[BUGUDY]

saving up to build an ar. I have been reading alot and trying to figure out what I want to end up with. Im wondering if I should buy ant special tools first. I have all the normal hand tools. It looks like there are some that I will definetly need. I will start with a stripped lower first thanks

[Kruzr]

Everything you need and how-to can be found here:

http://www.ar15.com/forums/topic.html?b=3&f=4&t=226782

[rino451]

http://www.cheaperthandirt.com/ARR078-3345-2701.html - good price too. Olympic sharged me $39+ for mine.
Upper vice block.
Roll pin punch set

[Mojo-jo-jo]

How "far" are you going to build? Are you going to put together a stripped lower and mate it to a complete upper? Or are you going to build the upper from parts too?

If you are only putting the trigger parts, etc., in a stripped lower and mating it to a complete upper, you really only need some roll pin punches and general hand tools. You won't need a barrel wrench or an upper vice block. Additionally, you only need a buffer tube spanner wrench if you are using a collapsible stock.

If you are building the upper from scratch too, you will need the barrel/combination wrench and the upper vice block, as well as a good, solid bench vice. Do consider that you won't save any money building the upper from parts unless you plan on building several rifles. The tools required will eat up all the savings on parts and then some.

Otherwise, building can save you some bucks. I recently built a Del-Ton A4 complete kit on a Stag lower for about $700 total, including a carry handle/rear sight, buffer tube wrench, front sight tool and a magazine. I could have shaved off a few more bucks if I went a little more 'basic.' The build (my first, btw) took me about two hours, including a trip to the store for a correct size punch. It's easy.

For maximum savings, buy a complete rifle "kit," as the kits are heavily discounted. If you buy the lower parts separate from the upper, you are going to take a minimum of a $50 hit.

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Here's an excerpt from an old post regarding this:

You need:

1. Stripped lower receiver. This is the only part you have to get transferred through an FFL.
2. Completed upper receiver. Includes upper receiver casting and installed barrel, gas block, handguard, etc.
3. Bolt, bolt carrier, and charging handle. These are sold with SOME complete uppers. Make sure your upper comes with this, as a bolt and bolt carrier will cost about $100 if you buy them separately from the upper.
4. If you get a flat-top receiver, you will need a scope or rear sight of some kind.
5. Lower parts kit. This includes the fire control system, bolt catch, magazine catch, grip, takedown pins and some roll pins and springs.
6. Buffer tube assembly (including buffer and spring) and stock, whether it be fixed or adjustable.
7. Tools. At the very least you will need a 1/8 pin punch, a hammer, a pair of long nose pliers and a flat head screwdriver. Additionally, you really need a set of roll pin punches if you want to put in the pins without marring the finish on your lower receiver. They are not expensive.
8. If you choose an adjustable stock, you will need a buffer tube nut wrench (~$4).
9. At least one magazine.

Many suppliers sell a "Rifle kit" which includes everything you need except the stripped lower, magazine and tools. This will give you the best price--they put a pretty heavy discount on the kit. It took me about 2 hours to put mine together, and that included a trip to the store to get some roll pin punches. Tip: Work inside a plastic bag when installing the takedown pins. It keeps tiny springs and detents from flying across the room.

Suppliers:
There are many, this is a very short list. Look around for many more.

Del-Ton www.del-ton.com
M & A Parts www.m-aparts.com
Bravo Company USA www.bravocompanyusa.com
J & T Distributing www.jtdistributing.com
Coleman Tyler www.colemantyler.com

I chose Del-Ton for mine, mainly due to price. I was very pleased.

Assembly help and more info here:
http://www.ar15.com/content/guides/assembly/lower/
http://ar15.com/forums/topic.html?b=3&f=4&t=226782

Happy building!

[IronSightRot671]

Some sort of safety glasses/shades will be nice to have as well.

[3pairs12]

I just built a lower and one thing I wish I had was a detent tool,I think that is what is called, for the pivot pin detent. I ended up shooting the detent into the air and down into the great unknown of the garage floor. It is only a $.75 part but with no spare it will ruin your day.

[Mot45acp]

I just built a lower and one thing I wish I had was a detent tool,I think that is what is called, for the pivot pin detent. I ended up shooting the detent into the air and down into the great unknown of the garage floor. It is only a $.75 part but with no spare it will ruin your day.


I just use my drivers license to hold the detent in.

[DnPRK]

I just built a lower and one thing I wish I had was a detent tool,I think that is what is called, for the pivot pin detent. I ended up shooting the detent into the air and down into the great unknown of the garage floor. It is only a $.75 part but with no spare it will ruin your day.
The secret is to install the pivot pin detent while the receiver is inside a large clear plastic bag. If you launch the detent, it will be trapped inside the plastic bag.

[ARGarrison]

DnPRK wrote
"The secret is to install the pivot pin detent while the receiver is inside a large clear plastic bag. If you launch the detent, it will be trapped inside the plastic bag. "

Brillant!

[flynlr]

I keep spare detent springs and pins behind my couch .
dont ask how they got there.
for the op.. another valuable item is a roll pin starter punch set.
http://www.midwayusa.com/eproductpage.exe/showproduct?saleitemid=694883&t=11082005