80% receiver

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Ranger Roberts

Ranger Roberts

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So for the last few months I've been tossing around the idea of building an AR. I have several but I'd really like one that I have built myself (maybe it's the challenge that I'm looking for). I'm not on any type of timeline for this project, in fact I wasn't planning on starting it until the spring but because of the recent unfortunate events, I'm thinking about bumping my timeline up.

I have a ton of construction/mechanical experience. I have a pretty extensive shop at home with a nice stand alone drill press (I do not have a mill though but I can possibly use a neighbors if I needed too).

Does anyone have any experience doing this from a "1st timers" perspective? Maybe some advice from your first build? Is it something that is even possible without a mill? Again, time isn't an issue for me. If it takes an hour a night for a year I'm ok with it, it's better then watching crappy tv shows. I'm not doing this to save any $, I'm just looking for a fun project. Thanks in advance for your help! Hope everyone had a great holiday!
 
If you can get ahold of a mill you can build a reciever no problem. To my knowledge no one sells an 80% AR receiver, though I have no even looked for one to be honest.

-Jenrick
 
It's a very simple issue with a well prepped example. You don't really need a mill as the required work can be completed on a mid range drill-mill.

The interior can - if need be - be free-handed (still, on a drill-mill) after a couple three drilling processes. The main concerns will be securing the item for the operations and establishing registration points from which to orient the cuts.

Be certain to perform the lateral drilling operations before the interior milling to better control the axis of the various pin holes.

Confirm the media used to surface prep the item well before anodizing as you only want to blast it once if you can. A bad shop with the wrong media/pressures can "melt" some dimensions so you'll want to "hands-on" the item between surface prep and anodizing as they'll blame one another if something goes wrong and you don't already know better.
 
No matter how easy everyone says it is on the internet.

I'd bet some decent money there are far more 80% receivers serving as paper-weights right now then there are serving as working firearms!!

rc
 
Yup - them and all the aluminum 1911 forgings and AR raw forgings everyone was buying in the 90s along with "plans" and dremel tools. It is to laugh!
 
I hope that they are within my 'realm of craftsmanship'. I'll admit I ordered a 80% receiver and the associated jig kits as my sole 'panic buy'. Now, as I sit waiting on the backorder, looking back I probably would have been happier looking for a used Mini 14 with a shot out barrel for about the same price, still would be quite a job, but as I already have 1 Mini and no AR's, it would have made more sense, especially beings that I prefer the Mini 14, tracing it's roots back to the M1, than the AR platform. Oh well time shall tell.
 
Speedgoat, escaping Texas Death Row prisoners definitely share your opinion of the Mini-14. Put a decent trigger in your evil black rifle of death, & you may shoot better than some Huntsville prison guards.
 
Hah, it's not even black, still repping the wood stock. Hoping here in the near future to fake parkerize it with a Duracoat paint job, that will be a bit more old-school tacticool than the factory stainless. :D
 
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