Color Difference Upper & Lower
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cyphertext
US Veteran
Wont affect function, but if you are OCD, it is going to bother you. I probably would not have accepted that one...
getoff
Member
my Colt 6720 LE/Military only restricted carbine came like that. its a factory gun to boot. i guess its different batches, or forging times... or poor quality control, maybe a late friday afternoon?
Pisgah
Member
It's not normal in the sense that every one of them is like that, but it is normal in the sense that it is not at all uncommon to see. In other words, there's nothing "wrong" with the gun.
smith627
Member
Just saw this post and went to the safe to pull out my 9 month old Sport II in order to compare upper and lower colors. The black color on the upper and lower are slightly different just like the OP's photo. This is my first AR and I did not notice this when I received it and still had not noticed it until I read this thread and it doesn't bother me at all. In fact, I sort of like the slight contrast. My upper and lower lines do mate exactly where they should. It shoots fine having no malfunctions during the few times I have shot it.
cyphertext
US Veteran
There is that too...
ggibson511960
Member
Anodizing
AR receivers are investment cast aluminum with finish machining, followed by anodizing. The anodizing process grows a microscopic layer of weird crystalline oxide tubes that readily accept dye, hence the variety of colors for anodized parts. This is the way they were made until all the coating systems came to market. Mismatched upper and lower colors is a pathetic manufacturing flaw, probably harmless functionally, but poor quality control. Can you imagine a fine S&W revolver with a deep blue receiver and matte finished barrel? Same thing. All the AR's I have built have suffered this fate to some degree as the lowers, being firearms, are sourced from separate vendors from the uppers.
AR receivers are investment cast aluminum with finish machining, followed by anodizing. The anodizing process grows a microscopic layer of weird crystalline oxide tubes that readily accept dye, hence the variety of colors for anodized parts. This is the way they were made until all the coating systems came to market. Mismatched upper and lower colors is a pathetic manufacturing flaw, probably harmless functionally, but poor quality control. Can you imagine a fine S&W revolver with a deep blue receiver and matte finished barrel? Same thing. All the AR's I have built have suffered this fate to some degree as the lowers, being firearms, are sourced from separate vendors from the uppers.
sgtsandman
US Veteran
Think of it as different lots of paint. They are the same color code but variances from one lot to the next won't exactly match. A big problem paint shops have to work with but is a reality of am imperfect world.
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Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
hdwhit
Member
Yes, every AR I have bought, including two S&W Sport IIs, have had some degree of difference in the color of the upper and lower receivers. After a through cleaning and oiling as described in the manual, the difference on both moderated somewhat.
For my purposes, I did not consider the color difference enough to constitute a defect and it hasn't had any effect on the function of either rifle.
For my purposes, I did not consider the color difference enough to constitute a defect and it hasn't had any effect on the function of either rifle.
I had not noticed that being out of line, as this was the first AR that I had bought. Thanks for activating my OCD.
Now that is bugging me more than the color difference.
Argggggg
kthom
Member
My two cents worth ... Pretty is as pretty does! Unless of course you are buying a collector grade gun. Function over form is the name of the game. If you use it, it will show it. Does yours shoot when you pull the trigger? Will the rounds land about where they are aimed?
Why would someone expect perfection from a bargain priced gun, especially if it works well?
For my money, the Sport II shoots way better than some noticeably more expensive AR's. Mine is most definitely worth the $499.99 I paid for it! All I expect from it is that it fire and function well. I got way more than my money's worth!
Why would someone expect perfection from a bargain priced gun, especially if it works well?
For my money, the Sport II shoots way better than some noticeably more expensive AR's. Mine is most definitely worth the $499.99 I paid for it! All I expect from it is that it fire and function well. I got way more than my money's worth!
AR receivers are machined from forgings or extruded billets, not castings.
MichiganScott
Member
I almost jumped when I read the post by ggibson when I first read it, but decided to Google it first. Although the majority of AR lower receivers are machined forgings with machined billet coming in a distant second, there are cast receivers on the market.
Rastoff
US Veteran
cyphertext
US Veteran
And then there are the polymer lowers......
Big Shrek
Member
Well, that's why Cerakote was invented...solves that whole pesky problem!
Myself, I'm gonna go honk off some Liberals with mine!!
Myself, I'm gonna go honk off some Liberals with mine!!
Big Shrek
Member
There are Other options as well 
The only limitations are your mind and your wallet
The only limitations are your mind and your wallet
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