beachmaster Posted September 3, 2015 Report Share Posted September 3, 2015 Hey guys, I would like to build an Ar for my wife in 556 (gasp!), and I am sure that some people build normalish ar's, and I trust the people here more than anywhere else. I want to build her a light weight, and very affordable Ar. But this topic could be valid for 308s also...I am a 1911 guy. A steel guy. For Ar's, an aluminum guy. But is a "quality" polymer lower acceptable, or foolishness? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sketch Posted September 3, 2015 Report Share Posted September 3, 2015 (edited) Ive also pondered the polly but what can be gained by a few ounces otherwise made me stick to aluminum frames where it goes bang ! But if its not a frequent or abused rifle?? Edit: i have had no trouble with anderson lowers! At 40$ thats a plus! Edited September 3, 2015 by sketch Shits :) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Malig8r Posted September 3, 2015 Report Share Posted September 3, 2015 I have to agree about the lack of what I perceive to be any significant difference in weight. I'd stick with aluminum. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
GreyGoose Posted September 3, 2015 Report Share Posted September 3, 2015 The prices for quality MILSPEC 7075-T6 forged aluminum stripped lowers are very reasonable right now, no reason to head off on a road less traveled when it comes to this stuff. ;-) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
98Z5V Posted September 3, 2015 Report Share Posted September 3, 2015 Jacob, give it until after this weekend, and I'll have a lightweight build posted up, brother. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
beachmaster Posted September 3, 2015 Author Report Share Posted September 3, 2015 Awesome Tom, I can't wait to see it! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Robocop1051 Posted September 3, 2015 Report Share Posted September 3, 2015 (edited) An Anderson upper and lower set will cost about $115-$125. The only polymer set I'd suggest is the KSP (Kaiser Shooting Products, out of AZ), but that'll run you +$200 per set.LPK w/ ALG ACT Trigger $75AR15 "Semi Auto" BCG $75Faxon lightweight 16" (or 14.5") barrel assembly with a simple comp $300Magpul MOE+ grip (she'll love this) $18MFT Minimalist stock/buffer assembly $100 There's an entire build for under $800, and should be pretty dang light. Now that's no where near the lightest.... but that's $$$. Farkle has a polymer and Titanium build that is going to likely be under 5 lbs. Edited September 3, 2015 by Robocop1051 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
beachmaster Posted September 3, 2015 Author Report Share Posted September 3, 2015 (edited) Anyone heard of Tennessee arms Co? These lowers are supposed to be pretty sweet, are cheap, and light. I have heard good things.http://www.tnarmsco.com/hybrid-polymer-lower-receiver-any-color-free-shipping/ The Mag lowers and uppers are really cool, but more spendy. And I think it is battle arms that is making a REALLY cool looking matched light weight upper and lower... That thing is beautiful. I know that I can go forged aluminum cheap. I am thinking of balancing cost, weight, and strength, and looking at everyone's options. :-) I wish I could do this build for 500ish, but I want to get nicer parts, so I'll do it one piece at a time. Edited September 3, 2015 by beachmaster Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
beachmaster Posted September 3, 2015 Author Report Share Posted September 3, 2015 And now I want the vdi ultralight 16.5" rifle length barrel... But it's $300 and is, and will be out of stock (if I ever get around to this) It might take me 10 years to get my wife a rifle LOL Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
GreyGoose Posted September 3, 2015 Report Share Posted September 3, 2015 Save yourself the headache and potential liability Jacob, the polymer lower is $49 bucks and .38lbs, and this 7075-T6 aluminum lower is $55 and .53lbs... Its a no brainer IMO.Not often you can get that kind of piece of mind with so little in exchange respectively! ;-) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
survivalshop Posted September 3, 2015 Report Share Posted September 3, 2015 Save yourself the headache and potential liability Jacob, the polymer lower is $49 bucks and .38lbs, and this 7075-T6 aluminum lower is $55 and .53lbs... Its a no brainer IMO.Not often you can get that kind of piece of mind with so little in exchange respectively! ;-)And the 7075 type is battle proven reliability . Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
beeks Posted September 3, 2015 Report Share Posted September 3, 2015 I'll throw in my 2 cents. My wife doesn't like a lot of recoil. A heavier rifle has less recoil. My wife will complain about a rifle that's to heavy or kicks to much. If I was going to build my wife an AR15 it would have a short lightweight barrel and handguard. The weight that's farthest from the shooter feels heavier than the weight next to your shoulder. I wouldn't care so much about the weight of the receiver. Quality is more important there. It would definitely be Aluminum. I'd go with a A1 stock with National Match lead weights. The weights should help with recoil (Yes, my wife thinks 223's have recoil) and balance. The A1 is better than A2 for her short arms. I'd also consider a short carbine stock to bring the weight closer to her shoulder. Of course, my wife prefers 22's and 410's. Hopefully your wife has graduated up from those already. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Robocop1051 Posted September 3, 2015 Report Share Posted September 3, 2015 Here's the rifle I built for my wife. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
