Battle Arms Development Forged Wire EDM Lower Receiver

*** Click on a photo for ordering info and pricing ***

Description:

Battle Arms hold themselves to a high standard of quality for everything they make. This is especially true with their lower receivers. The forgings are of the highest quality. They control all factors to make it that way. The roll mark with their new logo is done with a 3D laser engraver that they do in-house. The receiver extension threads are helical. All of the pin holes are reamed rather than drilled. The flared mag well is cut using wire EDM and there is no flashing or rough areas. All of this adds up in time and money spent that gives them a lower receiver that has the quality that is on a Battle Arms Development level.

Features:

Mil-spec dimensions and holes.
7075 T6 aluminum.
Mil-spec type 3 hard anodizing.
High quality and tested forgings.
3D laser engraved roll mark with Battle Arms’ new logo.
All pin holes are reamed rather than drilled.
Helical rear receiver extension threads (not drilled and tapped).
Wire EDM cut flared mag well.
Selector stops have been removed.
45 degree safety selector compatible (See my review of the BAD-ASS ST here).

If you're in Henderson, give us a call and come on by to have a look, or you can see them at Bentwood Gunsmithing

We have a responsibility to our customers that expect the world of us.  When they receive theirs, it would be as finely crafted as they imagined, and then some.

This isn't about making it beautiful, though it is.  To us, it's about making it as correct as possible, using the methods that yield the results we demand that often cost more than lesser means.  By no means are we suggesting different manufacturing methods yield unsatisfactory results.  What we choose to use, such as wire EDM, reamed pin holes, etc., do it right the first time, every time.  

It doesn't cost more because it bears our name and logo can command it.  In days and weeks to come, we will start seeing in-depth reviews of these lower receivers, we will let reviewers and customers do the talking, it means more to us and readers when testimonies don't come directly from the manufacturer  

It's a matter of pride in doing the best we can, and delivering on that promise we made to ourselves since 2009.  All or nothing, half measures are not for us.

That post was written in reply to maleante's, yours hadn't shown up when I started writing it

Drilling creates rough surfaces, and often don't make a good straight and circular hole. Post drilling reaming is far more accurate, and creates a straight and superior round hole.

Helical threading is cleaner and more precise, and leaves no sharp edges.  A tap will cut a certain size, but as it wears, there is no way to control size. With Aerospace parts, tapping isn't an acceptable way to make a hole if the size is over 1/2". Tapped holes usually have a "TORN" finish. Milling the thread gives you the ability to hold the size perfect if you are using thread gages. If the part is going on an airplane, they will check the thread profile, and may reject a tapped hole if it doesn't meet specs. With thread milling you can adjust the size of the thread as the insert starts to wear. Also the finish is a lot better.

We knew some might object to the size and location of the logo and markings.  In person, both sides are rather difficult to discern.  In photos, we obviously want to bring the laser engraved logo and markings out more, so in some photos, lighting, position and angle are optimized to do just that.

In person, the logos and markings are rather subdued, you'd have to look carefully to see them.  There's no way to make everyone happy, it's probably impossible.  What we did not do though, is color fill them and make them stand out

Joe, the mag well is wire EDM cut, but are you referring to something else?

Thank you Joe.  I was tempted to post a video I took of the wire EDM operation that cuts our mag well, but it may reveal trade secrets, this is what we can safely post.



Not a stock photo (would have been much higher quality lol), this was taken in the shop with my iPhone.

Wire EDM the mag well is a time consuming and messy business, filters have to be changed often and consumables cost adds up quickly.

The extra steps and different methods we use are necessary to create the product to our satisfaction.  Drilled and reamed pin holes, helical threading, chamfering of the pin holes by hand, using only high quality (and more expensive) forgings, spending days at the anodizing shop until they got it right, all took considerable amount of time.  

To bring an OK and acceptable receiver to the degree of fine craftsmanship and precision on ours have is costly, but not prohibitively so for those that demand and appreciate it.   It might not compete well with $69 lowers, but it was never meant to.

There will, and we'll be there too

Safe to say I have NOT missed your point...Interesting posts from you and it seems if you know so much about machining processes I would invite you to make your own lower.  For someone stating he's not trying to be so critical, (in your opening salvo post), then in the same breath, use words like "is just hot hot air in my mind", "marketing nonsense", etc....?

Let me give you a bit of Insight about Duffy, I've known him for years and he's NOT a marketing guy like that, never has been. Their parts speak for themselves and having you come in here and bark the way you have is way off course for what this small company is all about. I've been around a few years and know a thing or two about what goes into the machining aspects, and I've have really been impressed to say the least what Battle Arms has done over the years.  They are the utmost respectable company out there and their products speak for themselves and I AM being critical of their company, in a way that deserves respect for what they've accomplished and what they continue to bring to the community.  

