Gun store Shooting Locations It is currently Fri Mar 29, 2024 2:34 am



Rules WGO Chat Room Gear Rent Me Shield NRA SAF CCKRBA
Calendar




Reply to topic  [ 22 posts ]  Go to page 1, 2  Next
 Beginner AR lower assembly tips 
Author Message
Site Supporter
User avatar
Site Supporter

Location: Everson, WA
Joined: Sun Jan 6, 2013
Posts: 28149
Real Name: Ace Winky
I just wanted to start a thread seeing how the popularity of stripped lowers might increase. Later today I will post links and such with alternative methods of assembly, pictures and videos. Probably best for the beginner to watch a couple videos to see how easy it is, yet a couple paths could end up with scratches and marrs at best, a ruined lower worst case.

First should be covering the lower with painters tape. Cheap. Easy.
Next but not required is holder that essentially duplicates a magazine. Then this tool goes in a vise. Use after installing mag release. Basically gives you a third hand and very safely holds your lower.
Starter roll pin punches, good set. The squirrel daddy brand are ok but not near deep enough. You will later see how handy these are for the pesky roll pins.
Set of Knipex pliers. All you need to press in roll pins, once they are started. No risk of hammer damage
An extra trigger pin or two. Really nice for alignment of the opposite side when sliding in the first trigger pin with sear in the middle, and also the pesky hammer pin under some tension.
Using a clevis pin to install the pivot pin


More to come....
..

_________________
Why does the Penguin in Batman sound like a duck?

Because the eagle sounds like a hawk.


Mon Nov 19, 2018 7:27 am
Profile
Site Supporter
User avatar
Site Supporter

Location: Everett, WA
Joined: Sat Aug 4, 2012
Posts: 2798
Real Name: Snek on de ladder
The only tool I used for assembling a lower is pliers with electrical tape on the tips. Well that and the wrench for the buffer tube.


Mon Nov 19, 2018 9:58 am
Profile
Site Supporter
User avatar
Site Supporter

Location: Everson, WA
Joined: Sun Jan 6, 2013
Posts: 28149
Real Name: Ace Winky
os2firefox wrote:
The only tool I used for assembling a lower is pliers with electrical tape on the tips. Well that and the wrench for the buffer tube.


Of this I have no doubt. Add a hammer and a punch, and my first two the same thing. Just want to make it Cadillac easy

_________________
Why does the Penguin in Batman sound like a duck?

Because the eagle sounds like a hawk.


Mon Nov 19, 2018 11:02 am
Profile
Site Supporter
User avatar
Site Supporter

Location: Duvall
Joined: Thu Mar 17, 2011
Posts: 4599
Real Name: David
I built my last with a pair of the Knipex pliers (the most expensive pliers you'll never regret buying), a set of Squirrel Daddy punches and a plastic headed mallet as well as the requisite painters tape. There's a tiny marring next to the bolt catch assembly, which was totally my fault, but you need to know where to look to see it. To be fair, I had to have the buffer tube tightened up after the fact because I don't own an AR-15 wrench. However, you could do that yourself too with a mallet & a suitably shaped piece of hard plastic or wood to drive it around the tube.

_________________
David
Unique Treen
Image


Mon Nov 19, 2018 11:34 am
Profile WWW
Site Supporter
User avatar
Site Supporter

Location: Everett
Joined: Mon Apr 22, 2013
Posts: 3421
Real Name: Ron
If you're really nervous about it, Aero makes the enhanced M4E1 lowers with threaded bolt catch/release pins. Just takes a small allen wrench. No fuss no muss.

If you go with a billet lower or one of the Aero M4E1 enhanced lowers you will also save yourself the trouble of installing one of the unsightly milspec trigger guards that come in most lower parts kits.

I know we're talking about lower receivers right now but one product I've really come to like for installing on stripped upper receivers are the Strike Industries enhanced dust covers. They look cool and you don't have to fuss with driving the hinge pin all through it. The SI dust covers install kind of like a toilet paper roll holder. you just compress the pins on each end and let them pop into the intended holes on the upper receiver. They're a pretty slick set up.


Mon Nov 19, 2018 9:18 pm
Profile
User avatar

Location: Ohio
Joined: Fri Nov 9, 2012
Posts: 3924
Real Name: Sean
1/4" diameter clevis pin and small pin punch. Use the clevis pin to aid in installing the front pivot/takedown pin, spring, and detent.

https://youtu.be/Nn9NWHQsPjc

_________________
United States Army, Retired. 2001 - 2023


Tue Nov 20, 2018 12:24 am
Profile
Site Supporter
User avatar
Site Supporter

Location: Everson, WA
Joined: Sun Jan 6, 2013
Posts: 28149
Real Name: Ace Winky
old11bravo wrote:
If you're really nervous about it, Aero makes the enhanced M4E1 lowers with threaded bolt catch/release pins. Just takes a small allen wrench. No fuss no muss.

If you go with a billet lower or one of the Aero M4E1 enhanced lowers you will also save yourself the trouble of installing one of the unsightly milspec trigger guards that come in most lower parts kits.

I know we're talking about lower receivers right now but one product I've really come to like for installing on stripped upper receivers are the Strike Industries enhanced dust covers. They look cool and you don't have to fuss with driving the hinge pin all through it. The SI dust covers install kind of like a toilet paper roll holder. you just compress the pins on each end and let them pop into the intended holes on the upper receiver. They're a pretty slick set up.


Cool!

One of the two lowers I won in the 1639 raffle (hey I donated $500) - has the small socket head screw.......funny when I first opened the box and glanced at it, I thought some clown drove the pin in prematurely. :rofl9: :ROFLMAO: icon_eek

I have that dust cover on my 10mm upper.

