State of polymer 80% lowers - considering Polymer80 gen 2

[Mr. Innawoods]

I have a gen 1 EP Armory lower that I milled with a dremel 4 years ago and sent a few hundred rounds through with no problems. I want more ARs and I'm considering doing another polymer 80% (I know Calguns generally disapproves but I believe there are quality, durable ones out there). I'm wondering what's the best out there, and the best value.

I can get a Polymer80 G150 Phoenix Gen 2 with a jig AND all the bits for $59 shipped, that seems like a very good value. I know the gen 1's had problems being made out of polycarbonate, but apparently the material has been totally revamped and they're using quality polymer now. I also like that the design is beefed up around the buffer tube more than their competitors. I haven't been able to find many reviews though, but I also haven't found any mention of breakages with the gen 2.

Are their other brands I should be choosing instead? I might just go EP Armory again since they're only $35 and I've had a good experience already but the jig and bits are a nice bonus since they don't do the white inserts anymore. What are my options nowadays?

[truckeic]

I have built 6 of the polymer 80s..
I like the unit.. but I am going to say that I have had issues with the gun firing on reset.. 2 of my builds were fine and I have had 3 now that have issues.
The guys at polymer 80 did warranty the bad ones..
The only other gripe.. the safety is loose.. all of them have this issue.. maybe I have messed up machining them.. but I don't think so.. it like the hole is a little large.. I stilled the last one with a smaller bit.. it seemed better..



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[Mr. Innawoods]

I have built 6 of the polymer 80s..
I like the unit.. but I am going to say that I have had issues with the gun firing on reset.. 2 of my builds were fine and I have had 3 now that have issues.
The guys at polymer 80 did warranty the bad ones..
The only other gripe.. the safety is loose.. all of them have this issue.. maybe I have messed up machining them.. but I don't think so.. it like the hole is a little large.. I stilled the last one with a smaller bit.. it seemed better..



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Funny, my EP Armory safety is a bit loose as well. Not to the point of impeding function but more than it should be.

I'm worried about firing on reset though... what could be causing that? Is it something that a dremel could fix? Other than that I'm mainly worried about durability near the buffer tube, that seems to be where all polymers fail.

[truckeic]

Funny, my EP Armory safety is a bit loose as well. Not to the point of impeding function but more than it should be.

I'm worried about firing on reset though... what could be causing that? Is it something that a dremel could fix? Other than that I'm mainly worried about durability near the buffer tube, that seems to be where all polymers fail.

No the safety functions.. just sloppy feeling..
The firing in reset.. I just bought a drop in trigger.. I am going to put in it in that poly lower .. that should tell me if the trigger/hammer holes are off...
I am not going to say that I did not drill it wrong.. but I wonder if that had a run of bad jigs .. maybe the 2 holes off or not lined up ...
The buffer tube area seems OK to me...
I had one where the threads were bad in the lower where buffer tube fits...
If you cut one share a pic...

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[mitch1]

http://www.calguns.net/calgunforum/showthread.php?t=1239251

I reviewed the Genesis80, polymer80, epArmory, James Madison, and TN arms
I will stick with what I believe in. The polymer80 first and the EParmory second.
The genesis and TN arms , no way

[Mr. Innawoods]

http://www.calguns.net/calgunforum/s....php?t=1239251
I reviewed the Genesis80, polymer80, epArmory, James Madison, and TN arms
I will stick with what I believe in. The polymer80 first and the EParmory second.
The genesis and TN arms , no way

Wow, thank you, that's a very informative thread. Like what I'm hearing about Polymer80, about to pull the trigger. How many rounds have you sent through the Polymer80 and EP Armory (with I assume no failures)?

[mitch1]

2k plus rounds thru the ep and poly80 both

[Mr. Innawoods]

2k plus rounds thru the ep and poly80 both

Fantastic, thanks for your help

[Cokebottle]

Be wary of legal issues.

You can no longer build into a featured build without a fixed magazine. Bullet Button is no longer valid.

For pistols, under SSEv2.0, some of the sharper people are saying that it is no longer legal to convert from roster-exempt form to semi-auto.

Ghost Gun law requires serialization, and some claim VolReg prior to July 1 2018. There may be an issue with the polymer lower not having the serial number engraved on a 3.7oz piece of stainless (the law is a result of a misread of BATFE regs and needs to be challenged, it is physically impossible to embed a 3.7oz stainless piece into a Glock frame and impractical for an AR.
A complete AK flat build made from stainless would not be 3.7oz.

[Kilibreaux]

All Troll issues aside, in discussing the factual options of using a polymer 80% lower to build an AR, the EP Armory version was and still is a VERY good choice! Just recently I picked up half a dozen of the new versions because the half-dozen original versions have worked and held up perfectly!

I bought the current EP 80% for $37....still WAY cheaper than the Poly80 model or the JMT version.

The KEY is to NOT presume one can mill or drill an AR lower using "stickers," (the stickers are clearly not intended for use by the serious builder) but to use a proper milling jig for ALL 80% lowers...whether aluminum or polymer. I probably own more polymer lowers than I do Aluminum at this point and since NONE have ever failed I see no reason to demean those companies working hard to bring polymer lowers to the market.

Personally, I LIKE EP Armory lowers. The newly designed version looks to be better and since the orignals I have have never failed....never "broken" as it were, why ITH would I pay more for an Alloy 80% lower that weighs a lot more?

Just adding my 80 cents to the discussion I guess...there will ALWAYS be those who think only STEEL can make a gun....and there will always be those who think only ALUMINUM can make a gun...and then there will be those who have spent their own money to discover - low-and-behold, a POLYMER LOWER for an AR-15 works every bit as good as one built from aluminum!

[Chaos47]

http://www.calguns.net/calgunforum/showthread.php?t=1279180

[randm]

Ghost Gun law requires serialization, and some claim VolReg prior to July 1 2018. There may be an issue with the polymer lower not having the serial number engraved on a 3.7oz piece of stainless (the law is a result of a misread of BATFE regs and needs to be challenged, it is physically impossible to embed a 3.7oz stainless piece into a Glock frame and impractical for an AR.
A complete AK flat build made from stainless would not be 3.7oz.

I agree the law needs to be challenged, in classic Deleon fashion his failure to understand firearms is the basis in which he seeks to regulate them - poorly.
However since this keeps getting posted a serious clarification is in order: The plate requirement is under the section that applies AFTER July 1,2018. specifically under:
29180 (b) "Commencing July 1, 2018,..." of which the plate requirement is 29180 (b)(2)(B)

And as always we await the DOJ to implement this garbage...