Best 9mm AR Lowers in 2022 – Buyer’s Guide

What To Look For In A 9mm AR Lower

When it comes to 9mm AR lowers, before you jump right in to determine which is the best for you, there are some key components to look out for in your search. These will make the lower receiver stand out in terms of their effectiveness. The key things include material, assembly, installation and compatibility.

Material

Before investing into a 9mm AR lower, you need to ensure that the material for their construction is of high quality. Typically, the construction of lowers are of steel and aluminum. It is important that the material can withstand huge impact when putting your AR to use. This will allow it to serve you for a long time due to the durability of the material.

Quality is not something you should negotiate on as it will affect how effective your 9mm AR really is. Hence, we would pay a little more for high quality lowers if that means a greater longevity of it.

Assembly

The 9mm AR lower of your choice can be either fully assembled or stripped. This ultimately depends on your preference. For someone interested in a quick installation, the fully assembled lower receiver will appeal more to you. However, for someone wanting to home build a 9mm AR from the bottom up, the stripped lower will be more suited. The condition is that the right parts to make up the lower must be obtained.

Installation

The installation of 9mm AR lowers is an important point which affects your choice of lower receiver. If you are lacking gunsmithing skills, it is better to opt for a fully assembled lower. However, if you are up for a challenge and have more time to spare, the stripped lower will be a good pick.

Compatibility

The compatibility of your lower receiver is an important consideration too. This is because not every 9mm AR lower will be compatible with every 9mm magazine. For instance, some of the AR lowers are machined to be compatible with a Glock or Colt-style magazine specifically.

Even in cases where the 9mm AR lower is said to be a lower receiver for Glock magazines, it may only work with factory magazines and not aftermarket ones. Therefore, it is important to consider which 9mm magazines you want to use for your 9mm pistol caliber carbines and then make your 9mm AR lower purchase accordingly.

The 7 Best 9mm AR Lower Receivers in 2022

Without further ado, in order to help you narrow down your search, we have put together a list of the 7 best 9mm AR lowers to assist you. Here, we have gathered for you the unique features, advantages and disadvantages that these lower receivers offer. Read on to find out more!

1. Angstadt Arms AR-15 0940 Stripped Lower Receiver for Glock Magazines

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Pros

• Great compatibility
• Accepts all Glock
• Very lightweight

Cons

• None

If you are looking for a base to build your next Pistol Caliber Carbine, the Angstadt Arms 0940 stripped lower receiver for Glock is ready for your foundation. Constructed from a solid block of 7075-T6 billet aluminum, this lower receiver by Angstadt Arms offers high quality. It is also compatible with not only 9mm but also .40 S&W and 357 Sig Sauer, Glock magazines.

If you are someone who has experienced the AR-15 platform, this is great news because this AR lower features standard AR-15 controls and accepts most aftermarket Mil-Spec components, which will be familiar to you. This includes the last round bolt hold open on an empty magazine. You can also enjoy faster reloads with the flared magazine well.

Overall, this AR-15 9mm lower has great compatibility. It works well with any Mil-Spec upper receiver and can be completed with any standard Mil-Spec component. It allows various 9mm magazines to fit inside the magazine well without being too loose or tight. It also accepts all aftermarket Glock 9mm double stack magazines and is recommended to be used with factory Glock mags.

This AR-15 lower receiver is essentially a great foundation for a quality AR-15 pistol build so we would recommend this Angstadt Arms piece to someone who will be interested in that. Essentially, it will be suitable mostly for AR pistol builders. However, it can also be handy for those interested in an upgrade for a smoother and more precise shooting as it is really close to universal.

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2. PSA PX-9 Forged Complete Glock Style MOE Lower

Pros

• Fully assembled
• Solid construction
• Works well with various PSA upper receivers
• Crisp trigger pull

Cons

• Installation may be challenging
• May not fit well with some Glock style magazines

The PSA PX-9 Forged Complete Glock Style lower is a great lower receiver. Its unique feature is the ability to work with Glock factory magazines with full compatibility. However, users will need to make sure that it works with any aftermarket magazines if you want to pair it with them.

This AR lower receiver is also designed to work with the new 9mm hybrid upper receivers by PSA. It is also a great option for AR pistols and SBRs.

The PSA PX-9 is made of forged 7075 T6 aluminum, giving it reliability and durability due to the solid construction. The lower receiver finish is also hard coat anodized. This coat protects the aluminum, giving it greater quality and enhances its resistance towards corrosion and abrasion. It also allows the lower receiver to maintain its aesthetic design for a longer period of time.

Furthermore, the trigger guard gives off a crisp pull. This is designed to give you a greater 9mm AR shooting experience. The lower receiver is even lightweight which provides a good amount of weight when using it. It even comes already fully installed, ready to serve its purpose.

Overall, as with most models on the market, some improvements could be made such as the ability to accept every Glock magazine, or the installation could be less challenging. However,
for the most part, a Glock enthusiast looking for a lower receiver would be happy with the PSA PX-9 Forged Complete AR Lower.

