EP Armory polymer lowers worth a go at $30?

[madmax_fal]

A LGS has a few polymer 80% lowers (by EPA) for $30 each. I was shocked when I saw the price tag on the lower but had second thoughts when I saw it was polymer. Talked to a chemical engineer friend of mine, he said he didn't know anything about polymer lowers on an AR, but that generally he would be wary of trusting his life to plastic lower. Has anyone had issues with the EPA variant? Specifically concerned about longevity and cracking as time goes on.

[JoshNC]

No. Polymer lowers that follow the lines of the traditional AR lower are garbage. Buy forged machined AR lowers.

[everready73]

Don't do it. Especially for any type of hard use gun. The only thing I would consider good for would be a 22,LR AR build, but still would much prefer even an Anderson 7075 for that.

I am guessing stock for 7075 80% lowers is like everything else, but try to be patient. Right to bear and others carry them for not much more than 30$

[Diamondback]

Hold out for $20-25. What they're really good for is practice, so if it's your first 80% when you make a mistake--and make one you probably WILL--you're not out much.

I did an EP polymer 80% just to have a "ghost" and toss Da Man the finger, but the heaviest caliber it'll ever see is .22LR or maybe one of the various pistol-caliber uppers. That said, the EP jig is so simple you can knock out a lower with just a cordless HAND drill... I know, because I did it. Seven hours of drilling and grinding, but I did it...

[georgeib]

No.


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[Stickman]

A LGS has a few polymer 80% lowers (by EPA) for $30 each. I was shocked when I saw the price tag on the lower but had second thoughts when I saw it was polymer. Talked to a chemical engineer friend of mine, he said he didn't know anything about polymer lowers on an AR, but that generally he would be wary of trusting his life to plastic lower. Has anyone had issues with the EPA variant? Specifically concerned about longevity and cracking as time goes on.

For $30? If it came with the jigs and everything, I would seriously kick the idea around. Learning to make a lower off an 80% kit is fun, and similar to building a model. A $30 learning experience is cheap, and especially if you have kids who can do it along with you, its a solid idea.

Yes, a basic poly lower which isn't heavily reinforced will not hold up to abuse, but you already know that. If you consider what it is, and weigh the goods and bads, I don't see it as a bad thing at all.

The people who say no are typically looking at the fact that it will not hold up anywhere near as well as a traditional forged lower, and they are correct. However, that doesn't mean they are going to fall apart as a bench weapon, and I would guess that even for a basic weapon used for training it would do fine. For $30, you play around and repair it if something breaks, and continue your learning process.

[ViniVidivici]

I would say no way it's worth it.

For a fun project, like stickman says, "model building", I guess, but I see no point.

For a serious gun, no.

Way I see it, polymer pistol frames have caught on, polymer AR lowers never have. For obvious reasons.

[markm]

Free would be a rip off.

[Circle_10]

You could always buy a few to flip when things get even more panicky. I wouldn’t bother building a rifle with one though. I bought one of those Ares polymer 80s years back on impulse and never ended up doing anything with it because it just seemed....crappy. I figure if there’s suddenly a demand for polymer “ghost gun” lowers I’ll sell it.

[madmax_fal]

I picked up a few today. Mess around with one, put one back, give one to a friend. Still on the hunt for machined lowers