Polymer Ar-15 lowers

[papa61]

22 hours ago, History Researcher said:

General rule for me is metal > plastic/polymer. No experience with polymer ar-15 lower though. 

I prefer metal myself. However, I just did a quick count and find that my handguns are running 3 to one polymer to metal. It isn't the strength, it's the appearance for me. My fav is a Firestar M45, heavier than a brick but man it does shoot sweet.

I am assuming you are making the metal>polymer based solely on firearms. We have so much poly around us that would not be better served as metal. Take a quick look around the inside of ANY car. I would prefer paper grocery bags and cardboard milk cartons but I've gotten soft in my old age and started thinking a bbit about our environment and waste. Some of the alloy framed pistols I think are better than steel framed of the same model.

My thinking is that poly lowers would be fine for normal use. After all, the trigger is pinned in and will have a metal frame. Every other moving part is in the upper. That is opinion as I have never had a poly frame lower.

[papa61]

10 minutes ago, LangdoniousRex said:

Yep

LMAO! Rex I've never read you as being reserved one word answer before. What would be your verdict on them?

I ask because I too have thoughts of building a lightweight in 5.56 for range fun. All I have is .300BO and it's a bit more expensive to shoot.

Edited February 23 by papa61

[LangdoniousRex]

2 minutes ago, papa61 said:

LMAO! Rex I've never read you as being reserved one word answer before. What would be your verdict on them?

You've obviously observed much of my work, lol. I was fishing for a bit more context as that is a rabbit hole I've gone down plenty.

The short answer is yes they are a viable option. 3D printing filaments continue to make very impressive improvements so they are more robust than ever. I'm not sure what's out there on the retail market as 3D printing lowers and other 2A type bits is more of a DIY hobby but I'd definitely consider one if I were shopping to put together a lightweight build. PSR on YouTube does some torture testing (he'll use the AR as a pushup bar on the ground) if you want to see some real world results. 

[papa61]

9 minutes ago, LangdoniousRex said:

You've obviously observed much of my work, lol. I was fishing for a bit more context as that is a rabbit hole I've gone down plenty.

The short answer is yes they are a viable option. 3D printing filaments continue to make very impressive improvements so they are more robust than ever. I'm not sure what's out there on the retail market as 3D printing lowers and other 2A type bits is more of a DIY hobby but I'd definitely consider one if I were shopping to put together a lightweight build. PSR on YouTube does some torture testing (he'll use the AR as a pushup bar on the ground) if you want to see some real world results. 

my big complaint at the moment is the cost of building is higher than buying a complete AR. Especially if you are doing a one off from an 80%. Unfinished lowers cost more than a ready to build lower and you have to buy jig and tools on top. fFor that scenario printed seems the most budget friendly.

[LangdoniousRex]

7 minutes ago, papa61 said:

my big complaint at the moment is the cost of building is higher than buying a complete AR. Especially if you are doing a one off from an 80%. Unfinished lowers cost more than a ready to build lower and you have to buy jig and tools on top. fFor that scenario printed seems the most budget friendly.

Assuming you already have a 3D printer, it's not necessarily going to be cheaper to print a lower than it is to buy any finished one. High quality PLA is not cheap and you still need various alloy inserts, for instance buffer tube threads, to help reinforce your printed lower. Strictly from a cost perspective, 100% lowers are the cheapest option. The TNARMS15 carbon fiber lower for $39 doesn't really get much better bang for the buck, pun intended. 

[monkeylizard]

A lower is a pretty cheap part to begin with. The cost difference of factory polymer / 3d printed / forged aluminum / 80% is less than a tank of gas. Even on a budget build, cost shouldn't be a big factor in deciding the material. Other factors like weight, DIY hobby fun, etc. would matter more in my book than a couple of Andrew Jacksons on a finished product I'd expect to have around for a while.

[papa61]

I was unaware of TNARMS15. Just looked at their stuff and I do like the carbon fiber lower. I may just go that route. 

As far as cost goes, that is not why I would choose a printed or 80% lower. Obvious choice would be a finished receiver if that were the deciding factor. And 80% whether poly or alloy may be cheap, but the jig and tools needed are not. I don't even have a router, never have. Since I am not planning on building for others, that cost is a huge element driving the price up much nigher than a high end finished receiver. With printed lower, you can crush it and sell the remainder of the parts or replace it rather cheaply. Guessing the same could be said for 80% once the initial tooling cost is over.

I did so want to go casper just to piss people off but carbon fiber sounds better. Guess I just have to pay the shipping and tell my FFL I have another pkg coming  

[LangdoniousRex]

2 hours ago, papa61 said:

I was unaware of TNARMS15. Just looked at their stuff and I do like the carbon fiber lower. I may just go that route. 

As far as cost goes, that is not why I would choose a printed or 80% lower. Obvious choice would be a finished receiver if that were the deciding factor. And 80% whether poly or alloy may be cheap, but the jig and tools needed are not. I don't even have a router, never have. Since I am not planning on building for others, that cost is a huge element driving the price up much nigher than a high end finished receiver. With printed lower, you can crush it and sell the remainder of the parts or replace it rather cheaply. Guessing the same could be said for 80% once the initial tooling cost is over.

I did so want to go casper just to piss people off but carbon fiber sounds better. Guess I just have to pay the shipping and tell my FFL I have another pkg coming  

If you want to avoid dealing with an FFL, this is an option: 

https://polymer80.com/p80-g150-ar-15-80-receiver-kit-black_2/

EDIT: There is one left available here: 

https://www.noqtr80.com/ar-frame-kits/p80-g150-phoenix-v2-ar-15-80-receiver-kit-black/

Edited February 23 by LangdoniousRex
Added link