What Is the Best 80 Percent Lower? (Forged, Billet, .308 & AR-9)
The short answer: for most AR-15 builds, the best 80 percent lower is a mil-spec forged 7075-T6 lower. It fits every standard AR-15 part and costs the least. Choose a billet lower if you want easier assembly, a .308 (DPMS Gen 1) lower for .308 and 6.5 Creedmoor, or an AR-9 lower for 9mm. Shop them all on our 80 percent lower page.
New to 80% lowers? Start with What Is an 80 Percent Lower?
Best 80% Lower for Each Build
| Best for | Lower | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Most AR-15 builds | Forged AR-15 80% lower | Forged 7075-T6 aluminum; mil-spec; fits all standard AR-15 parts |
| Easier assembly | Premium billet AR-15 80% lower | Billet 6061-T6; threaded bolt catch hole (no roll pin); built-in trigger guard |
| .308 / 7.62×51 / 6.5 Creedmoor | .308 80% lower (DPMS Gen 1) | Billet 6061-T6; fits DPMS Gen 1 .308 uppers; threaded bolt catch hole |
| 9mm | AR-9 80% lower | Billet; built for Glock-pattern 9mm magazines; standard AR-15 lower parts kit |
| Custom finish | Raw (unfinished) lowers | Bare aluminum, ready for Cerakote or another finish |
| Tightest budget | Blemished 80% lowers | Cosmetic marks only, same function; final sale |
Best Overall: Forged AR-15 80% Lower
If you’re building a standard AR-15 in 5.56/.223, 300 Blackout or 6.5 Grendel, a forged lower is the best choice. Our forged 80% lower is pressed from 7075-T6 aluminum, the same material and process used for most mil-spec lowers, with a broached magwell and Type III hardcoat anodizing. Once completed, it works like any stripped lower: it takes standard lower parts kits, buffer tubes, stocks and AR-15 uppers.
Best for Easier Assembly: Premium Billet 80% Lower
The Premium billet 80% lower is machined from solid 6061-T6 aluminum and designed to make the lower parts kit easier to install. Its bolt catch hole is threaded, so you skip the fiddly bolt catch roll pin, and the trigger guard is built into the receiver. Everything else is mil-spec, so it uses the same parts, uppers and buffer tubes as a forged lower.
Best for .308: Billet .308 80% Lower (DPMS Gen 1)
For .308 Winchester, 7.62×51 NATO or 6.5 Creedmoor, you need an AR-10/LR-308-size lower. Our .308 80% lower is billet 6061-T6 in the DPMS Gen 1 pattern, the most common commercial .308 AR pattern, so it fits DPMS Gen 1 .308 uppers. It has a threaded bolt catch hole and a heavy-duty trigger guard. Pair it with our LR-308/AR-10 lower parts kit, which includes the threaded bolt catch pin.
Best for 9mm: AR-9 80% Lower
For a 9mm AR, use a dedicated AR-9 80% lower rather than adapting a 5.56 lower. Its magwell is built for Glock-pattern 9mm magazines, so they seat and feed without an adapter block. It takes a standard AR-15 lower parts kit; the 9mm ejector ships with the lower, uninstalled. Use a 9mm buffer and an AR-9 upper. See How to Build an AR9 for the full parts list.
Best on a Budget: Raw and Blemished Lowers
- Raw lowers skip the anodizing, so they cost less and are ready for Cerakote or your own finish.
- Blemished lowers have cosmetic marks only. They work the same and are just as strong, but they’re final sale.
Forged vs. Billet: Which Is Better?
Neither is better for every build. Forged 7075-T6 lowers are the mil-spec standard and the best value. Billet 6061-T6 lowers are machined from a solid block, which allows extras like a threaded bolt catch hole and an integrated trigger guard. Both use standard AR-15 parts. For a deeper comparison, read Billet vs. Forged Receivers.
Save With a Lower Bundle
Most of our lowers also come bundled with a lower parts kit, or as an assembly kit with the parts kit, buffer tube and stock. Bundles cost less than buying the parts separately and make sure everything fits. Browse AR-15, .308 and AR-9 lowers, or see our lower build kits.
What About Polymer 80% Lowers?
We carry aluminum lowers only: forged 7075-T6 and billet 6061-T6. They’re the most widely used materials for AR lowers and fit standard parts without special components.
Is an 80% Lower Legal Where You Live?
Under ATF’s 2022 frame or receiver rule, which the Supreme Court upheld in Bondi v. VanDerStok in March 2025, a receiver blank that can be readily completed, or one sold with a jig or tooling, is treated as a firearm. Our 80% lowers are sold on their own, without jigs or tooling. State and local laws vary, and some states ban or restrict 80% lowers. Check Are 80% Lowers Legal in My State? and our Shipping & Returns page before you order.
Best 80% Lower FAQs
Is a completed 80% lower different from a stripped lower? Functionally, no. A completed 80% lower takes the same parts and works the same as a stripped lower from a gun store.
Will an AR-15 80% lower work for a .308 build? No. .308 rifles need a larger AR-10/LR-308 lower and matching upper. See AR-10 vs. AR-15.
Which 80% lower is strongest? Forged 7075-T6 is the mil-spec standard for AR-15 lowers. Billet 6061-T6 lowers are also plenty strong for AR builds and add features like a threaded bolt catch hole.
Do your 80% lowers come with a jig? No. Our 80% lowers are sold on their own, without jigs or tooling.
What else do I need to finish my build? A lower parts kit, a buffer tube kit and stock, and an upper. Our 80% Lower Compatibility Guide and How to Build an AR-15 cover the rest.