Especially for Glock users who have a 9mm AR pistol with extra Glock magazines and 9mm rounds simply just lying around, this is your best opportunity to put use of them with this lower receiver!

3. CMMG AR15 9mm Dedicated Lower Receiver

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Pros

• Aesthetically pleasing
• Easy to install
• Suitable for Colt 9mm magazines

Cons

• None

The CMMG AR15 9mm dedicated lower receiver is a stripped lower receiver, suitable for anyone looking into a home build for their 9mm AR-15. The product comes with some pre-installed components including feed ramp, bolt catch and ejector. These are all designed for the best function with your 9mm pistol cartridge. All the holes and inletting as well as pin locations have been machined to final dimensions.

While stripped lowers are known to be more of a challenge than a fully assembled one, this 9mm AR lower receiver by CMMG provides easy installation. Users have commented that the builds have been a breeze, and yet they get the satisfaction of a build themselves. But do make sure that you have the additional components such as buffer spring, stock and trigger group for your installation!

This lower receiver by CMMG has a great appearance overall, with its matte black finish. The flush-fit magazine well will also provide your gun with a clean and uncluttered look. Furthermore, it is hardcoat anodized with a Teflon coat, providing excellent resistance to surface abrasion, scratches or scuffs, and even discoloration from any cleaning solvents or gun oils.

However, take note that this 9mm lower receiver is machined to accept only Colt style or modified Uzi-style 9mm magazines. This eliminates the need for a separate conversion block and reliability problems that could arise due to converting a standard .223/5.56mm lower with any add on parts.

All in all, the CMMG AR15 9mm dedicated lower receiver has a great fit, finish and function. It has proven to perform well over time – from self defense to competitive shooting, a very durable and reliable lower receiver indeed! It is one of the best in terms of getting your value for money. For someone wanting a Colt-style 9mm, this lower is the way to go!

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4. Foxtrot Mike Products – AR-15 FM-9 9mm Billet Lower Receiver Stripped

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Pros

• Great for 9mm AR-15 home build
• Compatible with all mil-spec components
• Top notch customer service
• Great fit and finish

Cons

• Too short for some users

The Foxtrot Mike FM-9 Billet Lower Receivers are totally stripped and ready for the all standard AR-15 Mil-Spec components. This makes these lowers a solid starting point for your novel pistol caliber carbine build. Most buyers are happy with the overall construction when they built their 9mm AR-15 by themselves, especially the fact that this lower receiver is compatible with many of their preferred components. This includes pistol grips, trigger assembly and more.

Besides, the fit and finish of this AR lower receiver is great. The last round bolt hold open works pretty much flawlessly when paired with FM products 9mm BCG, buffer and spring. Customers are very pleased with the last round bolt hold open and deem it to be very well thought out.

Since this lower receiver is stripped, this means that it is the one you should go for if you are the type to build. Instead of something fully assembled, this will give you a bit more of a challenge and sense of satisfaction when you have completed the build!

These lowers will also appeal to you if you are an owner of Glock style magazines. This is because they are compatible with all Glock magazines! Hence, it will be best used by you. It also works great with Magpul magazines.

This is one of the best lower receiver to go for in a home build. A good pairing will be the stripped upper receiver by Foxtrot Mike themselves. The upper and lower fit well together with zero wobble.

Well there are always two sides to a coin, there is some room for improvement of course. This includes the length of this AR which some users may find a little short. However, overall this lower receiver receives greater positive remarks than not!

The recurring complement about this 9mm AR lower is also the customer service that comes with it! Some customers even deem it the best customer service in the business. The bottom line is that this is hands down one of the best 9mm AR lowers that you should really consider, especially for builders!

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5. PSA 9mm Classic Colt-Style Magazine Lower

Pros

• Can handle all kinds of pistol braces
• 6 Position buffer tube
• Easily accepts most Colt magazines
• Easy and fast installation

Cons

• Installation may be challenging
• May not fit well with some Glock style magazines

If you are a Colt enthusiast, this is a great option for you. Most users are Colt enthusiasts who have additional Colt pistols on the side but want one as close to semi-automatic as they can get. The PSA 9mm Classic Colt-style lower was what they were looking for. This is one of the top 9mm AR lower in the market.

A unique point about this piece by PSA is that it can handle all kinds of pistol braces. Thanks to the buffer tube which is stable and long, it accepts a large number of pistol braces. Another feature is that there is no buttstock in this 9mm AR lower, indicating that the design is specifically for an AR pistol and will make it stand out among your other firearm.

If you are an AR pistol shooter, this is one of the best options for you. Be it for home defense, target practice or even competitive shooting, you will be sure to benefit the best from this lower thanks to its stability and functionality which allows for a more precise shot.

