80% AR lower testing

[cyrano_oneone]

I would appreciate members opinions on the following:

- Given a finished a 80% lower for the AR-15.
- The 80% lower comes from a reputable manufacturer.
- All function tests for the lower have been passed.
- The upper is an unmodified upper from a reputable manufacturer.

What are the safety concerns when testing the rifle?

I am thinking since the upper is where all the high pressures are then testing should be straight forward.

What is the preferred method of testing?

Thanks,

cyrano

 

[Kingjamez]

Not much to worry about here. If your completed rifle chambers a round, and the locking lugs engage, you are probably safe. The biggest problems with most 80%'s are off center safety's or a trigger group that doesn't reset / fire.

-Jim

 

[HokieCasey]

Keep in mind most 80% lowers start at the same forge as every other commercially available lower.

Most of mine have the same forge mark as my dpms lowers. See sticky on ar15 and read section on lowers.

 

[cyrano_oneone]

Not much to worry about here. If your completed rifle chambers a round, and the locking lugs engage, you are probably safe. The biggest problems with most 80%'s are off center safety's or a trigger group that doesn't reset / fire.

-Jim

Hi Jim,

I will look out for the reset fire issue.

What do you mean by "off center safety's"...what happens if this occurs

thanks for you time.

Jon

 

[cyrano_oneone]

Keep in mind most 80% lowers start at the same forge as every other commercially available lower.

Most of mine have the same forge mark as my dpms lowers. See sticky on ar15 and read section on lowers.

So I think what you are saying is that most 80% lower come from the same manufacturer so the quality is not an issue in most cases?

Is the right or am I missing something?

thanks

Jon

 

[stevegee58]

The quality of the hunk of aluminum is the same, but the accuracy of hole size/placement is crucial and has nothing to do with where the 80% came from. If you don't do the work accurately the mechanism will be sloppy and may not operate reliably.

 

[Nubz]

Hi Jim,

I will look out for the reset fire issue.

What do you mean by "off center safety's"...what happens if this occurs

thanks for you time.

Jon

Seems to me if you have the lower completed you would have noticed if the safety and trigger worked correctly by now since you could dry fire it and move the safety and see if they worked

 

[HokieCasey]

Exactly....the hunk of metal is the same, so you should have to worry about the lower failing.

The precision of the holes affect functionality but my assumption/experience is that if the lower function tests properly...disconnector, safety engagement and disengagement, then I'm good to go.

 

[Weber]

Basic function and safety tests that you should with any lower.

 

[Drakos]

Really?

How much are you saving? 10-15 bucks?

Is it worth the frustration if even a single hole is mis-drilled by a fartskin?

What am I missing?

 

[HokieCasey]

80% lowers are more about doing something your self.

You get to place whatever marks on it you like. Finish it however you like.

I have not had any bad or unworkable misalignment on mines. But I use a tm jig kit.

 

[cyrano_oneone]

80% lowers are more about doing something your self.

You get to place whatever marks on it you like. Finish it however you like.

I have not had any bad or unworkable misalignment on mines. But I use a tm jig kit.

Exactly...its all about doing it yourself.

If I added up the costs including my mistakes so far....well its not economical..but I learned:

- how the AR-15 lower is assembled in detail
- How to work with aluminium
- How to spell aluminum right
- How to track metal filing through the house on the wood floors

... next I get to learn how to refinish wood floors.

no end to the fun

 

[stevegee58]

80% lowers are more about doing something your self.

Not to mention that one could make an AR-15 completely off the books in this fashion.

 

[tailboardtech]

Exactly...its all about doing it yourself.

If I added up the costs including my mistakes so far....well its not economical..but I learned:

- how the AR-15 lower is assembled in detail
- How to work with aluminium
- How to spell aluminum right
- How to track metal filing through the house on the wood floors
-How they remove aluminum shaving from your eye
... next I get to learn how to refinish wood floors.

no end to the fun

added one for ya and i was wearing safety glasses too

 

[AliasNeo07]

Not to mention that one could make an AR-15 completely off the books in this fashion.

How?

 

[RW2111]

Not to mention that one could make an AR-15 completely off the books in this fashion.

in theory you could. you could also do some time to

 

[HokieCasey]

Only if you do something that is also illegal for full up ar15's or lowers, or make with the intent to sell.

IAW the GCA (fed law) manufacture of a firearm for personal use is legal as long as you can legally own the end product.

IAW the GCA a firearm only has to be marked if you transfer it, and in that case the requirements for marking are spread out. (also applies if you NFA it)

IAW GCA homebuilt firearms can be transferred, ie you make one and in a couple of years decide to sell or giveaway, you can as long as it it is marked accordingly.

There is/was no md law governing homebuild or one that requires registration. But you have to be able own said rifle end configuration. Unless something changed this year.

So the only way you do time is by doing something that is illegal to do to a rifle transferred through an ffl.

You should read the relevant portions of the GCA and md law for yourself prior to proceeding though.

 

[stevegee58]

If you buy a finished lower receiver it's considered a regulated firearm even though it's only part of one. So you have to buy it through a licensed dealer (FFL) with the corresponding background check, waiting period, etc.

If you buy an 80% lower receiver you can take direct delivery of it without an FFL. In fact all the rest of the parts of an AR-15 can be purchased without an FFL as well. When you personally finish the 80% lower receiver to make it 100% working and put it together with the rest of the parts (barrel, trigger parts etc) you have a working AR-15. As long as you keep it for your own use you don't have to report it to anyone.

It's completely legal.

 

[quad]

^^ What he said........Plus, you have to perform all the work yourself, from what I have read previously.

 

[tsmith1499]

If you buy a finished lower receiver it's considered a regulated firearm even though it's only part of one. So you have to buy it through a licensed dealer (FFL) with the corresponding background check, waiting period, etc.

If you buy an 80% lower receiver you can take direct delivery of it without an FFL. In fact all the rest of the parts of an AR-15 can be purchased without an FFL as well. When you personally finish the 80% lower receiver to make it 100% working and put it together with the rest of the parts (barrel, trigger parts etc) you have a working AR-15. As long as you keep it for your own use you don't have to report it to anyone.

It's completely legal.

Okay, Im confused. I have to go through a 7 day waiting period to purchase a STRIPPED LOWER from an FFL in MD. , but I can buy an 80% without doing any of this. That's how I read what you are saying. Please explain. Something just doesn't add up.