Ace of Spades HQ

June 06, 2013

So I Made a Gun This Weekend
— Maetenloch

An AR-15 to be specific. You see because while this is what most people think of when you talk about an AR-15 rifle -

to the BATF only the lower receiver (circled in red) is the actual firearm - everything else (barrel, upper, stock, etc.) are just accessories that are attached to it.

Now you could buy a AR-15 lower receiver separately and build a rifle out of it but you'd still have to go through an FFL, fill out a 4473, go through an NICS check, bla bla bla.

But you can also buy what is known as an '80% lower' which is almost an AR-15 receiver except that certain key sections haven't been milled out and some holes are missing. The BATF has declared these to be 'non-guns' so you can buy them like any other accessory and there are plenty for sale on the web, at gun shows and local gun shops. Once you have one all you need to do is finish the missing cuts and you'll have a working AR-15 lower that you can build into a full rifle.

And after reading this article and this one and this one (particularly the Mother Jones one because spite) I decided to do just that.

But wait - is it even legal to make your own gun? Yes - yes it is.

You can read the details here but basically as long you meet these conditions it's perfectly legal:

You are allowed to own a gun (i.e. not a 'prohibited person')
The gun you make is legal in your state/city
It's not a machine gun (doesn't fall under NFA laws)
It's built by you and intended for your personal use

A serial number isn't even required (unless you later decide to transfer it to someone else).

So I bought an '80% lower' for $120 cash at a local gun show. This particular lower is Cerakote-coated aluminum and it only needed the section where the trigger/hammer/safety fit to be milled out plus a few holes to be finished.

So let's make a firearm out of this hunk of aluminum.

Now if you have the right tools you could finish it in your garage but the far easier way is to go to a local 'build party' where guys get together and use shared tools and expertise to finish out their lowers. And this past weekend there happened to be a build party not too far away from me. It was sponsored by a local machine shop and for $75 they would let you use their tools and guide you through the process. So Sunday I was down there with my aluminum paperweight along with about 10 other guys with theirs.

The shop had a CNC milling machine as well as manual ones. Almost all the guys opted to use the CNC machine since all you have to do is mount the lower, press the start button and 8 minutes later you have a completed AR-15 lower. It's almost too easy. (The BATF agrees and appears to be working on new regs that will require you to mount the part, load the CNC code, and press the start button for it to be 'made' by you).

Because I'm interested in learning machining in general and wanted to understand every step (plus am a tad cray-cray) I opted to do it all manually. The guys there were willing to accommodate me and one of them set me up on a full Bridgeport mill. After a brief operation and safety lesson I started milling away while he talked me through the steps. Initially I used a jig to guide my cuts but later he let me free mill using a DRO (digital readout) to track the cuts.

From start to finish it took about an hour and half - mostly because I was a complete milling newbie and plus I asked a lot of dumb questions during the process. Looking back on it I think you could probably do the same work with just a drill press, dremel tool, and a jig if you didn't mind working slowly and didn't care about aesthetics.

Here is the finished version:

At home I compared it with a factory lower and it matched all specs to within .002". The only flaw I found in mine was a spot in the FCG pocket where I zigged instead of zagged and took off an extra thousandth or two. But it's purely cosmetic and no one will ever see it.

So the bottom line is that for less than $200 and two hours work I now have a fully functional self-made AR-15 receiver that is perfectly legal and yet will never appear on any government list. The satisfaction and pride are bonuses.

In fact now I've gotten into the whole make-your-own-gun thing. For my next project a friend and I are going to order receiver blanks from these guys and make our own custom 10/22 rifles.

You can find me at @Maetenloch.

Posted by: Maetenloch at 08:46 AM | Comments (135)
Post contains 851 words, total size 8 kb.

1 Nice Thursday diversion. Thanks Maet. Now to read the post.

Posted by: RWC at June 06, 2013 08:47 AM (fWAjv)

2 Cool gun. Enjoy your audit.

Posted by: Warden at June 06, 2013 08:47 AM (0DlnM)

3 Now THAT'S a Peace Prize!!!!!

Posted by: © Sponge at June 06, 2013 08:48 AM (xmcEQ)

4 The more they try to control us, the more imaginative we will get.

Posted by: rd at June 06, 2013 08:48 AM (D+lxs)

5 AR-15s are for poseurs. I want a Panzerfaust.

Posted by: Cicero (@cicero) at June 06, 2013 08:48 AM (8ZskC)

6 Two guys walk into a bar.

A third says "You guys should really watch where you're going. It looks like that hurt."

Posted by: © Sponge at June 06, 2013 08:49 AM (xmcEQ)

7 So the bottom line is that for less than $200 and two hours work I now have a fully functional self-made AR-15 receiver And $2500 later, after adding all the hot mods... Seriously, congrats.

Posted by: rickb223 at June 06, 2013 08:50 AM (p9JxP)

8 The only build parties I knew about in my area (San Jose) shut down. I imagine there's a lot of harassment of any known business that participates.

