Basically, cut out & screw together pieces of aluminum...it looks like the really complicated part would be where the buffer tube screws in.

quote:

Bolt-together AR-15 lower receiver: no 3D printer necessary

This kick-ass free-to-use pattern (.pdf) for making your own screw-together AR-15 lower receiver from sheets of aluminum of varying thickness has been making the rounds again what with the recent passage of anti 3D-printed gun laws. The original website is sadly gone.

All you need to do is cut them out and screw them all together, then drill and tap a couple of holes. Guess which one can be shot more?

Might have some problems with some aftermarket mags, though. Might want to consider trimming that magwell a bit should you try this yourself.

http://www.guns.com/2013/12/06...d-printer-necessary/

Pattern - PDF File:
https://www.google.com/url?sa=...MNsw3RekhMb8oHKkeO8g

Another fine example of why banning guns just wont work. That genie left the bottle a thousand years ago.

What qualifies as 80%? It's be very interesting if someone could make and sell these in pieces, at least the difficult parts, maybe drilled but not tapped, or maybe done of the holes marked but not drilled, etc.

The rear of the receiver above the grip looks like it would be a thumb killer.

can you braze aluminum together like you can steel?

think of the brazed trigger housings used on M1 Carbines back during WWII,,

if a poly lower holds up, surely a steel or alloy brazed or welded would

quote:

Originally posted by Texas Bob C.:
The rear of the receiver above the grip looks like it would be a thumb killer.

There are plenty of AR grips with beavertails that would protect that area of the hand, though they might require some modification to fit the more squared-off profile.

Most AR grips nowadays have beavertails, in fact.

quote:

Originally posted by Dallas239:
What qualifies as 80%? It's be very interesting if someone could make and sell these in pieces, at least the difficult parts, maybe drilled but not tapped, or maybe done of the holes marked but not drilled, etc.

It's not an 80%, you put it all together yourself.

You don't need a license or permission to make a firearm for personal use. 80% lowers are machined right up until the point they are 'firearms', then you have to do the rest. As I see this, you are just following plans for a firearm design. If you have the tools, you could make a complete aluminum lower and anodize it just like a regular lower, but that's a lot of investment for a couple of lowers.

quote:

Originally posted by lyman:
can you braze aluminum together like you can steel?

You could TIG weld it or use the MIG process if you have the right set-up.

Could be an interesting project.

quote:

Originally posted by airsoft guy:
Another fine example of why banning guns just wont work. That genie left the bottle a thousand years ago.

But the goal is to ban guns, mags, gun parts, ammo, ammo components, powder, lead, etc. Heck I still have thousands of primers from back in the day when banning primers was first spoke of.

Well the AR is kind of a Lego gun.....

quote:

Originally posted by radioman:

quote:

Originally posted by airsoft guy:
Another fine example of why banning guns just wont work. That genie left the bottle a thousand years ago.

But the goal is to ban guns, mags, gun parts, ammo, ammo components, powder, lead, etc. Heck I still have thousands of primers from back in the day when banning primers was first spoke of.

Freedom is a hell of a drug.
Some get addicted to it from the first smallest hit, and pity the fool that tries to take it from a freedom junky.

He or she will use anything at their disposal in ways some cannot fathom to keep it and get more.

Anything...

Why not just buy an 80% lower and finish it from there if you want to remain anonymous. It would look 10 times better and be equally untraceable and unsellable.

quote:

Originally posted by 1s1k:
Why not just buy an 80% lower and finish it from there if you want to remain anonymous. It would look 10 times better and be equally untraceable and unsellable.

Or say "anonymous? What is this word?"...

If it ever gets so bad that some entity is actively taking weapons from the public, how it is manufactured will not matter. It will be revolution time if the "entity" tries to become the only ones with weapons. Tracing it or having it sold will be the least of a corrupt governments worries.

quote:

Originally posted by 1s1k:
Why not just buy an 80% lower and finish it from there if you want to remain anonymous. It would look 10 times better and be equally untraceable and unsellable.

Because they can. It's good to have options when it comes to building guns untraceable to The Man.

