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Polymer Lowers
Posted: Thu Jul 21, 2011 12:44 pm
by rm9792
I just bought one of the Plum Crazy polymer lowers. Traded my last AR and regretted it so building a new one. Has anyone had any experience with these? $128 for a complete lower seemed pretty good. Lower looks "normal" unlike the CavArms lowers. One unique thing is the entire FCG is polymer (even the hammer). Curious how this will hold up though it does have a lifetime warranty. If you could get plastic springs and buffer it might sail right thru a detector....
Re: Polymer Lowers
Posted: Thu Jul 21, 2011 1:48 pm
by comp73
I don't think the PC lowers are worth it. I've read a few reviews, both good and bad, about them and the one thing I keep seeing on the broken ones is this: If it was aluminum, they would not be having this problem. Don't get me wrong, there are others who love these things, but for an extra $37.00, you could get this and you don't have to worry about it.
http://www.surplusammo.com/products/*Su ... Stock.html" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;
Re: Polymer Lowers
Posted: Thu Jul 21, 2011 3:05 pm
by tbrown
Pay extra for a 404 error? No thanks.
Re: Polymer Lowers
Posted: Thu Jul 21, 2011 3:22 pm
by rm9792
anything that has to be ordered you need to add on $30 FFL, $20-30 for shipping so it adds up.
Re: Polymer Lowers
Posted: Thu Jul 21, 2011 4:11 pm
by Rex B
Mine was $113 shipped, $10 FFL transfer = $123
But I won't buy another one.
I just ordered this for a .22 upper, which already had a plastic upper receiver.
But the 2nd time I took it off, the front pin popped out, and of course the detent pin shot across the room.
No problem, I had some spares. I fought that thing another hour, ruining 3 springs and losing the rest of the pins.
Then I found the original pin - it's plastic! Surely they could have used metal here! How much did they really save?
I fought it another 15 minutes and gave it up. It's still apart in a box in the closet.

Re: Polymer Lowers
Posted: Thu Jul 21, 2011 4:17 pm
by i8godzilla
Rex B wrote:
--snip--
I fought it another 15 minutes and gave it up. It's still apart in a box in the closet.

I believe this may help:
http://www.ar15.com/forums/t_3_4/362116_index.html" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;
Re: Polymer Lowers
Posted: Thu Jul 21, 2011 4:23 pm
by Rex B
I've built a half-dozen lowers at least, have the tools to do it right.
Did not help.
Re: Polymer Lowers
Posted: Thu Jul 21, 2011 5:43 pm
by texasmusic
Plastic hammer? I don't think any explanation could make that sound like a good idea.
Re: Polymer Lowers
Posted: Thu Jul 21, 2011 5:55 pm
by tbrown
texasmusic wrote:Plastic hammer? I don't think any explanation could make that sound like a good idea.
I think the Cav Arms lowers used a standard lower kit for internals. Maybe these guys are plumb crazy.

Re: Polymer Lowers
Posted: Thu Jul 21, 2011 6:11 pm
by texasmusic
tbrown wrote:texasmusic wrote:Plastic hammer? I don't think any explanation could make that sound like a good idea.
I think the Cav Arms lowers used a standard lower kit for internals. Maybe these guys are plumb crazy.

Plumb crazy indeed. Polymer lowers are a decent Idea but you don't see a bunch of plastic hammers at the hardware store. You don't see plastic nuts and washers either. I don't see how you can thread an aluminum buffer tube into a polymer lower and have that work either.
Re: Polymer Lowers
Posted: Thu Jul 21, 2011 10:37 pm
by Rex B
I don't object to the plastic hammer too much. It seems solid enough.
And I was going to use it on a .22. I just think they made more parts of plastic than they really needed to
Re: Polymer Lowers
Posted: Fri Jul 22, 2011 11:43 am
by texanron
I'll be making a trip to my local hardware store to pick up one of those clevis pins.

Re: Polymer Lowers
Posted: Fri Jul 22, 2011 12:23 pm
by Rex B
texanron wrote:
I'll be making a trip to my local hardware store to pick up one of those clevis pins.

And I'm going to pick up a stick of piano wire from the hobby shop and make a couple dozen detent pins.
I'll still have to buy the springs though.
Re: Polymer Lowers
Posted: Fri Jul 22, 2011 1:38 pm
by comp73
tbrown wrote:Pay extra for a 404 error? No thanks.
Yeah, I prob would not do that either. The website is surplusammo.com under the AR-15 Lower receivers link. Price is 164.99 with another $12.00 for shipping (at least to North DFW).

Re: Polymer Lowers
Posted: Fri Jul 22, 2011 1:43 pm
by Rex B
At $165 that about as cheap as you can build one, even shopping the best deals.
I wonder if anyone would be interested in doing a group buy to save shipping, and maybe get an even better price?