[Gavaldi]

Can anyone tell me what the difference is between these Anderson lowers? Specifically, the area
at the back of the receiver where the buffer tube screws in. One is machined with a straight line
and the other is angled. The one in the middle seems to be mil-spec, not sure on the other two.

 

[wct097]

I think that's just a minor difference in the forging between the lowers. I don't think "milspec" denotes the rear takedown pin detent spring chase being visible or not, but I could be wrong there. There is no real difference between the slightly aesthetically different forgings. There are only a handful of forges that pretty much all forged AR lowers come from. The "manufacturers" all use those forges and finish their lowers with their own roll marks. There is difference in finish quality, of course.

In this case, I think you're seeing that Anderson uses multiple forges to source their blanks. I wouldn't bank on ordering the flag version and getting the visible detent spring chase. It probably varies batch to batch as to which forge the blanks came from. The Anderson I have in my safe has the visible spring chase but no forge mark. Another lower I have also has it, and has the cerro forge keyhole. Many of my lowers don't have the visible spring chase, including my oldest Eagle Arms/Armalites.

 

[Sherlock913]

There are only a handful of forges that pretty much all forged AR lowers come from. The "manufacturers" all use those forges and finish their lowers with their own roll marks. There is difference in finish quality, of course.

Preach. I made that point one time on AR15.com and you wouldn’t believe the push back. Smh

 

[Gavaldi]

Thanks for the replies. I never noticed any difference until I bought an Anderson lower last week and it
doesn't have the visible chase. Thought I might have bought a lower that wouldn't take regular milspec parts. Makes me feel better knowing its just a cosmetic difference.

 

[wct097]

Thanks for the replies. I never noticed any difference until I bought an Anderson lower last week and it
doesn't have the visible chase. Thought I might have bought a lower that wouldn't take regular milspec parts. Makes me feel better knowing its just a cosmetic difference.

View attachment 980869

Hell, that's a Cerro forge lower without the visible chase. One of mine is from the same forge with the chase. I guess it's not even forge specific. Either way, it's nothing I'd be concerned with.