Building Your EP-80 Ar15 Rifle Lower at Home With Common Hand Tools

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By John Freeman Finish your own AR-15 receiver without the hassle of serial numbers and registration.

EP Lowers EP-80 Polymer Lower
EP Lowers EP-80 Polymer Lower
EP Lowers
EP Lowers

Bakersfield, Ca –-(Ammoland.com)- The EP-80 Polymer 80% lower receiver is a fiber reinforced composite polymer rifle lower available in several colors from www.eparmory.com.

Our 80% lowers can be ordered online and shipped direct to your home, without the hassle of serial numbers, registration or background checks, then finished with common hand tools.

The lowers are easy to make usable as the following photo essay with show. These 80% receivers typically require at least a drill press and jig or vise to complete.

For those who do not have a drill press or jig the following photos show how the EP-80 can be completed without either and with a minimum of tools many already have on hand. See our handy tool list at the article end.

Tool Required
1. For this method the tools required are a Dremel rotary tool or equivalent of another brand, Dremel flex shaft (optional),Dremel EZ drum, 115 and 562 bits, a Hand Drill, 1/16″ bit for pilot holes, a 5/32″ bit, and 3/8″ Brad Point Bit, Mallet, Chisel, Canned Air or compressor (optional), vise grips, allen wrench, vise, rubber face pads for vise (optional), Mag well vise block (optional)
Clamp The Lower Securely
2. First clamp the lower securely in the vise at the trigger guard using rubber in between to not mar the surface. Cardboard or some other material would also work fine. This is a bit more secure then mounting with the magwell block. Then drill 1/16″ pilot holes for the hammer, trigger pin and selector switch just penetrating through the walls of the lower and stopping after the core material becomes visible on the drill. Repeat this on both sides.
Remove The Raised Pins
3. Remove the raised pins for a flat surface with pilot holes to guide the larger bits.
follow up with 532 bit
4. Then follow up with 5/32″ bit for the hammer and trigger pins and the 3/8″ brad point for the selector switch. Make sure you eye ball from the top and side to make sure the bit is perpendicular and not canted. Again you are only drilling through the wall. Repeat on the other side as well.
Dremel And Begin Milling
5. Then install the 115 bit on the Dremel and begin milling.
Patches Of Ribbing
6. Beyond a certain point there is patches of ribbing that are the same color as the lower. As you mill deeper the ribbing will fade out to solid black again. That will tell you you are close to the bottom.
Switch To The 562 Bit
7. Once you have taken enough material out with the 115 bit switch to the 562 bit for the finish work and removing the black portion from the corners where the other bit can’t reach.
Chisel To Remove The Last Of The Core
8. You can use the mallet and chisel to remove the last of the core from the sides of the lower and to shave down the ribbing for a smoother finish.
All The Core Material Is Removed
9. Even after all the core material is removed the side walls are too thick for installation of parts and a small amount must be reduced and smoothed to allow fitting; that’s where the drum sanding bit comes in. Its a matter of builder discretion but the interior finish of the pocket doesn’t have to be perfect and won’t be using this method. Don’t worry about it so long as the parts can fit and function correctly.
Pop The Square Out For The Trigger Hole
10. Once enough of the material was removed you can pop the square out for the trigger hole and begin sizing the hole for the trigger. This has to be done free hand with the 562 bit. You may want to measure and mark with the help of a caliper transfering sizes from your trigger to the lower. I really didnt have a problem opening it up to the right size just by eye. The best way is to shave small amounts and continue to fit the trigger until it fits through well. Then you are ready to begin fitting your parts.
Threads On The Buffer Tube
11. The threads on the buffer tube can be tighter than aluminum lowers. The use of Teflon plumbers tape can aid in threading the buffer tube into the receiver.
Hole For The Pistol Grip Screw
12. The hole for the pistol grip screw is not threaded. It is designed to be wide enough to allow the builder to thread the hole using the screw itself for a tight fit since the material is conducive to threading. For this use an allen key with vise grips to carefully crank down the screw and seat the pistol grip
Front Pivot Pin And Rear Take Down Pin
13. front pivot pin and rear take down pin detent holes can sometimes have polymer burs left from manufacturing which may impede the function of the detent and spring. It’s not a bad idea to run a drill bit of the same size to make sure the holes are clear. This can be done by hand by just holding the bit.

14. After the fitting work is completed you can assemble your new rifle! 

Parts & Tools Check List:

  • Dremel 200
  • Dremel flex shaft (optional)
  • Dremel EZ drum,
  • Dremel 115 High Speed Bit
  • Dremel 562 Tile Cutting Bit
  • Hand Drill
  • 1/16″ bit for pilot holes
  • 5/32″ bit,
  • 3/8″ Brad Point Bit
  • Mallet
  • Chisel
  • Canned Air or compressor (optional)
  • Vise grips,
  • Allen wrench,
  • Vise,
  • Rubber face pads for vise (optional),
  • Mag well vise block (optional)

 

Our product is offered online at www.eplowers.com. Also we invite folks to check us out on facebook for daily updates at www.facebook.com/eparmory. Our product will be available at dealer locations as well and we have plans to market at gun shows very soon. Thank you so much

Kind Regards, Chris Cook, founder EP Lowers EP Arms LLC

 

7 Comments
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Roy Stamper

I purchased my eparmory 80% lower for $29.95 (came with a sticker jig) along with the bit kit for another $12. I used a craftsman hand drill, box cutter and the file on my leatherman tool to completely finish it in a couple of hours sitting in my van between calls ( no dremmel required). My lower is the newer version without the colored insert guide.

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Robert S

Where from?

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Donnie

Great article. These are actually simple to do and keeps a person from regs and the govt. From, or should I say out of yay buisness. I purchased mine from a website called polymer80.com, it came with the jig,all the drill bits that are needed. I think this is a great deal, now I have an extra complete lower, me and my son worked on this project together and had a blast doing it. I noticed somewhere online, that they are now making an 80% lower for the infamous pistol M1q911. I think that’s gonna be our next project,, once… Read more »

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cliff

FOUND MY ANSWER with a little more looking…Thanks

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cliff

How MUCH $$ and where can I BUY ONE???

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Justin

This amuses me greatly. I will have to buy one and try it out. Preferably, not in pink…

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Dave

MAKE SURE you are accurate with ALL measurements…very accurate. Once you “drill” or “mill” you can’t put the material back.

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