[MagnumCaliber357]

Has anybody here ever done an 80% receiver for an ar-15?Looks interesting but alot of work just iterested in what you people think of it.

[thumbtack]

I am interrested in this myself.

[shoobe01]

Disclaimer: I have never done this.

A few bits of info I sorta know. Heat treating is the hardest part. If you haven't done it before, you probably can't. And, there is no legal definition of "80% complete." As far as ATF is concerned, its a receiver or its not. So be careful when buying; what you think you are getting is not necessarily what you will get.

I have also heard that most of these un- or low-machined castings are rejects. And they were rejected for good reason, like they are the wrong metal or may include voids. So again, caution regarding your supplier.

[Kodiak AK]

Do a goodle on 80% AR building . THere is a group of guys that are or used to be on AR 15 .com that did a group buy for a jig and passed it around . Ton of good info there.

[whm1974]

A few bits of info I sorta know. Heat treating is the hardest part. If you haven't done it before, you probably can't. And, there is no legal definition of "80% complete." As far as ATF is concerned, its a receiver or its not. So be careful when buying; what you think you are getting is not necessarily what you will get.

It's my understanding that this an ATF rule, that a receiver can be up to 80% "done"
without being considered a firearm. But once you start drilling holes...

-Bill

[shoobe01]

That's what I was referring to as not existing. I specifically read somewhere that the ATF doesn't have any such thing as an 80% rule. Its a myth. What they consider "a gun" is variable (by firearm type) and largely known only to them. Probably also changes over time, as the rules for demilling get more stringent and specific all the time.

[whm1974]

That's what I was referring to as not existing. I specifically read somewhere that the ATF doesn't have any such thing as an 80% rule. Its a myth. What they consider "a gun" is variable (by firearm type) and largely known only to them. Probably also changes over time, as the rules for demilling get more stringent and specific all the time.

I know I can have 80% unfinished AR-15 recievers ship right to my house. Of course this may change once the antis hear about this.

-Bill

[MeekandMild]

I had a passing interest in getting one, until I saw the people who were selling them were stocking 80% recievers made of "interesting" alloys like beryllium copper. I figured that any doofus who was selling beryllium copper to unsuspecting buyers for home manufacture processes probably would not be a good person to buy from.

(For those who don't have a clue about what I'm talking about here is the EPA blurb about beryllium.) (http://www.epa.gov/ttn/atw/hlthef/berylliu.html)

[Third_Rail]

80% ARs are legal and actually easy to make once you've made more than one.

They require no heat treating and can be much superior to bought receivers.

I've helped make one before, in terms of watching and changing tools.

[Sam]

Dear Meek and Mild,
I would suggest that you take the time to learn the difference between the inhalation hazard associated with beryllium and it's compounds and beryllium copper.
Whole 'nother ball of wax.

Sam
Oh by the way, you would have really liked that BC Ar, very tough and very beautiful. Laid hands on one of Don McNabb's Beryllium Copper 1911's about 25 years ago. Prettiest thing you have ever seen.

[Sheik Yerbouti]

Go to www.roderuscsutom.tzo.com and click on the forums. There are probably 2 dozen regular participants on that site that have built multiple ARs on everything from blocks of aluminum to 80% forgings and everything in between. They even have the plans for building your own AR10 receiver.

[Third_Rail]

You mistyped the link, it should be http://www.roderuscustom.tzo.com/

[whm1974]

80% ARs are legal and actually easy to make once you've made more than one.

They require no heat treating and can be much superior to bought receivers.

I've helped make one before, in terms of watching and changing tools.

So what tools would I need if I wanted to do this?

-Bill

[Sheik Yerbouti]

Thanks, Third_Rail.