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12/11/2005 5:34:37 PM EDT
Are carbon fiber receivers as good as aluminum? I am a newbie when it comes to AR building and apologize if this is a repeat question.
12/11/2005 6:42:21 PM EDT
[#1]
If you are building a rifle, then I would go with the forged aluminum like DPMS, Stag, Rock River, etc., or the Cav Arms "plastic". I don't have any info on the carbon fiber recievers. I do know they are used on AR pistols. Never seen one on a rifle.
12/12/2005 4:49:09 PM EDT
[#2]
I have seen a few different ones, the only one I can think of is a Vulcan, and it doesn't  mention pistol or rifle, I know carbon fiber is very strong and light ,I just don't see them mentioned much on this site and was looking for some opinions>
12/12/2005 5:45:59 PM EDT
[#3]
Vulcan is the same as Hesse, which is world renound for building junk, with an occasional good part coming through (there are Hesse/Vulcan rifles/recievers out there that do work). I have a Hesse aluminum lower that failed on a brand new rifle build after 2 (TWO) rounds. The back of the reciever broke off and ended up in my lap with the butt stock attached, and me looking down a locked and loaded rifle, with the back end of the carrier about 6" from my face. My nose would have been the buffer if I had pilled the trigger again. No warranty from Hesse, by the way.

You will not be saving that much weight with a carbon fiber reciever. I have a friend that built a rifle on the Cav Arms plastic lower and a Rock River (I think) ultra light 16" barreled upper. The rifle is about 4.5 pounds unloaded. There are so many good lowers out there that have a great reputation and service support (lacking with Vulcan/Hesse) that most will advise staying away from Vulcan/Hesse. I have used 2 DPMS, 1 Rock River, and 1 Stag on builds, with a spare Stag in the safe for the next project. Search reciever and read the results here. Good luck.
12/12/2005 5:54:30 PM EDT
[#4]
Bushmaster makes Carbon Fiber ones.   Hard to say anything bad about Bushmaster.  
Linky!
BushMaster Carbon recievers
12/12/2005 7:11:07 PM EDT
[#5]
I would never buy a Vulcan was only using them as an example, I have seen a few ads in SGN for different brands they just were the brand I could remember, I will probably go with Mega or Rock river for my first build, Bushmaster is only about 30 min from my house and they are a great company but about twice the price,  I will probably use them for a future build.  It seems like carbon fiber isn't that popular.

12/12/2005 7:18:52 PM EDT
[#6]
go with what is proven. that is my 2 cents
12/13/2005 9:02:55 AM EDT
[#7]
Vulcan carbon fiber lowers are actually quite good.  Not made by them, but by another manufacturer.  One good thing about carbon fiber; you don't have to worry about dinging the lower when you put the pins in.  I've made 7 or 8 rifles on Vulcan lowers, and don't try to protect the lower at all; the carbon fiber just doesn't show marks.

One aspect to building on a Vulcan carbon fiber lower:  As the lower is the only name that shows, if you plan on selling it, you then have to explain that it isn't REALLY a Vulcan, etc, etc.. and no-one really believes you, no matter how good the rest of the components are.
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