Please forgive my ignorance, I am new:). I have seen 80% lowers for sale on a site or two. Are these easy to finish or have finished? Is it practical? What does it take to make it legal? ATF paperwork? Has anyone done this?
I am looking to build a custom camo ar, and these have no finish that I would feel guilty about destroying. They are a little cheaper, but not enough to cover the machining cost. If for no other reason, the education would be worth the extra expense and hassle. I have that little nagging voice telling me to forget it and just buy completed lower. Should I listen?
I think you’d be incredibly upside-down in a one of a kind lower, there wouldn’t be any cost savings in it at all. Frankly, my opinion is that it’s simply not worth the effort to try and do it yourself, when there are so many manufacturers out there that have all the tooling to get it right the first time.
Thank you VERY much!!! This looks like the ticket.
Thank you for your reply and common sense. It does sound crazy but looks fascinating. I don’t really care about the money. It comes easy enough. Education is my main motivation. How cool would it be to have a COMPLETELY custom gun? The pride factor would have to double. This is not my first M4, so time is on my side. This sounds like a really good project.
Depending on your state law, yes, it is lawful to make your own handguns, shotguns and rifles like the AR or AK. This is dependant also on state law (i.e., you could not build a New York state “pre-ban” AR or certain “assault pistols” in Maryland). You are required to understand and follow your state’s law.
There is NO “registration” of non-NFA guns nationally in the USA. Your state might have registration. Check first.
NO serial number, at all is required by the BATFE. None. Nada. Zip. However, you would be very foolish if you did not put a fake, made-up, pretend serial number on the gun. Why?
because, most LEOs are completely unaware that it is lawful to make your own guns at home & that no serial number is required. Most of my LEO friends tell me that they would not hesitate to arrest you on P.C. of having “defaced” the serial number in violation of federal law if you presented them with a gun with no number. This is not to bash LEOs at all. Rather, this is an area of the law which almost never comes up; no one can know everything. Just give them a break and stamp a number on anything you make.
You won’t save money. Like brewing your own beer at home, the point is NOT to save money. It is the satisfaction of doing it yourself.