AR-15 Handguards Compared (M-LOK v. Keymod)

Posted by 80-Lower.com on Apr 28th 2020

One's a bunch of slats, one's a bunch of keyholes. Like the kind you'd find on those steel shelves in the garage. Which is better for all your accessories, optics, bipods, flashlights, and lasers? KeyMod or M-LOK? What are the differences? We're breaking down both. We need to give a shout-out t …

DISCLAIMER: If you are new to the world of DIY gun building, you likely have a lot of questions and rightfully so. It’s an area that has a lot of questions that, without the correct answers, could have some serious implications. At 80-lower.com, we are by no means providing this content on our website to serve as legal advice or legal counsel. We encourage each and every builder to perform their own research around their respective State laws as well as educating themselves on the Federal laws. When performing your own research, please be sure that you are getting your information from a reliable source.

The AR-10 vs. the LR-308: What's Different?

Posted by 80-Lower.com on Feb 5th 2020

Building an AR chambered in .308 is wildly popular, especially with the introduction of ready-to-fire uppers, 80% lowers chambered in .308, and complete build kits. But the original AR-10 has few to no aftermarket components for sale, prohibiting a custom build. This is not a concern …

DISCLAIMER: If you are new to the world of DIY gun building, you likely have a lot of questions and rightfully so. It’s an area that has a lot of questions that, without the correct answers, could have some serious implications. At 80-lower.com, we are by no means providing this content on our website to serve as legal advice or legal counsel. We encourage each and every builder to perform their own research around their respective State laws as well as educating themselves on the Federal laws. When performing your own research, please be sure that you are getting your information from a reliable source.

Types of AR-15 Upper Receivers Compared

Posted by 80-Lower.com on Jan 14th 2020

The AR-15 platform's lower receiver is relatively standardized. Opportunity to customize your build truly begins with the stripped upper receiver, and the parts you install on it. This guide covers the various types of stripped uppers available for your build, the history of past receivers not frequ …

DISCLAIMER: If you are new to the world of DIY gun building, you likely have a lot of questions and rightfully so. It’s an area that has a lot of questions that, without the correct answers, could have some serious implications. At 80-lower.com, we are by no means providing this content on our website to serve as legal advice or legal counsel. We encourage each and every builder to perform their own research around their respective State laws as well as educating themselves on the Federal laws. When performing your own research, please be sure that you are getting your information from a reliable source.

The Guide to AR-15 Buffers & Weights

Posted by 80-Lower.com on Dec 19th 2019

Like the gas system, the AR-15's buffers play an important role in controlling recoil and, more importantly, assisting the bolt carrier group's travel so it can reliably cycle whatever ammunition you feed through your rifle, SBR, or pistol. Depending on your AR's configuration, you'll need to pic …

DISCLAIMER: If you are new to the world of DIY gun building, you likely have a lot of questions and rightfully so. It’s an area that has a lot of questions that, without the correct answers, could have some serious implications. At 80-lower.com, we are by no means providing this content on our website to serve as legal advice or legal counsel. We encourage each and every builder to perform their own research around their respective State laws as well as educating themselves on the Federal laws. When performing your own research, please be sure that you are getting your information from a reliable source.

Builder's Guide to AR-15 Gas Systems

Posted by 80-Lower.com on Dec 11th 2019

This next section of our Master Guide to AR-15 Parts for builders dives into the components and functions of the AR-15's gas system. Learn the differences between direct-impingement and piston-driven systems and all the important stuff you need to know for your build: Gas tube lengths, ga …

DISCLAIMER: If you are new to the world of DIY gun building, you likely have a lot of questions and rightfully so. It’s an area that has a lot of questions that, without the correct answers, could have some serious implications. At 80-lower.com, we are by no means providing this content on our website to serve as legal advice or legal counsel. We encourage each and every builder to perform their own research around their respective State laws as well as educating themselves on the Federal laws. When performing your own research, please be sure that you are getting your information from a reliable source.

The Guide to AR-15 Bolt Carrier Groups

Posted by 80-Lower.com on Dec 9th 2019

The bolt carrier group (BCG) is one of the most important moving parts in the AR-15. It takes the brunt of the recoil produced by the gas system while reliably cycling and ejecting ammunition. This builder's guide explains the operation and individual components of the AR-15 bolt carrier group. L …

DISCLAIMER: If you are new to the world of DIY gun building, you likely have a lot of questions and rightfully so. It’s an area that has a lot of questions that, without the correct answers, could have some serious implications. At 80-lower.com, we are by no means providing this content on our website to serve as legal advice or legal counsel. We encourage each and every builder to perform their own research around their respective State laws as well as educating themselves on the Federal laws. When performing your own research, please be sure that you are getting your information from a reliable source.