80% Lowers, AR-15

[ramos]

My oldest boy (14) has been bitten by the evil Black Rifle bug. Makes perfect sense as I have sung the virtues of single shot rifles his whole life!

Anyway, if he is going to test the waters, I figured we might as well turn it into a project. Wondering if any here have machining jig recommendations. This would be done on a small manual mill, not a drill press or router. I see a handful of them on the interweb, everyone of them claims to be the best, naturally.

[Bayou City Boy]

In our present political climate, if you shop around a bit you can find good quality complete machined lowers in the $50 range. A parts kit will run about the same and you're ready to go. Then all you have to do is add an upper of your choice.

-BCB

[Bill K]

All the jigs do the same thing, allow you line up and drill/mill/cut the proper holes and openings. Take you pick and go for it.
Or as mentioned in the other post, look around for a lower, ready to go.
But I am also guessing you are wanting to bypass the FFL/DROS requirements, so go with the 80 %. Bill K

[squirrel_slayer]

I agree that the AR market is flooded. it will cost you more to go the 80% route vs manufactured. if you plan to do multiples or really want a "ghost gun" then mo powa to ya

[Eagle_view]

For a mill look at a 1 1/2 to 2hp Mill/Drill like shown below (Grizzly and Jet have the same stuff), I have had one for 20 years, but HF does seem to carry them any more, the mill/drill will run better than 1500 usually but will do this and more of course. Don't mess with the dinky ones that are sub 1hp and so light that you can pick them up by hand. Build good part holding jigs, what ever you do, and it will work out fine.

Lowell
http://www.grizzly.com/products/Dril...ch-Table/G0705

[ramos]

Thanks, Lowell. Interestingly enough, my mill is the little Sherline unit with the extended table. Machining steel requires good tooling and lots of patience. However, it has been a joy to use with aluminum, brass and plastic. Once I got the backlash minimized and learned how to work with it, I have been very pleased with the accuracy. I would like to have something heavier with more capacity but it would have to be an addition, not a replacement. I also have the Sherline lathe and use it extensively for brass prep. One end of the case to the other, spinning tools instead of cases.

Both units were part of a package deal on Craigslist. Came with every gadget in their catalog for $1K. I don't think they are much of a deal at new pricing but, I am very satisfied considering what I ended up with for my money.

As for ghost, or not... I'm not really concerned either way. I just thought it might be a neat project that my son and I could share.

[260Ackley]

One word of caution. Depending on the material the jig is made of things can get out of tolerance if the jig is up for multiple lowers. May help your choice

[ramos]

Originally Posted by 260Ackley

One word of caution. Depending on the material the jig is made of things can get out of tolerance if the jig is up for multiple lowers. May help your choice

Seems that all of the jigs I am seeing are made of aluminum. Some of the template plates are offered in steel. Hard to predict the future but, I can't imagine us doing more than two.......... or three. My problem is I usually end up doing projects for friends, too.

[260Ackley]

Another word of caution it's illegal to Mill it for other people. If you do "help" friends I would have them present and doing as much as possible with out being in the way.

[Chuck Miller]

This sounds more like I want to buy a new mill than build an AR. New finished lowers can be had for a pittance as mentioned earlier and I don't care what mill you buy and 80% lower you start with it won't be as good as one that is finished. Frankly you can buy a finished AR cheaper than you can build one unless you have some specific requirements. I understand the doing a project AR with the son part...until the mill and 80% lower came into it.