_________________
Why does the Penguin in Batman sound like a duck?

Because the eagle sounds like a hawk.


Tue Nov 20, 2018 3:44 am
Profile
Site Supporter
User avatar
Site Supporter

Location: Everson, WA
Joined: Sun Jan 6, 2013
Posts: 28149
Real Name: Ace Winky
waglocker wrote:
1/4" diameter clevis pin and small pin punch. Use the clevis pin to aid in installing the front pivot/takedown pin, spring, and detent.

https://youtu.be/Nn9NWHQsPjc


That's the only way I know. Never tried the razor blade method, both have to be better than some finger foolery.

_________________
Why does the Penguin in Batman sound like a duck?

Because the eagle sounds like a hawk.


Tue Nov 20, 2018 3:46 am
Profile
Site Supporter
User avatar
Site Supporter

Location: Everson, WA
Joined: Sun Jan 6, 2013
Posts: 28149
Real Name: Ace Winky
Here are a couple three video, some stuff in loony - some over the top

Taped pliers, works, but:



Using a punch to guide, basically the same as using and extra pin:



Really curious what Larry is going to tap:


_________________
Why does the Penguin in Batman sound like a duck?

Because the eagle sounds like a hawk.


Tue Nov 20, 2018 3:50 am
Profile
Site Supporter
User avatar
Site Supporter

Location: Everson, WA
Joined: Sun Jan 6, 2013
Posts: 28149
Real Name: Ace Winky
Decent pictures:

http://www.thenewrifleman.com/how-to-bu ... -receiver/

_________________
Why does the Penguin in Batman sound like a duck?

Because the eagle sounds like a hawk.


Tue Nov 20, 2018 3:51 am
Profile
Site Supporter
User avatar
Site Supporter

Location: Kent
Joined: Wed Mar 13, 2013
Posts: 1653
Real Name: Andy
Bolt catch installation For those of you with access to a drill press.
Clamp your receiver into a vice. And press the pin into the receiver.
Do not turn on the spindle/drill ! Your only using the machine as a press.
.Image
.Image
.Image


Tue Nov 20, 2018 6:57 am
Profile
Site Supporter
User avatar
Site Supporter

Location: Everson, WA
Joined: Sun Jan 6, 2013
Posts: 28149
Real Name: Ace Winky
Interesting! Beats rigging a chuck to my 20 ton press!

Hope someone is getting value out of this info. I don't put grease on those springs and I don't tap the grip screw hole!

_________________
Why does the Penguin in Batman sound like a duck?

Because the eagle sounds like a hawk.


Tue Nov 20, 2018 11:38 am
Profile
Site Moderator
User avatar
Site Moderator

Location: Duvall
Joined: Tue Sep 13, 2011
Posts: 8657
Real Name: Jaime
delliottg wrote:
I built my last with a pair of the Knipex pliers (the most expensive pliers you'll never regret buying), a set of Squirrel Daddy punches and a plastic headed mallet as well as the requisite painters tape. There's a tiny marring next to the bolt catch assembly, which was totally my fault, but you need to know where to look to see it. To be fair, I had to have the buffer tube tightened up after the fact because I don't own an AR-15 wrench. However, you could do that yourself too with a mallet & a suitably shaped piece of hard plastic or wood to drive it around the tube.

Truth right there. I've seen shops do it with a vice but you have better control with the pliers IMHO.

_________________
Consider donating to:
WAGUNS
Second Amendment Foundation
Citizens Committee for the Right to Keep and Bear Arms
Join the NRA
Firearms Policy Coalition


Tue Nov 20, 2018 12:01 pm
Profile WWW
Site Supporter
User avatar
Site Supporter

Location: In my Cave near the Cloquallum
Joined: Thu Sep 26, 2013
Posts: 7758
Real Name: Jim Sr.
os2firefox wrote:
The only tool I used for assembling a lower is pliers with electrical tape on the tips. Well that and the wrench for the buffer tube.


Before you start tapping in that bolt catch retaining pin put some electrical tape on the side of the lower where you're hammering to protect the Finish. :wink05:

_________________
"You are either with us...as Americans. Or, You are against us. There is no IN BETWEEN." ???

"We cannot negotiate with those who say, 'What's mine is mine, and what's yours is negotiable.'" JFK

"Those who would give up essential Liberty, to purchase a little temporary Safety, deserve neither Liberty nor Safety”

-Ben Franklin

MadPick wrote:
I don't think you beat your children enough. :ROFLMAO:


Tue Nov 20, 2018 1:13 pm
Profile
Site Supporter
User avatar
Site Supporter

Location: Everett, WA
Joined: Sat Aug 4, 2012
Posts: 2798
Real Name: Snek on de ladder
Caveman Jim wrote:
os2firefox wrote:
The only tool I used for assembling a lower is pliers with electrical tape on the tips. Well that and the wrench for the buffer tube.


Before you start tapping in that bolt catch retaining pin put some electrical tape on the side of the lower where you're hammering to protect the Finish. :wink05:


I tap the pin gently with the taped up tips on the pliers to get it started then just squeeze them in.


Tue Nov 20, 2018 2:11 pm
Profile
Display posts from previous:  Sort by  
Reply to topic   [ 22 posts ]  Go to page 1, 2  Next

Who is online

Users browsing this forum: No registered users and 27 guests


You cannot post new topics in this forum
You cannot reply to topics in this forum
You cannot edit your posts in this forum
You cannot delete your posts in this forum
You cannot post attachments in this forum

cron

Rules WGO Chat Room Gear Rent Me NRA SAF CCKRBA
Calendar


Powered by phpBB® Forum Software © phpBB Group
Designed by ST Software for PTF.
[ Time : 0.923s | 18 Queries | GZIP : Off ]