Which AR round should you pick for home defense? For competition? For hunting and general purpose? There are loads of cartridges that now fit in the average black rifle. Picking the right one for your needs is critical. While 5.56 NATO and .223 Remington are great “do-it-all” cartridges, new loads like 9mm, 300 BLK, 6.5…
You just finished putting together your first AR-15. Or, maybe you simply bought a “retail” rifle that came fully assembled. Either way, it’s probably a good shooter. Good, but not perfect. The AR-15 platform’s been developed for decades and it remains one of the most popular rifles sold in America. That means there are literally…
You’ve heard the phrase way too many times now: “Mil-spec.” It’s mostly a buzzword but it still plays a role in actual rifle and pistol specifications. Most notably, buffer tubes. They’re officially called receiver extensions. But what’s the difference between a commercial and mil-spec tube? Are they interchangeable? And how does that work with a commercial…
6.5 Creedmoor has become a staple in the AR’s niche-caliber community. While it first started as a match load for long-range shooting in typical bolt guns, it’s earned favor as an alternative to the (what some call ‘archaic’) .308 Winchester that the AR platform was originally developed around. That’s right: The AR-10 came before the…
Flying with your firearms is easier than you think. You simply need to ensure you’re abiding by all state and federal laws, the rules the TSA provides, and their guidelines for properly storing and transporting your firearm through U.S. airports and on aircraft. Importantly, these guidelines may change at any time and this article should…
The AR platform can chamber dozens of calibers and be built in a plethora of configurations: Rifles, pistols, SBR’s, pistol calibers, centerfire and rimfire rifle calibers, and more. But the biggest component of any AR build, the lower parts kit (and the 80% lower or stripped receiver it goes into), often presents some confusion to…
The AR-15’s been chambering .22-caliber rounds (and its variants, .30-caliber) for decades. But recently, new calibers have been made available for the AR’s .308 platform: The 6.5 Creedmoor round. What’s the benefit? Is it worth going with 6.5mm over .308 Winchester? Let’s get the big questions answered first. 6.5mm AR FAQ Q: What is 6.5…
Black rifles deserve the name: They’re almost all, well, black. Other parts ( like our raw 80% lowers) come unfinished so you can add your own coating. Even though they all look alike, there are loads of finishes available for your AR-15 and other guns. Which ones can you apply at home, and how do…
The AR-15 and AR-10 look identical in their designs, handling, and functions. They even look the same at a glance: Can’t tell the difference? You’re forgiven. The AR-15 and the AR-10 are almost the same rifle. They both use a direct-impingement gas system. Both have double-stacked box magazines. They share the same lower and upper…
300 Blackout, 458 SOCOM, .308, 6.5 Creedmoor, 9mm, the list goes on. There are endless calibers being shoved into the AR platform for a myriad of uses. But why 6.5 Grendel? What’s its purpose, and why bother chambering your black rifle in it? Today we’re covering this cartridge, why you might want it, and how…
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.
