We've talked about the upper half of the AR-15. Let's talk about the lower.

Image from Jason Baird

Intro to the AR-15 Lower Receiver

Hello and welcome to the STNGR Workshop. My name is Rick Barrett and I am your host for these series of videos where we talk about everything in the gun community from gun parts to gun accessories. Today we're going to continue discussing the AR-15 platform. We've already talked about the history of it, we've talked about uppers, and we've talked about the barrels.

So we're gonna continue by talking about the lower half of the AR-15 and the parts we're gonna be talking about in the lower of the AR-15 consist of the lower receiver, the trigger group, the buttstock, the buffer tube, and the grip. Now let's talk about the lower of the AR-15.

Aero Precision AR15 Complete Lower Receiver w/ Magpul MOE Grip & PRS Lite Stock. Image from Aero Precision.

Lower Receiver

When talking about the lower of the AR-15, let's talk about the lower receiver itself. The reason we're doing that is because it is the serialized part of the AR-15, meaning that is where the serial number is.

What does that mean? The serial number is what is going to be used in the NICS background check when you purchase a firearm at a gun store or at a gun show. You're going to fill out an ATF Form 4473 and this serial number is going to go on that and that serial number is located on the lower receiver of the AR-15. So whether you buy the lower by itself or as part of a completed AR-15, that serial number is going to be found on the lower receiver.

Noveske 5.56 Bolt Carrier Group. Image from Wing Tactical.

Trigger Group

Single-Stage vs Two-Stage Trigger

Anderson Manufacturing Single Stage Trigger. Image from Wing Tactical.

Geissele G2S 2-Stage Trigger. Image from Wing Tactical.

Now that we've discussed the lower receiver of the AR-15, let's talk about the components that you'll find on it or in it.

The first and most important part being the trigger group. Now the trigger group is what enables the AR-15 to fire the bullet, and when you get an AR-15 off the shelf, if you were to get one at a gun store at a gun show, it's gonna have what they call a single-stage trigger.

A single-stage trigger means that it has one continuous range of motion.

The other type of trigger that you'll find on more expensive AR-15s or on the aftermarket is something called a dual-stage trigger (or sometimes it's called a two-stage trigger). Now, a dual-stage trigger (or two-stage trigger) requires an extra pull range to facilitate firing.

Once again, most of us will have single-stage triggers when we purchase our AR-15, and for a lot of us, whether it's self-defense or it's going hunting or plinking, the single-stage trigger is going to be enough for our needs. However, if you'd like you can always upgrade to a dual-stage or two-stage trigger on your AR-15.

Pistol Grip

The next part or component that I want to discuss on the lower of the AR-15 is something that is overlooked by everybody and that is the pistol grip that comes attached to your AR-15. Now your standard pistol grip on an AR-15 is gonna be very generic, but if it is uncomfortable to you it is going to hinder your accuracy because you're gonna be focusing on it instead of focusing on the target and on the sights.

So, when you're looking at pistol grips, either on a high-end AR-15 or on the secondary market, there are three things that you need to consider, those three things being:

Ergonomics
Texture
Grip angle

There are hundreds of different types of pistol grips on the aftermarket varying from very inexpensive to wildly expensive depending on what your specific needs are for your AR-15.

Strike Industries Enhanced Pistol Grip. Image from Strike Industries.

Buffer, Buffer Spring, & Buffer Tube

The next part we're going to talk about on the lower of your AR-15 is the buffer or buffer tube. Now the buffer tube is important to your recoil management system because the buffer helps absorb a lot of the kick, making your shooting experience more seamless. The right buffer can give you an edge over your competitors as you'll be able to shoot accurately for longer periods of time.

Spikes Tactical 9mm Carbine Buffer Tube Assembly (Mil-Spec). Image from Wing Tactical.

Now the buffer tube house both the buffer and the buffer spring. Together, these components slow down the faster parts of your rifle's action, protecting both themselves and the frame. This ensures that the integrity of your weapon remains intact.

As with the trigger group and the grip, there are modifications and different types of buffer springs and buffer tubes you can get on the aftermarket for your AR-15 if you choose so.

Buttstock

The last thing we're going to talk about when discussing the AR-15 lower is the buttstock. The buttstock is important because how your rifle rests on your shoulder plays a major role in your overall shooting experience. It's easy to get distracted if you're uncomfortable. Much like with the pistol grip, if you're not comfortable with your pistol grip you're not gonna be focused on your sights. Same thing with the buttstock; if it doesn't fit well or if it's not comfortable you're gonna find yourself more distracted and your shooting experience is not gonna be as enjoyable.

In the simplest of terms, the stock is the part of your AR-15 that connects to the rifle's firing mechanisms. When looking at the butstocks of the AR-15, you're gonna find that they come in two categories: fixed and collapsible.

Like most other parts of the gun that we talked about in this video, there are a huge array of different types of buttstocks available to you so you can have a variety of combinations to find that experience that is most comfortable for you.

LUTH-AR Skullaton AR Fixed Stock (MBA-2). Image from Wing Tactical.

Daniel Defense Enhanced Collapsible Buttstock. Image from Wing Tactical.

Final Thoughts

And that's it for today's video. We've given you an overall view of how the lower parts of the AR-15 work, talking about the receiver, the trigger group, the grip, the buffer tube, and the buttstock.

Thanks for stopping by the STNGR Workshop. My name is Rick Barrett. I hope you enjoyed this video and we'll talk again soon.

Introduction to the AR-15 Lower Receiver Components

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