D.B. Cooper
Member
- Joined
- Oct 2, 2016
- Messages
- 4,400
I have a coupleof questions about 80% lowers, and I would like to discuss some of those concerns with folks who know. All of these questions are predicated on the concept that there will be an AWB in the next 2-3 years, and that said AWB will be at least as restrictive as the one during the 1990s.
Legal issues. As I understand it, 80% lowers are legal as long as I build my own lower and never sell it or bequeath it. I understand I have to use my own tools. I understand that I'm not required to serialize it or identify it any way. Correct me if I'm wrong here.
My larger concern is, if/when an AWB passes, it may create a "pre-ban" and "post ban" gun. If you recall, the '94 ban created a post ban gun that could not have a flash suppressor, bayonet lug, a magazine over 10 rounds, and probably a bunch of other stuff I don't recall. If one had an AR15 with an 80% lower with an upper that had those pre-ban markers on it (bayonet lug, etc), how would one prove to the authorities that the gun was, indeed, a "pre-ban" gun? How would one prove that the lower had been built prior to the passing of the ban? Would it not be better, in this narrowly-defined scenario, to have a commercially produced lower, with a serial number and a 4473? Additionally, how would one prove that one's 30 round magazines were "pre-ban?"
What are the common legal issues that people have to deal with in regards to 80% lower.
Tooling and the machining process. I've read that most of these 80% lowers end up being hack job abominations. It seems that one can machine these using either a hand-held drill, a hand-held router, or a drill press. Let's just automatically toss out the hand held drill. I've got enough a mechanical background to know that's going to be a goat rope. Of the other two, which is the preferred method for producing the tightest tolerances and best results?
Legal issues. As I understand it, 80% lowers are legal as long as I build my own lower and never sell it or bequeath it. I understand I have to use my own tools. I understand that I'm not required to serialize it or identify it any way. Correct me if I'm wrong here.
My larger concern is, if/when an AWB passes, it may create a "pre-ban" and "post ban" gun. If you recall, the '94 ban created a post ban gun that could not have a flash suppressor, bayonet lug, a magazine over 10 rounds, and probably a bunch of other stuff I don't recall. If one had an AR15 with an 80% lower with an upper that had those pre-ban markers on it (bayonet lug, etc), how would one prove to the authorities that the gun was, indeed, a "pre-ban" gun? How would one prove that the lower had been built prior to the passing of the ban? Would it not be better, in this narrowly-defined scenario, to have a commercially produced lower, with a serial number and a 4473? Additionally, how would one prove that one's 30 round magazines were "pre-ban?"
What are the common legal issues that people have to deal with in regards to 80% lower.
Tooling and the machining process. I've read that most of these 80% lowers end up being hack job abominations. It seems that one can machine these using either a hand-held drill, a hand-held router, or a drill press. Let's just automatically toss out the hand held drill. I've got enough a mechanical background to know that's going to be a goat rope. Of the other two, which is the preferred method for producing the tightest tolerances and best results?