AR-15 80% kits?

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If i can piece one together for cheaper, so be it. Thanks for all the info, i didn't mean to step on anyones toes here.

Who will you call before you work on your lower?
There is tons of info on unfinished lowers. Surprised you didn't find any.
I looked for a few minutes once....Found CAD files, drawings, Etc, etc. Even where to get tools and jigs to finish them.
You didn't look very hard. Those that want the qik way are usually doing it the wrong way.
 
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There's no way i'm going to drop 1500 bucks for a gun i can't take in the bush. If i can piece one together for cheaper, so be it.

80% lowers are a piece of cake to finish off if you have the tools, basic metal working skills, a helluva lot of patience, access to a sand blasting cabinet, an anodizing setup, access to relativley cheap (US) AR parts, access to relatively cheap (US) complete AR uppers in any style you want, etc.

Your piecing one together bothers me. Once the 80% is 100% it has to be registered as an AR receiver. Once the rifle assembled it has to be registered as a firearm under our current ####ed up laws.

And guess what! Even if you build it yourself and piece it all together,

IT DOESN'T COME OUT CHEAPER AND YOU STILL CAN'T TAKE IT OUT TO THE BUSH:p

If you want to build up an 80% go for it, it's a great learning experience. But do not expect to get around the current firearms laws by doing so.:rolleyes:

As an aside. Your post about this subject was way off base. If you want to enjoy this forum, do some research beforehand. You'll find most of the members here are quite knowledgeable and know the firearms laws of Canada better than the RCMP.:D
 
Search around, there are those on this site who have finished off and applied to register AR lowers. It would appear that it can take an extended period of time for the registration certificate to arrive.
An AR type rifle can be assembled from parts. It may or may not be less expensive than buying a complete rifle. There is also the issue of quality of the parts. A mixed bag of off-spec. parts isn't going to produce a quality rifle.
Having examined a number of AR lowers, I cannot see where a lathe would be of much use in finishing off an 80% lower.
 
The only time I used lathe to make a lower was to single point thread the threads for the extension tube, that was using a 0%forging before I had the tap.
 
80% lowers are a piece of cake to finish off if you have the tools, basic metal working skills, a helluva lot of patience, access to a sand blasting cabinet, an anodizing setup, access to relativley cheap (US) AR parts, access to relatively cheap (US) complete AR uppers in any style you want, etc.

This is about the best arguement against building one from an 80% lower.

Now, if you plan to do it as a learning process, go for it. Be aware, that you are NOT going to save any time, money, or effort by doing it that way.

I've got the BJT (Big Tap) to do the extension threads, and you don't want to know what that cost!

Access to a lathe isn't the only thing you need either...a nice mill would help, but a drill press might do in a pinch...hand drills need not apply.

NS

(Leave the dremel tool at home too....)
 
This is about the best arguement against building one from an 80% lower.

Now, if you plan to do it as a learning process, go for it. Be aware, that you are NOT going to save any time, money, or effort by doing it that way.

I've got the BJT (Big Tap) to do the extension threads, and you don't want to know what that cost!

Access to a lathe isn't the only thing you need either...a nice mill would help, but a drill press might do in a pinch...hand drills need not apply.

NS

(Leave the dremel tool at home too....)

Oooooooops, I forgot to add in the drilling jig. Anywhere from $75 to $150 depending on who you get it from.

NS is right about the Big Tap, mine cost almost as much as the last bolt/carrier group I got off the EE:eek:
 
IF you use a drill press (I did in Iraq) you need a mounting plate on it, for securing the jig and a LARGE amount of range of motion on the press.

Frankly so many of the 80% kits are out of spec - and need a great deal of machining -- its a fun DIY sort of thing -- but not a great way to get a lower.
 
And with all this helpful info to a New users First post.
Hopefully! We won't hear of some gangbangers busted next summer with Assault Rifles that have shiney lowers....(they like the *Bling Factor* they give):pirate:

??????????????????????????????????????
 
LOL

I doubt it --maybe a bunch of gangbangers shot dead by Police with AR's that dont work ;)
Its not as easy as it seems - even with the jig.
The ones I got in Iraq took a GREAT deal of tiem and effort to do - and I ended up needing a bunch of help to get them done.
 
you will spend two to three times the cost of a 100% stripped lower in building an 80%.

cheaper, easier, faster to buy one 100%.

jig 100-200
drills bits 25-30
buffer tap 75-100
80% lower 150-200

from a low of 350 to a high of 530 for ONE finished lower, providing you don't screw up the buffer tube threads rendering the lower useless.
 
IF you use a drill press (I did in Iraq) you need a mounting plate on it, for securing the jig and a LARGE amount of range of motion on the press.

Frankly so many of the 80% kits are out of spec - and need a great deal of machining -- its a fun DIY sort of thing -- but not a great way to get a lower.


Yes, if he does not already have a good sturdy floor model drill press he can add that to the cost and a Palmgren x/y axis table yikes! . . . and what is NWEST?
 
i bought the drill jig... the buffer tube tap..... the drill bit kit...... and then i forgot all about the whole damn project........ hmmmmm might have to go there one day just for kicks.... and FORGEt about building an Ar if you think it will be cheap and fast.
 
Another nice thing is the 80% lower still needs to be registered as it is considered a Restricted Firearm by the CFC even before it is completed
 
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