[Dieter122]

been shuffling parts around the shop, and stuff laying at home..and stuff sitting on display for demo...

$430 for a complete AR (minus the MI BUIS which came off a Stag AR I had and then sold)...

Yes, its a polymer New Frontier lower...and a cheapo R-Guns upper...but...hell....its $430!

 

[Darthgamer138]

And of course you fixed the stock and removed the lug, but just not yet when this pic was taken.

 

[Tifosi]

Well hell, if you were just looking to give away $430 you coulda got 1k rounds and give them out in the forum in 1~2~10 karmas
Now you're stuck without the $, without the bullets, without the karma love, and almost completely without anyone who will want the rifle should you see the error of your ways and try to get rid of it before it goes to hell in a handbasket.

Just because one 'can' do a thing doesn't mean one 'should' do a thing.

And of course you fixed the stock and removed the lug, but just not yet when this pic was taken.

*cough*magpul(?) windowed normal cap mag*cough*

 

[Jeff]

One of the things that kills the rest of us with budget builds is the fact that we need a pinned brake. Most of us can't DIY it so we have to spend $35+ or whatever on a brake and then pay someone to pin and weld it. That can add close to $100 to a build for us.

 

[Jeff]

And of course you fixed the stock and removed the lug, but just not yet when this pic was taken.

Some people are exempt from those rules. Like FFLs.

 

[Tifosi]

And LEO

 

[THE RAVEN]

Nicest "highly illegal" budget AR I have seen yet..... Looks nice though.......!

 

[Tifosi]

Now, you take that poly lower and install a plum crazy poly lower parts kit, then get a dedicated 22lr upper. (ati, chiappa, and cmmg have plastic upper receivers)
Take that upper and retrofit the barrel with one of the older 10/22 poly sleeve over aluminum barrel tube barrels.

Lose the buffer and spring, replace receiver extension with pvc tubing.

Net result is an ultra light weight carbine that has a minimum of metallic parts.
So few in fact that many 'screening booths' or walk through detectors may not even pick it up unless their sensitivity is jacked up a bit more than most seem to be at.

 

[Wildman1024]

I really like this build. You really cannot beat it for a plinking rifle. I don't know if i would take it to war but other then that it should serve well. I would put a metal LPK in it but thats it and thats just me.

 

[Sponty]

Yeah no thanks. I'll stick with metal.

 

[Wildman1024]

View attachment 9562
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Yeah no thanks. I'll stick with metal.

Did these fail under normal shooting and handling or adverse conditions? How was your rifle treated and stored when not in use? extreme cold and heat etc. I mean this is the internet and a forum. For every bad experience there are 20,000 happy people with no issues!

 

[Sponty]

Those are just pictures I found doing an image search for "polymer lower receiver" on Google. These to me are about as good an idea as making your engine block out of polymer, sure it might last for a little bit but eventually the plastic will break do to the stress and constant heating and cooling.

 

[EnfieldGuy]

For sub $500 that was a great build.........

 

[dsdmmat]

Nice build! If you get everything used or use the stuff you have laying around that you pulled off when you tacticooled your other AR you can usually do it for 500 bucks. Some lowers can still be found for 49 bucks on sale. I just built one for 600 bucks with a brand new bull barrel upper taking 400 dollars out of that budget. Of course when you throw on an EOtech it drives the cost over 1000, but it was a fun project.

 

[Dieter122]

Those are just pictures I found doing an image search for "polymer lower receiver" on Google. These to me are about as good an idea as making your engine block out of polymer, sure it might last for a little bit but eventually the plastic will break do to the stress and constant heating and cooling.

Lowers never get hot from firing. The upper assy will. All the lower does is simply house the FCG.
Yes if you smash it against the ground with the buttstock at an angle with the stock extended, it may fail, but I don't plan on beating my guns haha

Two important things btw are, 1) it comes with factory warranty against defects, and 2), the lower cost me $80...
so even if it does break it didn't cost me anything as the M4 stock assembly alone is worth about that complete.

 

[dsdmmat]

.... the lower cost me $80...
so even if it does break it didn't cost me anything as the M4 stock assembly alone is worth about that complete.

Nice buy an M4 stock and get a lower receiver for free.... lol

if it does break you can always replace it with a 49 dollar metal one. I think a polymer lower would make a pretty good bench rifle or wood chuck platform. How is the ballance with the 16 inch barreled upper?

 

[Dieter122]

Nice buy an M4 stock and get a lower receiver for free.... lol

if it does break you can always replace it with a 49 dollar metal one. I think a polymer lower would make a pretty good bench rifle or wood chuck platform. How is the ballance with the 16 inch barreled upper?

Its really decent...as you dont really save much on weight with polymer over aluminum...its minimal really once you mount it to the upper.

The 16inch barreled upper doesnt feel any different weight wise or really balance wise over the 14.5 with a pinned muzzle device.
The 14.5 IS more handy, but only marginally. I just prefer the 14.5 length visually, it just feels more right than a 16 with a muzzle device, which pushes it only that much closer to a rifle length 20.

Photo below is of one of my 14.5s next to the 16. Both have the New Frontier lowers on them.
The DSA I bought the parts for back when they had "introductory prices", I think the final cost on it was just about $500 also.

The DSA rifle in the picture I put a MOE grip on as well as MOE handguards. Last time I used it was at a tactical carbine class, but the lower was an aluminum DSA one...which I swapped for the polymer one. I tried to make as light a rifle as I could, short of installing a fluted barrel, or needing a tax stamp. It still needs a commercial spec MOE buttstock I think.....

 

[meketrefe]

I am not sure what is the point of saving a few hundred on an AR when you are going to be shooting 5.56 ammo through it anyway.
If it was for a 22LR plinker I would say, yes go and use some lower cost parts but otherwise you got yourself a real bad investment.
Maybe in a backpacking, light barrel, really low shooting type of configuration. I am not sure.
The heart of the AR is a good BCG with a good barrel and a simple yet nice up to spec T6 receiver.
Therefore I think it is best to maybe go slower and save the money for a little better quality on each of the key components.

 

[meketrefe]

To the OP please also make clear why they are like that, if you are a LEO or FFL so we do not give the wrong ideas to the new
folks that are trying to learn about ARs, AWB and NYS laws.

 

[Dieter122]

It's ok to skimp if it's not your only AR. When you have 10+, a little variety in configuration and price point is good.
Saving a few hundred in one build is a lot of money , as this has essentially cost me 2/3 the price point of a normal aluminum lower carbine.
As for a disclaimer , I would but I had to remove the fact I'm a FFL from my sig line because I'm not a paying vendor. So after that, I try not to post anything about it. Just sharing pics.