Got a 20” heavy barrel and $49 lower parts kit. It shot good but when I put a better trigger on, it shoots lights out at 200’ with a Nikon scope.

bustedknee

Anderson lowers have been outstanding on the several AR's that I have built. (Also an ATI and several PSA's).

They are utilized as semi-autos not full autos and are set up as hunting and self defense guns.

If I had any intention of going full-auto (which I don't) I would re-evaluate all components required and most likely "upgrade" everything, tripleing my total cost (not counting the full-auto parts).

If I bought a Ferrari for a grocery runner I would not be able to afford groceries.

rufe-snow

This business with the triggers, is a can of worms. If you are intending to build a AR in 7.62 X 39. A lot of the steel case Russian  commercial, 7.62 X 39, (Wolf, Red Army & Tula). Have super hard lawyer proof primers. Had to put a +20% hammer spring in mine. To get it to work reliability.

Their older ammo, has softer primers and works just fine. Even with the drop-in cassette triggers. Problem is that the boxes the new havvy primer ammo come in. Are exactly the same, as the older  soft primer ammo.

drobs

I've built a bunch on Anderson stripped lowers. No issues at all.

I'd expect any AR15 with an Anderson marked lower to be a kit gun. I do note that Anderson does sell complete rifles though:

https://andersonmanufacturing.com/all-products/ar15-ar10-rifles-556-308.html?product_list_dir=asc&product_list_order=price&product_list_limit=36

I'd rather but a complete rifle from PSA or a kit rifle from PSA.

Rifles:

https://palmettostatearmory.com/ar-15/ar15-guns.html

Kits:

https://palmettostatearmory.com/ar-15/rifle-kits.html?product_list_order=price_asc

I'd recommend a 1st AR15 buyer get a 16 inch Carbine that comes with "Iron Sights."

Least expensive way to do it is to get a kit from PSA + a stripped receiver. Anderson receivers are most common and run $60 or so. Here's a good basic kit:

https://palmettostatearmory.com/psa-16-m4-carbine-length-5-56-nato-1-7-nitride-moe-ept-rifle-kit-with-mbus-rear-sight-gray.html

I would avoid AR's that don't have sights. Like this one:

https://andersonmanufacturing.com/complete-rifle-assy-am-15-mod03-ct1-5-56-nato-16.html

jltrent

I just hope I can keep mine as I like my Andersons......Crazy world and a lot of stupid people.