What exactly is an 80% lower? And why?

[Ribkick]

Call me stupid, I don't care. I'm not a big AW fan and most of my work is back-door 1911 and sporting rifle work. What the heck is an 80% lower? I searched and got a lot of hits but none stated what an 80% lower is or what constitutes an 80% and why anybody would want to hassle with one. I have built a lot of AR's but always bought a ready, finished, stripped lower. What's the deal/appeal? Thanks!

[h0use]

here is a pic. the firing control group has not been drilled out yet.

you can make a legal ar15 pistol! no paper work.

[Ribkick]

Thank you both for your reply's. I understand the building it with your own hands. I do a lot of ground up customs in motorcycles and firearms but to get an 80% and then have to drill a few through bores and a little finishing/fitting, then have to have the lower finished, then fit the upper... etc. What's the point of spending sooo much in machining and finish to get an OL lower? You can get those for around a C note any day of the week.

AR OL lowers and AR pistols are legal, you just have to register then. So what? Thanks

[kcstott]

The correct answer is that the BATFE Arbitrarily set a specification on a lower receiver.

This Spec has been changed every time a manufacturer tries to do more machine work selling a more complete receiver.

That said at this time the standard 80% lower receiver has no Fire control group pocket cut nor any Fire control group holes drilled.
Everything else has been done. Including if you so choose anodizing.

As for the AK. An 80% receiver can either be a pre punched flat that needs to be bent and fitted or it can be pre bent with no holes.

[kcstott]

Thank you both for your reply's. I understand the building it with your own hands. I do a lot of ground up customs in motorcycles and firearms but to get an 80% and then have to drill a few through bores and a little finishing/fitting, then have to have the lower finished, then fit the upper... etc. What's the point of spending sooo much in machining and finish to get an OL lower? You can get those for around a C note any day of the week.

AR OL lowers and AR pistols are legal, you just have to register then. So what? Thanks

Ok lets clarify here. One there is very little fitting involved on an 80% two the upper doesn't require any fitting at all to the lower. Finishing can be done ahead of time.

The whole point IS doing it yourself. And thumbing your nose at the government for a completely legal undocumented receiver.
I personally own two functioning rifle and am working on a pistol.

[Jeepers]

80% is a trade name for a chunk of metal that is not yet completed and not classified by the BATFE as a firearm

there are NO set rules on what makes a "80%" each manufacturer must send in a sample to the ATF for classification as a firearm or not

[Ribkick]

The correct answer is that the BATFE Arbitrarily set a specification on a lower receiver.

This Spec has been changed every time a manufacturer tries to do more machine work selling a more complete receiver.

That said at this time the standard 80% lower receiver has no Fire control group pocket cut nor any Fire control group holes drilled.
Everything else has been done. Including if you so choose anodizing.

As for the AK. An 80% receiver can either be a pre punched flat that needs to be bent and fitted or it can be pre bent with no holes.

No. That is not the correct answer. At least to my original question.

I understand, now, what an 80% lower is. My question still stands. WHY would anyone go through the hassle and high cost with an 80 when you can get a finished, (using your word, complete) ready to build lower?

[Intimid8tor]

No. That is not the correct answer. At least to my original question.

I understand, now, what an 80% lower is. My question still stands. WHY would anyone go through the hassle and high cost with an 80 when you can get a finished, (using your word, complete) ready to build lower?

Some do it because they want the enjoyment of pride of completing one more step in the process. For those that have machines, the cost per lower gets closer to that of stripped lowers the more you do. Also, if you want to mark your lower with serial number and graphics you can choose your own. Kind of like a personalized license plate.

The other reason, as was stated above, is that you can have a completely functional firearm that is not just off list, but off the books. If one wanted to build an AR pistol, sometimes pistol lowers can be hard to come by. Use an 80% lower and build it following the Single Shot step and you have a pistol.

[Ribkick]

The whole point IS doing it yourself. And thumbing you nose at the government for a completely legal undocumented receiver.
I personally own two functioning rifle and am working on a pistol.

Okay. That makes more sense as to why someone would want to build/spend for an 80%. I would rather mill the lower myself and say I built a custom rifle rather than just mill a FC pocket and drill some holes.

I don't agree to spend my money that way but more power to you all.

I think I have an understanding on the 80% lower now. Thank you all!

[Ribkick]

Some do it because they want the enjoyment of pride of completing one more step in the process. For those that have machines, the cost per lower gets closer to that of stripped lowers the more you do. Also, if you want to mark your lower with serial number and graphics you can choose your own. Kind of like a personalized license plate.

The other reason, as was stated above, is that you can have a completely functional firearm that is not just off list, but off the books. If one wanted to build an AR pistol, sometimes pistol lowers can be hard to come by. Use an 80% lower and build it following the Single Shot step and you have a pistol.

Thanks, that makes sense!

[h0use]

as for building an ar15 pistol, i think this would be the cheapest way? the lowers i have seen for ar15 pistols go for about 350 or more just for the lower for a pistol.

[Ribkick]

80% is a trade name for a chunk of metal that is not yet completed and not classified by the BATFE as a firearm

there are NO set rules on what makes a "80%" each manufacturer must send in a sample to the ATF for classification as a firearm or not

Thanks, Jeepers. Can you elaborate on the sending to ATF? If you have to do that, how are you under the radar?

[Jeepers]

Thanks, Jeepers. Can you elaborate on the sending to ATF? If you have to do that, how are you under the radar?

only the orig manufacturer has to get the determination letter , not the end user, most makers of "80" products will include the letter with sale, if they dont already ask for a copy ...

[Ribkick]

as for building an ar15 pistol, i think this would be the cheapest way? the lowers i have seen for ar15 pistols go for about 350 or more just for the lower for a pistol.

I don't know but I think an AR pistol lower is the same as a rifle/car lower except for the buffer tube assembly. The rest is all in the upper.

[Ribkick]

only the orig manufacturer has to get the determination letter , not the end user, most makers of "80" products will include the letter with sale, if they dont already ask for a copy ...

Ah. Okay, Thanks!