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Posted: 4/25/2015 9:26:40 AM EDT
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Thinking about getting a polymer lower.
Are they any good or should i stay away from them? All opinions are appreciated! Thanks for looking! |
Same photos that are always posted. ATI is now reinforcing their poly lowers with metal to resolve the issues with early poly lowers. I know, why reinforce poly with metal? just use metal in the first place  They are also offering an exchange program for any of the old lowers, old for new reinforced...free (are they admitting they have a problem )
I built a few with poly just "cuz". I had a bunch in my safe right after SH and A LOT of friends that just had to build an AR. I bought them pre SH for something like $30 each, sold them for the same. 2 years in and none have broken. Mind you none of these lowers are with Tier 1 operators  . I have only one on a dedicated .22.
That said...Forged lowers can be had for as little as $39.95 right now. Unless you just "have to have" a polymer lower I see no reason what so ever to purchase one. If you do build one, I would only use it for one of your "Hobby" guns. I would never use one for SHTF, HD or any hard charging courses. |
| if you wanted to go poly to shave weight, look at a GWACS Armory Cav15mkII lower. You not only cut the wieght of the lower in half, but you also lose weight in the buffer extension and stock area as well. The Cav15 design has been around for 12 years, any pictures of them failing are of older revisions. |
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My experience with Omni lowers is one point...
Built it up with an LPK and upper from PSA, snapped the upper in place with the pivot pin,and the damned takedown pin wouldn't line up. Removed the upper and placed it on a Bushmaster and RRA lower, voila!! It fit and passed function checks. Other uppers that work on other lowers won't work in the Omni. All of the parts eventually came out of that Omni lower and are now in the range bag as spares. |
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I wanted a polymer lower just to try something different,a dedicated 22 sounds fun.It might be a good gift for the little one. You ought to check out the forums more carefully: http://www.ar15.com/forums/t_3_118/673815_Bushmaster_AR_Carbon_15_cracked_lower_receiver.html&light=bushmaster If you still really, really want a polymer lower, get one of the Cav Arms-style lowers. They're proven to work. |
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I have two poly lowers, a Plum Crazy and a New Frontier, both purchased as complete lowers. Both spent most of their time on a 7.62x39 upper shooting corrosive surplus ammo. After several years the NFA started double tapping, turns out the pivot point of the hammer partially melted. I replaced the FCGs in both with metal ones and will eventually replace both lowers.
I thought the poly would be a good choice for corrosive ammo but if you clean a rifle properly (lots of hot soapy water) it doesn't make a difference. When I bought mine they were $100 and $120 as complete lowers, when a Stag or RRA was $250 to $300. But now I can get a complete aluminum lower for $150 Yes they are lighter but there's better places to save weight, I have a 14.5" lightweight upper with std hand guards, about as stripped as you can get, I've run that upper on both a poly and a RRA lower and both feel identical in terms of weight. And if it matters, I have two RRA lowers and a PSA lower, I can pop the pins by hand easily on all of them but both poly lowers have pins so tight I have to use a tool to pop them. |
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When the panic was going on and high prices were everywhere, Polymer lowers were not selling even as complete lowers.
It's your money but as many have stated, Don't waste your money. For the $40-50 for a forged stripped lower you will be money ahead. That's an ACT trigger paid for.
Seen numerous lowers like the ones posted above in pics and in person. Not worth the money in my book. 
