[clr8ter]

Quentin - I know YOU didn't say paint it. Didn't mean to imply that. To the guys that DID say paint it - You go paint yours, that's fine for you, I'll color match mine, that's fine for me. I might not be into mine for much more, or any more $, and it'll look better. Who says that something that might save your life has to look crappy? (MY opinion.)

[PTsouthpaw]

A lot of quality manufacturers' finishes match pretty closely to one another. I have a Bushmaster Upper on an RRA lower. When I first got the upper it seemed MUCH darker than the lower receiver. I put a couple coats of oil (let it soak in, and oiled again) on the lower, and it became obvious that the upper had been oiled before shipping, while the lower receiver was pretty much bone dry. Now they match almost perfectly. YMMV.

[diggsbakes]

To the OP:

Focus on function first. It doesn't matter what your rfile looks like if you can't get it out to play.

Get something that fits what you want to do with the gun and go for it.

Fit and Color should match with in makers, but I also have several receivers from different manufacturers that match perfectly as well. The last thing you need to be worrying about on your first AR is a freaking paint job.

[556plinker]

If aesthetics/cosmetics are a concern you can buy the dura coat shake and spray for 29$ in a single color and have everything match. I plan on doing that with my build. Watch the video on the dura coat website and this will no longer be an issue allowing you to value shop your various components. I'm with the group on function first

[Quentin]

If it really matters to you then I'd suggest first buying the upper you like the best (highly recommend BCM and Daniel Defense) and taking it to the LGSs and choose a stripped lower that matches.

If that doesn't suit you then you could go in all your LGS and handle every AR in town. Take pictures to remember the finishes, write notes then have a fighting chance of getting different receivers to match. (And while you're handling all those guns you'll get ideas for your build.) Also look at the sticky with various lowers for some ideas.

My first build, the S&W lower was deep black, satiny and smoothly polished while the ArmaLite upper was rougher, definitely more like a military gun. It was obvious they were mixed parts but the rifle was 100%. I'll admit it bugged me a little but once you smeared on oil most people who picked up the rifle wouldn't pay much attention to it.

When I started my second build I found an ArmaLite stripped lower for a good price and figured why not since I loved the rollmark - and it does match the ArmaLite upper very well. And I got lucky with the Daniel Defense upper, it's a perfect match to the 2.5 year old S&W lower.

Anyway, I am glad to have the receivers match but in the scheme of things it's pretty low on the scale when your goal is a well designed, reliable AR.

[mjkeat]

Originally Posted by clr8ter

Quentin - I know YOU didn't say paint it. Didn't mean to imply that. To the guys that DID say paint it - You go paint yours, that's fine for you, I'll color match mine, that's fine for me. I might not be into mine for much more, or any more $, and it'll look better. Who says that something that might save your life has to look crappy? (MY opinion.)

Nobody said it had to look "crappy." I like my ARs to look nice and I believe they accomplish that task very well.

[WoodysKJ]

To quote and old dead architect....."Form Follows Function"

Meaning that the outward appearance of what ever you are building should follow it's intended use. Build it and then worry about how it looks, bet ya it winds up looking pretty good.

[mjkeat]

Originally Posted by WoodysKJ

To quote and old dead architect....."Form Follows Function"

Meaning that the outward appearance of what ever you are building should follow it's intended use. Build it and then worry about how it looks, bet ya it winds up looking pretty good.

Sullivan Wainwright said, "form ever follows function."

[WoodysKJ]

Originally Posted by WoodysKJ

To quote and old dead architect....."Form Follows Function"

Meaning that the outward appearance of what ever you are building should follow it's intended use. Build it and then worry about how it looks, bet ya it winds up looking pretty good.

Frank Lloyd Wright

[mjkeat]

Originally Posted by WoodysKJ

Frank Lloyd Wright

Correction to my post - The guys name was Louis Sullivan, Wainwright was one of his buildings.

Wright was an apprentice of Sullivans. I imagine he coined his phrase from Sullivans, "form ever follows function." The exterior form of the building shows its interior function.