17 Design and Manufacturing Integrated Folding Lower Receiver ~VIDEO

U.S.A. -(AmmoLand.com)- Once you’ve been in the gun industry long enough, you start to get jaded with marketing hype and seemingly fad products like folding stock AR-15s. But it’s important to keep an open mind, since many things that seem like a passing fad end up becoming staples of the industry. One such product is the 17 Manufacturing and Design Integrated Folding Lower Receiver.

 

17 Design and Manufacturing Integrated Folding Lower Receiver 

If the new folding receiver seems somewhat familiar, you’re likely thinking of the Law Tactical Folder. While the two accomplish the same end result, the biggest difference between them is that the 17 Design and Manufacturing is integral to a lower receiver, whereas the Law adaptor is just that, an adaptor for an existing lower.

17 Manufacturing and Design Lower 01
The 17 Design and Manufacturing Integrated Folding Lower pairs well with AR-15 pistol uppers like this .300blk Ultimate Upper Kit from Larue Tactical. IMG Jim Grant

So why go with an integral design over an adaptor? Well, for starters, the 17 M&D lower can safely be fired with the stock folded. Though the owners of the company warned me that prolonged fire in that condition will eventually damage the BCG retainer in the rear, it’s still a great feature.

Why?

Because if you’re using the lower as a bugout weapon and it’s folded in a backpack, you might not have quite enough time to fully unfold it before an attacker is on top of you. The good news is that if you fire it folded, the only real downside is that you’ll have to recharge the action to extract the spent casing and rechamber another.

Primary Arms 5x ACSS Larue Upper 17 Lower Saker 762 ASR SilencerShop
The integrated folder pairs super well with larger guns too. IMG Jim Grant

Another reason to go with the integrated folding lower is a shorter overall length. And since the entire point of the folding mechanism is to reduce the overall size of the gun for transportation, smaller = better.

Nuts and Bolts

The 17 Manufacturing and Design folding mechanism is pretty straightforward. It doesn’t utilize a camming lock or anything, but just a simple hinge with a spring-loaded latch to keep the hinge closed when folded. That said, it does use a small plunger that pushes down a bolt carrier group retention tab when the gun is folded. This is due to the fact that without said tab, the bolt carrier could stick out the rear of the gun and make it impossible to fold. This leads me to one of the only propriety components of the 17 folder – the buffer.\

While the buffer spring is a simply carbine-length one, the buffer itself is slightly elongated to compensate for the extra length the folding mechanism adds to the rear of the receiver. The good news is that the lower includes this special buffer, so shooters don’t have to buy one.

The other special component deals

17 Manufacturing and Design Lower 04
The 17 Design and Manufacturing Integrated Folding Lower uses an extended buffer to compensate for the extra length of the receiver. IMG Jim Grant

with the buffer retention plunger. On a standard AR-15, the plunger is retained by the buffer extension threading into the receiver blocking it from popping out. Since the 17 Manufacturing Integral Folder separates the extension from the lower due to the folding mechanism, the company instead uses a small hex screw underneath the plunger to keep it in place.

More Than Just a Folder

Like the header says, the lower is more than just the folding mechanism. It’s also a billet machined lower that includes some great features for shooters. For example, the bolt release roll pin has been replaced with a machined screw so shooters assembling the lower don’t have to worry about accidentally scratching the receiver while driving a pin in. Instead, they simply need to utilize an Allen key to screw it in place. Another nice feature is the integral trigger guard, which does away with the need to purchase one while keeping the lines up the lower itself clean and consistent.

17 Manufacturing and Design Folding Lower
The 17 Manufacturing and Design Folding Lower worked well with my Larue Tactical upper in .300blk. IMG Jim Grant

Reliability Fit and Function

Due to cost and availability issues with ammo, I only had a chance thus far to fire a few hundred rounds through my 17 Design and Manufacturing lower, but thus far I’ve encountered no issues whatsoever. Every magazine tested works fine and locks up and drops free with no issues. The small parts kit from Brownells that I used to complete the lower fit with no issues whatsoever.

Also, in testing, every upper installed on the folding lower fit flawlessly with one minor issue when paired with a 7.5in barrel PSA pistol upper in 5.56mm. In that instance, the two fit together fine, but the forward push pin was tight enough to require a tool to push out for disassembly. That said, uppers from BCM, LaRue Tactical, CMMG, and Springfield all fit perfectly fine.

17 Manufacturing and Design Integrated Folder
The 17 Manufacturing and Design Integrated Folder helps shrink the overall size of this Larue Tactical pistol with Trijicon VCOG, Magpul D60, SB Tactical SBA3 Brace Streamlight VIR II, and SilencerCo Saker 762 ASR provided by SilencerShop. IMG Jim Grant

17 Design and Manufacturing Integrated Folder Verdict

With an MSRP of $299, the Integrated Folding Lower isn’t cheap, but it’s still a solid deal. Especially when compared to the cost of buying a standalone billet lower and a separate folding adaptor – the latter of which is often $250 by itself. Overall, I’m impressed with the lower and really only would to add one thing to it to make it perfect – a locking mechanism to keep it folded. But if a shooter is only folding the stock or brace for transportation purposes, it doesn’t really matter.


About Jim Grant

Jim is one of the elite editors for AmmoLand.com, who in addition to his mastery of prose, can wield a camera with expert finesse. He loves anything and everything guns but holds firearms from the Cold War in a special place in his heart.

When he’s not reviewing guns or shooting for fun and competition, Jim can be found hiking and hunting with his wife Kimberly, and their dog Peanut in the South Carolina low country.

Jim Grant

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Ansel Hazen

Tool truck guy stopped by the shop last week. Had the new Sig bolt action Cross with him. Pretty impressive folder as well.

Ansel Hazen

What I really wish is that Primary Arms SLx 5X ACSS had a 1X option.
30mm and above 1x glass is what I’m looking for

Ansel Hazen

Jim, I have had a very good exchange with PA throughout the day today. They seem to agree that my idea of a 1X version would be a good idea and have said they will pass what I have said along to the optics dept. At this point it seems if enough of us start asking for it we could get them to make a 1X version.

Knute

“you start to get jaded with marketing hype and seemingly fade products” Was that just a typo, or was it a clever double meaning suggesting that fad products always just fade away, like the pet rock and the hula-hoop? Either way, I agree. The main purpose for a folding stock is use from a vehicle, as they were designed for use from ports inside of armored vehicles. So if one cannot fire it with the stock folded, it loses most of its value. OFC, many buyers won’t know that, and will think it’s just soooooo cool, the same reason they… Read more »

Cyph

Still haven’t put mine together yet, waiting on my Form 1 so I can SBR it. I got mine from Brownells for $219 before they raised the price to $299. Really excited for this one.

Lesko Brandon

17 Design closed, but the design was licensed from Shield Arms. You can actually get the same thing from AlexPro (stamped with same patent no) now. I have both, but my 17 Design was better, I had some of the issue folks complain about with the 17D with my AlexPro. Brownells recently (9/23) had a sale on the AR-10 folder. I have builds on the Law Tactical and Sylvan folders, but this integrated design is much better and if you look at the cost with a billet lower, this is cheaper also (when its on sale).

SmegHead

17 went out of business almost a year ago…….why are you re-posting this?

Buster

Just buy a Virtus

Bill

Can this be purchased as a pistol lower and not a rifle?

moe mensale

You’re buying a stripped lower receiver. You still need a lower parts kit, a pistol grip, a receiver extension and buffer spring to complete it. At that point you can configure it as a pistol, a rifle or a Form 1 SBR.