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I'd be willing to try the TN Arms lowers http://www.tnarmsco.com/
They did address the key failure point with both a high shelf design and more thickness plus it is a metal hybrid. That said, I got a few Anderson lowers for $39.95 ea. and Aim Surplus still puts them on sale for that occasionally, so the polymers don't always cost less even. |
| i used a new frontier armory lower for lightweight taccom 22 build for the wife and could not be happier with it. i did replace the plastic FCG with all metal parts because i didn't want to take a chance on plastic parts in there. she really likes it and it weighs in under 4 lbs so very easy to handle and fun to shoot. i don't own anything else in plastic but for a fun gun for the wife and or kids i think it's fine. |
| I bought a New Frontier complete polymer lower for a .22 build. Then I found a great price on a M&P15-22 with threaded barrel. The NFA lower sits in a box waiting for project. With the present weight and cost difference between a poly and forged lower, I'd stick with forged lowers. |
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Things break. Its life. No reason to not tinker with poly if you wanna tinker. http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v655/banditman1/DSC_0756.jpg http://i838.photobucket.com/albums/zz307/jpogg936/100_2252.jpg http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-iD1nYprl9vM/Tl7l1HFBWZI/AAAAAAAAABI/nXMJ78F-18I/s1600/DSCN0221+%2528Medium%2529.JPG http://i812.photobucket.com/albums/zz50/arfcom2010/cast1.jpg Let me help clarify your post a bit. The 2nd and last pictures are of Oly CAST (not forged) lowers. They are known to be of inferior quality and prone to brittle failure. The 3rd pic is a common mistake by someone who doesn't know how to support a lower when installing or removing a roll pin. The 1st pic is from, well, I dunno, a shredder?
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Let me help clarify your post a bit. The 2nd and last pictures are of Oly CAST (not forged) lowers. They are known to be of inferior quality and prone to brittle failure. The 3rd pic is a common mistake by someone who doesn't know how to support a lower when installing or removing a roll pin. The 1st pic is from, well, I dunno, a shredder?
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Things break. Its life. No reason to not tinker with poly if you wanna tinker. http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v655/banditman1/DSC_0756.jpg http://i838.photobucket.com/albums/zz307/jpogg936/100_2252.jpg http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-iD1nYprl9vM/Tl7l1HFBWZI/AAAAAAAAABI/nXMJ78F-18I/s1600/DSCN0221+%2528Medium%2529.JPG http://i812.photobucket.com/albums/zz50/arfcom2010/cast1.jpg Let me help clarify your post a bit. The 2nd and last pictures are of Oly CAST (not forged) lowers. They are known to be of inferior quality and prone to brittle failure. The 3rd pic is a common mistake by someone who doesn't know how to support a lower when installing or removing a roll pin. The 1st pic is from, well, I dunno, a shredder?
That is a DAMN accurate assessment! AND the photo of the M-16A1 lower is TOTAL B.S.!!! That receiver is a Demil, you are insinuating it failed. It was Purposely DESTROYED! 
link to the story on the lower |
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Quoted: Things break. Its life. No reason to not tinker with poly if you wanna tinker. http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v655/banditman1/DSC_0756.jpg http://i838.photobucket.com/albums/zz307/jpogg936/100_2252.jpg http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-iD1nYprl9vM/Tl7l1HFBWZI/AAAAAAAAABI/nXMJ78F-18I/s1600/DSCN0221+%2528Medium%2529.JPG http://i812.photobucket.com/albums/zz50/arfcom2010/cast1.jpg You failed. |
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You failed. Quoted:
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Things break. Its life. No reason to not tinker with poly if you wanna tinker. http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v655/banditman1/DSC_0756.jpg http://i838.photobucket.com/albums/zz307/jpogg936/100_2252.jpg http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-iD1nYprl9vM/Tl7l1HFBWZI/AAAAAAAAABI/nXMJ78F-18I/s1600/DSCN0221+%2528Medium%2529.JPG http://i812.photobucket.com/albums/zz50/arfcom2010/cast1.jpg You failed. LoL. Thanks |
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LoL. Thanks Quoted:
