Anyone with FIRTSHAND polymer AR lower experience?

[musicman]

I'm considering building a couple ARs on the polymer lowers that JoeBob is selling. One would be a 16" lightweight tactical type with a red dot or something like that, the other would be a varmint style gun, probably 20", with optics.

I've done a little reading and have seen a few horror stories about poor-quality poly lowers, but so far the JoeBob units seem OK.

Thoughts, experiences?

[musicman]

That gives me warm fuzzies. I'm cool with a CLEAN heavier trigger.

[Dolomite_supafly]

I like mine and if it weren't for the heavy trigger I would have used it for my recent 300 Blackout build.

Heck if they said Glock on the side people would be spending 5x as much and not quaetioning the quality.

Dolomite

[TrickyNicky]

Made a thread a few months back on the subject. Based on the replies went ahead and ordered three. Had them shipped to D&T and all said and done they came out to $109 a piece after transfer. Can't beat a deal like that and I'm stoked. Like Dolomite said they triggers a bit heavy but very crisp.

Over all couldn't be happier with them.

You know Smyrna isn't to far, if you want to try before you buy I'll bring the rifle out for some shooting, let you know what your getting into and it's always fun meeting a fellow TGOer.

[musicman]

Ooooowwhheeee!!! Dude, I'm going to take you up on that offer in the next few weeks. Wanna meet up at The Armory maybe? Been wanting to try their range out. I got a fair amount of .223, and a few pmags waiting at my doorstep when I get home tomorrow. :-)

[TrickyNicky]

Fo sho! Either there or CHMR. Actually prefer Charlie's if possible, I'm already a member so it would be much (like $35) cheaper. Either way let me know and we'll make it happen.

[musicman]

I'm down with Charlie's too. And I can finally shoot my new M&P!! Last weekend we were on a Gatlinburg getaway with her fam, then this past Monday my wife's grandmother passed away unexpectedly so we've been in Kentucky all week. I'll be ready to shoot out some frustrations real soon!

[musicman]

Dolomite, do you foresee any issues using a drop-in replacement trigger like a Timney, or just an upgraded fire control group in that receiver? I'm thinking I'll want something good/pretty good for the varmint gun, so I may order one stripped, and one with lpk installed.

[TrickyNicky]

Dolomite will know better than I will but I'm thinking your best bet may be a whole new FCG as appossed to replacing any one part since the trigger, hammer and all are all polymer.

But then maybe it won't matter too much, plenty of poly pistols with poly rails out there.

[musicman]

Ha!! I didn't know all those internals were poly... just figured they were the basic steel bits! I'll be a monkey's uncle...

[Guest Aces&8s]

I'll be buying a couple of Frontier lowers, too. I already have an AR that I built on one of the Plum Crazy polymer lowers (with a DPMS Sportical upper) and it is great. It has a nice crisp trigger as well. I am thinking about a 300BLK shorty this go around.

[kwe45919]

Loved my Frontier and my Plum Crazy lower I had. Nothing wrong with them. I think we need a sticky saying the poly lowers are cool to use.

[Dolomite_supafly]

I have seen several poly lowers that had steel FCG put in them without issue. I would say the Timney would be fine.

Dolomite

[zgunbear]

Add my .02 worth.

My Plum Crazy lower is great. It has over 1000 5.56 through it and at least 3000 .22 lr.

I have the CMMG .22 conversion kit and it is fun plus saves some money

The only problem I had was the trigger and sear went bad and I started gettting bursts.

Replaced them with the Frontier trigger group and no prblems since.

Very crisp 4 pound pull. I am a member at Charlies as well. I can meet you there for you to shoot it if you want to try it.

Edited October 27, 2012 by zgunbear

[reed1285]

I put a spikes tactical lpk in my new frontier poly lower. The takedown pins are super tight, to the point to where im gonna have to take a small drill bit to open them up a bit. I mean they are TIGHT. Have to use a rubber mallet to slide them in and out for takedown.

I also had to take a dremel with a small sanding wheel to open up the magazine release slot on the lower as well. The mag release from the lpk wouldnt even go in until i did that.

Aside from those two things they are cool i guess. Lightweight thats for sure.

[TrickyNicky]

True, super tight pins. Also for me the fit was very tight around the rear pin for a PSA upper. Could probably take a bit of wet/dry sandpaper to open it up a bit but it fits so I probably won't.

Anyone else's super snug around the rear pin?

[Dolomite_supafly]

I prefer really tight pins over loose pinds. It makes getting a decent trigger a lot easier. Something else is of the pin moves in the lower it will egg out the holes over time which would happen quicker in a plastic lower than a aluminum lower. That is why they make KNS antirotation pins because loose pins will damage a lower over time. The hammer and trigger should move on the pin, not the pin move in the receiver.

As far as AR's go, the tighter the fit of every part helps the accuracy of the gun.

Dolomite

[musicman]

Just ordered a few New Frontier lowers from JoeBobs. I'm still a bit cash-strapped so it'll be awhile til I can get them built up, but I'll report how things go. :-)

[TrickyNicky]

You shouldn't be disappointed, did you go with stripped lowers or assembled?

[musicman]

Weeelllllll.......... for the money I thought they were all great deals... I got one with the fixed A2 style stock, one adjustable, and one stripped. I want to build the fixed stock gun into a bull-barrell varmint type gun, the adjustable stock gun into the lightest-weight compact thing I can w/o making it an SBR, and I don't really have plans for the stripped lower right now.

[TrickyNicky]

FWIW I would at least consider getting a pistol buffer tube for your lower. You can alway replace it with a stock for a rifle later but at least you have a legal reason to own a sub 16" barrel if you so desire.

[musicman]

Do you need a lower identified as a pistol lower, or simply a pistol buffer tube to make it a pistol?

[Chucktshoes]

[quote name='musicman' timestamp='1352344579' post='841603']Do you need a lower identified as a pistol lower, or simply a pistol buffer tube to make it a pistol?[/quote]
It needs to be transferred on the 4473 and listed in the log book as a pistol or receiver. If it is transferred as a rifle, you can't ever make it a pistol without a stamp. Since they seem to both be coming in with the stocks already, can't make them into pistols.

[Chucktshoes]

Just saw one was stripped, make sure it is listed and transferred as anything other than a "rifle".

[musicman]

Thanks!! So if that stripped one is simply listed as "receiver" I can make it a pistol or rifle at will. Is that assumption correct?