Anyone know the skinny on 80% lowers ?

[Alphatreedog]

To clarify . I know what they are and the legalities . What I wish to know is if you have built one , who's is best for quality and price . Also I remember that there used to be buy 4 get 1 free deals a few years back . Do they still exist ?
Ironically I have acces to machines that will offset in .00005 but they are in Jerzey so no Beuno on the mill . I am looking to do a router and jig set up .
So any feed back would be great . Oh and premptively to the German I am poor here in Pa. so technically that is somewhere else . ?

 

[jungle45]

Have seen the jig made by 80% Arms. Nice.
https://www.80percentarms.com/?mscl...m=80 Percent Arms&utm_content=80 Percent Arms

NO first hand experience..

 

[Hookturnr]

I've been somewhat interested in this as well...I'll be keeping an eye on this thread with some interest. I, too, am poor here in PA....

 

[ArmyJerry]

you can buy completes pretty cheap, why bother

 

[Blue Sky Country]

It is a very rewarding project to complete and putting together the accessories that you choose allows you to truly build a 'custom' rifle.

And many folks, especially in this day and political climate, would want their guns the same way leftists want their support base......undocumented.

 

[deersniper]

you can buy completes pretty cheap, why bother

 

[2ndamendfan]

Quality somewhat depends on your skills.

 

[buffalowinter]

I've built a couple of .308's, mainly because they were dirt cheap...about $69. These were Poly80 receivers, very easy to mill and pretty straight forward. A drill press with a machinist's cross vise is the easiest way to go, of course a mill is fine too. You could actually do the whole thing with a drill and a dremel and it would be fine...the 20% of the lower that requires completion does not have any critical tolerances...all you're doing is hogging out enough area for the trigger to function. Drilling the pin holes just requires a hand drill as all you are doing is putting the drill into each side of the jig and drilling about a 1/4".

 

[...]

I’ve not seen any 80% Lower finished with a router/drill press that didn’t look like complete dog ass.

You can get decent results with a mill.

Frankly when you can buy Anderson lowers for $35.... there’s not much benefit to an 80% other than doing it for fun

 

[Jperk0278]

Quality somewhat depends on your skills.

I’ve built a few. I found it to be a very enjoyable experience. Even more so since the finished products all perform very nicely. The downside is I could have bought a very nice complete rifle for less than I have in them, but I’d do it again and probably will soon. Most of mine are from 80% Arms using their jig and my grandfather’s old Rockwell mill. As 2ndamendfan says, the end result depends on your skills. My first effort was a little rough... OK a lot rough, but still serviceable. My latest effort looks like it came off of a CNC. It becomes a personal challenge to do the machining as well as you can,

 

[Hookturnr]

I'm interested just for the fun aspect more than anything else. As for $35 lowers...not in my A.O. Best local I've found is $79 for an Aero. If i order one in then I have $35 + $20 to ship + $35 for transfer...$90.

 

[ShooterwithNoName]

I have had great luck with Matrix Arms 80% lowers. I've milled several and just got 2 more delivered today. All that I've purchased so far have been completely in-spec.

As for a reason why? Because I can I guess? Because I dont have to go through an FFL. It ships straight to me and that's it. I spend about 45min machining it and its good to go. I enjoy doing it though, I value the experience I get from milling them out.

I had went through some polymer lowers but never really cared for them. But I enjoy building guns, pretty much my only hobby anymore. I've built 80% 223 and 308s, 80% glock frames, 80% 1911 frames as well as several AKs from flats and from bent shells. Built one Uzi, built one HK91 and a MP5 reverse stretch, those do require a Tig welder though. I've got two 2011 80% frames in waiting right now. One aluminum and one steel.

If you have the desire to do them right, have patience and invest in good tools, it's really a pretty rewarding hobby. I do recommend doing some research on bits. I had my end mill cut so that it doesn't dig into my jig. Get the best drill bits you can afford and go slow. I drill undersize then finish ream my trigger pin holes. That's not necessary, but it does a good, clean job.