What do you guys think of the custom Billet Lower I just finished?

[ObsceneJesster]

Just wanted to share my new custom Billet Lower I just got done finishing to 100%. It was purchased as a 80% Lower from a local guy who used to do contract work for Beretta, Ford and the Government. He engineers his own parts and wanted to come up with something that no other company is doing. His 80% lowers are on the pricier side of things but you get what you pay for. No offense to any company but most of them are doing cast lowers such as Spikes, PSA and RRA. This lower is forged from a single block of Billet Aluminum and the quality shows. The difference in quality is actually quite surprising when you physically hold this next to a cast lower.

Anyway, I just finished it today and I just have some touch up left.

 

[H.m.B]

That's a beautiful piece of work. Sure look forward to seeing the finished product.

 

[RainDodger]

Not to be difficult, but I believe most/many of the receivers you mention are in fact forged, not cast.

There are not many cast lower receivers anymore.

Nice looking work you have there.

 

[ObsceneJesster]

Oh, I could have sworn most of them were still using cast. Not that there is anything wrong with it.

 

[TCBPATRIOT]

Do you have a website for the guy?

 

[JustinJ]

Very cool looking. This isn't a dig, but do the design changes serve a practical purpose or just for aesthetics (both are completely valid)? For example, is it lighter than a standard? The front of the magwell i assume is for gripping? I would guess it's been changed for looks and function?

 

[Liberty1776]

Carp! - you have mad skills...

 

[ApacheCoTodd]

Pretty - busy and involved but awful pretty.

 

[ObsceneJesster]

Very cool looking. This isn't a dig, but do the design changes serve a practical purpose or just for aesthetics (both are completely valid)? For example, is it lighter than a standard? The front of the magwell i assume is for gripping? I would guess it's been changed for looks and function?

The front of the magwell is for gripping for those who like using the mag well grip which especially comes in handy for short barrel or pistol builds. It was also a way to remove some material and cut some weight. The milling in the rear was also to remove some weight but also add a little flair and the holes in the trigger guard are more for looks than anything.

It is known that many people in our community don't really practice the magwell grip however it is now being taught to our troops due to prolonged combat. This grip method delivers less fatigue. It's no secret that your arm can get pretty tired supporting the weight of a rifle when fully stretched. In the end however, just because the finger grooves are there doesn't mean you always need to use them. It's just another option which gives a different overall look.

 

[ObsceneJesster]

I forgot to add that if anyone wants info on them as to how to get one and the price, just shoot me a PM.


Here is a Belt Fed .22 upper sitting on one and yes it is does rock and roll with a registered sear.

 

[taliv]

i don't understand what part of that you did. 80% lowers are typically from forgings and the outer dimensions are usually pretty close to the finished product and all the end-user has to do is drill some holes and some other light stuff.

that also looks coated instead of anodized, and it looks like the coating was done prior to the holes being drilled. since the inside of the magwell is coated but the inside of the receiver is not, i'm guessing the 20% you did was to end-mill out where the trigger goes? and drill the holes?

what's interesting is that means someone is doing the blingy "80% receivers" like seekins'.

 

[ObsceneJesster]

i don't understand what part of that you did. 80% lowers are typically from forgings and the outer dimensions are usually pretty close to the finished product and all the end-user has to do is drill some holes and some other light stuff.

that also looks coated instead of anodized, and it looks like the coating was done prior to the holes being drilled. since the inside of the magwell is coated but the inside of the receiver is not, i'm guessing the 20% you did was to end-mill out where the trigger goes? and drill the holes?

what's interesting is that means someone is doing the blingy "80% receivers" like seekins'.

Yes, like most 80% lowers you get, all you need to do is mill out the area where the trigger housing sits and drill 3 holes. I did that part with a CNC machine. I used to machine Drivetrain pulleys so I knew all I had to do was get the codes from him and input them into a CNC machine which is much cleaner than using a drill press. The only thing different is you can order them already coated. He only has black though. They are not anodized. He is actually in between government contracts right now and does a lot of work for the military. He figured he'd take advantage of the market right now before another contract starts in a couple months. The coating he uses is a finish he had left over from a government contract.

