I admit that I am a fence sitter as far as Cav Arms goes. They seem ok and from what experience that I have on the subject they appear to work well . I think a lot of you guys spend too much time trying to read in between the imaginary lines.
I can see why all the so called Cav Arms fans get so defensive. There seems to be much hate and discontent focused on CAV Arms that is based on semantics.
I initially was looking for opinions on the Cav Arms aluminum lowers. Now so far, the only opinions that stay on topic point towards the lowers being to expensive for what they are and I some what agree. However none of these free flowing opinions appear to be based on actual hands-on experience with the aforementioned lowers.
Why would your opinion not count? If you are on here and love shooting you probably have a qualified opinion. If you say you are unqualified then maybe you are, but I’d bet that it is reasonably qualified.
I doubt you’ll find any shortcomings with the receivers because I believe they are contracted out to a major manufacturer, maybe LAR, who also does DPMS lowers. If they are the same then you are paying for the logo, and I spend my time looking at the front sight - not the logo.
I concede on your point here. But I might be able to provide a more knowledge based hands on opinion if they were made more readily available for the world to see/feel etc. I have been in several shops in my area (the cav home zone) and the one thing that seems to be absent from the shelves are these particular lowers.
I still stand on what I said about advertising. Maybe you just shouldn’t have used Coca Cola as an example. I was by no means attempting to call you out, just offering argument in response.
I just ordered one from DSG Arms and it should be in my hands next week. I’ll give a review, if you desire.
I like everything I’ve gotten from Cavalry Arms, from Mk2 lowers, midlength uppers, and furniture. When I build guns for myself, I seek out their parts for grips and handguards because the grips have no gaps or overhangs on any of my lowers (ArmaLite, Rock River, DPMS, SNS), and the handguards are strong and don’t flex and warp like some of the ones I’ve gotten in the past from ArmaLite and RRA. I can get them in colors (other than black), too.
The bottom line is if you get one, of course it will work. Their aluminum lowers are no better, no worse than the other multitudes of lowers on the market. There are probably like 2 or 3 places in the U.S. that make ALL the lowers available, which get marked with whichever company’s logo. Of course a Cav Arms branded forged lower will work. The question is whether or not you think enough of the company or the logo to pay the premium ($175 for a stripped lower) they have priced on them.
I picked mine up from the FFL today. I can’t tell who machined it (since I am not an expert) but it is a little different from my DPMS lower, in the respect that it has a visible tunnel where the takedown pin detent and spring go, like what my RRA lowers look like. I don’t think CMT machined it, though, since the opening above the FCG looks like my DPMS receiver.
The color is flat black, but not dark black like RRA receivers. It actually matches an older C7 Bushmaster upper I have. The markings are clear, even, and easy to read. The flash or seams on the web above the grip and on the front of the magwell are machined smooth.
I assembled it with a SLR15/Defensive Edge lower parts kit I had, and a Magpul CTR stock. Assembly went well and easy, with all parts fitting into place with minimum amount of work (unlike the last lower I got, an Eagle Arms, where I had to do some work on the lower because of a sticking magazine catch). I tried several magazines (DSG Arms, NHMTG 20rd, old Parsons) and all drop free (I find the NHMTGs I have fit a little tighter in most magwells). Fit with the BM upper was good and no play between upper and lower.
I’ll do some shooting with it hopefully this weekend, and if I have any problems, I’ll post back here.
So far, it seems to be a good lower. If they were cheaper, I might purchase more, but I’ve reached the end of my rifle building. A reason why I got it was for the collector value (it’s a cool rollmark), but like my other rifles, I’ll never sell it.
BTW: I got it from DSG Arms, where it is $167 plus tax…slightly less than MSRP of $175.
Kind of an old thread, I was just wondering how the CAV Arms lower build turned out for you Snake?
I bought two stripped lowers this morning at a gun show for $120 each. I figured for that price around here I’d give them a try for an SBR build with an LMT upper.
Actually, it’s a know fact that everyone in Phoenix is stupid, and doesn’t know the market value of an AR receiver.
But many locals have seen the truth and think of them as a joke.
Why don’t you share the truth with us? Is their product poor? Is there service poor? Or is this personal? Several locals decided that they don’t like Cav Arms, and do there best to communicate that with everyone. The rest of the locals think that they are fair, honest, and do more for gun owners and shooting sports than most everybody else. I’ll even go so far as to say I’ve never seen any company do more for shooters or shooting sports than Cav Arms.
After years of selling plastic lowers and claiming them to be superior to aluminum, they have now capitulated and joined the forged lower “making” club.
What a concept. An AR manufacturer making and selling AR parts. How many original products have you designed and brought to market?
I would buy what is priced right and what is available.
As you should. That’s how the free market works.
And just because someone will ask, I don’t work for them, and they wouldn’t recognize me walking down the street. I own exactly one Cav Arms product, and it’s a lower I have set up waiting for me to buy a .45 upper for it.