First AR Build, No Roadmap
- Thread starter CaddmannQ
- Start date
Not at all. 20 inch rifle length gas, with a fixed stock, rifle buffer, tube and spring. Maybe...... an adjustable gas block. Its a nice mild shooting round. With my family expansion over the last year, ive not got to really buckle down and spend time with mine, to do proper load develpment, and learn the characteristics. Im using a popular load, thats proven to be accurate by other shooters using the same barrel I went with. Oli700 an i discussed it more in depth in some previous threads.
It feels nothing, but it can still suffer damage.
BTW, I need to buy an armorer's wrench or an armorer's kit for the AR build, and I'm not sure what to get yet because I'm not sure exactly which AR I'm going to build. Maybe there's a good master kit?
Also I've got no clue as to which are the best brands and which are a rip off.
BTW, I need to buy an armorer's wrench or an armorer's kit for the AR build, and I'm not sure what to get yet because I'm not sure exactly which AR I'm going to build. Maybe there's a good master kit?
Also I've got no clue as to which are the best brands and which are a rip off.
Magpul offers a real good armorers wrench, and their BEV block is sweet. Add a set of roll pin punches, and a bench block. You should be golden. The rest is common hand tools.
best brand what?
Armorers tools?
Most any will do.
You'll need an armorers wrench, armorers upper receiver block, punches, hammer, vise at minimum.
This will probably do:
http://www.ebay.com/itm/Gun-Smithin...-Wrench-Armorers-Tool-Combo-Kit-/322410142051
Armorers tools?
Most any will do.
You'll need an armorers wrench, armorers upper receiver block, punches, hammer, vise at minimum.
This will probably do:
http://www.ebay.com/itm/Gun-Smithin...-Wrench-Armorers-Tool-Combo-Kit-/322410142051
This, with the addition of a torque wrench for adjusting barrel nut torque and a pair of needle nose pliers for aligning roll pins, is all I use to assemble my uppers and lowers. The large tool in the middle is specific to one of the YHM handguards I used for my 300 Blackout. The knife is used to hold detentes in place for the take down pins.
I HIGHLY recomend the Magpul BEV block. It locks into the barrel extension when installing the barrel nut, taking the torque load off of the upper receiver. My first vice block, and upper receiver/ barrel clamp blocks were home made, I chewed them out of 1" thick Tyvar with a circular saw, and a dremel. Im a mechanic by trade, so i didnt really need an armors wrench, i already had pin, and hook, type spanners. That worked well for my first build. After that i just got an armorers wrench so i wouldnt have to remember to bring work tools home. It wasnt until the third build that i splurged for roll pin starter punches. Theyre a convenience, but not a necessity. , A scribe, or straight pick can be handy. A set of t-handle allen wrenches is nice but a multi bit ratcheting screwdriver set works also. The float tubes I used came with a proprietary barrel nut, and barrel nut wrench. so that was one tool I didnt have to source. My bench block is a Wheeler i believe, its handy to hold components flat, and steady when installing pins.
Squirreldaddy makes great roll pin starter punches. I have a set. Great $9 spent.
http://www.squirreldaddy.com/2-3-4-Hollow-End-Starter-punch-p/sd20-206.htm
And most freefloat forend barrel nuts are proprietary, but the hole spacing should be pretty close so most any armorer wrench will work with them. And if not, they usually include a wrench with the handguard purchase.
http://www.squirreldaddy.com/2-3-4-Hollow-End-Starter-punch-p/sd20-206.htm
And most freefloat forend barrel nuts are proprietary, but the hole spacing should be pretty close so most any armorer wrench will work with them. And if not, they usually include a wrench with the handguard purchase.
I have a set of assorted brass, steel and plastic punches, and the appropriate Mini-mallet for whacking them. Wheeler brand as I recall.
I have no shortage of ordinary hand tools. Just nothing specific to the AR.
I'm pretty sure I don't have an appropriate hook spanner in that size. I haven't taken my AR apart far enough to know what you need for the barrel wrench & clamp, or to remove the trigger group parts
I have no shortage of ordinary hand tools. Just nothing specific to the AR.
I'm pretty sure I don't have an appropriate hook spanner in that size. I haven't taken my AR apart far enough to know what you need for the barrel wrench & clamp, or to remove the trigger group parts
The barrel doesn't need a wrench. It slides in the upper receiver and aligns via the groove on the upper. The armorer tool tightens the barrel nut over the barrel and onto the receiver, and that's holds your barrel in place. And is why you need an upper receiver block and vise like I linked earlier. But that's only if you're building an upper or swapping handguards.
That is a good deal, just orderred a set.
I so forgot to add to my tool list a hex wrenched for attaching grips, gas blocks, etc. As well as a center punch and drill bet for making gas block detents on the underside of the barrel.
I Iike the Magpul block tool. I will have to add that to my list of items to buy.
OK, Barrel nut wrench then. None of those wrenches have a good description of what bits they fit.
I'll dope it out as I go along.
I may be putting the AR build off a while. I made some promises that I need to deliver on soon.
I'm going to pay off the mortgage and surprise my wife on her birthday.
This tool helps with the front detent pin.
I had made one from a 1/4 wooden dowel that works just as well. Used a dremel and a small drill bit (Don't recall the size, but it's barely bigger than the detent)
http://www.eaglearmory.com/index.php?main_page=product_info&products_id=276
I had made one from a 1/4 wooden dowel that works just as well. Used a dremel and a small drill bit (Don't recall the size, but it's barely bigger than the detent)
http://www.eaglearmory.com/index.php?main_page=product_info&products_id=276
I don't need/use a barrel vise.
AR barrels slide into the receiver
The barrel nut or delta ring (whichever you are using) tightens against the barrel extension and threads onto the receiver. This is what holds the barrel in position.
In order to hold the receiver to tighten the barrel nut, I use one of these inside a little 4 inch jaw vise.
http://www.brownells.com/gunsmith-t...16-upper-receiver-action-block-prod22385.aspx
PS, you can find the upper receiver armorer block less expensive, like in my earlier link. That was just the first of the google search so you can see somewhat how it works.
AR barrels slide into the receiver
The barrel nut or delta ring (whichever you are using) tightens against the barrel extension and threads onto the receiver. This is what holds the barrel in position.
In order to hold the receiver to tighten the barrel nut, I use one of these inside a little 4 inch jaw vise.
http://www.brownells.com/gunsmith-t...16-upper-receiver-action-block-prod22385.aspx
PS, you can find the upper receiver armorer block less expensive, like in my earlier link. That was just the first of the google search so you can see somewhat how it works.