Great project! I know a guy who did a similar project, but his focus was on staying completely off the books - he didn't want even a CC transaction for an item at a store, online or not. (This guy is pretty paranoid.) So his challenges have been a bit different. He went the 80% route, but in 7075 and went milspec. Apparently this guy has access to a milling machine. I imagine it is a very nerve racking process because the old adage, "One oh crap!! will negate all the attaboys you gave yourself previously." Or something like that. One of the trade-offs he's had to make has been availability over price. In some cases he was able to buy a used part for a much lower price than that part was brand new, but even at the "used price" the specific part was more expensive than something he could have bought online or at his LGS. But the trade off will be having a firearm without any traceability, which I believe was his goal. So while his build wasn't focused on a specific price point, he did manage to build for right at $500. Now there's a caveat, he has a good friend that donated a mil-spec trigger and he did use some magpul sights he got for his birthday. Even so, with an LPK + trigger, your looking at $89 vs. probably $55-60 he paid for the LPK, and he probably could have slapped some sights on for $50 bucks. I believe he is planning on putting a red dot on it. Something from Primary Arms or maybe the low end Aim Point. Not sure.Originally Posted by natertot
I think you have done a great service to the forum and while my friend almost inspired me to give it a go, I think I will try with that polymer80. Thank you for posting!!
Oh as a side comment, one area of savings can be on the upper and the forward assist. In the Army we use the forward assist because it's part of SPORTS which is a remedial action process. However most AR enthusiasts will say the forward assist isn't really needed. I think we get it because either we are a) Used to it being there. b) It makes it look more "military" or c) We just don't know better.
Oh if you aren't familiar with SPORTS, it is a good remedial action for a FTF. I still use it although as someone mentioned above, it's more muscle memory than anything else.
S - Slap the magazine
P - Pull the charging handle to the rear
O - Observe the ejected round
R - Release the charging handle
T - Tap the FORWARD ASSIST
S - Squuuuuuueeeeeeeze the trigger
Seems like a lot of steps, but I do it without really thinking about it and it takes right at 2 seconds to perform SPORTS. Might want to practice it and include it as part of a remedial action. There's a lot to be said for training muscle memory, whether dry firing with your pistol every night, or practicing SPORTS.
Good luck and thank you again for your post. I look forward to pictures of the finished build and also a range report. :-)
R.
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