DelTon Build Kits

[SalchaketJoe]

Good, bad, ugly, anyone have anything on them? Thinking that may be the way to go. Also, recommendations on some tools and where to get them to put together a lower on the cheap.

Also posted in Gunsmithing and Repairs

 

[Shenanigans]

If you don't mind waiting, Del-ton has gotten some good reviews. When I finally sit down and get serious about an AR build, I'm planning on going with Del-ton because they're relatively inexpensive while still being a quality product with decent customer service*. Depending on what you want from them, though, you're looking at a long wait. If you order today, you'll probably get it mid-February.


*There have been some grumbles about customer service taking forever to call you back, not answering the phone, etc. To some, that says that they could care less about their customer. To me, it says that they're working their tails off to get their products out the door and decrease their already-large wait time.

 

[SSN Vet]

dig up the "how to assemble a lower" thead over on AR15.com.... you really don't need any special tools..... vise grips and/or chanel locks with electrical tape over them will get the pins in. Pin punches are nice to have regardless.

My experience is that Del-Ton rifle kits are good to go!

I especially recommend their mid-length 16" kit. But this does leave you with only the HBAR for an option.

That's going to leave you about 1 lb. heavier than the lightweight pencil barrel would....

They put together solid kits with good components.

They're not top of the line..... but you'll get a solid and reliable AR.

 

[theotherwaldo]

I went with the Del-Ton kit. I'm happy with it. Good, solid, went together easily. Good customer service - they tossed in a buffer tube that I asked for because their mags were back-ordered.

I'd do it again.

 

[highorder]

My experience is that Del-Ton rifle kits are good to go!

I especially recommend their mid-length 16" kit. But this does leave you with only the HBAR for an option.

That's going to leave you about 1 lb. heavier than the lightweight pencil barrel would....

They put together solid kits with good components.

They're not top of the line..... but you'll get a solid and reliable AR.

agreed on all counts. My middy is a bit too heavy, but I'm considering Adco for a reprofile...

 

[Z-Michigan]

On the construction side, after building two lowers I highly recommend having the roll-pin punches. You may find the vise-grip method useful, but the punches are still good to set the pins fully in place, and if you ever want or need to remove them. Those are probably the only special tool you really need to build a lower, assuming you have ordinary stuff like vise-grips, pliers, a hammer, etc.

 

[Fumbler]

You'll need a tool to tighten the castle nut on the stock, otherwise you don't need anything special. You could use a pipe wrench to tighten the nut, but it will mar the finish. Get a set of punches, you don't need them but they're cheap.

Del-Ton is not a top shelf manufacturer, but they do make great products at their price point.

I bought one of their midlength kits and it's been great.
That only thing I don't like, which others have already said, is the midlength only comes in an HBAR. The weight of the HBAR isn't a problem. The problem is the HBAR throws the balance way to the muzzle end.
I'm considering having my friend turn the diameter down to cut the weight. From some rough calculations, if i have the barrel under the forearm turned down to the same diameter as the fron of the barrel, then I would save about 5 oz. that's not much, but I think it might be enough to fix the balance.

Anyone had experience with doing that?

Also posted in Gunsmithing and Repairs

not to pick on you, but you should only post in one section.

 

[RP88]

I had a middie kit from them before I sold it. It wasn't nearly as nice as my current AR, but it was certainly a nice and clean gun. For ~$700, you get a very, very nice gun.

 

[Heck]

I have a mid-length from them and could not be happier. The fit and finish is great. I have about 800 rounds (assorted/including Wolf Mil classic) through mine and have never had a failure of any kind. It is extremely accurate as well. I didnt need any special tools to assemble other than some punches but i used the ACE ARFX stock which uses the A2 buffer. I have made several other orders from them and have had no issues with customer service. I will use them again when I decide how I want to build out the lower that I have in my safe.

 

[dispatch55126]

I had them build me a Mid-length last summer and had multiple FTE's/stovepipes. I sent it back and the problem was the gas port was too small. The upper has run fine since I got it back. Their customer service seems good all around.

 

[freakshow10mm]

They have decent kits. It's basically a LPK, stock, and complete upper. Install the LPK, stock, then pin on the upper and go shoot.

Beware of long wait times. I'm still waiting on my 65 LPKs that I bought and paid for on November 4, 2008. Word is they are shipping orders placed in May 2009. Go figure.

 

[DougW]

Del Ton kits:





Top 2 rifles in this pic, the other 2 have Del Ton parts (the M4'gery is a repeat pic)

 

[az_imuth]

I have the Del-Ton mid-length kit on a Stag Arms lower and love it. Complete rifle for quite a bit less than $700.

