AR Sponsor
Posted: 1/5/2014 5:22:42 PM EDT
|
Should I just buy a lower or is it worth my time getting an 80% lower ?
Is 1/7 the barrel I want? |
|
Quoted:
Do you have access to a mill or a nice drill press with an X/Y table and know how to use it? If not, don't bother with an 80% 1/7 will do anything you need it to. This times 1000% if you don't have the equipment or the skills necessary don't mess with an 80%, unless you are willing to learn and maybe mess something up. If it's your first build i would not recommend one when stripped lowers are going relatively cheap right now. Also welcome |
|
Quoted:
This times 1000% if you don't have the equipment or the skills necessary don't mess with an 80%, unless you are willing to learn and maybe mess something up. If it's your first build i would not recommend one when stripped lowers are going relatively cheap right now. Also welcome Quoted:
Quoted:
Do you have access to a mill or a nice drill press with an X/Y table and know how to use it? If not, don't bother with an 80% 1/7 will do anything you need it to. This times 1000% if you don't have the equipment or the skills necessary don't mess with an 80%, unless you are willing to learn and maybe mess something up. If it's your first build i would not recommend one when stripped lowers are going relatively cheap right now. Also welcome I say that, but my first few builds were 80%'s, I never bought a finished lower until I started building SBR's But I've got a mill... 
|
|
Quoted:
Gun will be primarily for target shooting. I'm not trying to build the most expensive AR but something above average in quality and price. So manly I'll shoot cheaper rounds until I'm much better. Get a stripped lower. You need good shop equipment to mill out an 80 percenter without a build party. Most common 5.56 rounds are 55 grain and 62 grain. For these rounds i'd recommend 1/9, 1/8, or 1/7 |
|
Quoted:
I say that, but my first few builds were 80%'s, I never bought a finished lower until I started building SBR's But I've got a mill... Quoted:
Quoted:
Quoted:
Do you have access to a mill or a nice drill press with an X/Y table and know how to use it? If not, don't bother with an 80% 1/7 will do anything you need it to. This times 1000% if you don't have the equipment or the skills necessary don't mess with an 80%, unless you are willing to learn and maybe mess something up. If it's your first build i would not recommend one when stripped lowers are going relatively cheap right now. Also welcome I say that, but my first few builds were 80%'s, I never bought a finished lower until I started building SBR's But I've got a mill... Well yes i've seen your work and you had the equipment and experience so your stuff is top notch for a first build though i'd stick with a stripped lower...btw get that damn pdr finished. |
|
Quoted:
Well yes i've seen your work and you had the equipment and experience so your stuff is top notch for a first build though i'd stick with a stripped lower...btw get that damn pdr finished. Quoted:
Quoted:
Quoted:
Quoted:
Do you have access to a mill or a nice drill press with an X/Y table and know how to use it? If not, don't bother with an 80% 1/7 will do anything you need it to. This times 1000% if you don't have the equipment or the skills necessary don't mess with an 80%, unless you are willing to learn and maybe mess something up. If it's your first build i would not recommend one when stripped lowers are going relatively cheap right now. Also welcome I say that, but my first few builds were 80%'s, I never bought a finished lower until I started building SBR's But I've got a mill... Well yes i've seen your work and you had the equipment and experience so your stuff is top notch for a first build though i'd stick with a stripped lower...btw get that damn pdr finished. It's coming along... Got some bits and pieces roughed out over the break, nothing worth showing off... |
|
Quoted:
Gun will be primarily for target shooting. I'm not trying to build the most expensive AR but something above average in quality and price. So manly I'll shoot cheaper rounds until I'm much better. 80% lowers are not for everyone, obviously. Unless you have machining experience and a knowledge of the AR platform, as it pertains to machining processes, then I recomend you go the normal route of FFl transfer of a stripped, or otherwise, lower. Now, it is my mindset that those that do roll their own, as it petains to lowers, and firearms in general that are hand-made, it is the epitamy of the 2A. No greater constitutional assertiveness can be found in the satisfaction that comes from making your very own firearm. At that point it is not about money, yet that of exercising a fundamental right on the most basic and personal pf levels. If it is money that is the primary focus, you have missed the point entirely. More info would be helpful. |
|
Brand new to building AR and it is only because of 80% lowers. I will not cooperate with the usurpers of the constitution. There is not one reason for me to give information to the government about anything I do or have. Every gun that goes through the gun check system is registered with the federal government. Someday they will show up at your door and demand that gun be surrendered.
You don't need much in the way of tools. I got a Vermont American drill stand for $20, a bench drill press base for $17, a vise and some soft jaws from Lowes for $27, and a Hitachi drill from Lowes for $49. I already had a moto tool. With that very simple system I am able to hog out an 80% lower pretty easily. Yes a mill is nice but hardly necessary. Want to do it really easy get the Polymer 80 lower with jig. If you were really patient, you could just use the hand drill and jewelers files. |
|
When I looked into building my first AR I really liked the idea of the 80 percent lower and milling it myself. One reason was that I live in a rural area and any gun purchase through an FFL is at least a 30 mile trip one way. Then you consider the actual process of ordering the stripped lower, paying shipping, and the transfer fee, plus the mandatory 1 day Illinois wait for a piece of aluminum. which really means an extra round trip. Since I have decent mechanical skills I was sure I could do the actual machining work with the jigs that you order with the 80% lowers. I did a lot of reading here about the process and of course watched the YouTube videos. I must add that this forum is the top resource on the topic of 80% builds.
But it boiled down to the extra money for the jig and cutting tools for probably a one-time deal, and the time it would take to do the milling on my drill press. I like the idea, and maybe someday I will but the time was not now to try it. I did a lot of asking around in my local area and ran across a fellow who sells name brand stripped lowers at a real good price. Turns out he and I had shot trap together years before and I was able to get a lower from him at a fair price and no shipping charges. It was great to do business with an old friend, and with a rifle kit from Del-Ton I had my AR up and running within a couple days of buying the lower. Before you do any spending be sure you have looked at all the options. You may be surprised to find someone selling lowers in you local area that is reasonably priced and much more convenient that milling your own, |
|
I am a big fan of the 80% lower and have done two and more are on the way. My primary purpose was *not* building a gun, though--it was to learn machining skills. From an economic standpoint it costs a *lot* more to do an aluminum 80% lower than to simply buy one and takes a fair amount of time. You can do a polymer 80% lower for a marginally higher cost than buying one.
Bottom line is that currently it is far cheaper to buy a stripped lower than to complete an 80% lower. Your choice should take that into account. |
AR Sponsor