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Posted: 9/10/2017 8:39:28 PM EDT
| I really like billet lowers but I wanted to hear what you think?? You makes the best 80% lower? I bought a few so far, I didn't spend the extra money on ones that had the extra set screws. I tapped my own and added the set screws and bolt catch screw pin. |
| Best IMO is subjective, but IMO I guess any lower that is made/machined correctly and is 7075-t6. Not a fan of billet here; I don't think it's any worse really, I just don't see the point of billet over forged. A plain $35-50 7075-t6 anodized forged lower is all you need and nothing you don't. Also IMO you don't need set screws or any of that, it's all a marketing gimmick. Most of my 80s (7 of em) are from American Made Tactical and all have been excellent quality. |
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I have never had a problem with any of them, I have Andersons, Norells, 80% arms, and some I can't even remember the name of now, but they have all fit the jigs I own and they have all gone together just fine and shoot with no problems.
Best is a subjective term in this business, they are all making their forged lowers to the same specifications, some of them add extra's but the goal is a .mil spec lower that can be machined and made into a functioning gun. |
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Quoted:
Right To Bear Arms has the best deal on 80% lowers. Plain ones for $26, Plain ones with Safe\Fire markings for $32 and Black anodized for $45 (as of today Sept 14th 2017). They are great lowers and the best price. https://i.imgur.com/GqO53xD.jpg 
Prices are going up soon unfortunately. Machine shops are just now starting to deplete their over stock of forgings and materials. |
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There are differences in the lowers that I have bought.
What I think is the nicest forged ones I have done were DSArms anodized 80% lowers. I like the size of the rear lug pocket, the thread depth on the grip screw, the close to uniform thickness of the rear sides, and the finish. Bought a couple on sale. Range Tool 80% is a nice looking lower also. Picked a few others up different place most were about the same. Got a couple that I had to tap the rest of the grip screw threads out so can't say I cared much for them. I got a couple from one dealer that the finish seemed weak and there was powder that looked like corrosion in the grip screw area. Had to clean them out and re-tap the threads to get rid of it. |
| im one of them guys that has to upgrade everything! I love billet lowers, thats all I used till recently I started using polymer lowers. but i tap all my bolt catches and rear takedown pins. today when i tapped my billet lowers bolt catch, the right lug was so thin, you can actually see lines on the outside from the tap. i knew it was too thin but did it anyway like an idiot!!! so now im gonna ad a metal epoxy to the lugs to make them thick and stronger, then send it out to get coated |
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Quoted:
im one of them guys that has to upgrade everything! I love billet lowers, thats all I used till recently I started using polymer lowers. but i tap all my bolt catches and rear takedown pins. today when i tapped my billet lowers bolt catch, the right lug was so thin, you can actually see lines on the outside from the tap. i knew it was too thin but did it anyway like an idiot!!! so now im gonna ad a metal epoxy to the lugs to make them thick and stronger, then send it out to get coated |
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Quoted:
I really like billet lowers but I wanted to hear what you think?? You makes the best 80% lower? I bought a few so far, I didn't spend the extra money on ones that had the extra set screws. I tapped my own and added the set screws and bolt catch screw pin. I have some thoughts.... Start a thread that shows how you drilled and tapped the lowers for set screws. Share the info you have, the tools you used, and where you got the tools. Start a thread that lists all the lowers available, what features each of them have (set-screws, flared magwells, trigger guard, etc.) and then post pictures, links, and reviews. Then you will have a great thread that would provide some really good information (perhaps it would be a sticky), and would be a real resource that would be available for everyone to read, and update as needed. _ |
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I've used TR Enabling, Tactical Machining and Noreen (sold by Brownells ).
TR Enabling machined great and everything went great, no issues in assembly. Tactical Machining was a forged lower and it machined a little harder...still no issues but it really liked a continuous flow of cooling/ lubricating fluid to give a better finish. Noreen machined fine but there were some issues where the 80% that was supposed to be done wasn't done or wasn't done well. One of them they didn't mill the recess where the bolt catch spring sits, not the hole but the channel where the back of the bolt catch pivots into. The second one the magazine catch slot wasn't milled cleanly. I have a third one yet to do and I'll go over that one thoroughly before I anodize this time. (Should have payed closer attention on the other two, I discovered the issues after I anodized  )
SailorJ convinced me to try Right to Bear. Wow, ordered Saturday, shipping notice Monday and in my hands Wednesday with the cheapest shipping option. The 80% lower upon quick inspection looks great. Thanks for the post SailorJ, you definitely have a new and repeat customer. |
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Quoted:
I've used TR Enabling, Tactical Machining and Noreen (sold by Brownells ). TR Enabling machined great and everything went great, no issues in assembly. Tactical Machining was a forged lower and it machined a little harder...still no issues but it really liked a continuous flow of cooling/ lubricating fluid to give a better finish. Noreen machined fine but there were some issues where the 80% that was supposed to be done wasn't done or wasn't done well. One of them they didn't mill the recess where the bolt catch spring sits, not the hole but the channel where the back of the bolt catch pivots into. The second one the magazine catch slot wasn't milled cleanly. I have a third one yet to do and I'll go over that one thoroughly before I anodize this time. (Should have payed closer attention on the other two, I discovered the issues after I anodized )
SailorJ convinced me to try Right to Bear. Wow, ordered Saturday, shipping notice Monday and in my hands Wednesday with the cheapest shipping option. The 80% lower upon quick inspection looks great. Thanks for the post SailorJ, you definitely have a new and repeat customer. |
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