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Thread: Anyone been following these polymer lowers from Tennessee Arms?

  1. #41
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    A whole buncha "lucky" in my brief AR madness.

    1. Lucky I never bought a Plum Crazy "plastic" lower. Or, I think so .....

    Did buy a New Frontier Armory (N. Las Vegas, NV) Lower Half a ~ 18 months ago - and luckily, I haven't had any problems with it. (So far!) Or, I think so .....

    2. Decided right off the bat to pretty much limit my polymer lower "experiment" to a .22LR build using a (formerly offered) CMMG Revolution Upper and their stainless steel guts & Melonite barrel, all configured for left-port ejection. With no pounding BCG into the buffer thread area, i felt the stresses *not* created were elimination of the major concerns with "plastic" parts. Heck, I don't even have a buffer & spring installed! What's the point?

    Polymer lower, no internals in the "commercial" buffer tube? It feels *dramatically* lighter than my first AR, a "store bought" Stag Arms 1L.

    So far, so good. Or, I think so. I've only sent a few hundred rounds down the pipe and everything's hunky-dorey. Shoots that Aguila "target grade" ammo great and on my best days, I can cover a couple of 3 shot groups with a bottle cap at 25 yards.

    Must note that the odd-ball New Frontier Armory Lower and the CMMG upper match up like bourbon & Coke. The fit - absolutely zero light gap or slop anywhere - is darned surprising. Or, I think so ....

    A range buddy upgraded his DPMS AR with a drop-in trigger module and just gave me his old trigger, complete with metal pins - in a baggie. I "slicked-up" the contact points with some Flitz and swapped out the whole N.F.A. FCG with it. Not sure it was much of an improvement over the polymer parts that came with the N.F.A. assembly to begin with! Those molded parts are pretty slick & self-lubricating!

    I'll certainly agree with T.A.'s Dave Roberts: Absolutely no reason the Lower can't be polymer; absolutely no reason the Upper can be. The co-existance of polymer Lowers & forged (or billet) aluminum Uppers is a "given". It all depends on the refined engineering of the polymer material and - in the case of Tennessee Arms - capturing threaded metal thread inserts and making it work in production numbers and consistently.

    I still don't like the "as molded" flat trigger guard but trade-offs are also a "given" when working with "plastic" vs. metal. Or, I think so ....

    Obviously, the drive to "polymer" is to cut costs and reduce weight. Why else? We have the range of "experiments" from Chiappa, Plum Crazy, New Frontier Armory, Bushmaster, Smith & Wesson - and now Tennessee Arms. There's also another brand that has been involved in capturing metal inserts for threads - the name escapes me. (I'm old!)

    Weight? Really?!? With so much of a "store bought" AR already made of "plastic", is an ounce or two here or there less *really* that necessary?

    As far as "cost", a couple of months ago, I just picked up a stunning stripped Lower at some po-dunk store selling firearms & golf clubs in - co-incidentally! - Tennessee - made by Anderson Arms somewhere in KY - for a ridiculously cheap 50 bucks & a 10.00 transfer!!! It is a magnificent work of art ....... The tiny forging mark tells me it came from the "gold standard" of aluminum AR forging shops, Cerro Forge in Weyers Cave, VA.

    Tiny weight savings, be damned! I just bought a brand new Mercedes for the price of an old Yugo!!!! Have *never* seen a stripped polymer Lower that cheap - at full retail - and the worries about weaknesses in molded vs. forged parts just evaporated.

    Or, I think so .....
    Last edited by Eye Patch; 09-07-14 at 07:42.

  2. #42
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    Quote Originally Posted by burgeman View Post
    http://www.tnarmsco.com/complete-lower-receiver/

    I have been following the thread on lightfighter since the first post and have been pretty impressed with everything the owner is trying to do. Just was wondering if anyone else has picked one of these lowers up and their thoughts?
    another option, not sure if mentioned.

    http://www.2a-arms.com/content/balios-lite

    their lower paired with v7's forged lw upper was my latest conclusion on the mega LW build question. too bad they cant forge a lower with the profile theyve machined out on the billet.