All they'll do is ban trigger kits and/or small springs.

quote:

Originally posted by RHINOWSO:

quote:

Originally posted by Dallas239:
What qualifies as 80%? It's be very interesting if someone could make and sell these in pieces, at least the difficult parts, maybe drilled but not tapped, or maybe done of the holes marked but not drilled, etc.

It's not an 80%, you put it all together yourself.

You don't need a license or permission to make a firearm for personal use. 80% lowers are machined right up until the point they are 'firearms', then you have to do the rest. As I see this, you are just following plans for a firearm design. If you have the tools, you could make a complete aluminum lower and anodize it just like a regular lower, but that's a lot of investment for a couple of lowers.

Right, but this is just plans. That's great if you have the ability to cut aluminium and machine it in the right places. But I'm wondering if this could legally be sold as a kit. I'm not worried about anonymity, I just think it'd be cool to have a fun I built myself.

quote:

Originally posted by gearhounds:

quote:

Originally posted by 1s1k:
Why not just buy an 80% lower and finish it from there if you want to remain anonymous. It would look 10 times better and be equally untraceable and unsellable.

Or say "anonymous? What is this word?"...

If it ever gets so bad that some entity is actively taking weapons from the public, how it is manufactured will not matter. It will be revolution time if the "entity" tries to become the only ones with weapons. Tracing it or having it sold will be the least of a corrupt governments worries.

Only the useful idiots like Bloomberg's "moms" think we can eliminate gun ownership. Those in power just want to criminalize it. Then they can knock on your door and drag you out anytime they want.

God forbid that ever comes to pass, it would indeed be useful to have firearms they don't know to look for. Turn all the others over, be a law-abiding citizen as far as anyone knows, until it suits you to not be.

quote:

Originally posted by Dallas239:
I'm wondering if this could legally be sold as a kit. I'm not worried about anonymity, I just think it'd be cool to have a fun I built myself.

I think the answer to that is "no". About thirteen (?) years ago someone actually offered a kit like the one you're talking about. It, too, was simply bolted together. The owner even wanted payment in postal money orders, just for the anonymity crowd. Within a month or two of a completed kit from this company being featured on the cover of Shotgun News, the ATF had somehow taken control of the buisness' inventory of unsold kits and was combing through the buisness' records to try to find out who the kits were sold to.

Then again, IIRC, all the holes had been drilled and all of the cuts had been made. Maybe there would be some way of making it work as an 80%.

So school me on this 80% thing. I buy a lower frame that isn't finished out yet, and I do what, drill a few holes out? Now it will function to take a trigger kit, or does the trigger kit come with? And once it's functional, and get pulled over by the ATF while I'm driving over to the Ward's to get a double Big One, is this a felony possession thing? How's that work?

There is a lot of info out there...this site might answer some of your questions...or at least be a place to start...

https://www.80-lower.com

https://www.80-lower.com/blogs...lly-and-unregistered


THE LAWS TO BUILD YOUR OWN AR 15

According to the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (BATFE) the only part of the AR-15 that requires a Federal Firearms License (FFL) transfer at the time of purchase is the serialized lower receiver. This would refer to the serialization designated to a finished lower by the manufacturer prior to its sale. The only exception to this law would refer to the sale of 80% lower receivers, which the BATFE does allow to be sold without serialization or an FFL transfer.

An 80% lower receiver is simply a lower receiver which is inoperable due to in-completion on the part of the manufacturer. 80% lowers do not meet the BATFE’s legal definition of a firearm, due to the fire control group cavity remaining unmilled and in its original state. This is why it has received the name, “80% lower.”

As mentioned, the 80% lower receiver does not require an FFL transfer or serialization. Furthermore, any 80% lower receiver can be legally milled, drilled and made operable by the purchaser. As long as the purchaser himself or herself completes the milling for the fire control group, finishes the 80% lower for his or her own personal use, and does not sell the lower receiver after manufacturing.

The BATFE states: "Individuals manufacturing sporting-type firearms for their own use need not hold Federal Firearms Licenses (FFLs). However, we suggest that the manufacturer at least identify the firearm with a serial number as a safeguard in the event that the firearm is lost or stolen. Also, the firearm should be identified as required in 27 CFR478.92 if it is sold or otherwise lawfully transferred in the future."