Posted by: t-bird at June 06, 2013 08:50 AM (FcR7P)

9 But in all seriousness, this is an awesome fuck you to the tyrannical left. I've been wanting to do this myself, but i have zero machining skills. If I could find a machine shop to guide me through the process like you did, I'd be all in.

Posted by: Warden at June 06, 2013 08:50 AM (0DlnM)

10 You winger gun nuts!

lol.. thanks for the links, Maet. pretty cool. I'm just getting my workshop all set up again.. hmmm...

Posted by: Chi-Town Jerry at June 06, 2013 08:51 AM (f9c2L)

11 For my next project a friend and I are going to order receiver blanks from these guys and make our own custom 10/22 rifles. A Ruger 10/22 only goes for about 289.00, is it really worth making your own? Would there be any savings? Or if you're just making them because it's a cool as hell idea, well, I totally get that.

Posted by: BlueStateRebel at June 06, 2013 08:51 AM (7ObY1)

12 Same as the others, I'm impressed, and more than a bit jealous. I got mine the old fashioned way: I overpaid.

Posted by: BurtTC at June 06, 2013 08:52 AM (TOk1P)

13 How did you find the build party? Word of mouth?

Posted by: RWC at June 06, 2013 08:52 AM (fWAjv)

14 Maet N. Loch. We'll consult our records and get back to you.

Posted by: BATF at June 06, 2013 08:52 AM (RD7QR)

15 this is actually my next project, once I receive the paperweight.

Posted by: Village Idiot's Apprentice at June 06, 2013 08:53 AM (UgvkB)

16 If you're not a Mexican drug lord, you have no business owning a weapon like this.

Posted by: Eric Holder at June 06, 2013 08:53 AM (8ZskC)

17 So, how much do all the other parts cost? Does this come in cheaper bottom line? Or, is the attraction that it is off the books?

Posted by: Chi-Town Jerry at June 06, 2013 08:53 AM (f9c2L)

18 A Ruger 10/22 only goes for about 289.00, is it really worth making your own? Depends. Do you want to knock squirrels out of trees or drive tacks?

Posted by: rickb223 at June 06, 2013 08:54 AM (p9JxP)

19 Awesome. I would opt for hands-on milling too, but an hour and a half, .. was everyone else done by then ( pushing buttons ) and standing around waiting on you? heh. Pretty cool for sure.

Posted by: Yip at June 06, 2013 08:54 AM (/jHWN)

20 Now that is pretty darn spiffy thing to do. And you started to learn a trade that is vanishing, the machinist. You are now on someone's list for wanting to learn the manual way.

Posted by: Anna Puma (+SmuD) at June 06, 2013 08:54 AM (2evqn)

21 >> A Ruger 10/22 only goes for about 289.00, is it really worth making your own? Did you see the part about no serial number and not being on any government list?

Posted by: Andy at June 06, 2013 08:55 AM (btzUl)

22 Barack Obama is a stuttering clusterf*ck of a malignant traitor.

Posted by: AllenG (Dedicated Tenther) at June 06, 2013 08:55 AM (/PCJa)

23 Baroke Owebama: Doing everything he can to bring zip guns back into fashion.

Posted by: © Sponge at June 06, 2013 08:56 AM (xmcEQ)

17 -

Last I checked a basic AR15 was selling for about $1500, and that's if you can find one. So yeah, cheaper.

Posted by: BurtTC at June 06, 2013 08:57 AM (TOk1P)

25 Hmmm... I'm seeing potential for some Moron meetups... Don't we have some TX Machinists?

Posted by: AllenG (Dedicated Tenther) at June 06, 2013 08:57 AM (/PCJa)

26 Now...., moving on the M14.....

Posted by: Mike Hammer at June 06, 2013 08:57 AM (aDwsi)

27 I see you used the Anodized version. I understand the non-Anodized is a bit easier to machine, but then you have to anodize it yourself. I just got a call that my AR-15 vendor was finally fulfilling my upper order, so its looking like its time for me to do this myself. In fact right after I got off the phone, this was the very first article I brought up on the browser. I think someone is trying to tell me something. Great timing!

Posted by: brad at June 06, 2013 08:57 AM (Ugngr)

28 I have a pointed stick.

Posted by: YIKES! at June 06, 2013 08:57 AM (mETGQ)

29 In the People's Republic of New Jerseystan (yeah, I mixed the memes) there are no "build parties."

How did you find out about yours?

Posted by: CharlieBrown'sDildo at June 06, 2013 08:58 AM (z4m16)

30 28 I have a pointed stick. --- I have a bunch of bananas.

Posted by: Brandon In Baton Rouge at June 06, 2013 08:58 AM (zA7Zp)

31 Dude. Black hole ate my comment.

Posted by: joncelli at June 06, 2013 08:58 AM (RD7QR)

32 Now...., moving on the M14..... I'd give my left nut for an M1 Garand that accepts BAR magazines.

Posted by: rickb223 at June 06, 2013 08:59 AM (p9JxP)

33 19 Awesome. I would opt for hands-on milling too, but an hour and a half, .. was everyone else done by then ( pushing buttons ) and standing around waiting on you? heh. Pretty cool for sure.

