GregSmith Posted November 14, 2013 Share Posted November 14, 2013 Hey gang, Looking to build a .223 and the Seekins Precision SP233 caught my eye. I think it's a great looking receiver with a cool splash of style. It's really unique looking. Obviously, there are more important parts to building an AR. But what are the things I should be considering? Is a lower just a lower? Forged Vs. Billet? Matched upper and lower receivers... is there that much benefit if any? Obviously fit and finish are issue. accuracy is important, but is that more of an upper/barrel/trigger puzzle? Looking for your thoughts. If any of you have experience with Seekins receivers, let me know. If you don't like it, why? (And what do you like?) I saw Pat Kelley shooting one in a promo video. if it's good enough for him... come on. Thanks in advance guys! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
prreed10 Posted November 14, 2013 Share Posted November 14, 2013 (edited) I've run one for most of this past year. It mates up great with a VLTOR upper. It looks great. It has a right sided bolt release but to be honest I've never used it. It has bit me twice. First time was in the first match I used it. There is a set screw in the receiver near the pistol grip screw that can be used to adjust over travel. I left it alone since I fitted a JP trigger. It ended up walking forward and locking up the trigger. I've pulled it out since then. Second time involves he magwell - it's flared but at an odd shape and I have botched two empty gun starts recently. I'm contemplating going back to a Noveske Gen 2 lower for 3 gun. Edited November 14, 2013 by prreed10 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jon49erfan Posted November 14, 2013 Share Posted November 14, 2013 I have the seekins and it's real nice. replacing the roll pins with set screws makes building it easier. I prefer the lancer lower though. huge magwell and oversized magazine and bolt release. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
co-exprs Posted November 14, 2013 Share Posted November 14, 2013 I have billet receivers and forged receivers. The shoot exactly the same. If you have the scratch for billet then great. Barrels, triggers, optics and practice are winner winner chicken dinner. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CHLChris Posted November 14, 2013 Share Posted November 14, 2013 Now uppers could bring differences. I, for one, would drop the forward-assist. I see no purpose. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BOOST Posted November 14, 2013 Share Posted November 14, 2013 Forged may be a little stronger than billet . Pretty sure accuracy got nothing to do with how well the upper and lower fits. Seekins makes very nice uppers/lowers , some wicked works of art. On my wish list for sure. But I'd go for a VLTOR MUR upper with a Gen 2 lower. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
swedge58 Posted November 14, 2013 Share Posted November 14, 2013 I was wondering the same thing. I have an LMT CQB Defender 16. I have used it for 3 Gun the past 2 seasons. Love the rifle but really need to change that monolithic upper to something more suitable for 3 gun. Longer and smoother is what I need. Trying to decide if I should just build a new rifle or just build a new upper. Love the looks of some of the different lowers out there but would they really be any better than the LMT lower? Use the money I would save to put into a better barrel?? Thoughts??? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
polymerfeelsweirdman Posted November 14, 2013 Share Posted November 14, 2013 there are only 4 functional differences I can think of on billet vs. forged lowers: -billet lowers tend to have integrated trigger guards which is a weak point on regular forged lowers and another annoying roll pin plus for billet -billet lowers sometimes have more greatly flared magwells plus for billet -billet lowers are more expensive than regular forged lowers plus for forged -a billet lower will be slightly weaker than a forged lower of identical geometry plus for forged If money wasn't an issue I would get a Noveske Gen II lower since it is forged, has a flared magwell, and has an integrated trigger guard. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BOOST Posted November 14, 2013 Share Posted November 14, 2013 there are only 4 functional differences I can think of on billet vs. forged lowers: -billet lowers tend to have integrated trigger guards which is a weak point on regular forged lowers and another annoying roll pin plus for billet -billet lowers sometimes have more greatly flared magwells plus for billet -billet lowers are more expensive than regular forged lowers plus for forged -a billet lower will be slightly weaker than a forged lower of identical geometry plus for forged If money wasn't an issue I would get a Noveske Gen II lower since it is forged, has a flared magwell, and has an integrated trigger guard. Sounds like the Gen 2 got the "plus" on ALL 4 ;-) By the way, for what we do, money is always an issue Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
