Brownell's WWSD

[TTv2]

They're finally shipping these? I read months ago these were supposed to be out "late Q2" and we're two weeks away from 2021. I go on Brownell's and it still shows these are pre-order only. I'm vehement against pre-ordering, so I wonder how many more months it will be until these can be bought and I can have mine in hand the next week.

 

[Gtscotty]

Here's some photos for folks who might be interested in these things. Here are a few of my PSA uppers on the KP-15 lower:

This lightweight 16" upper really balances and feels great with the lower.

No buffer tube, just some structural ribbing and guide rails.

Lots 'O magwell flaring (SS Duramag)

I should definitely note that while my mil-spec uppers fit snugly, neither of my Aero M4E1 uppers fit this lower. The problem is that the pivot pin-socket-tab-thingy on the M4E1 uppers is not beveled and is slightly wider than normal, just enough so that it won't fit between the pivot-pin-socket-tab-donguses on the lower. Kind of a bummer because I like building off of the M4E1 uppers, I guess it's nothing a little filing couldn't fix though.

The pivot and takedown pins aren't captive, but instead have built in ball detents.

 

[Gtscotty]

Continued:


The buffer is captive, and the buffer restraining pin is braced by a roll pin that runs the full width of the receiver.

The lower weighed in at 1lb 11.2oz, a little over half a pound lighter than some of my other carbine lowers and nearly a pound lighter than my rifle lower.

Tech notes and disclaimers.


Thus far I'm pretty happy, the lower is comfortable, has good fit and finish, is very stiff and substantial feeling, while still being light. I need to find a new range so I can go run it through the places a bit.

 

[Gtscotty]

They're finally shipping these? I read months ago these were supposed to be out "late Q2" and we're two weeks away from 2021. I go on Brownell's and it still shows these are pre-order only. I'm vehement against pre-ordering, so I wonder how many more months it will be until these can be bought and I can have mine in hand the next week.

They are shipping, I bought this one on the website about a week ago. Like anything else gun related now, you have to catch them in stock, but as of the time of this post, they are:
https://www.brownells.com/rifle-par...er-receivers-mil-spec-polymer-prod132661.aspx

 

[TTv2]

They are shipping, I bought this one on the website about a week ago. Like anything else gun related now, you have to catch them in stock, but as of the time of this post, they are:
https://www.brownells.com/rifle-par...er-receivers-mil-spec-polymer-prod132661.aspx

Oh, it's the assembled lowers that are in stock, you know the ones with the junk triggers that everybody is going to replace right away and has the mag catch installed, something that takes a couple of minutes to do at home? Yeah, no pass, I'll wait for the stripped lowers.

 

[Gtscotty]

Oh, it's the assembled lowers that are in stock, you know the ones with the junk triggers that everybody is going to replace right away and has the mag catch installed, something that takes a couple of minutes to do at home? Yeah, no pass, I'll wait for the stripped lowers.

If the $40-$50 difference after you buy a parts kit, buffer, spring, etc. is that big of a deal to you, then by all means wait forever. No one else cares whether you buy one or not though, so there's no need for the whiny attitude.

 

[chicharrones]

Oh, it's the assembled lowers that are in stock, you know the ones with the junk triggers that everybody is going to replace right away and has the mag catch installed, something that takes a couple of minutes to do at home? Yeah, no pass, I'll wait for the stripped lowers.

Bump it up to the DMR trigger version if you want better than standard issue trigger, but aren't going to drop the money for a cassette type trigger into it.

I'm not sure why anyone would install a high end cassette trigger in a poly AR lower, though. Seems like the KE Arms lower (and all the CavArms/GWACs before it) is meant to be used for a simple and lighter weight utility AR.

 

[doubleh]

Of all the AR rifles I have seen at my range not one of them has had this type of stock. I'm not saying that some people don't like them, just that I've never seen anyone that actually shot one.

 

[chicharrones]

Of all the AR rifles I have seen at my range not one of them has had this type of stock. I'm not saying that some people don't like them, just that I've never seen anyone that actually shot one.

I haven't seen one in person, either. Kinda makes me want to get one that much more.

So tempting . . . calm down, chicharrones . . . log out from THR, back away from the keyboard, and forget you ever saw this thread.

 

[CapnMac]

I've never seen anyone that actually shot one

Well, they've only been out for a month or so.

Like anything else gun related now, you have to catch them in stock

KE is turning them out as fast as they can, and Brownell's is selling them as fast as they come in.

 

[doubleh]

Well, they've only been out for a month or so.