Posted by: Yip at June 06, 2013 12:54 PM (/jHWN)

Nope there were still guys petering in to use the CNC. Even though it was a bit of a pain I don't think the sponsors minded too much since I was genuinely interested in learning the how of doing it.

Posted by: Mætenloch at June 06, 2013 08:59 AM (XkotV)

34 @31 She has a name... and guns the media love to show us

Posted by: Yip at June 06, 2013 08:59 AM (/jHWN)

35 28 I have a pointed stick. Posted by: YIKES!
--------------------

Trick upgrade- Flame harden the point.

Posted by: Mike Hammer at June 06, 2013 08:59 AM (aDwsi)

36 So... After ~$200 for a lower receiver, how much does the rest of the weapon cost? And how hard is it to assemble?

Posted by: AllenG (Dedicated Tenther) at June 06, 2013 08:59 AM (/PCJa)

Maet, congrats on working to within .001". That's damn good for a newbie.

I ran Bridgeport mills for years. They can do anything, and I mean anything, in the right hands. I've even used them as a grinder.

Posted by: BackwardsBoy, who did not vote for this shit at June 06, 2013 09:00 AM (0HooB)

38 The lower is "the" gun because that is where the trigger group is mounted (and the trigger group determines if the rifle will be select fire or semi-auto). A very cool idea, one that I would like to do myself one of these days...

Posted by: GGE of the Moron Horde, NC Chapter at June 06, 2013 09:00 AM (yh0zB)

39 That's a drone strike.

Posted by: GnuBreed at June 06, 2013 09:00 AM (ccXZP)

40 Last I checked a basic AR15 was selling for about $1500, and that's if you can find one. So yeah, cheaper.

There's a gun shop in my area (read as within 1.5 hours of me), that has them. They seem to start at $700 and go all the way up to $1500ish.

Posted by: GMan at June 06, 2013 09:01 AM (sxq57)

41 this is awesome. $200? the barrel too?

Posted by: joeindc44 didn't analyze nuthin, just offered his own anecdotal evidence at June 06, 2013 09:01 AM (QxSug)

42 My weapon of choice: Flatulence...

Posted by: J.J. Sefton at June 06, 2013 09:01 AM (+98Gb)

43 Damn, I want to do this.

Posted by: CDR M at June 06, 2013 09:02 AM (Mv/2X)

44 ... in your general direction!

Posted by: J.J. Sefton at June 06, 2013 09:02 AM (+98Gb)

45 If you prefer Soviet gun can do same with AK comrade.

Posted by: Lemmenkainen, Freelance Warlord at June 06, 2013 09:02 AM (ZWvOb)

46 Maet, thanks. Is this going to be .308 or .556? And are you going to build a super awesome rifle or a good cheapie, AND wouldn't it have been better to never tell anyone ever than you had it? Just sayin... heh

Posted by: Yip at June 06, 2013 09:02 AM (/jHWN)

47 >> I'd give my left nut for an M1 Garand that accepts BAR magazines. It's been done. http://goo.gl/2prCf

Posted by: Andy at June 06, 2013 09:02 AM (7cUr9)

48 I'd give my left nut for an M1 Garand that accepts BAR magazines. Posted by: rickb223
------------------------------

You're only a couple of CNC machines away from your dream, but why not crave a BAR? I carried an M1 for a while...., I do love that weapon. Still...., the M14 is the one I admire most.

Posted by: Mike Hammer at June 06, 2013 09:03 AM (aDwsi)

49 All your phone are belong to us.

Posted by: Obama Administration at June 06, 2013 09:03 AM (XUKZU)

50 I now have a fully functional self-made AR-15 receiver that is perfectly legal and yet will never appear on any government list. ... you mean that one in the picture?

Posted by: Curious ATF Agent Who Knows How To Make Screen Captures at June 06, 2013 09:03 AM (FlRtG)

51 this is awesome. $200? the barrel too?

Posted by: joeindc44 didn't analyze nuthin, just offered his own anecdotal evidence at June 06, 2013 01:01 PM (QxSug)

Just the lower. You have to install the trigger group, stock and upper (which includes the barrel).

Posted by: GGE of the Moron Horde, NC Chapter at June 06, 2013 09:03 AM (yh0zB)

52 Ridiculously cool, Maet. What's your total cost for the completed AR?

Posted by: Harrison Bergeron at June 06, 2013 09:03 AM (JQuNB)

53 Posted by: AllenG (Dedicated Tenther) at June 06, 2013 12:59 PM (/PCJa)

It's trivial to strip down to the basic groups. You can buy a complete upper (installing a barrel is not for beginners), and the rest of it is just assembly.

Posted by: CharlieBrown'sDildo at June 06, 2013 09:03 AM (z4m16)

54 .308 uses the larger AR-10 lower. The rounds are too long to fit in the super-short action size.

