If you’re building an AR-15 — or even just buying one — you’ve hit this fork in the road: Should you choose billet or forged upper and lower receivers? It’s a deceptively simple choice that can have a big impact on how your AR performs and how much it costs, and what parts you can…
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 to The Broad Side self-defense…
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 with the introduction of the commercial LR-308 platform, designed by…
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 frequently seen today in the market, and the various…
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 pick the right weight for your buffer assembly. Effects…
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, gas block diameters and types, and what setup you…
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. Learn what a “full-auto” BCG really…
Building or modifying your 1911? This guide explains the three variants of this legendary handgun in relation to frame size: The full-size Government, the compact Commander, and the subcompact Officer. The Original 1911: Government (5″) Model The aptly-named Government 1911 profile is the original, full-size, steel-framed design submitted by Colt to the U.S. Army in…
Just as the differences between .223 and 5.56 NATO are hotly debated and shrouded in misinformation, the same applies to the world of the .300 family. The new and popular 300 Blackout round was officially developed by the Advanced Armament at the request of the U.S. Military, but the story of the 300 BLK round…
You want to build a black rifle, but you’re not sure which caliber to go with. Maybe you just want to know the differences between the three most popular calibers the AR-15 can easily chamber: 300 Blackout, 5.56 NATO or .223 Remington, and .308 Winchester (technically called an “AR-10” or “AR-308” by builders). Each of…
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.