 

[pintler]

This lower is forged from a single block of Billet Aluminum and the quality shows

Metallurgical nitpick: was the blank free hand forged, as in on an anvil, or did the manufacturer pay for the closed dies to forge that shape? Or did you mean 'machined from billet'?

 

[ObsceneJesster]

Metallurgical nitpick: was the blank free hand forged, as in on an anvil, or did the manufacturer pay for the closed dies to forge that shape? Or did you mean 'machined from billet'?

These lowers are machined from a single block of Billet. They take roughly 5 hours in a CNC machine. No dies paid for. This is a 100% original design thought up by the man who makes them. It took him hundreds of hours to create the design. A lot of R&D when into these. The software alone costs nearly $90,000 dollars. Yes that's thousand.

Here is a better idea of what the bare Billet looks like after it's machined and before it's finished.

 

[taliv]

it's pretty schnazzy!

 

[BullfrogKen]

So what did it look like as the 80% piece?

 

[gp911]

I dig it, something different for those who want a unique piece. Pretty cool.

 

[ObsceneJesster]

So what did it look like as the 80% piece?

What you see above in my previous post is what it looks like as the 80% lower. He did have some black ones but they are gone. I believe he ran out of the coating he was using.

Sent from my SGH-T999 using Tapatalk 2

 

[MachIVshooter]

No offense to any company but most of them are doing cast lowers such as Spikes, PSA and RRA. This lower is forged from a single block of Billet Aluminum and the quality shows

Spikes, PSA, RRA and virtually all others are forged.

The bigger question is whether the billets these are machined from are forged pieces, or simply raw stock, like a hunk of untreated 6061.

I personally avoid billet parts when strength matters. They are almost universally weaker than a forged part of the same mass, and you're just paying more for the machining hours of a low volume producer. Connecting rods & crankshafts, for example: Cast or powdered metal are weakest, followed by billet, with forged rods being strongest.

Billet is much more economical for prototyping and small scale manufacturing, which is why so many boutique companies use it. A CNC mill isn't cheap, but it's a whole lot less than forging equipment.

Everything I make is "billet", because the only pieces of equipment I have are a vertical mill, a lathe and assorted hand and power tools. No 500 ton forging press here.

Somehow, "billet" has become synonymous with "quality". I don't think most consumers even know what it means....

 

[Arizona_Mike]

If Batman had an AR . . .

Mike

 

[Dr.Rob]

Swoopy lookin'.

 

[crabwearer]

Pretty sweet looking lower you got there.

 

[ifit]

obscenejesster, thats a nice beltfed ya got there looks like you got one of the last razorbacks, but looks like they may be coming out with a new version this spring. got any videos shooting it?

 

[ObsceneJesster]

Spikes, PSA, RRA and virtually all others are forged.

The bigger question is whether the billets these are machined from are forged pieces, or simply raw stock, like a hunk of untreated 6061.

I personally avoid billet parts when strength matters. They are almost universally weaker than a forged part of the same mass, and you're just paying more for the machining hours of a low volume producer. Connecting rods & crankshafts, for example: Cast or powdered metal are weakest, followed by billet, with forged rods being strongest.

Billet is much more economical for prototyping and small scale manufacturing, which is why so many boutique companies use it. A CNC mill isn't cheap, but it's a whole lot less than forging equipment.

Everything I make is "billet", because the only pieces of equipment I have are a vertical mill, a lathe and assorted hand and power tools. No 500 ton forging press here.

Somehow, "billet" has become synonymous with "quality". I don't think most consumers even know what it means....

The answer to your question would be. These receivers were done right and no corners were cut. Like I said before. You are getting what you pay for. When these lowers were created, they were created to standards set very high and anyone who holds one in person will immediately understand that.

For your information, these lowers are forged from a block of 7075-T7. I hope this elevates any concern you have regarding the workmanship and quality that went into this receiver.

Sent from my SGH-T999 using Tapatalk 2

 

[Outlaw Man]

I like it. Especially the trigger guard.

Nice work finishing it up. Have you used one on a complete gun before? I'm curious if the shape of the magwell would have any bearing on the speed with which you could load a new magazine.