Breaking News: Chinese Company Exporting 80% AR-15 Receivers
After three decades of executive orders and trade sanctions from three different presidents it is hard to work out exactly what firearms can be exported from China. Certain shotguns, which lack “evil” features and which are not made in either of the two main state-owned gun factories, are imported into the USA legally, but it seems lawyers in either country have failed to find any other glaring loopholes that would allow guns to be exported from China and imported in the USA.
One company, Wotech Industrial Co., Ltd of Shandong, China took note of the panic buying and and the increased interested in DIY firearms form consumers unable to purchase a gun or unable to afford the guns that were available to purchase. Wotech is advertising 80% forge AR-15 lower receivers for $50 a piece. The company says that is has the ability to supply 3000 tons of AR-15 lowers per year.
The recievers Wotech is offering are forgings made with Aluminum 6063 and Aluminum 7075. The minimum order is 100 pieces. They can offer additional machining if required by the customer (for a price). Delivery takes 4-5 weeks.
This is all perfectly legal. An AR-15 lower is just a hunk of Aluminum with 80% of the work done needed to turn it into a real firearm. It significantly cuts down the time and equipment a home gun maker would need to make their own. It is possible (but not recommended) to finish an 80% receiver with nothing but a drill, ruler and a vice (a jig, drill press, calipers, diamond files and other common tool are recommended). You can read our series on making an AR-15 at home from scratch.
If China starts exporting parts kits (stocks, trigger comments, gas system etc.) local US companies may be able to produce very low cost budget AR-15 rifles by combining them with locally-finished Chinese receivers. At least one other company is producing AR-15 internals. Eastern-Star Precision Industrial Co.,Ltd. is marketing an AR-15 bolt assembly and bolt carrier …
Maybe 2014 will be the year of the Chinese AR-15.
Many thanks to Ian K Friedman, Esq. for information.
I founded TFB in 2007 and over 10 years worked tirelessly, with the help of my team, to build it up into the largest gun blog online. I retired as Editor in Chief in 2017. During my decade at TFB I was fortunate to work with the most amazing talented writers and genuinely good people!
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$50 for a 80% lower or $38 for a complete lower, not a difficult choice.
with the exception of people hoarding .22lr the panic is over.
Hell...no! I'd SPIT on any of you so called "patriots", especially those who rant about how evil regulations, taxes, unions and Obama are, BUT are quick to bolster the pockets of the red chinese militaries pockets by endless,purchases at,Wally world of cheap chinese products!
The AR 15 is AMERICA! Better to buy parts from the dozens of Florida and other states milling and forging shops than to get a chinese knockoff( bet some of you sorry asses will argue, "its my buck, and the quality is,comparable"-reality? No , it isn't!!!)
Every product bought with " made in china" is a fellow skilled american and semi skilled one out of work! That means,less tax revenue for American roads, schools, fire depts, libraries, street lights, and our own military!!
Can't wait til DIY AR carbines start FAILING and you find cheap bastards like dpms used "made in china" parts for kits.
Some will argue that the chinese ak clones or the crude attempts at bolt guns and shotguns( like the pardner pump- worst POS in the world, would take the "Mexican mossberg", aka maverick 88) are "just as good". Consider the fact that opium smoking , cave living Talibaners are cobbling together"almost as good" aks with junk metal, and filipino backyard gunsmiths are turning out pot metal 1911s-I DOUBT you'd bet your life on either one!!
Is the 10 to 10 dollars less worth it? No, not to shoot poorly made and low QC clones( made the MISTAKEof owning a Norinco M-1A clone back when I didn't KNOW better-got a real springfield M1A, and that "almost"( never ) as good met the hacksaw blade when the reciever cracked, and I found out a REAL american M1A receiver couldn't be shoe horned in as a replacement.
For those of you cheap skates still not convinced, remember the Alaska Airlines flight that crashed off the California coast in the 90s ??! Perfect example of chinese metal working skills! A substandard bolt assembly cost the lives of 90 Americans