US Arms Patriot 15 plastic lower

[mecra]

Anyone have experience with it? Is it significantly lighter than a normal metal lower?

http://www.billsgs.com/JulyGOTM.html

Was thinking about picking it up as a backup lower or as a primary if it's light and works well.

[LumberZach]

I am ultimately against any plastic lowers. The receivers are not places that you should be looking to gain weight savings. These plastic receivers usually have a tendency to crack and fly apart after use.

[Evad]

These plastic receivers usually have a tendency to crack and fly apart after use.

Got any failure pictures? I hear people say this...and when I looked can only find the opposite. Granted, I didn't look much.

[TTS]

These plastic receivers usually have a tendency to crack and fly apart after use.

Got any failure pictures? I hear people say this...and when I looked can only find the opposite. Granted, I didn't look much.

They tend to break at the back by the buffer tube, but often split in the front as well. The Cav Arms lowers are the only reliable plastic lowers I have encountered.

[rockcreek]

I have sold hundreds of New Frontier poly lowers with only 2 complaints. Both of them were failed takedown pins on very early production units, no issues with the actual receiver. One I know of is running as a full auto dealer sample with tens of thousands of rounds through it. I don't have any experience the the US Arms unit, but to say polymer lowers are bad just because they are polymer doesn't make any sense.

[TTS]

If you want a light lower that is durable, this is what you seek. 6oz




http://www.onesourcetactical.com/mg-g4ultralightarlower.aspx#.UfhpWGRATDM

[Scratch]

Cant remember where, maybe Arfcom, but Ive seen a thread full of pics of cracked or broken poly receivers also about a year ago. I'm sure they're out there, but I've never seen a pic of a broken aluminum receiver. I also don't like how the takedown pins are always so hard to push out.

I know I wont be buying a poly receiver.

[Evad]

I've seen what I asked for. I wonder if some are better than others?

Considering my AR expertise...I will stay away, at least for now.

[The Lance]

159 for a lower is pricey.

Especially a poly one. For that price you can get a nice aluminum one transfered and shipped to an ffl

[Squib Joe]

They tend to break at the back by the buffer tube, but often split in the front as well. The Cav Arms lowers are the only reliable plastic lowers I have encountered.

I should note that none of these failure pictures are of the the Patriot-15 models, which are of a much different design

[Squib Joe]

159 for a lower is pricey.

Especially a poly one. For that price you can get a nice aluminum one transfered and shipped to an ffl

This is a complete lower including buttstock, not a stripped lower

[TTS]

They tend to break at the back by the buffer tube, but often split in the front as well. The Cav Arms lowers are the only reliable plastic lowers I have encountered.

I should note that none of these failure pictures are of the the Patriot-15 models, which are of a much different design

Joe,

You are correct. In addition I think that polymer lowers are great for inexpensive range guns and .22 conversions.

[UnaStamus]

I've had my hands on broken polymer lower receivers. The issue is that they have been known to have catastrophic failure in areas that the forged and billet aluminum receivers do not. I've seen an untold number of photos as well. There may be some polymer lowers that are standing up to use, but until there is an extensively documented, long-standing record of specific models remaining durable and reliable to the same degree as forged aluminum lowers, I won't touch polymer lowers with a 10 foot pole. I also won't build them or work on them if they're brought to me.
Based on personal experience and industry research, any story of a reliable and durable polymer lower at this point can only be treated as "anectodal" in my opinion.
I can accept that they would be fine for .22LR conversions and so forth, but for any person wanting to have a halfway decent AR, there are better options available for not much more money.