What a Polymer80 pistol build really costs, line by line

The frame kit is the price most people quote and it is about half the story. Here is the real total for a PF940C compact build, using the categories on this site.

Frame kit

Frame, rails, jig, bits, end mill. This is the largest single line and the only one where the tools are included.

Lower parts kit

Typically the second-largest line. Budget kits work; the parts that matter for reliability are the trigger bar and the locking block.

Slide assembly

The range is wide. A complete slide with barrel and sights costs more than the frame; a stripped slide plus separate barrel and internals costs less but adds an hour of assembly.

Magazine and small tools

One magazine, a file and cutting oil. Small money.

Where the packs help

On rifles. A G150 5-pack with one jig brings the per-lower cost down sharply, which is why the pack table is on the front page. Pistol frames are not sold in packs.

Where not to save

Do not buy a Gen 4 or Gen 5 slide because it is cheaper; it will not fit. Do not skip the locking block pin kit; losing one pin stops the build.