How to
The latest Shooting Illustrated had instructions on how to build an AR15. I was a bit surprised by that since those sorts of projects don’t usually make the gun rags. I haven’t found an online version yet. I will note that my preference is to use vice grips that have the lips covered in tape to drive the pins instead of hammers and punches. Fewer scratches that way.
May 4th, 2010 at 9:23 am
Everything you ever needed to know about building an AR-15 is available at the following link: AR15.com
May 4th, 2010 at 9:24 am
Pretty much where I learned to build them. And where I learned the vice grip trick.
May 4th, 2010 at 9:53 am
I’ve tried using Vice Grips, but I ended up resorting to a hammer and punch to get one very stubborn pin.
May 4th, 2010 at 2:31 pm
Vice grips mean less chance of a broken “ear” on your lower as well.
May 4th, 2010 at 4:02 pm
I used a pair of needlenosed pliars, a screwdriver, a buttstock wrench, a couple of punches as slave pins (and well, punches), and a hammer to assemble my lower while sitting on my couch.
No tape, no special tooling (aside from the buttstock wrench, and the Allen key required for my Magpul trigger guard), no roll pin punches, and yet, no scratches. I am not some magical mechanical guy.
I just took my time and didn’t try to race through it. So I took 20 minutes (most of that rereading the directions I printed off AR15.com, making sure I was not mixing up similar pins and screws. . . although looking for the buffer retention spring and pin took some time after I launched it into space), rather than 5, so what?
Next. . . the upper assembly — but I need to send the barrel out for fluting and getting the FSH properly pinned. (Why buy an expensive fixture I’ll only use a handful of times, when the guys selling the folding front sight I want will install it free, if I send them the barrel?)
May 4th, 2010 at 4:29 pm
I use a mallet, myself, at least for starting them. A light wooden or plastic one. (Yes, a roll pin might chew it up a little. So? It’s cheap.)
Punch, maybe, for final seating.
(I also took the excellent advice, I think from AR15.com, of using a 4-40 tap on the takedown detent hole, and cutting the spring a few coils, to seal it in with a set screw. That way it NEVER FALLS OUT.)
May 4th, 2010 at 6:26 pm
My first couple (yes it’s an addiction) I did with punches and hammers. I now use a pair of channel-locks with the jaws wrapped in tape for most of the pins. The big exception is the bolt-catch and I bought a special punch for that from Brownell’s. I’ve also found the USGI armorer’s wrench to be a lot more consistent than the combination tools on the barrel nut.