Posted by: StPatrick_TN at June 06, 2013 09:03 AM (ND9u8)

55 What gun for those bad ass unicorns that folks were talking about? http://tinyurl.com/ml35y2a At least a .50. Maybe .577?

Posted by: RWC at June 06, 2013 09:04 AM (fWAjv)

56 And I her a helicopter fluttering about outside. No I am not leaving house to see where its heading.

Posted by: Anna Puma (+SmuD) at June 06, 2013 09:04 AM (2evqn)

57 I think that actually classifies as a phone and as such is subject to an NSA search.

Posted by: Dack Thrombosis at June 06, 2013 09:04 AM (V1ZIU)

58 42 My weapon of choice:

Flatulence...

Posted by: J.J. Sefton
--------------------

Use Brussel Sprout loads.

Posted by: Mike Hammer at June 06, 2013 09:05 AM (aDwsi)

59 AND wouldn't it have been better to never tell anyone ever than you had it? Just sayin... heh

Posted by: Yip at June 06, 2013 01:02 PM (/jHWN)

I'm sure we're all on watch lists already, so what difference, at this point, does it make?

Posted by: © Sponge at June 06, 2013 09:05 AM (xmcEQ)

60 I have an idea....

AoS branded AR-15 with an Ewok etched onto the mag well.

We'll be richer than shit.

Posted by: EC at June 06, 2013 09:06 AM (GQ8sn)

40 -

Cool, sounds like they're returning to where they were before Sandy Hook.

Posted by: BurtTC at June 06, 2013 09:06 AM (TOk1P)

62 58 42
My weapon of choice:
Flatulence...
Posted by: J.J. Sefton
--------------------

Use Brussel Sprout loads.

----------
Also consider pickled eggs and beer. Not sure that is legal under Geneva though.

Posted by: Mike Hammer at June 06, 2013 09:06 AM (aDwsi)

Damn, I want to do this.

Either using a CNC machine or a manual mill, it's a lot of fun. Dangerous as all hell if you aren't careful (I've had to treat many coworkers who were injured because I was married to a nurse at the time, Qualifications!), but once you know what to do, you're off to the races.

Posted by: BackwardsBoy, who did not vote for this shit at June 06, 2013 09:06 AM (0HooB)

64 Speaking of Weapon of Choice
http://youtu.be/wCDIYvFmgW8

Posted by: Anna Puma (+SmuD) at June 06, 2013 09:06 AM (2evqn)

65 Damn Andy, Crawford Cty appears to be either out of stock or out of business.... cool kit though..

Posted by: Yip at June 06, 2013 09:06 AM (/jHWN)

66 I whittle bullets out of bar stock.

Posted by: zsasz at June 06, 2013 09:06 AM (MMC8r)

67 Anybody know where I can pick up an 80% Warthog?

Posted by: Fritz at June 06, 2013 09:06 AM (UzPAd)

68 I'm sure we're all on watch lists already, so what difference, at this point, does it make?

Posted by: Â© Sponge at June 06, 2013 01:05 PM (xmcEQ)

Exactly.

Posted by: CDR M at June 06, 2013 09:06 AM (cqZXM)

69 You're only a couple of CNC machines away from your dream, but why not crave a BAR? I carried an M1 for a while...., I do love that weapon. Still...., the M14 is the one I admire most. I crave a BAR, but not the class 3 headaches.

Posted by: rickb223 at June 06, 2013 09:07 AM (p9JxP)

70 29 In the People's Republic of New Jerseystan (yeah, I mixed the memes) there are no "build parties."

How did you find out about yours?

Posted by: CharlieBrown'sDildo at June 06, 2013 12:58 PM (z4m16)

This one was off of Craigslist but gun board state and local forums have more listed.

Posted by: Mætenloch at June 06, 2013 09:07 AM (XkotV)

71 If you prefer Soviet gun can do same with AK comrade.

Posted by: Lemmenkainen, Freelance Warlord at June 06, 2013 01:02 PM (ZWvOb)

Can make with shovel! and bodka. Everything needs bodka.

http://tinyurl.com/bcjcpws

Posted by: GGE of the Moron Horde, NC Chapter at June 06, 2013 09:07 AM (yh0zB)

72 CA morons take note:

CA is in the midst of removing all exceptions to the semi-auto detachable magazine ban. This means the 'bullet-button' workaround will no longer be legal if you have one of the 'evil features': collapsing stock, pistol grip, etc.

Posted by: weft cut-loop [/i] [/b] at June 06, 2013 09:07 AM (ujux6)

"It's not a machine gun"...

Hey, all of my relatives are gun experts (just from what they read in the paper and see on TV) and they say any gun that looks as scary as that is a "machine gun"!

Who am I gonna believe - people who can make and shoot guns or my tree-hugging SIL?

Posted by: Ray Van Dune at June 06, 2013 09:07 AM (s0hlt)

74 28 I have a pointed stick. -------- With the proper machining, it could be mounted on an AR-15 lower.