  3. #43
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    I'm on 500 rounds of a TA lower with a 11.5 upper. No issues so far. I was skeptical until F.Proctor stated he has 6k rounds on his. Pretty cost effective unless Anderson Arms lowers are on sale.


    Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
    Matthew 10:28

  4. #44
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    Quote Originally Posted by Eye Patch View Post

    As far as "cost", a couple of months ago, I just picked up a stunning stripped Lower at some po-dunk store selling firearms & golf clubs in - co-incidentally! - Tennessee - made by Anderson Arms somewhere in KY - for a ridiculously cheap 50 bucks & a 10.00 transfer!!! It is a magnificent work of art ....... The tiny forging mark tells me it came from the "gold standard" of aluminum AR forging shops, Cerro Forge in Weyers Cave, VA.
    Those Anderson Lowers pop up every once in awhile for cheap. I think PSA had the for $39.99 during the labor day sales. SAA has a few http://www.surplusammo.com/anderson-...ower-receiver/

  5. #45
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    Quote Originally Posted by daveroberts View Post
    well this is Dave.... the guy who owns Tennessee Arms Company

    We had some initial issues that we are doing everything we can to fix. Rome wasnt built in a day and doing something that has never been done before is far from easy.

    The reasons for having a polymer lower receiver are the exact same as the reasons for having a polymer lower on a pistol. There are significant weight savings and the material is much more resilient. There is zero reasons that the lower receiver needs to be metal. There are zero reasons for the upper receiver to be anything but metal.

    The last post was about having metal reinforcement in the RE and pistol grip areas.. Its already been incorporated into our design and we have the patent filed for it. No other company will be able to run a threaded metallic insert in polymer once the patent issues. Until then we are having to suffer through having competition.

    Attachment 23151

    Polymer itself has some interesting properties that arent a concern when dealing with metal. The shrinkage rates vary according to the temperature of the injection material and the time of the shot. The greatest change is from the temperature of the injection mold and the cooling of the part after extracting it from the mold. That is where our initial issues were coming from. My personal rifle is the sixth one that was ever produced on our mold and everything works fine. A few dozen more into it we started seeing variation of about .02" in shrinkage variation in some places and .018" in others depending on the manufacturing process.

    We have altered our mold tolerances to produce a part within mil-spec manufacturing tolerance using a predetermined process. We have our bugs worked out now. while we are constantly improving our process and product the main issues we were having have been resolved.

    As for if people will accept a polymer lower industry wide is not really a concern. My concern is making a high quality part that is as tough and reliable as I can. I think I have done that. My receiver can be nearly crushed in a vice and still drop a mag free. The are also more rugged than a forged lower. They are capable of taking far more abuse and remaining within operational tolerance.

    I understand the polymer lowers have gotten a bad rap... Im a shooter I get it. That wasnt my company or me. Im not going to allow a product like that to have my name on it.

    If you ever have any questions, comments, or even criticism of my receivers please let me know.... I wont get butthurt..

    Dave Roberts

    could the insert be stripped out of the polymer? id be interested in a test of threading in an alum RE and slamming the lower (with and without an upper attached) on flat end of the re tube into the ground. also putting the lower in a vice and trying to snap the re off the rest of the receiver.

    thanks dave for taking the time to post, it says a lot about you and your business!
    Last edited by t15; 09-07-14 at 18:15.

  6. #46
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    Quote Originally Posted by TacticalMark View Post
    Those Anderson Lowers pop up every once in awhile for cheap. I think PSA had the for $39.99 during the labor day sales. SAA has a few http://www.surplusammo.com/anderson-...ower-receiver/
    Man, they're (Anderson Arms lowers) worth every penny! (Sure wish they made "lefty" Uppers; Stag Arms is reaming L.H. customers!)

    I look forward to building a Tennessee Arms lower up - really love those captured inserts with threads for the buffer tube, pistol grip, etc. - but haven't seen one for sale yet. Lotsa "out of stock" notices ... with no back-orders accepted. ?????
    Last edited by Eye Patch; 09-07-14 at 20:54.

