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Old March 5, 2012, 02:57 PM   #1
tahunua001
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opinions on rifles going polymer

hello all.
I was just curious how the current crop of rifle enthusiasts feel about rifles made from polymer. I know I shoot polymer pistols all the time and actually prefer many plastic offerings to a lot of the metal framed handguns out there but with rifles it is a whole other story. case in point
http://newfrontierarmory.com/catalog...ducts_id=34089
the cheap son of a gun in me is thinking man it would be nice to have an entire lower half for $100+FFL but something is still pulling me back. for the most part I haven't had much liking for a lot of the more modern rifle designs. I really liked the CX4 but it seems like it would be a pain in the rear to strip down but other than that none of the other designs were really my cup of tea.

back to a known platform where there are both metal and polymers being made. are there any practical differences in the durability of a rifle that's made with a plastic lower and one that's made with an alluminum lower?
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Old March 5, 2012, 03:17 PM   #2
Technosavant
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When done well, there isn't likely to be much difference.

Not all polymer lowers (say, for AR-15s) have been done well.

Newer designs (SCAR, ACR) use polymer receivers and they seem to work well enough. Personally, I tend to stick with what the rifle was designed around- for AR-15s, that's a forged aluminum receiver. If I were going for an ultra lightweight build (not just one that leans lightweight), sure, polymer would be a way to cut that weight down a bit more, but in order for it to matter, you'd need to keep EVERYTHING as light as possible. Saving 7 ounces on the complete lower is pointless when you just go hanging heavy rail systems and other cheap crap off the thing.

I also would tend to be suspicious of a complete lower for $100, especially considering quality LPKs alone tend to cost at least $60 or so. That leaves $40 for the stock, receiver extension, action spring, buffer, and receiver itself. For a budget build, sure, but I'm wondering where those corners got cut. Quality polymer costs a good deal to do right- molds and the equipment to make them are quite expensive and recouping that investment means you can't just sell the things for a rock bottom price.

I'd really like to see somebody run one of these lowers through a carbine course and see if it holds up.
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Old March 5, 2012, 03:36 PM   #3
tahunua001
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I have considered it. looking at the picture in the link it's obvious that everything in that lower is plastic including the trigger. I have been tempted to get one and one of the last remaining 5.45 M&P uppers and shoot a couple crates of 5.45 and slap it around a little for good measure but that would require about $800 once you factor in ammo which is a lot for a gun with a higher than average chance of being mediocre.

at the very least my brother has a whole box of spare spare AR parts in his basement and I still have the old trigger from my accurized AR so I'm sure I could swap broken parts out as I went along too.
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Old March 5, 2012, 04:51 PM   #4
Hansam
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I know its happening and I have been told some of the benefits but well I guess I'm a bit old fashioned.

I like my handguns to have at least a steel frame and slide. I prefer my ARs to be high quality aluminum...

Nothing against those who go polymer though - their choice to make.
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Old March 5, 2012, 07:10 PM   #5
Big Shrek
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Well, as long as I can get aluminium Palmetto State Armoury lowers for $75 or less...I'll stick with metal
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Old March 5, 2012, 07:20 PM   #6
rickyrick
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Hmmmmm, I get a bunch of budget lowers plus a bunch of budget uppers, a few cans of desert tan paint.... and tada!! I'm in the AR business.
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Old March 5, 2012, 08:07 PM   #7
SHR970
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Polymers have their uses and weight savings are usually good BUT.

Heavier calibers need weight to make them more manageable / tolerable.
Some polymers are susceptible to common solvents damaging them beyond repair (see Marlin Camp X trigger guard meltdown).
Plastic parts usually wear out faster than metal; parts that come off and on a lot may be better off being metal.

Polymer use in firearms has been a good thing when the proper materials are selected and used for the proper application.
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