Posted by: Edgar Rice Burroughs at June 06, 2013 09:08 AM (xGZ+b)

75 One day I'll post instructions on how to make a backpack nuke using common items that you can find around the house.

Posted by: Cicero, DOCTOR of Jurisprudence and Shit at June 06, 2013 09:08 AM (8ZskC)

76 Looks like there are some YouTubes on doing that BAR mag conversion, too. I'm kind of meh on the idea, myself. If 8 rounds of .30-'06 were good enough for the boys in Normandy 69 years ago today, they're good enough for me. (Plus I have an M1A)

Posted by: Andy at June 06, 2013 09:08 AM (IcISv)

77 On that 10/22 lower.. Would this package work with that? Would you need anything else besides a barrel?

http://tinyurl.com/mq23p2g

Posted by: Chi-Town Jerry at June 06, 2013 09:09 AM (f9c2L)

This is my rifle, this is my gun.....

Posted by: Truck Monkey at June 06, 2013 09:09 AM (RNhbC)

79 That is really interesting about the 10/22. Of course my Ruger only cost $219 to begin with.

Posted by: pat at June 06, 2013 09:10 AM (LLHgu)

80 28 I have a pointed stick.

--------

With the proper machining, it could be mounted on an AR-15 lower.

That's what the "gun show loophole" is for. Just be sure you whittle the stick precisely for a snug fit.

Posted by: Cicero, DOCTOR of Jurisprudence and Shit at June 06, 2013 09:10 AM (8ZskC)

81 >> AoS branded AR-15 with an Ewok etched onto the mag well. >> We'll be richer than shit. Until Disney sues the fuck out of us.

Posted by: Andy at June 06, 2013 09:10 AM (IcISv)

82 Use Brussel Sprout loads. ---------- Also consider pickled eggs and beer. Not sure that is legal under Geneva though. Fish tacos or sushi for unconditional surrender.

Posted by: rickb223 at June 06, 2013 09:10 AM (p9JxP)

83 So, in the previous thread (since this one already seems to be dying for some reason) it was mentioned that the Verizon warrant was aimed specifically at domestic phone calls. 1) Do we have a link to that information? 2) Now can we impeach him?

Posted by: AllenG (Dedicated Tenther) at June 06, 2013 09:11 AM (/PCJa)

Assault Cob-logger!

Posted by: Lurking Canuck at June 06, 2013 09:11 AM (SFs98)

85 Better if AoS branded AR-15/AK-47 lowers have BCochran's logo on them.

Posted by: Anna Puma (+SmuD) at June 06, 2013 09:11 AM (2evqn)

86 Until Disney sues the fuck out of us.
Posted by: Andy at June 06, 2013 01:10 PM (IcISv)

If there was a copyright on the image itself, Ace would be in federal "pound you in the ass" prison by now.

Posted by: © Sponge at June 06, 2013 09:12 AM (xmcEQ)

87 Fun's over. Noo post.

Posted by: Cicero, DOCTOR of Jurisprudence and Shit at June 06, 2013 09:12 AM (8ZskC)

88 I have before me, a full set of plans - working drawing (8448608, Receiver, Lower) I'm a journeyman machinist since 1966, with a full 4 year apprenticeship at Mare Island Naval Shipyard. There is no one, I repeat NO ONE going to machine that piece to the specifications shown, on a "drill press" This is not to say, you can't make a part that will work. Problem is, you may make a part that can blow up in your face. Proceed with caution.

Posted by: franksalterego at June 06, 2013 09:13 AM (omVzF)

89
Excellent Post, Maet. Thanks.

(also the reason why the feds hate teh internet.)

Posted by: Guy Mohawk at June 06, 2013 09:17 AM (g5YAm)

90 89 I have before me, a full set of plans - working drawing (8448608, Receiver, Lower)

I'm a journeyman machinist since 1966, with a full 4 year apprenticeship at Mare Island Naval Shipyard.

There is no one, I repeat NO ONE going to machine that piece to the specifications shown, on a "drill press"

This is not to say, you can't make a part that will work.

Problem is, you may make a part that can blow up in your face.

Proceed with caution.

Posted by: franksalterego at June 06, 2013 01:13 PM (omVzF)

Except that the lower receiver on an AR-15 has very little stress on it during firing so it's not going to 'blow up in your face'. From reading I believe you only need to be within ~ 0.1" of spec to get a functional rceiver which is probably doing with hand tools.

Posted by: Mætenloch at June 06, 2013 09:18 AM (XkotV)

Except that the lower receiver on an AR-15 has very little stress on it during firing so it's not going to 'blow up in your face'. From reading I believe you only need to be within ~ 0.1" of spec to get a functional rceiver which is probably doing with hand tools.

Maet, be careful with your decimal points. I'm fairly certain that's .010", not .100" but I'd need to see the print.

Remember, a piece of copy paper is about .003" thick. The cellophane from a cigarette pack is .001" thick.

Posted by: BackwardsBoy, who did not vote for this shit at June 06, 2013 09:22 AM (0HooB)

92 @69 There is a company that manufactures a semi-auto version of the BAR. Don't have the address here at work, but I believe they are in Ohio.