  7. #47
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    Quote Originally Posted by sadmin View Post
    I'm on 500 rounds of a TA lower with a 11.5 upper. No issues so far. I was skeptical until F.Proctor stated he has 6k rounds on his. Pretty cost effective unless Anderson Arms lowers are on sale.


    Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
    On sheer weight-savings alone - and if they can take some average transport - no abuse, just things "normal" ARs might see - these polymer lowers can't be anything BUT viable alternatives to aluminum. Throw in threaded metal inserts that won't strip out if accidentally over-tightened - and the average shooter should be in for a bargain. I just wish there was a trigger guard change - more of a loop for using lightweight gloves. Picky, picky, picky ....

  8. #48
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    Quote Originally Posted by TacticalMark View Post
    Those Anderson Lowers pop up every once in awhile for cheap. I think PSA had the for $39.99 during the labor day sales. SAA has a few http://www.surplusammo.com/anderson-...ower-receiver/
    i got an Anderson and was very dissapointed. the mag well is machined too far forward creating an overhanging lip with my BCM uppers and PMAGs wont work because of this. seems okay otherwise so im probably going to do a 9mm build with it.

    next time ill spend a few more bucks and get an in-spec reciever.

    YMMV
    Last edited by wildcard600; 09-08-14 at 08:22. Reason: stupid touchscreen keyboard....
    "I pity thou, fools who dost not choose BCM" - King Arthur 517 A.D.

    .OlllllllO.

  9. #49
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    Quote Originally Posted by wildcard600 View Post
    i got an Anderson and was very dissapointed. the mag well is machined too far forward creating an overhanging lip woth my BCM uppers and PMAGs wont wprk because of this. seems okay otherwise so im probably going to do a 9mm build with it.

    nest time ill spend a few more bucks and get an in-spec reciever.

    YMMV
    I don't blame you, I don't have any experience with Anderson. For inexpensive stripped lowers I've used Aero Precision and had great results.

  10. #50
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    Quote Originally Posted by daveroberts View Post
    well this is Dave.... the guy who owns Tennessee Arms Company

    We had some initial issues that we are doing everything we can to fix. Rome wasnt built in a day and doing something that has never been done before is far from easy.

    The reasons for having a polymer lower receiver are the exact same as the reasons for having a polymer lower on a pistol. There are significant weight savings and the material is much more resilient. There is zero reasons that the lower receiver needs to be metal. There are zero reasons for the upper receiver to be anything but metal.

    The last post was about having metal reinforcement in the RE and pistol grip areas.. Its already been incorporated into our design and we have the patent filed for it. No other company will be able to run a threaded metallic insert in polymer once the patent issues. Until then we are having to suffer through having competition.

    Attachment 23151

    Polymer itself has some interesting properties that arent a concern when dealing with metal. The shrinkage rates vary according to the temperature of the injection material and the time of the shot. The greatest change is from the temperature of the injection mold and the cooling of the part after extracting it from the mold. That is where our initial issues were coming from. My personal rifle is the sixth one that was ever produced on our mold and everything works fine. A few dozen more into it we started seeing variation of about .02" in shrinkage variation in some places and .018" in others depending on the manufacturing process.

    We have altered our mold tolerances to produce a part within mil-spec manufacturing tolerance using a predetermined process. We have our bugs worked out now. while we are constantly improving our process and product the main issues we were having have been resolved.

    As for if people will accept a polymer lower industry wide is not really a concern. My concern is making a high quality part that is as tough and reliable as I can. I think I have done that. My receiver can be nearly crushed in a vice and still drop a mag free. The are also more rugged than a forged lower. They are capable of taking far more abuse and remaining within operational tolerance.

    I understand the polymer lowers have gotten a bad rap... Im a shooter I get it. That wasnt my company or me. Im not going to allow a product like that to have my name on it.

    If you ever have any questions, comments, or even criticism of my receivers please let me know.... I wont get butthurt..

    Dave Roberts
    I'd love to see a little more metal to handle potential bending around the RE. This is the mode of failure I've seen most for plastic lowers.

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