This 9mm AR lower by PSA is also highly durable, machined from 7075-T6 forgings and then hard coat anodized. The lower is also recommended to work with a PSA Hybrid 9mm upper and will be great to be assembled with a PSA lower build kit with an A2-style grip, sling loop latch plate as well as 7075-T6 Aluminum pistol buffer tube.

Overall, customers love this product and many feedback that it is the best 9mm AR lower for them despite facing some minor issues. One minor one is a user who had issues with the C products mag, whereby the magazine latch hole is a little low. As a result, the magazine is forced too far into the magazine well which affects feeding. However, once the user opened up the mag latch hole on the magazines, they had no issues since.

6. Quarter Circle 10 AR-15 Ranger Stripped Lower

Pros

• Great craftsmanship
• Enhances long range precision
• Flared integrated trigger guard
• High compatibility

  Cons

• A little heavy

The Quarter Circle 10 AR-15 Ranger, as its name suggests, is purposefully designed for engaging targets beyond pistol ranges. It makes this AR-15 9mm lower the perfect platform for any tactical application, or even simply for a fun day at the range.

The unique point is that this AR lower is well constructed for long range precision. In this list, it is probably the best 9mm AR lower for this purpose. It is also acceptable for all 357 Sig, .40 S&W and 9mm Glock magazines.

This 9mm AR lower also has the hardware that you need for pistol magazine compatibility. It comes with a last-round bolt hold open, ejector as well as flared trigger guard which offers quicker access to your trigger.

The only downside probably is that the lower receiver is a little on the heavy side. This is because there is quite a bit of metal for the purpose of keeping it rigid to enhance precision. Therefore, there is no need to worry that the weight will affect your accuracy, but rather it improves it.

The bottom line is that this lower receiver will be your solution to make your pistol caliber carbines as precise as possible! It is the best lower in our opinion for a longer range, so if that is your interest, then you can hesitate no more.

7. Rainier Arms 9mm Billet Receiver Set

Pros

• Slick design
• Includes magazine release and ambidextrous bolt release
• Integrated ejector and last round bolt hold open

Cons

• No forward assist or dust cover

The Rainier Arms 9mm Billet Receiver Set made it to this list because of its impressive delivery of quality and functionality. Noted by customers that this receiver set “screams quality”, the fit and finish is said to be perfect with clean lines and both upper and lower are tight fitting with zero slop. We also appreciate the slick design and aesthetics of this 9mm receiver set.

This 9mm billet receiver set is CNC machined from solid billet 7075-T6 aluminum. This makes it stronger than the 6061 aluminum that is commonly used. Furthermore, the finish is done well with mil spec hard coat anodize to a surface hardness of 60 Rockwell.

A couple of features to highlight include the ambidextrous bolt release as well as the integrated ejector and last round bolt hold open that are outstanding. The flared magazine well is also designed to allow faster reloading of your semi-auto through the flared opening to guide the magazine home.

In addition, this 9mm AR lower receiver comes with an integrated trigger guard. This is also flared, in order to give more space for your trigger finger. The receiver set is also milled to be lightweight. Ultimately, all these features lead to a smooth feeding and shooting experience.

This is essentially a great option for shooters who are interested in their upper and lower receivers fitting perfectly together. It is also appealing for those who are looking for high quality features in their receivers.

Conclusion

Overall, any 9mm AR lower discussed above will be a great choice for your AR rifle or carbine. The final decision ultimately depends on what you are looking for. While not all of the options discussed may appeal to you, they will give you a good idea of what you may want for your lower receiver. In this way, you can narrow down which is the best 9mm AR lower for you. Remember to weigh out the pros and cons of each choice, and keep in mind the few key components, that being the material, assembly, installation and compatibility to determine your best 9mm AR lower.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

Is a Federal Firearms License (FFL) required in order to purchase stripped lower receivers?

No. If you wish to purchase a lower receiver which is stripped, an FFL requirement is not necessary. This is because the rest of the internal parts are not installed along with the lower. However, it will be good to check with the state and federal laws of your area to be sure of any other requirements before you invest into a receiver without FFL.

Are AR lowers considered to be firearms?

Yes. An AR lower is considered to be a firearm because it is part of a gun which either receives or ejects rounds. The exception is for the stripped version, which is not considered to be a firearm since nothing is installed.

What Are The Differences Between 9mm Stripped Lower And Fully Assembled?

Stripped lower receiver has minimum or almost zero part kits, where the rest of the part kits can be bought separately accumulatively or individually. Nevertheless, the mag release and catch ejector are mostly pre installed. Hence, stripped lower receiver allows gun owner room to customize the best 9mm AR lowers.

Besides that, fully assembled lower is sometimes known as a complete lower. A fully assembled lower only requires 9mm upper then it is good to go. Hence, the price point of this lower parts kit is relatively more attractive and cheaper. Regardless, this lower parts kit may not be as high quality where gun owners would prefer the stripped lower receiver.

Nonetheless, choosing between a stripped lower or fully assembled lower depends on personal preference, usage and budget.