Posted by: That SOB van Owen at June 06, 2013 09:22 AM (hhirG)

CNC machine - feh!

Build an AK clone kit like a real man. Just you, a bench vice, a bastard file, a 4 lb sledge, and a lot of F-bombs.

Good times.

Posted by: Jaws at June 06, 2013 09:23 AM (4I3Uo)

94 If you prefer Soviet gun can do same with AK comrade.

I would like an 80% milled AK receiver set-up for 5.56 and AR magazines.

Posted by: Jean at June 06, 2013 09:23 AM (CMlD4)

95 I'm in the 80% commie state of CT so I won't talk about any paperweights that may or may not be in my possession. As I'm typing this a freaking blackhawk is coming in low and slow over my AO. Avenge me!! Wolverines!!!!!

Posted by: Evil Libertarian at June 06, 2013 09:23 AM (mSg7b)

96 Maet, be careful with your decimal points. I'm fairly certain that's .010", not .100" but I'd need to see the print.

Remember, a piece of copy paper is about .003" thick. The cellophane from a cigarette pack is .001" thick.

Posted by: BackwardsBoy, who did not vote for this shit at June 06, 2013 01:22 PM (0HooB)[/i[

Doh! You're right - it's a hundredth of an inch.

If you search on youtube, you'll find guys that have finished their 80% lowers with pretty minimal tools.

Posted by: Mætenloch at June 06, 2013 09:25 AM (XkotV)

97 Posted by: MÃ¦tenloch at June 06, 2013 01:18 PM (XkotV)

https://colfaxtactical.com/ar15.html

They are one of the bigger manufacturers of 80% lowers, and they say you can do it with a drill press.

Posted by: CharlieBrown'sDildo at June 06, 2013 09:26 AM (z4m16)

98 I'm fairly certain that's .010", not .100"

Posted by: BackwardsBoy, who did not vote for this shit at June 06, 2013 01:22 PM (0HooB)

Eh, no difference. They both have a "1"

It's how you feel about it that counts.

Posted by: California State College graduate at June 06, 2013 09:28 AM (z4m16)

99 If someone were to redesign the trigger group - this whole process could be significantly simpler.

Posted by: Jean at June 06, 2013 09:31 AM (CMlD4)

100 Cool as shit. I want to do this.

Posted by: The jackhole at June 06, 2013 09:31 AM (nTgAI)

101 Thanks for this post, Maet. If there were an end in sight to Obama scandals, it would have had a chance of staying up longer.

Posted by: t-bird at June 06, 2013 09:34 AM (FcR7P)

102

Eh, no difference. They both have a "1"

It's how you feel about it that counts.

I shall refrain from recounting my experience with a certain shop owner's son who thought he could draw prints but didn't know the difference between .100" and .010".

Posted by: BackwardsBoy, who did not vote for this shit at June 06, 2013 09:34 AM (0HooB)

103

Good post. The American "Can Do" spirit is strong.

Posted by: Ook? at June 06, 2013 09:34 AM (OQpzc)

104 MÃ¦tenloch: Congratulations on your finished product. It looks well done. It needs to be pointed out that drill presses are quite good at drilling. They are not so good for milling. The chuck is not designed for side loads, and will likely let go of the endmill. If the drill press will accept collets, then things are much better; collets are designed for the side loads encountered in milling. There are a number of Grizzly "mill-drills" that are so designed. Look at the mill drills that have a table with hand wheels, then look for an indication that the mill- drill accepts R8 collets. Square-column designs have an advantage over the round-column ones: while both designs usually have a spindle that can be moved up and down, the head on the round-column mill-drill must be re-checked (for position) every time it is moved up or down. The square-column retains the position of the mill head.

Posted by: Arbalest at June 06, 2013 09:37 AM (FlRtG)

105
    Life is good if you own a Garand, an M14, and a .45.

     I speak from experience. The Garand was my first love, having carried it in Basic, the M14 came during the usaeur tour, and the .45 was the last year of my service.

    All the other stuff is icing on that cake.

Posted by: irongrampa at June 06, 2013 09:37 AM (SAMxH)

106 CA morons take note:

CA is in the midst of removing all exceptions to the semi-auto detachable magazine ban. This means the 'bullet-button' workaround will no longer be legal if you have one of the 'evil features': collapsing stock, pistol grip, etc.

Posted by: weft cut-loop at June 06, 2013 01:07 PM (ujux6)

It's worse than that. Any semi auto rifle with a detachable or fixed magazine capable of holding ten rounds will require registration as an assault weapon, this includes rimfires with tube fed magazines. Marlin model 60 etc. Ruger 10-22s will be assault rifles.

They have a shitload of other stupid bills in process as well.

Posted by: The jackhole at June 06, 2013 09:38 AM (nTgAI)

107 MÃ¦tenloch: Congratulations on your finished product. It looks well done.

It needs to be pointed out that drill presses are quite good at drilling. They are not so good for milling. The chuck is not designed for side loads, and will likely let go of the endmill. If the drill press will accept collets, then things are much better; collets are designed for the side loads encountered in milling.

