An 80 percent lower is an unfinished lower receiver that has not yet reached a completed manufacturing stage at the time it is sold. Because it is not fully completed, it is treated differently under federal regulations compared to a finished lower receiver. Many people encounter the term “80% lower” online without a clear explanation […]

One of the most common questions buyers have is the difference between an AR15 80 lower and a completed lower receiver. The primary distinction lies in manufacturing completion. A completed lower receiver has undergone all required machining processes and is classified as a finished firearm component. An 80 percent lower, on the other hand, has […]

Not all 80% lowers are manufactured to the same standards. Quality plays a major role in consistency, fit, and overall reliability. Precision machining ensures that an 80 percent lower meets proper dimensional expectations and maintains structural consistency. Clean finishes and accurate specifications reflect attention to detail during production. Another often overlooked factor is seller transparency. […]

There is a lot of misinformation surrounding 80% lowers, much of it stemming from unclear explanations or outdated assumptions. One common misconception is that all low 80 receivers are the same. In reality, machining quality, materials, and manufacturing consistency can vary significantly. Another misconception is that federal rules automatically apply everywhere in the same way. […]