P.E. Kelley Posted November 14, 2013 Share Posted November 14, 2013 For cool, functional, and feature rich the Seekins and Noveske are the heat. I really like the integral ambi bolt release on the Seekins and the no roll pin assembly. If you are not going to mate it to a Seekins upper the lower does have a "fitting" screw built in to remove and play between the halves. I am happy to see the "debate" about strength of billet vs. forged going away...in the AR it matters not. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Outsydlooknin75 Posted November 14, 2013 Share Posted November 14, 2013 If you use a 60 round surefire, you may want to rethink the gen 2 Noveske Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jon49erfan Posted November 14, 2013 Share Posted November 14, 2013 i know Gen 3 pmags won't work in a seekins either. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
latech15 Posted November 14, 2013 Share Posted November 14, 2013 Can someone smarter than me explain how forged is stronger than billet? I have never heard that and would love to know the details. Sorry Pat.... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
carharttfarmer Posted November 14, 2013 Share Posted November 14, 2013 i know Gen 3 pmags won't work in a seekins either. They work just fine in mine 30s and 40s Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Outsydlooknin75 Posted November 14, 2013 Share Posted November 14, 2013 Can someone smarter than me explain how forged is stronger than billet? I have never heard that and would love to know the details. Sorry Pat.... When dealing with like alloys a piece of forged aluminum machined to the same dimensions as a piece of billet aluminum will be stronger. Notice when comparing a billet aluminum piece wether it is an upper or lower to a forged piece they are usually not the same alloy because different alloys have different strengths. In order for a billet receiver to have the same strength as a forged piece they use a different alloy and the billet piece is usually thicker in key areas to keep the same strength. It's really an apples to oranges comparison. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
APL-G35 Posted November 14, 2013 Share Posted November 14, 2013 Forged is stronger than billet in that if your using your lower to pound in nails you'd want a forged lower. For shooting I could care less. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jon49erfan Posted November 14, 2013 Share Posted November 14, 2013 (edited) i know Gen 3 pmags won't work in a seekins either.They work just fine in mine 30s and 40sin the magwell version without removing the overinsertion stop?edit:my mistake, you are right. I was thinking of my lancer Edited November 14, 2013 by jon49erfan Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Stlhead Posted November 14, 2013 Share Posted November 14, 2013 I prefer whatever lower that has a JP trigger in it. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
prreed10 Posted November 15, 2013 Share Posted November 15, 2013 i know Gen 3 pmags won't work in a seekins either. They work just fine in mine 30s and 40s Same here - no problems with the 20, 30 or 40. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
StraightUp_OG Posted November 15, 2013 Share Posted November 15, 2013 http://www.gunsumerreports.com/review_firearms_materials_and_processes_001.php Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
israelifal Posted November 22, 2013 Share Posted November 22, 2013 OP have you looked into Lancer-systems lowers yet.? They offer Three different magwells (standard, tactical, competition) that you can change.. I bought the competition and lordy lordy that magwell is like a black hole......Retail on them is $218 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MarkCO Posted November 22, 2013 Share Posted November 22, 2013 Ergonomics aside, if a lower is dimensionally correct, there is no performance difference. The Seekins, Lancer, and Noveske have some features I like, but they are not required. A lower should last for a long time, at least a few uppers, a few triggers and lots of barrels worth. For that reason alone, get what you like. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
larry weeks Posted November 22, 2013 Share Posted November 22, 2013 The billet lower seems to be heavier. I didn't weigh the lowers by themselves and I changed stocks but the Seekins/TacMod combo showed +2lbs on my bathroom scale compared to DPMS/Ace Boomtube. BUT, I love the great looks of the Seekins, the screws instead of roll pins and love the TacMod stock. Both are staying right where they are. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Finbox Posted November 22, 2013 Share Posted November 22, 2013 AXTS AX556 LOWER GETS MY VOTE FULL AMBIE CONTROLS (BOLT HOLD ON THE RIGHT) http://axtsweapons.com/products/AX556 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
israelifal Posted November 23, 2013 Share Posted November 23, 2013 AXTS AX556 LOWER GETS MY VOTE FULL AMBIE CONTROLS (BOLT HOLD ON THE RIGHT) http://axtsweapons.com/products/AX556 That's a pretty lower, hopefully it's super light compared to the hefty price tag..... $430 It's still a nice piece Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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