Help us test a polymer AR-15 Lower

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Posted by Bovice:
field testing should be done to back up lab findings. making a design solely by field testing is a stupid and expensive way to do things.

but it's not my money so go ahead.
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What makes you think we haven't done research and lab testing on them before we would put them out to market? Extensive testing has been done to know that the product is safe and functions under normal conditions properly, but again, as I've stated a few times in this thread, people want to see some physical field tests that they can understand better than lab numbers and materials strenght, etc. That was what we were looking for input about.

I think we've gotten a lot of great ideas, and I will roll out some videos very soon as we get closer to releasing the product to our distributors and dealers.
 
Posted by Kimura:
I have to agree with Mistwolf on this. Give it to LAV and let him torture test it. Also, while I see you're saying rifle in the $600 price range, PSA is already doing this with standard AR parts, actually with what looks to be good AR parts. What are you offering that they're not? The design and materials they're using is proven. Please explain why you believe the customer would go with a polymer lower, which is unproven in an AR, vs what PSA is offering.
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Lighter overall rifle, with a match grade stainless steel bbl with 3 groove polygonal rifling, a rear sight (PSA claims "ready to shoot" but ours will be for the people that are ready to shoot AND aim at a target!) ;)

We're not trying to compete with or replace anything out there, just offering an alternative.
 
Why not start with the .308?

If you can get that safe and reliable...you just proved yourself to the 5.56 crowd.
 
NFA -

I read all these posts and "good on ya!"

Great to see mfgrs thinking out of the box. I think your product and price point are attractive and I like the idea of polymer + steel inserts. Given the overwhelming acceptance of polymer pistols - I see no reason why this won't be well received. Also - the newer tactical rifles - SCAR, etc., are using polymer - so why not use for more widespreada use with ARs?

The test ideas seem to be covered, though in some cases perhaps extreme. I'll only add that I noticed a Cav Arms II I handled lacked captured pins and the pins had to be knocked out / driven in. Couldn't push them through with your finger. Maybe a small deal, but I think captured pins are very nice thing to have.
 
Thank You! And yes, our lower does have captured pins. Everything is the same as a standard mil spec LPK (and can be swapped out with one) except the trigger guard.
 
henschman said:
...if you're wanting to sell complete lowers including a stock, I would consider making the buttstock optional, or offer them with other buttstocks that you sell. Lots of guys have a personal preference on what type of stock they want, so it would offer better value if you could order it with what you want instead of having to swap parts out as soon as you open the box. So along with the regular CAR-15 stock, maybe offer it with a Magpul CTR, Vltor Emod, LMT SOPMOD, etc.
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I like Henschmans idea on the stocks. Offering a lower without a stock for the AR pistol crowd would be an option to consider, with or without buffer tube.

The Kel-tec PLR-16 is a polymer AR type pistol without the butt stock (which is a look I actually prefer versus the buffer tube).

Considering the ATF's latest opinion on Pistols converted to rifles converted back to pistols, an AR pistol is even more desirable in my eyes.
 
There will be a pistol model available at launch with tube.

Another company made (what I think) is a mistake by putting their product out in kit or incomplete form. What was happening was people were not assembling them correctly which was causing malfunctions later on. When this happens it reflects poorly on the mfg, even though they weren't the ones assembling the lower.

We've chose to put them out complete in either a pistol or a rifle stock form. We will be offering other variations of stocks as well.
 
Since I'm returning to shooting after a long absence and the fact that when I did shoot, the AR platform was only a dream to civilians this may be a naive response, so here goes. If the product is as advertised it's a pretty big win for me. I can combine the polymer lower to any milspec upper and have an AR platform for a little more then what a lever gun would cost me. It's also a plus as a lighter overall rifle will be easier for my wife to handle as well. I don't plan of shooting 3 gun or putting 1,000's of rounds through it every year but to me it would be a great tool to get comfortable with the platform and get more proficient with it. Based on what I've read on the forum where some folks have multiple high dollar AR's to me this is almost a no brainer, I'd love to try this out.
 
i've been trying to buy a lower from these guys for two weeks now. The price started out at $99, then 139 and now my FFL is telling me it's over $159 and that's dealer pricing. What gives? Their website says $139, dealer pricing list says $159, HUH?! Don't dealers get a price break?! Seems they don't know the listed price on their website and magazine adverts. Hmm...spider scents are tingling.....
 