Vic Di Cosola

Gentlemen,
Thank you for the comments on our latest BAD-15 Lower Receiver.  
I want to jump in here and say that any technical information that Duffy/Roger posted here is his best attempt at describing our manufacturing process for informational/educational purposes.  Neither one of us is a machinist or play one on TV but we do want the best means and methods to manufacture our products.   If anything is misspoke, please let us know so we can clarify.  We simply want to supply our customers with the facts.  
We work with our very capable and experienced in-house machinists to decide on the production means and methods.  We want to create the "best" forged AR15 lower receiver we know how to make.  The BAD-15 Forged Lower receiver is not for everyone, just like a Ferrari or Rolex isn't for everyone.  Can't think of a good analogy here so please don't take it too literal.
DRILL/REAMING - We do drill the holes first and then ream them to size.  Not implying reaming makes the holes center relative to one another.  We have to drill the hole true first before reaming.  We use quality holders so the tools don't walk/wobble.  Reaming makes sure the diameters of the holes are precise and we have a higher chance of having a finished lower receiver with in-spec holes after the anodizing process.  These extra steps take time = money.  It is good machining practice and we don't like to cut corners.
HELICAL THREADING - This type of threading is typical of aerospace parts.  We decided to do it this way because it is it is typically more precise and results in cleaner threads.  It is less harsh on the forging (less violent process) and the forging already have a lot of built-in stress.  A threaded aerospace part the size of the thread on the lower receiver will almost never be drilled and tapped but machined via helical threading.  Again, will most people even know the difference?  Probably not.  However, just because our customers can't see or likely notice the difference at first glance it doesn't mean we will change our manufacturing methods because WE will know how it is made.  It is what we do when nobody is looking that sets us apart.
WIRE EDM vs. BROACHING / MACHINING - We opted for a wired EDM magwell because that is the best way to keep a consistent tolerance every single time so our 1st lower receiver is cut identical to our 10,000th lower receiver.  As someone stated it takes 30 minutes of machine time = about $50 in value in the receiver.  If you add this cost alone to any other quality forged lower receivers available on the market you will see the our price point is very competitive not to mention all the other features.  We purchased a brand new FANUC, self threading, wire EDM machine just for cutting the lower receiver mag well.  

Here is the WIRE EDM with the lower receiver mounting fixture:

Here is the WIRE EDM burning through one of the lower receivers under water:

Here is a picture of the spent wire.  Fresh wire is fed through each lower receiver to make the cut so there is a lot of cost in consumables but the result is near perfect (I don't like to say anything is perfect) cut mag well:

LASER ENGRAVING - As for the deep, high resolution laser engraving of our "roll-mark", text, and fire/safe markings, it is an added value to our customers.  It may not be for everyone but this is how we decide to make our receivers.  These are produced in low volume and with great care.  We are proud to put our name and logo on it.  One day it will be of great collector value because few lowers, if any, are made this way.  
There is another 25-30 minutes to laser both sides of the receiver which equates to about another $50+ in cost that's given to our customers as an added value.  Most other lasers cannot burn this deep even if they tried and those that can would likely take 2-3 times longer.  We purchased a high-end, high-power German made $150k laser engraving machine just for this.  Again, most manufacturers would not do what we have done but we are Battle Arms Development and we make things our way.  
There are many forged lower receivers on the market and we are not looking to bring out yet another run-of-the-mill lower receiver to an already saturated market.  What we want is to bring to market our dream receiver that we hope would set the new bar for Forged AR15 Lower Receivers.  
Look at the sharpness of the text, the depth of the engraving, and how fine some of the lines are.  This is not possible with CNC engraving:

I am biased but I think we have the best looking logo and laser engraving in the Industry

 






I appreciate some of your points about cheaper lowers and all I can say is quality costs money.   Our cost to manufacture these lowers is more than the retail cost of many of the forged receivers on the market.  Again, this is not for everyone.  There are plenty of less expensive lowers out there to choose from.  For the connoisseurs wanting something more, there is the BAD-15.
Thanks again everyone.  Feel free to email me or Roger/Duffy with any comments or suggestions.  We are constantly improving our products and we humbly welcome all suggestions.
Regards,
George
 
 
 
 
 


 

Nope not a machinist or engineer, never played one in college drama class either  

A member had asked specific questions, we have always tried to communicate promptly, if only to leave the incomplete post as a place holder, lest anyone should think we didn't bother to reply.  

As a company, we've always been remarkably transparent, and present facts, not arguments, this is something I learned from Vic of TNVC years ago.  

DarkDrifter had raised questions regarding the manufacturing methods their cost of the lower with which George is far more familiar than I.  We're grateful to have the opportunity to go in depth and explain these methods and cost associated with them, there's no ill feelings towards him

After all the tolerance stacking issues we've seen, I respectfully disagree that a lower is a lower

Yep there will be a select fire version

We all have to start somewhere  Billet ambidextrous receivers will be next.

Give Bentwood Gunsmithing a call, they should be able to arrange something

Photo courtesy of Kieth, thank you sir!