Poly Lowers

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13 years 5 months ago #24188 by 13fcolt
Replied by 13fcolt on topic Poly Lowers
Damnit the more I think about this the more I want one. I've really enjoyed 80% projects I have done in the past. A polymer lower would be so much easier to finish.
The jig they sell aint too expensive either.

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13 years 5 months ago #24191 by OleCowboy
Replied by OleCowboy on topic Poly Lowers

13fcolt wrote: Damnit the more I think about this the more I want one. I've really enjoyed 80% projects I have done in the past. A polymer lower would be so much easier to finish.
The jig they sell aint too expensive either.

Go for it 13 Fox and please give us a detailed report on your progress :twothumbs:

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13 years 5 months ago #24205 by Dabu
Replied by Dabu on topic Poly Lowers
how's the plastic preform in heat? I'd be worried about it melting under rapid fire.

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13 years 5 months ago #24208 by 13fcolt
Replied by 13fcolt on topic Poly Lowers
It's been done before, quite successfully.

Up until they had a run in with ATF thugs, Calvary Arms made tons of polymer lowers which were quite popular with the lightweight build crowd. The only downside I saw was that stock & lower was all one piece. They never got around to offering a lower you could use a collapsible stock on, or an 80% lower, despite the endless request for them.

Then there was Pro-Ordnance that did an all polymer AR. (2.7lbs I think?) They had issues with reliability, got bought by bushmaster/cerberus. The use of non-standard internal parts killed that idea on the table, since they could not be effectively serviced and it was the odd ball internals that were the problem.

So far it has not been the plastic that has been the reason for failure in the polymer AR. Then again I don't know what these in particular are made from but unless they are made out of recycled sporks, I can't imagine any issues with regards to strength, heat or whatever.

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13 years 5 months ago #24209 by OleCowboy
Replied by OleCowboy on topic Poly Lowers

13fcolt wrote: It's been done before, quite successfully.

Up until they had a run in with ATF thugs, Calvary Arms made tons of polymer lowers which were quite popular with the lightweight build crowd. The only downside I saw was that stock & lower was all one piece. They never got around to offering a lower you could use a collapsible stock on, or an 80% lower, despite the endless request for them.

Then there was Pro-Ordnance that did an all polymer AR. (2.7lbs I think?) They had issues with reliability, got bought by bushmaster/cerberus. The use of non-standard internal parts killed that idea on the table, since they could not be effectively serviced and it was the odd ball internals that were the problem.

So far it has not been the plastic that has been the reason for failure in the polymer AR. Then again I don't know what these in particular are made from but unless they are made out of recycled sporks, I can't imagine any issues with regards to strength, heat or whatever.


Bushmaster has had for a VERY long time the Carbon 15 and they still make it as far as I know. Not sure much more about it but it was a foray into lightweight...

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13 years 5 months ago #24211 by faawrenchbndr
Replied by faawrenchbndr on topic Poly Lowers
The Bipushmaster Carbon 15 models are absolute junk.

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13 years 5 months ago #24213 by 13fcolt
Replied by 13fcolt on topic Poly Lowers
I had no idea they were still making those things. Curious what the issues are.

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13 years 5 months ago #24216 by OleCowboy
Replied by OleCowboy on topic Poly Lowers
I just did a goggle search and did not find much, but a few folks have them and they seem to be ok.

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13 years 5 months ago - 13 years 5 months ago #24222 by Lizardette
Replied by Lizardette on topic Poly Lowers
What I've heard from workers at my local range is that on two separate occasions, Carbon 15 Optics Ready Carbines have failed catastrophically. They only use polymer lowers on that model, not uppers. I don't know what the determination was by Bushmaster as to the reasons they failed, or what the elected to do to remedy the situation. I really wanted one of those for awhile but just hearing that has steered me away.
Last edit: 13 years 5 months ago by Lizardette.

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13 years 5 months ago #24238 by Siscowet
Replied by Siscowet on topic Poly Lowers
I looked at the. Poly Bushmaster a few years ago, just because of the price, $399 at the time. But it felt like a mattel toy gun. There is no way I would ever have been comfortable shooting that thing.

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