There are a number of Grizzly "mill-drills" that are so designed. Look at the mill drills that have a table with hand wheels, then look for an indication that the mill- drill accepts R8 collets.

Square-column designs have an advantage over the round-column ones: while both designs usually have a spindle that can be moved up and down, the head on the round-column mill-drill must be re-checked (for position) every time it is moved up or down. The square-column retains the position of the mill head.

Posted by: Arbalest at June 06, 2013 01:37 PM (FlRtG)

There are also small tables with cross slots and hand cranks that can be used on a drill press for light duty milling

Posted by: The jackhole at June 06, 2013 09:40 AM (nTgAI)

108 JH: Quite true. Let me excerpt from my post, with emphasis: It needs to be pointed out that drill presses are quite good at drilling. They are not so good for milling. The chuck is not designed for side loads, and will likely let go of the endmill. If the drill press will accept collets, then things are much better; collets are designed for the side loads encountered in milling. I feel the need to make certain that my comment was clear.

Posted by: Arbalest at June 06, 2013 09:47 AM (FlRtG)

109

There are also small tables with cross slots and hand cranksthat can be used on a drill press for light duty milling

A few weeks ago, there was a post with a link to a pic of a homemade milling setup on a small drill press. It looked fragile and full of flex, but would work with light cuts, even if the cutter were held in a drill chuck.

It'd work if you're milling aluminum, but you'd still need to take it slow. One trick is to make "flex cuts" where you don't advance the cutter, but take an extra pass or two to make sure the walls of the cut are dead straight (in the vertical direction). You'll see small chips when you do it, and another secret is to not let the cutter sit still in one spot while it's turning. Both the cutter and the stock should be in motion for best results.

Join us next week when Mr. Chip Cutter discusses the myths and mysteries of measurement.

Posted by: BackwardsBoy, who did not vote for this shit at June 06, 2013 09:49 AM (0HooB)

110 Nice. Glad to see more people doing their own builds like that. Thanks Maet.

Posted by: Joethefatman™ (@joethefatman1) at June 06, 2013 09:50 AM (MnSla)

111 Also, what Arbalest said. If you can use collets, do so.

Posted by: BackwardsBoy, who did not vote for this shit at June 06, 2013 09:51 AM (0HooB)

112 @32 ... http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HH-HTv36ReU

Posted by: Chairman LMAO at June 06, 2013 09:52 AM (9eDbm)

113

Awesome post.

I would love to do this. I am bookmarking this post in hopes to do this in the near future.

Posted by: dan-O at June 06, 2013 09:52 AM (D0bIN)

114 JH: Quite true.

Let me excerpt from my post, with emphasis:

It needs to be pointed out that drill presses are quite good at drilling. They are not so good for milling.

The chuck is not designed for side loads, and will likely let go of the endmill.

If the drill press will accept collets, then things are much better; collets are designed for the side loads encountered in milling.

I feel the need to make certain that my comment was clear.

Posted by: Arbalest at June 06, 2013 01:47 PM (FlRtG)

I hear ya. that's why I mentioned light cuts. The collet advice is sound as well.

Posted by: The jackhole at June 06, 2013 09:53 AM (nTgAI)

115 Awesome Maet, good job. I bet it was fun putting it together.

Posted by: Misanthropic humanitarian at June 06, 2013 09:54 AM (HVff2)

116

Also NO climb cutting on a conventional mill or DPress. As BB mentioned lots of spring passes. keep your tooling extension as short as possible.

I would get some scrap aluminum stock to practice on

Posted by: The jackhole at June 06, 2013 09:55 AM (nTgAI)

117 One trick is to make "flex cuts" where you don't advance the cutter, Spring passes.

Posted by: t-bird at June 06, 2013 09:57 AM (FcR7P)

118 Speaking of CNC machines, you could probably just take one of those 3D printer receiver models and an actual block of aluminum, and press "go".

Posted by: Chairman LMAO at June 06, 2013 09:58 AM (9eDbm)

119

One more trick and I'm out for the afternoon errands.

Keep everything you use for milling clean and dry during your initial setup. Make sure there's no oil or other residue on the vise, the part you're milling, on the cutter or inside the collet. After you have everything in place and clamped down, then you can use a cutting lubricant while milling, just be sure to clean it off of everything when you're through cutting.

Posted by: BackwardsBoy, who did not vote for this shit at June 06, 2013 09:59 AM (0HooB)

120 91 Here's all I'm saying... All of the parts in this weapon have to function as one unit. If you have a malfunction in one place, it may have an effect in other places. Also to consider... That cavity, in a production model, isn't formed by a milling machine. It's done with a broach, and can be finished in about 15 seconds, to tolerances exceeding what's on the print. (Broaching is also how the inside of a barrel is formed.)

