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Posted: 3/29/2003 12:46:02 PM EDT
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Members, I am considering purchasing a couple of the carbon lowers that are advertised by Joeken firearms in Shotgun News. Does anyone here have any experience with building a rifle on a carbon lower? Any thoughts on durability vs. the standard aluminum? What are the pros and cons of this material? Any input would be most appreciated. Thanks |
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From a "Strength of Materials" class I had to take in college and from personal experience with carbon fiber on Road Racing motorcycles I would question the durability of a carbon fiber lower, the CF properties are stronger than aluminium but thats only in certain moments of stress......like prolonged force and or constent pressures..... from what I've seen it doesnt hold these strengths at quick stricking forces.............what Im saying is if you should happen to drop your AR or need to use it under "combat" conditions jumping down to prone positions and what not, the CF may shatter where as forged aluminium is field tested and proven................... If it where a better material to use Im sure Wilson Arms and Armalite, Bushy and all the others would be offering it............ Just my humble opinion |
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Think of the things successfully made of carbon fiber: airliner horizontal stabilizers, wing leading edges and spars, jet engine fan blades, gun barrel stiffening shrouds, bicycle frames, skis, softball bats, etc. All generally items that carry their major stresses in one direction, and need high stiffness to weight. I don't see a lower receiver, properly designed for the toughness required (NOT stiffness), being much of an advantage in weight. The best use (in firearms) of high strength and stiffness with low weight is in barrels, where the carbon at the outer extent of the barrel section offers very superior bending stiffness as compared to steel. However, I am open to being educated to the contrary. Put a couple thousand rounds through the gun you build on it, drop it on the stock a couple times, and carry it around in the trunk for a few months under the kid's soccer equipment and let us know how it holds up. Also, do they bush the pin holes with a more durable material?? |
| I haven't seen these lowers from JoeKen, but I wouldn't buy one without good feedback first. If you haven't already, I would take a look at Cavalry Arms lowers if you want something innovative and lightweight. One of the coolest lowers made IMO. They are made from a polymer similar to what you find on Glock pistols and are time tested and proven to be tough as nails. |
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I saw a Carbon Calvary Arms Lower that was split right up the mold line at a gun show in Phoenix. Pretty scary sight. The guy was taking it back for an exchange. He still raved about how good they are and it was really his falt that it broke. His story was a round failed to fully extract and got hung in the chamber. When the bolt went forward it jamed the spent brass into the action which split it. Fine for him but I'm not buying that crap. I'll stick with Aluminum. They are proven. Tom, www.swhounds.com |
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If these lowers are the ones previously sold by(but not manufactured by)The former Hesse Arms(now Vulcan Arms),then these are an injection moulded PAN/Aramid composite which overcomes the all the problems of brittleness and poor bearing qualities of straight carbon reinforced epoxy. The only real problem you face here is deterioration in elevated temperatures above 109 Celsius,and you are not likely to encounter these in a lower receiver. Put it another way...I'd like one! [NI] |
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My apologies to all for not responding with thanks before now. I have been unable to get to my pc for a few days. This coupled with the outage has prevented a response before now. I very much appreciate everyones input. I was just curious from a weight standpoint, however several points were made that I had not condsidered. And this from a physics major! Terrible. Thanks again for all the input. |
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