Tools for AR Build/Armorer Kit

Catskillkid

Catskillkid

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So I'm preparing to build my first AR (with a Bullet Guy lower btw) and was curious about folk's opinions on what tools you absolutely need as well as ones that you would recommend. Also interested if it's worth dropping the coin for an armorer's kit of some kind that includes all or most of those tools. Any recommendations?
 
vanderblack

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Punch set, hammer, couple variety of pliers. Castle nut wrench. If I remember correctly, that is about all I needed.
 
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wdeister08

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Catskillkid said:
So I'm preparing to build my first AR (with a Bullet Guy lower btw) and was curious about folk's opinions on what tools you absolutely need as well as ones that you would recommend. Also interested if it's worth dropping the coin for an armorer's kit of some kind that includes all or most of those tools. Any recommendations?
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How much of the build is going to be you? If you buy a barreled upper you dont need a vise. Putting together a lower without a vise block is more than doable.

Magpul AR Amorer's wrench
Nylon/brass hammer
Set of gunsmithing punches
(Those 2 items Wheeler sells as a single kit I think I bought mine at LGS price and it was under 60. Online prob cheaper.)
Clevis pin for your front take down pin.

I had a complete upper and built the lower myself and those are all the tools I needed. If you're building everything from scratch an upper vice block, torque wrench in I believe ft lbs for tightening down the barrel (if it's in/lbs someone will correct me). I think they make tools for helping install your gas tubes, someone here can point you there.
Extra takedown detent pins and springs. I lost 2 3 and recovered 2. Learned the hardway a Clevis pin wouldve saved me oodles of trouble and time.

By far the biggest PITA is the front takedown assembly. Everything else is pretty simple. Even the rear assembly is okay.

Iraqveteran8888 has a pretty solid youtube video that does a good overview. Got me 95% of the way on my lower build.
 
shootemup

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Bullet Guy said:
Some kind of a vise block or action rod.
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If using the ''clam shell'' style, does dust cover need to be removed ? Magpul makes a block as well, any one know/have any experience w/ that. I've been thinking about getting into a full build too.
 
Calculon

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You actually need very little beyond basic tools. I'll confirm a good set of punches and nylon hammer and vise block. Clevis pin or front pivot pin tool will make you a happy boy as it's fiddly and easy to lose parts as they launch and seek your eyes.

There's a good thread on tools and building the lower started by swilliams who also used a BulletGuy lower.

YouTube is full of great videos to watch including ITS Tactical and Brownells who both breakdown the videos into distinct assembly steps. Brownells also has a printable PDF for each step with the videos.

It's not a difficult process so take your time and enjoy the build.
 
dwa12479

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A lower vice block is a big help, and are cheap. $20 on Amazon. They can also be used later on to mount your completed rifle for other work.

Get GOOD roll pin punches, don't cheap out on those.
 
Target

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shootemup said:
If using the ''clam shell'' style, does dust cover need to be removed ? Magpul makes a block as well, any one know/have any experience w/ that. I've been thinking about getting into a full build too.
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No , just close the dust cover.
I used a Wheeler clamshell on Friday to remove the barrel nut for a free float handguard install.
The kit came with the action insert that helps with the gas tube alignment. $25 at my local box store ( Runnings) ,

Definately get some good punches. The gas block pins were stubborn and I broke a punch during removal.
 
shootemup

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PbTarget said:
No , just close the dust cover.
I used a Wheeler clamshell on Friday to remove the barrel nut for a free float handguard install.
The kit came with the action insert that helps with the gas tube alignment. $25 at my local box store ( Runnings) ,

Definately get some good punches. The gas block pins were stubborn and I broke a punch during removal.
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PB, thanks for the heads up. I thought I had read someplace that the dustcover door had to come off. After watching a video of doing that, I was like....no friggin way, THAT looked like a PITA getting those little ''c'' clips off and on. I think I saw the Wheeler clamshell for sale at the Field and Stream store last time I was in. Have you noticed if it leaves any marks on the receiver.............I don't baby my stuff, but it has to EARN it's scars !!!:smirk:
 
Cleck

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Doesn't look to be too bad. Hard to put a value on those tools, but everything appears to be there.

