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.
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.....
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.
Query: why not go with a pencil or lightened barrel?
Cost is no different from what I've looked at, and they are without doubt lighter than an M4 profile.
If you wanted to get really silly weight wise, there's someone out there selling a super light BCG but they are kinda pricey so would defeat the low budget angle.
Zeroskin is right about the upper...it was a spare one that I had , ive had it on display at shows and at the shop for LE purchase, so they can see that non-NY legal guns are also available for purchase. It was more for looks than anything, and people love the m203 cut outs on the barrel (I like them too as they are aesthetically pleasing).
If I was to get a pencil/lightweight barrel I would slap it onto my DSA/LW-15 New Frontier build, as its a 14.5 with perm fixed MB. MOE furn set. The thing is LIGHT already. I cant imagine it with a fluted barrel or pencil barrel. It would be silly light if I did that.
Lightweight BCG? That would be interesting no doubt. I havnt seen it on the market ever though?
Thats the great thing about the AR market, there is always something new being made and designed. Every week theres a new product hitting the market, and a new fad comes along. Middys, lightweights, Magpul, DD's, Colt, Retro, Mil clones, NiB BCGs, 14.5s, billet builds...etc etc.
Too many options!
no doubt, i dont disagree with you at all about that.
I plan to run a lot of rounds through these polymer lowers, and see how they hold up. Surely if i have an issue i will be sure to post about it here (on the forum in general).
It will be fun and interesting
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