Dang it - bought a polymer AR15 lower on accident

[mgmorden]

Was at a gunshow today and just before leaving I saw a case of AR15 lowers. I had been meaning to pickup another for a build and so I just bought the one they had listed for $39. Figured a lower is a lower so I just filled out the form, paid, and walked out.

Didn't realize until I got home that it was a polymer lower. I forgot they even made those lol. Oh well. It was only $40 so for now I guess I'll just stick it aside.

 

[dogmush]

Which one is it? Some are better than others.

 

[mgmorden]

ATI Omni.

 

[OilyPablo]

Dang you'll just going to make another one after you make this gun. Hate when that happens.

 

[dogmush]

That's a shame.

 

[mf-dif]

That might not be bad. They have the steel inserts right? I was wondering if those would make a good 9mm host myself.

 

[mgmorden]

That might not be bad. They have the steel inserts right? I was wondering if those would make a good 9mm host myself.

Not that I can tell. Looking it over it's completely polymer. I did take my Del-ton upper and stuck it on it and it seemed to mate up ok - but overall I don't see myself using this for a build when I can get an aluminum lower for another $50. I'll probably just save it for now and one the off chance that they ever do get banned at least I have a spare.

 

[eldon519]

Could use it for a dedicated .22 build or a lightweight build. Could shoot it until it breaks and then replace it if it ever actually does break.

 

[BSA1]

I would go ahead and do a lightweight build. A lightweight build may not be to hard to sale or it won't be hard to change out parts for a heavier rifle if you want.

 

[HGM22]

.22 build or stash it.

 

[berettaprofessor]

I've had a 22 upper on a Plumcrazy lower for years. Works just fine.

 

[Redlg155]

I don't see why it wouldn't be just as good as an aluminum lower as all the stress is in the upper. My Scar 17 wears a polymer lower that I have 100% confidence in. But then $10.00 would have gotten you an Anderson forger lower. $50 OTD at the Tallahassee show this weekend.

 

[kwg020]

"I don't see why it wouldn't be just as good as an aluminum lower as all the stress is in the upper. My Scar 17 wears a polymer lower that I have 100% confidence in. But then $10.00 would have gotten you an Anderson forger lower. $50 OTD at the Tallahassee show this weekend. "

The only polymer I would buy is this one because it has metal inserts. I would leave the one you bought for a .22 build.


http://www.tnarmsco.com/new-category-2/

 

[Warp]

Stick it in your safe or under your bed or in your closet or wherever would be appropriate and forget about, buy a forged aluminum lower and continue on

 

[1911 guy]

I'm of the opinion to either stash it away for a rainy day, sell it to recoup some of your money, or build a .22 rimfire on it.

As inexpensive as aluminum receivers are right now, I'd probably not build a centerfire rifle on a polymer lower.

 

[ColoradoMinuteMan]

I know a couple of people who have the polymer lowers and haven't had issues, but they are basically range guns. However, you can find a ton of examples of those who don't have such luck. This picture illustrates one of the more common types of failures for the polymer lowers.



photo credit sumkrnboy on www.ar15.com

 

[USAF_Vet]

ATI Omni.

Don't sweat it. My first AR lower was an Omni. I bought it during the Obama/ Romney election in September. Just under four years and a few thousand rounds and not so much as a hiccup.

The new Omni's are hybrids with steel inserts, but for casual range plinking, the Gen 1 Omni is just fine. Stood up to some run and gun training which included dives into the dirt and snow, dropping from standing to prone, etc.

I did replace it with an Anderson lower, but I still have plans for it.

It's not a go-to-war gun, but you're not going to war with a personal firearms anyway, so it's a moot point.

It's sitting in my cabinet right now awaiting my new light weight upper build.

They also have a warranty should it break.

 

[yugorpk]

I know a couple of people who have the polymer lowers and haven't had issues, but they are basically range guns. However, you can find a ton of examples of those who don't have such luck. This picture illustrates one of the more common types of failures for the polymer lowers.



photo credit sumkrnboy on www.ar15.com

Ive done that with one in my own two hands. Went shooting with a guy from work and hs polymer lower AR buttstock was loose. I tightened the nut up with my wrench IN MY HANDS and the back end snapped off.

 

[chicharrones]

I don't see why it wouldn't be just as good as an aluminum lower as all the stress is in the upper. My Scar 17 wears a polymer lower that I have 100% confidence in. But then $10.00 would have gotten you an Anderson forger lower. $50 OTD at the Tallahassee show this weekend.

In an AR, the buffer bottoms out in the buffer tube (aka receiver extension) with each shot. That puts stresses on a lower where the buffer tube mounts, resulting in poly lower breakage like shown in that photo up thread from my post.

 

[briansmithwins]

I don't see why it wouldn't be just as good as an aluminum lower as all the stress is in the upper. My Scar 17 wears a polymer lower that I have 100% confidence in. But then $10.00 would have gotten you an Anderson forger lower. $50 OTD at the Tallahassee show this weekend.

Because the SCAR was designed with a plastic lower and the stresses are very different. The SCAR doesn't have a buffer tube and doesn't pivot on the front pin, which are two places poly AR lowers break.

Substituting one material for another w/o doing a redesign is asking for trouble.

BSW

 

[eastbank]

i put a light weight ar together with a ati-omni with inserts and i fired 200 rounds thru it with out a hic-up and after cleaning it i have in a closet in my bed room with a 30 round mag ready to go if needed. is it a range whore,no. i had the upper off of a another put together and paid 100.00 for the complete ati lower, cheap insurance. eastbank.

 

[R.W.Dale]

The Cav15 is the best poly lower if you can do without a m4 buttstock.

I'm building an ultralight 300blk on one as we speak

 

[cfullgraf]

I'll vote for a 22 LR build with the polymer lower.

A number of years ago, I bought two in part to see how they performed. The first one failed as a 9mm carbine. I then built the second as a 22 LR and it has been holding up OK.

I plan to replace the polymer lower with an aluminum one at some point in the future.

 

[tlatoani]

I'll vote for a 22 LR build with the polymer lower.

A number of years ago, I bought two in part to see how they performed. The first one failed as a 9mm carbine. I then built the second as a 22 LR and it has been holding up OK.

I plan to replace the polymer lower with an aluminum one at some point in the future.

I've read that 9mm is harder on these than 223.

 

[USAF_Vet]

I've read that 9mm is harder on these than 223.

I've read the same. Something about the 9mm being a blowback rather than a modified DI, puts a lot of stress on the hammer pin and rounds out the pin hole in the receiver. I was planning a 9mm build on a poly lower myself, but am now going with my steel lower. Extreme overkill, but it'll be fun.