If you don't get the kit, don't forget long hex/allen keys. I needed one for my pistol grip. I forget what size. I can check when I get home if needed. I had a specific kind that was on a socket from my mechanic days, but your typical L shape one should be long enough to get up in the handle.
 
C3D

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There's punches, and there's punches. A quality set is money well spent. Splurge for the Starrett or at least the Grace USA set that Amazon sells.
 
Eddie Gunks

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Cleck said:
If you don't get the kit, don't forget long hex/allen keys. I needed one for my pistol grip. I forget what size. .
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3/16

Mil spec requirements to say it is a slotted screwdriver bit screw. They use this because you can always find a slotted screwdriver and you can never find a hex with a long enough handle. Consider this during your bill. None of my personal weapons use hex pistol grip bolt.
 
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Dantheman

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I bought a punch set (which comes with a hammer), a roll pin starter set, an armorer's wrench, a take down pin detent tool (for front take down pin) and an armorer's bench block.

Dan
 
Catskillkid

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Ok, bought the roll pin punches (Grace USA if you were curious) an splurged a little on a Wheeler's Armorers Professional kit Wheeler Engineering Delta Series AR-15 Armorer's Professional Kit. Haven't used all the tools in it yet but so far I like and seems fairly comprehensive. If (I probably should say when) I go to do this again I'll pick up the front pivot tool pin. Would've come in handy this afternoon.
IMG_0716.JPG IMG_0717.JPG

Attached some pics below of the kit (at least the tools I was using at the time) and the progress I've made so far on the build (not quite done with the lower receiver as you'll see).
 
BLAMMO!!

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My basic tools list:
A lot of guys use slip-joint (e.g., Channel Lock) pliers or a C-clamp to press in roll pins. I've never tried it but it might work if you don't have a set of punches.
 
Catskillkid

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So I had kind of a shitty weekend. Long story short the girl I was dating for the last several months decided she wanted to go all crazy and give me grief about trivial inconsequential bullshit and completely manufacture a crisis in our relationship. Long story short apparently I'm "emotionally distant" and "can't handle a frank conversation about important matters" (apparently my feelings on garbage disposal units and the appearance of celebrities are "important life matters"...I shit you guys not!). For those of you who don't know me, my tolerance for trivial, inconsequential bullshit is very low and even lower for manufactured crises. In short, I don't do crazy very well and I told her as much. She didn't take kindly to that and went even more crazy so I told her to take a hike. So I'm single again which is a bit of a bummer since I was getting used to having my knob polished on the regular.

The good news, however, is that now that I no longer have to deal with crazy bitches I had plenty of time to work on my Bullet Guy lower! The completed lower portion is in the photos below. Big thanks to everyone who recommended tools and techniques. Onward to the upper!

IMG_0730.JPG IMG_0731.JPG
 
dubleuhb

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Well good job on the build but the question that is begging for an answer, did you get your steak and BJ before the crisis?
 
Catskillkid

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dubleuhb said:
Well good job on the build but the question that is begging for an answer, did you get your steak and BJ before the crisis?
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BJ yes. Steak no. Looking back I probably would've preferred the steak.

Funny thing is literally a few hours before she hops that train to crazy town we're making plans to celebrate a belated National Steak and BJ day. Seriously, man. Bitches be crazy.
 
shootemup

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Catskillkid said:
BJ yes. Steak no. Looking back I probably would've preferred the steak.

Funny thing is literally a few hours before she hops that train to crazy town we're making plans to celebrate a belated National Steak and BJ day. Seriously, man. Bitches be crazy.
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Maybe she suffered a little ''blunt force trauma'' during the bj and it scrambled her brains a bit ? Porn hub is your friend ....Britney Amber edging :cool:

Don't forget the Patrick Henry trigger guard...........Bulletguy has 'em on sale (I think) really works well w/ the nub.
 
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