Stainless M16 lower or RDIAS?

[Holden23]

I'm looking for an M16, and the choice came down to a stainless steel Group Industries registered lower, or a RDIAS.

My thoughts on the RDIAS are that I wouldn't need to worry about getting my expensive gun scratched up, and if the lower got damaged, I could just throw it away. Also, I could move it to different lowers. But I've read these can be difficult to time.

The thoughts on the stainless lower are that it's virtually indestructible. But the lower will weigh 3x more than an aluminum one. I'm not sure how important that is since I don't own an AR now so I have nothing to compare it to.

My goal is to use either one with a .22lr upper, as well as very occasional .223 shooting.

I'd like to hear some opinions on why one might be better than the other. The cost is about the same, so that's not an issue.

Thanks!

[Stooperzero]

who cares about weight if all you're doing is burning ammo.




I'd go with a SS RR anyday over a RDIAS

[liberty556]

Originally Posted by Holden23

I'm looking for an M16, and the choice came down to a stainless steel Group Industries registered lower, or a RDIAS.

My thoughts on the RDIAS are that I wouldn't need to worry about getting my expensive gun scratched up, and if the lower got damaged, I could just throw it away. Also, I could move it to different lowers. But I've read these can be difficult to time.

The thoughts on the stainless lower are that it's virtually indestructible. But the lower will weigh 3x more than an aluminum one. I'm not sure how important that is since I don't own an AR now so I have nothing to compare it to.

My goal is to use either one with a .22lr upper, as well as very occasional .223 shooting.

I'd like to hear some opinions on why one might be better than the other. The cost is about the same, so that's not an issue.

Thanks!

FYI - There is a Group Ind SS RR on Tom Bowers web site now for $9500 Go for the RR. You will be much happier; I know I am with mine! Shooting 22lr all day for $30 is an unbelievable amount fun! I only wish I had a team of people to re-load mags as I shoot. Maybe I need a belt feed upper?

[Holden23]

Originally Posted by liberty556

FYI - There is a Group Ind SS RR on Tom Bowers web site now for $9500 Go for the RR. You will be much happier; I know I am with mine! Shooting 22lr all day for $30 is an unbelievable amount fun! I only wish I had a team of people to re-load mags as I shoot. Maybe I need a belt feed upper?

I saw that - I'm not sure how I feel about the seller having it parkerized though. I'm also not sure it's even possible to parkerize stainless steel. Lots of questions on that one..

So you have a stainless lower? What do you think of the weight difference?

[liberty556]

Originally Posted by Holden23

I saw that - I'm not sure how I feel about the seller having it parkerized though. I'm also not sure it's even possible to parkerize stainless steel. Lots of questions on that one..

So you have a stainless lower? What do you think of the weight difference?

No, I don't have a SS RR. Mine is a Sendra, so I can't help you on the weight issue or parkerizing. What I do know is that once you get a machine gun you'll ask what you did without it! The Spikes Tactical nickel plated 22 conversion with the sear trip is what you want. I can move it to any upper and rip. It will take a little adjustment to make it just right. I had to file a few areas of the sear trip that were tight in the receiver. Once that was done, the system functions great. I am seeing a stove pipe now and then and I think it may be the extractor spring or the mags. I found that the Wolf Match Target ammo, while sub-sonic, will cycle full auto. With the Gemtech and Wolf ammo, all you pretty much hear is the action and the rounds hitting the target. Only down side is the gun gets dirty fast.

[ungawa]

If you want to shoot .223, .22, even 9mm I would go RR. Although I know nothing about the RR type your mentioned. If you also want to shoot 5.54 and 7.62x39, I think you better get the RDIAS. Maybe also .45, I forget that one.

I think RDIAS is overrated. Yes, you can move it from gun to gun. But you have to pull all your FA fire control parts from each gun when you remove it. Maybe some people have decided this is not a big deal once they start doing it all the time. For me, it's a no-go. I am also concerned that there is a very small chance ATF will one day say that RDIAS must be married to the gun. Or that the lineage of a RDIAS might not be as provable in court as the lineage of an RR. In other words, ATF might think you have a papered serial number but suspect your RDIAS was replaced at some point. Almost all people who actually own RDIAS disagree with me, so take my concerns with a big grain of salt.

I actually think the best thing about RDIAS is that you can carry it in your pocket. I know we are all concerned with where our guns are at all times, but when you have RR you are hyper concerned about leaving them out of sight for even a moment when you are not in your house. Such as parking the car to go shopping, go in a friend's house, etc. I guess the flip side is the RDIAS is much easier to lose than a rifle.

[Stooperzero]

Maybe I need a belt feed upper?
Reply With Quote

go ask on 1919a4.com


They pop up time to time

[ungawa]

Congrats! Use her in good health. And, since you have RDIAS, make sure you make the most of it

[ungawa]

Order a suppressor for your M11 NOW, and send in your stamp application. They work especially well with the Lage upper, the combo is almost evil. It sounds like a fully automatic stapler. We are talking "whispering death" here. You will thank me for this, do not wait.

Just figure out what you want first. The easiest way is to get something that is designed for the stock upper. Then just tell Lage and he'll send you the upper with the right barrel thread and a locking adapter. Unfortunately, if you go that route, you won't be well-suited to use the same suppressor on handguns. Although it can be done.

My buddy went the other route and got a general purpose 3-lug suppressor and then got his Lage with the 3 lug barrel. So he can used the suppressor on pistols with greater ease. But not sure he has it set up to use with the stock M11 upper. Although, his way is probably better than the way I went. Although I get less blow black with my suppressor designed for the MAC platform.

Finally, tell Richard Lage you want the 750 rpm bolt right out of the box. Not the stock 600 rpm bolt. It's only about $20 more if you skip the 600 bolt in the first place. If you fire them side-by-side (and I can arrange that), you will never buy the 600 bolt.

uzitalk.com has great advice on these choices.

[ungawa]

The 600 rpm is bouncy, 750 is smoother. 600 is really slow. It's much easier to hit multiple small targets (like soup cans) in one string with 750, for example. With 600 I (and most people) recover a little between each shot, screwing up the next one. 750 is still slow, but the shots blend together while holding on.