KE is turning them out as fast as they can, and Brownell's is selling them as fast as they come in.

Maybe I should have been plainer with my comment and stated "with the original style fixed stock" which this one is imitating.

 

[Gtscotty]

Maybe I should have been plainer with my comment and stated "with the original style fixed stock" which this one is imitating.

Meh. I have some of both types and prefer fixed stocks for some uses, especially in lightweight form. They definitely aren't the choice of today's tent-flap kicking operator on the go, but I'm at peace with that.

For those interested, I had been tracking the WWSD2020 project off and on for a while, but this video really piqued my interest in trying one of the new lowers.

 

[CapnMac]

which this one is imitating.

The adjustable stock is more fashion statement, if one embraced by all the manufacturers, and reinforced by the M4 carbine.
When in use, most stocks are extended to either A1 or A2 length, with a slight edge to A1 length. This was researched before KE settled on the LOP. It's also why you can add an off-the-shelf butt pad, too.

As a point of order, this is not an "imitation" of anything. The limitation of all polymer lowers is that there's not enough "meat" is the area around the buffer tube connection to properly support it. KE Arms learned from CAV Arms (which was later GWACS) that the best way to create a rigid stock connection was to add the stock in directly, and not just fix it to a buffer tube attached to the lower.

Making it all one piece reduces the total weight of buffer tube, stock, and lower combined

 

[chicharrones]

Meh. I have some of both types and prefer fixed stocks for some uses, especially in lightweight form. They definitely aren't the choice of today's tent-flap kicking operator on the go, but I'm at peace with that.

For those interested, I had been tracking the WWSD2020 project off and on for a while, but this video really piqued my interest in trying one of the new lowers.

Thanks for the video. I had no idea that Colt tried this first.

 

[TTv2]

If the $40-$50 difference after you buy a parts kit, buffer, spring, etc. is that big of a deal to you, then by all means wait forever. No one else cares whether you buy one or not though, so there's no need for the whiny attitude.

I've already got spare lower parts that I bought on discount years ago, so the savings is much greater than $50, which allows me to spend more money on a better barrel or a trigger that I actually want and will use instead of having a cheap crap stock trigger that I am gonna replace regardless and stick in a drawer never to be used again or thrown away.

 

[TTv2]

Of all the AR rifles I have seen at my range not one of them has had this type of stock. I'm not saying that some people don't like them, just that I've never seen anyone that actually shot one.

You talking fixed stocks in general like A1's and A2's were or these specific monolithic poly lowers that were made by Cav Arms/GWACS? The Cav Arms/GWACS were made by companies that didn't have the industrial capacity or ability to mass produce them. I didn't even know they existed until the original WWSD videos that came out back in 2017.

 

[JCooperfan1911]

One thing amazing about it is they have worked to get the weight down while still having a durable gun, not a weak baby gun. Ian and his friend Carl are some smart young bucks.

 

[CapnMac]

his friend Carl

Mr Karsada spells it "Karl." Russel Fagan at KE Arms has been no slouch in working on this project, too.

 

[JCooperfan1911]

Mr Karsada spells it "Karl." Russel Fagan at KE Arms has been no slouch in working on this project, too.

Thanks.

 

[Dr.Rob]

I've had a stripped lower on order since August, no sign yet.

 

[JCooperfan1911]

I've had a stripped lower on order since August, no sign yet.

The industry is seeing a titanic demand for guns and ammo due to many converging factors at the moment, the likes of which have not been seen in recent memory. Military based rifles are in incredibly high demand. It could be some time.

 

[kwg020]

I know that several of you are excited about the KE Arms lowers. I have several Tennessee Arms (TA) polymer lowers and they are made from the same nylon and glass stuff polymer. I did put on a standard milspec carbine tube and buffer and a light weight Del Ton 16" upper with a Magpul back up rear sight and I was just under 6 lbs. I wish I could share your excitement but I'll stick with the TA lowers. Although I do like the looks of the A1 butt stock.
kwg

 

[Dr.Rob]

They are shipping complete lowers first, then stripped lowers, they have a large preorder to fill, mine included..

 

[BreechFace]

They are shipping complete lowers first, then stripped lowers, they have a large preorder to fill, mine included..

You and me both, I ordered a stripped lower back on 03/09/2020 and it still shows "item on hold", I just emailed Brownell's to see if there is any update.

 

[BreechFace]

So what does everyone envision building theirs into if they ordered one?

Caliber
Barrel length
Profile
Etc?