392heminut Posted September 4, 2015 Report Share Posted September 4, 2015 Palmetto has full kits minus the lower receiver for $379 on a regular basis and you can pick up an Anderson lower for $40 if you look around. $420 to build an AR-15! I've done it, only mine has a bumpfire stock on it instead of the one that came in the kit. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
GreyGoose Posted September 4, 2015 Report Share Posted September 4, 2015 (edited) Palmetto has full kits minus the lower receiver for $379 on a regular basis and you can pick up an Anderson lower for $40 if you look around. $420 to build an AR-15! I've done it, only mine has a bumpfire stock on it instead of the one that came in the kit.That is a very good deal for a basic mil-spec AR, bout as cheap as its gonna get for anything worth having, and you can keep it paired as PSA has their stripped lowers on sale for a very aggressive price too regularly, or pick up a PSA blem, you usually can't tell where the blem was... Edited September 4, 2015 by GreyGoose Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
392heminut Posted September 4, 2015 Report Share Posted September 4, 2015 (edited) GG, I didn't have any problems at all with the PSA kit on the Anderson lower. I think the fitment issues are only with their 308 platform. I haven't heard of anyone having issues with their AR-15 stuff. Edited September 4, 2015 by 392heminut Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
GreyGoose Posted September 4, 2015 Report Share Posted September 4, 2015 (edited) GG, I didn't have any problems at all with the PSA kit on the Anderson lower. I think the fitment issues are only with their 308 platform. I haven't heard of anyone having issues with their AR-15 stuff.No no, the mil-spec stuff in an AR-15 build will join up just almost always, occasionally there are very subtle particulars that annoy me when mating receivers from different manufacturers, and most of my earlier guns were that way, but you are right there are no worries there, honestly was more of an anal thing on my part about having a complete gun with matching receivers... LOL...your idea would work without complication I am sure. ;-) Edited September 4, 2015 by GreyGoose Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
beachmaster Posted September 4, 2015 Author Report Share Posted September 4, 2015 I am bias against psa now ;-) but I know for a cheap build they are pretty sweet!I think that I am going to try to completely part this together. It will be WAY more expensive than the Psa route... But hopefully I'll get exactly what I am looking for :-) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
GreyGoose Posted September 4, 2015 Report Share Posted September 4, 2015 (edited) Anderson is not bad, I have built two for my kids that I picked up locally, and they ran perfectly.I am building an Aero Precision 308AR now, and to be perfectly honest, if I was in your shoes even though they are twice as expensive I would go to them in a heartbeat, very nice quality, price point, and customer service.Check them out, you might like what you see! Edited September 4, 2015 by GreyGoose Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
98Z5V Posted September 4, 2015 Report Share Posted September 4, 2015 Alright, brother, you're getting a little antsy already - here's a sneakpeek. Just got it together tonight, so I have no idea what it weighs. The barrel is the Faxon 16" midlength pencil barrel, the rail is the ALG V1 M-LOK 10" rail. 6.13oz for the rail, including the barrel nut. PA microdot on a Fortis mount. The buttstock is temporary, because Mike rushed me and I couldn't get the correct buttstock that's gonna go on it. I'm gonna shoot it like this on Sunday, and change out the buttstock later. It's light, overall - damn light. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
beachmaster Posted September 4, 2015 Author Report Share Posted September 4, 2015 That is flipping beautiful Tom. Have I mentioned yet that I should be back in the Tucson area by late Oct? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
98Z5V Posted September 5, 2015 Report Share Posted September 5, 2015 THAT is great news!!! Sounds like an October Shoot is in order! Hell Yeah!!! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
GreyGoose Posted September 5, 2015 Report Share Posted September 5, 2015 $36 Anderson lower receivers at AIM Surplushttp://www.aimsurplus.com/product.aspx?item=F1ANSL&name=Anderson+Manufacturing+AM15+Multi.+Cal.+Lower+Receiver&groupid=714 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
98Z5V Posted September 6, 2015 Report Share Posted September 6, 2015 Mine above is using the Aero Precision forged lower and the X-Products forged upper receiver. If you look closely at the pic, I lightened the upper receiver a little bit. I'll do more on it, before I Cerakote the shiit out of it. That was the upper receiver that originally came with the Can Cannon, but I mounted that thing to a different upper receiver when I got it. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Malig8r Posted September 6, 2015 Report Share Posted September 6, 2015 ^^^^ Hey Tom, I know you like to Cerekote your weapons so I have a question about that. When the weapon is anodized it increases surface hardness of the aluminum, when you sandblast it and then Cerekote it, does that reduce the surface strength of the metal to any appreciable degree? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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