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Things break. Its life. No reason to not tinker with poly if you wanna tinker. http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v655/banditman1/DSC_0756.jpg http://i838.photobucket.com/albums/zz307/jpogg936/100_2252.jpg http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-iD1nYprl9vM/Tl7l1HFBWZI/AAAAAAAAABI/nXMJ78F-18I/s1600/DSCN0221+%2528Medium%2529.JPG http://i812.photobucket.com/albums/zz50/arfcom2010/cast1.jpg You failed. LoL. Thanks You REALLY don't get it! You show up on a tech forum trying to lie/bullshit on a subject that most of us are going to know is total crap! It took me all of two minutes to track down the photo and post that you attempted to pass off as a failed M-16A1 receiver. Go back to your video games. |
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You REALLY don't get it! You show up on a tech forum trying to lie/bullshit on a subject that most of us are going to know is total crap! It took me all of two minutes to track down the photo and post that you attempted to pass off as a failed M-16A1 receiver. Go back to your video games. No need to get your panties in a bunch. OBVIOUSLY the puzzle pieced receiver wasn't a failure. I was being facetious. Sorry to have ruffled your feathers pal. Obviously you are quite passionate about this subject. I'm a dumb newbie with no sense, so I will just go sit in the corner for my timeout now. |
| I wouldn't recommend poly over the aluminum lowers, not at today's prices. But on a whim I bought a NFA polymer lower. It works fine. I've shot it in competition, shot it in the rain, Roughed it a little bit - it's fine. I'm guessing it'll fail sooner than most lowers. I wouldn't use it to build a national match rifle. But for an M4 project while trying something different, they work. |
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No need to get your panties in a bunch. OBVIOUSLY the puzzle pieced receiver wasn't a failure. I was being facetious. Sorry to have ruffled your feathers pal. Obviously you are quite passionate about this subject. I'm a dumb newbie with no sense, so I will just go sit in the corner for my timeout now. Quoted:
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You REALLY don't get it! You show up on a tech forum trying to lie/bullshit on a subject that most of us are going to know is total crap! It took me all of two minutes to track down the photo and post that you attempted to pass off as a failed M-16A1 receiver. Go back to your video games. No need to get your panties in a bunch. OBVIOUSLY the puzzle pieced receiver wasn't a failure. I was being facetious. Sorry to have ruffled your feathers pal. Obviously you are quite passionate about this subject. I'm a dumb newbie with no sense, so I will just go sit in the corner for my timeout now. Don't mind him, he can be a bit... spirited...
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Things break. Its life. No reason to not tinker with poly if you wanna tinker. http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v655/banditman1/DSC_0756.jpg http://i838.photobucket.com/albums/zz307/jpogg936/100_2252.jpg http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-iD1nYprl9vM/Tl7l1HFBWZI/AAAAAAAAABI/nXMJ78F-18I/s1600/DSCN0221+%2528Medium%2529.JPG http://i812.photobucket.com/albums/zz50/arfcom2010/cast1.jpg There's a massive difference between lowers breaking and lowers being demilled. But I guess everybody thinks they're an SME |
| I put together a Polymer80 lower a while back using a cheap A1 upper reliever and spare parts. It's held together well. Wouldn't want to have to use it in a combat situation, but I feed it cheap commie ammo and don't worry about the way it looks or if it gets beat up. |
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That is a DAMN accurate assessment! AND the photo of the M-16A1 lower is TOTAL B.S.!!! That receiver is a Demil, you are insinuating it failed. It was Purposely DESTROYED!
link to the story on the lower Quoted:
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Things break. Its life. No reason to not tinker with poly if you wanna tinker. http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v655/banditman1/DSC_0756.jpg http://i838.photobucket.com/albums/zz307/jpogg936/100_2252.jpg http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-iD1nYprl9vM/Tl7l1HFBWZI/AAAAAAAAABI/nXMJ78F-18I/s1600/DSCN0221+%2528Medium%2529.JPG http://i812.photobucket.com/albums/zz50/arfcom2010/cast1.jpg Let me help clarify your post a bit. The 2nd and last pictures are of Oly CAST (not forged) lowers. They are known to be of inferior quality and prone to brittle failure. The 3rd pic is a common mistake by someone who doesn't know how to support a lower when installing or removing a roll pin. The 1st pic is from, well, I dunno, a shredder?
That is a DAMN accurate assessment! AND the photo of the M-16A1 lower is TOTAL B.S.!!! That receiver is a Demil, you are insinuating it failed. It was Purposely DESTROYED!
link to the story on the lower this |
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