You must be talking about a plumcrazy lower, because our lowers haven't been released yet.

They will be out in mid January, and they will be $99.99 for a complete lower.

We sell plumcrazy's on our website for $129.99 right now, not sure where your dealer is coming up with the other price.

When our lowers are released, they will be sold to a small network of dealers at prices set so all of the dealers can sell them for $99.99.

I hope this answers your questions.
 
How are these new lowers going to compare to the Plum Crazy lowers? Once your lower comes out will you continue to offer the Plum Crazy lowers?

Thanks

Thomas
 
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Dr Rob, we have about 15 dealers out of 25 already set up, but none in Colorado yet.

DUNEZRUNNNER, Our lower will be similar to the plumcrazy but it will be made of a slightly different material and higher quality components.

And of course it will have a better price tag for the consumer, and a much better dealer program.

Like the majority of dealers that carry plum crazy lowers now, we will be discontinuing them in January once the new and improved models are out. I can't see carrying a lesser product at a higher price.
 
Hey, I won't be back in the country for about a year.

But a friend and I plan on taking the vet's carbine class at Gunsite in summer, 2013. I've already got a 5.45x39mm S&W upper for her, but no lower. I'd love to take a $100 lower and give it a thorough wringing out there. (It'd be nice to have a backup lower, too.)

John
 
NFA, sounds very interesting. My nephew is disabled and building him a featherweight AR is on my list of things to do. I'll pick one of those lowers up when available. Put an upper on with a pencil barrel and I'd think we could get below 7 pounds. :cool:
 
I am in the market for a lower myself.
I built an AR15 A1 clone a couple years ago. Then I picked up another complete shorty upper, used like new, for cheap. Picked up a second bolt group.
I was swapping uppers and butt stocks, but I basically have enough parts for a complete second rifle now, minus a lower and FCG....
Really, I have no philosophical objection whatsoever to a polymer lower, knowing what the role of the lower is on an AR. I think it might even be an advance. Stoner himself might have used it if it had been available.
But then, I do like Glocks!
 
Well... I have a 15-22, which is a mini-ar made more or less entirely of polymer. So far so good. Some questions for a real ar:

Can it stand having a wedge installed between upper and lower (stress / wear over many takedowns)?
Do the takedown pins / trigger group pins loosen more rapidly than the 7075 lowers?
Is it solvent sensitive? Brake cleaner etc...
Does it hold up with high power shooting? A tight sling?
Cold resistance?
Wear surface durability
Shock resistance (e.g dropped etc.) not that that's common.
mag insertions / removals, with s/s mags (cproducts)
How many rounds before it falls out of spec on some area

I'm pretty much without prejudice based on the so far positive experience with the 1522. If it falls a little short in some areas OK as long as it is superior in some others...the usual tradeoff is to be expected.
 
A few other particulars:

I believe we're up to #5 on the types of consumers who have an opinion about polymer lowers
5. Wanted to buy a Cav Arms lower, but procrastinated thinking they'd come back after the ATF nonsense and never bought one.
Thats me. I also want to know if the new platform lends itself to a pistol caliber conversion with the mag block/release for sten or grease gun magazines? That was the real appeal for me to the Cav Arms lower. I was not a fan of the carbon 15, but the two cav arms rifles I got to shoot (a .223 and a .45 acp) were the cats meow. You meet the price point your pushing and be able to meet all caliber requirements you'll have a winning product.
I look forward to the promotional blitz in the next month.
 
I do part time at gun store/indoor range. If you want to loan one out, andwe could put one in the rental case. And keep track of round count etc. I could run it by the owner and see what he thinks. Shoot me a pm if interested. We would return it of course for inspection and what not.
 
BTW, I mistook this post for another company. They are up front and everything New Frontier Armory has posted is correct. I am in point of fact an internet idiot.
 
I will be there with one in hand for sure!

I got your PM, As soon as we're ready to shoot some out I'll put up the info and get back with you. Still doing some last minute testing / changing of some internal parts.

We want to make sure it goes out at 100% even if it takes a bit longer to do.
 
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