Posted by: franksalterego at June 06, 2013 10:06 AM (omVzF)

121 Maet,

Given the NSA scandal, you might be interested in this for the ONT:

http://tinyurl.com/kahn96b

Posted by: jmjjbt at June 06, 2013 10:18 AM (6VB4r)

122 I see the appeal of not having a serial number, but my stripped lower was only 150. If I'd been a little more patient I'd have been able to score one from PSA for 99. Another 120 or so for a lower parts kit and buffer, 370 for a stripped upper, 150 for a BCG and 40 for the charging handle. So that's 830. After the MagPul MOE stock, quad rail, hand grips, mags, etc., I'm stull under a grand. Not bad when you consider they were going for 1700-2000 after Sandy Hook.

Posted by: Emile Antoon Khadaji at June 06, 2013 10:28 AM (6NIyO)

123 That cavity, in a production model, isn't formed by a milling machine.

It's done with a broach, and can be finished in about 15 seconds, to tolerances exceeding what's on the print.

(Broaching is also how the inside of a barrel is formed.)

Posted by: franksalterego at June 06, 2013 02:06 PM (omVzF)

I believe most production lowers only use broaching on the magazine well. And that's already been done on the one I have.

Posted by: Mætenloch at June 06, 2013 10:33 AM (XkotV)

124

94 is correct!! AK's are much more fun to build.

http://tinyurl.com/bcjcpws

Posted by: gaseous clay at June 06, 2013 10:38 AM (cQhQZ)

125 Best line from a breaktime conversation with a coworker with a side job as a gunsmith. "I'm bilingual. I speak .357 and 9mm."

Posted by: losthusker at June 06, 2013 11:10 AM (ThVD9)

126 This sort of technology is a good start but the real realignment of power away from the state and back to the individual will come not when a few people can make their own gun but when, at short notice like after a coup, a few people can make guns for many people. The ability to create local stockpiles quickly would be a game changer. That is not immanent but it is inevitable.

Posted by: Snake Oil Baron at June 06, 2013 11:21 AM (k2Y6x)

127 Additional CA BS: CA DOJ has ruled (probably without authority, as usual) that "button push" CNC finishing of 80% lowers is illegal - i.e. "build parties" where a vendor programs a CNC machine and the owner merely starts it require the vendor to be a licensed manufacturer and the firearm must be DROS'd (fee paid, registered, etc). Up until then a number of vendors had been doing "build parties" where 80% AR's and various other guns (mostly 1911s and for some reason Sig P228's) could be mounted in a frame and a pre-programmed CNC machine would finish the work for you. Ordering owners to follow a list of instructions and then push a button versus simply pushing a button is, of course, the definition of an arbitrary difference that merely costs everyone time and money without any real effect on the end product, apart from a likely increase in wasted 80% receivers.

Posted by: Merovign, Dark Lord of the Sith's Other Mobile[/i][/b][/s][/u] at June 06, 2013 11:26 AM (qyfb5)

128 Congrats Maet.....

Perhaps we should sponsor an AoSHQ tool barn so we can have horde parties?

Posted by: Dr. sven10077@sven10077 MD at June 06, 2013 11:38 AM (LRFds)

129 Umm... you're wrong. AR's are NOT legal here in the US: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LgXCL4P8vL0

Posted by: Jester at June 06, 2013 11:58 AM (kcURD)

130 Congratulations:

By posting this thread, you've become the 1,000,000th citizen on our "To be Detained and Domicile Searched In the Event of Martial Law Being Declared" (or if we f**king feel like it.)

Posted by: Your Friends at your Local BATF Office (Have a nice day!) at June 06, 2013 01:14 PM (28TG+)

131 The 80% are way easier to complete compared to a raw forging. Using a bridgeport mill with a digital readout took 18 hours for the raw forging as compared to doing the 80%, which is only a few hours.

Posted by: Brian at June 06, 2013 01:29 PM (7jupj)

132 I don't need no high school queen, I just need my M-14!

Posted by: SoCalHomie at June 06, 2013 01:40 PM (DSMyb)

133 If you make your own gun you can not just put a serial number on it and transfer it, that rifle must die with you unless you get FFL license to manufacture.

Posted by: Willis Newton at June 06, 2013 03:03 PM (I6Ef6)

134 134 If you make your own gun you can not just put a serial number on it and transfer it, that rifle must die with you unless you get FFL license to manufacture.
Posted by: Willis Newton at June 06, 2013 07:03 PM (I6Ef6)

Not true as far as I know. Once it's a personally owned firearm it can be transferred through the usual legal processes like any other. Please point me to an official statement on this.

Now if you were regularly building and transferring guns, then yes the BATF would require you to get an 07 FFL.

Posted by: Mætenloch at June 06, 2013 03:21 PM (pAlYe)

135 Writer for one of the world's most popular conservative blogs says: "So the bottom line is that for less than $200 and two hours work I now have a fully functional self-made AR-15 receiver that is perfectly legal and yet <b>will never appear on any government list.</b>"

You actually believe that? I don't know whether to laugh or cry. Which isn't to say it's not worth doing for exactly the reasons you state, just that if you're going to go to all that trouble I don't see the sense in telling the entire world you did it.

Posted by: AndyN at June 07, 2013 08:56 AM (pc29f)

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