We’ve been shooting pistols with polymer frames for decades, but AR-15s with polymer lowers, for no apparent reason, remain suspect as low-quality.
Well, this WARP15 rifle from Wraithworks sports a polymer lower and a polymer upper and it seems to work just fine. They feel they’re pursuing the spirit of Eugene Stoner’s ideals. Its value will probably surprise you.
KE Arms Licensed Lower
The lower is branded as Wraithworks, but it’s KE Arms’s design and is a proven unit. The flared magwell is a nice touch, and the integrated grip is an upgrade over mil-spec. Since it’s all one piece, this lower is exceptionally rigid.
Clamshell Polymer Upper
Unlike any other rifle, the upper receiver is all polymer and it goes together like a clamshell. The upper is divisible, left and right, down its length with several screws.
You’ll notice the reinforcing ribs around the bolt carrier group. There is a 7075 aluminum trunnion inserted which holds the chamber and barrel in the receiver.
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Ambidextrous Controls, Cool Stocks
The WARP15 comes standard with ambidextrous safety levers. Also, it has a full-length, uninterrupted Picatinny rail on top and M-LOK slots all around the handguard.
The buttstock includes QD attachment points and an M-LOK slot at the back. Furthermore, the stock includes a spacious compartment in the butt plate.
Performance at the range
Wraithworks had the WARP15 at the range for media to sample this week. I shot 5 rounds at 20 yards and was surprised at how good it felt — how rigid it felt.
So I shot ten more rounds at a coyote-sized target at a hundred yards. It was raining, I was standing shooting off-hand, and the rifle was only fitted with a red dot, but I nailed that target with all ten rounds, which surprised me.
Although it weighs just about 5 lbs, the included muzzle brake seems effective.
The cost to produce this gun is significantly lower than others with metal receivers and handguards. Wraithworks will have the WARP15 ready to ship this Spring for around $500. We’ll have a full review for you soon.
Specs
- Caliber: .223 Wylde
- Barrel: 16″, 1:8 twist, 4150 steel
- Weight (unloaded): 5.05lb
- Length: 34.8″
- State Compliant: Not Compliant in CA, CT, HI, MD, MA, NJ, NY, VT, DC
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In the 1980’s, the U.S. Military was interested in using Injection Molded NYLON components in a number of weapon systems. Results of a major study was that 33% Glass Filled NYLON 6/6 had properties similar to 7075 – T6 Aluminum. Also, testing indicated that a 30% Carbon Fiber NYLON 6/6 had properties similar to 1018 Cold Rolled Steel. Should note that the first generation GLOCKs appeared at that time, and Glocks used the same glass filled Nylon resin for their frames, as used in that study. Both the high cost of Carbon Fiber filled NYLON and the high mold temperature required (~250 F – 260 F) restricted its use to a prototype system whose only public notice was a reference to it in the last few minutes of the movie INVASION USA, where the system nick name (Scorpion) was used. Besides being about 65% the weight of 7075 – T6 Aluminum, one major plus of the Carbon Fiber filled NYLON is that it has a greater resistance to FLEX fatigue than 1018 CR Steel. Properly molded, Carbon Filled Nylon also has a “resin rich” surface, that will reflect the same level of “polish” as the mold finish. Nice to see that someone is beginning to realize the potential of Carbon Fiber NYLON.
I have built many polymer lowers and overall have been satisfied. The hybrid lowers with aluminum inserts are the best of the non-aluminum lowers IMO. I also tried a couple of magnesium lowers for fun. The 100% polymers and the magnesiums are my least favorite only because I am leery of the general fragility of both. . However, at the end of the day, Aluminum is unbeatable. While polymer and mag lowers are a lot cheaper, I found weight savings is negligible. That said, if you’re just after the cheapest and lightest AR, go polymer.
It’s not compliant with Illinois new banning law either.
No apparent reason? Several members of forums back in the day posted cracked buffer tube mounts after little use. That’s why they stopped being popular. This lower, with the fixed stock, obviously prevents that.