Anyone have experience building their own rifle using an unmarked lower and various parts? Just looking for some info about the kits available, which ones are better than others etc. I saw some lowers for sale and they range in price from $120-$330. Any info is welcome.

you are going to need access to a mill, and if you cannot pinpoint the locations for the fire control pins, you will need to buy a jig for those. When its all said and done, its cheaper to just get a complete lower, unless you do 5-6 80% lowers at a time.

100% lowers, ready to assemble can be found for around $100 so I don't see any cost saving benefit to buying an 80% and finishing it yourself. I've never done one but I understand it can upwards of 10-12 hours to finish one and that's assuming you have the proper tooling and a mill. The satisfaction of building it yourself counts for something I guess.

Unless your motive is to build something with no serial number or paper trail I don't see where it's worth the effort.

You will want to stay away from rockethub as they are fishing for people to fund them to buy equipment. You may or may not get what you ordered. There are some polymer ones out there cheaper to buy and easier to machine. You defiantly want to buy the jig to complete you machine work. Some companies provide jigs, drill bits, and mills but I would stay away from them also as they are not the greatest quality tools. You get what you pay for in the way of drills and mill equipment.


Remember look at the photo's to see what markings are on it and pick the one you like, pick a quality receiver, decide if you want a finish or if you will finish it yourself, get the jig to go with it and above all buy quality tools to finish.
Again make sure you know if what you are buying is in stock and I would go with the billet aluminum or any mil spec 7075 T6 MIL-H-6088 Forging.

If you build one this way don't forget that as soon as you drill one hole it is no longer a 80% and you may need to register it as this is territory that probably hasn't been reviewed as yet AFAIK.

I was told that if you happen to harm or kill someone with these home made weapons, you are in for a major headache or worse, years of jail time. I guess it's ok for just plinking if you want to avoid wear and tear on your registered ones. I am not really sure if what they told me is true. I would like some feedback about this too since I want to start a project using the ep 80% lowers and top it off with a 22lr upper or 15's. But then again when SHTF I guess one wouldn't really have a choice but use it. Any input is appreciated.

I am doing a couple of 80%-er's now or in the next couple of weeks. I think that if you consider your time as having any positive value, you will be $$ ahead to buy a finished lower.

I am fortunate to own a Tormach CNC 4-Axis Mill and I have the ability to use it which makes things much easier and quicker. I still bought a jig to use in holding the receiver in the mill vise. Also, be wary of "Build Parties". The BATF has found these to be in violation of the GCA '68 and has in some cases closed things down. The GCA is very specific in that you must personally build the gun for you own use and not for resale or distribution. Pushing the button on a pre-programed CNC Mill does not meet this requirement. (see Ares Arms)

Many people advocate that the 80%-er's can be finished on a $79 Harbor Freight Drill Press (mostly people selling the jigs). I think that this may be a bit of a stretch. While the finished receiver may be mostly functional, the quality of the inside cuts - maybe not so much. Additionally the relationship of the Selector Switch hole, Trigger Pin hole and the Hammer Pin hole is critical to the reliable safe function of the weapon.

I am doing the two 80%'s now largely to be able to say I have. After this, I plan on doing a couple of 0%-er's. I you take these on thinking that you will save any money you are seriously deluded.

A lot of people machine their own. I also read many posts where the "machinist" is looking for a fix to repair the hole drilled through the bottom of the receiver. I also sespect that a large number of 80%-er's sold will spent their lives as "paperweights" or future projects on the roundtoit list.

This may all becomes academic in the future. A California "servant of the people" has introduced a bill into the House proposing to close the 80% "loophole". Since this is specifically allowed by the GCA '68 based upon ATF interpetation, it may or may not occur and the legal requirement may move to a 60% or a 50% receiver, who really knows.

nitewatchman

I have done several. Both ARs and 10-22s. It is not cost effective. I did it for fun.

I think it is cool that I am the legal manufacturer of the rifle. You wont have a Colt or a Knight or a S&W, you will have an Arob63