 

[Floppy_D]

I like mine. Their wait times are crazy, but they haven't bumped the prices up in quite a while.

 

[Deer Hunter]

My delton middy has never malfunctioned on me. Ever. And it's only ever seen steel cased cheap ammo.

It's also very accurate.

 

[Heck]

Just an observation here on the pics of the guns here. Were the safeties all intentionally left on fire? Mine is in the safe sans magazine so I honestly can't say if it is on safe or not (shame one me) I was just wondering if there was a reason for this?

 

[Heck]

duplicate post

 

[spyder1911]

Is there a major difference between the different kits offered by Del-Ton?

It seems that the only difference between all the different 16" kits is the barrel.

Is there any reason to pick one type over the other or is it simply asthetics?

And any reason the mid-length seems to be the most popular?

I am also looking into buying a kit from them and was set on the M4 kit untill I ran across this thread. Now I have no clue which one I want.

 

[Heck]

Is there a major difference between the different kits offered by Del-Ton?

It seems that the only difference between all the different 16" kits is the barrel.

Is there any reason to pick one type over the other or is it simply asthetics?

And any reason the mid-length seems to be the most popular?

I am also looking into buying a kit from them and was set on the M4 kit untill I ran across this thread. Now I have no clue which one I want.

Here is an old thread discussing the difference/benefit of a midlength gas system over the carbine length system.

http://www.thehighroad.org/showthread.php?t=199626

 

[freakshow10mm]

Just an observation here on the pics of the guns here. Were the safeties all intentionally left on fire? Mine is in the safe sans magazine so I honestly can't say if it is on safe or not (shame one me) I was just wondering if there was a reason for this?

Most of the guns are probably unloaded. Leaving the gun on safe means the hammer is cocked. Although this doesn't wear or fatigue the spring, some people think so and leave the hammer down, which the selector must be on FIRE to do so.

 

[SSN Vet]

Were the safeties all intentionally left on fire?

Do you realize that you can not put the AR-15 selector switch to "SAFE" unless the charging handle has been cycled, placing the hammer in the cocked position?

My co-worker is a USMC Reserve Marksmanship coach, and he states that their weapons are kept on the rack in the armory with the the hammer released, the bolt forward and the selector switch in the semi-auto position.

When the weapon is issued, the armeror cycles the charging handle, verifies that the chamber is empty and hands the weapon but first to the marine with the bolt locked back (and the hammer cocked). The marine then double checks the chamber, smacks the bolt release, closes the dust cover and places the selector switch on safe.

As long as the weapon is verified empty, I don't think it matters whether the safety is on or not.

I don't put mine in the safe with the hammer in the cocked position.... hence the safety can not be on. I understand that it does not adversely affect the hammer spring to store it with the hammer cocked.... but have always made it a point to store any tool at zero potential energy. The exception, of course, being a weapon that is intentionally strored in a ready condition (i.e. carry gun in the bed side gun vault)

 

[Z-Michigan]

Just an observation here on the pics of the guns here. Were the safeties all intentionally left on fire? Mine is in the safe sans magazine so I honestly can't say if it is on safe or not (shame one me) I was just wondering if there was a reason for this?

Maybe they're all decocked. An AR can't be put on safe unless it's cocked.

 

[Heck]

Do you realize that you can not put the AR-15 selector switch to "SAFE" unless the charging handle has been cycled, placing the hammer in the cocked position?

My co-worker is a USMC Reserve Marksmanship coach, and he states that their weapons are kept on the rack in the armory with the the hammer released, the bolt forward and the selector switch in the semi-auto position.

When the weapon is issued, the armeror cycles the charging handle, verifies that the chamber is empty and hands the weapon but first to the marine with the bolt locked back (and the hammer cocked). The marine then double checks the chamber, smacks the bolt release, closes the dust cover and places the selector switch on safe.

As long as the weapon is verified empty, I don't think it matters whether the safety is on or not.

I don't put mine in the safe with the hammer in the cocked position.... hence the safety can not be on. I understand that it does not adversely affect the hammer spring to store it with the hammer cocked.... but have always made it a point to store any tool at zero potential energy. The exception, of course, being a weapon that is intentionally strored in a ready condition (i.e. carry gun in the bed side gun vault)

Yes I do realize I do realize that an AR type rifle can not be on 'Safe' if it is not cocked. I was wanting know if there was a reason for them being off, ie spring fatigue or other legitmate reason. I alway check the chamber again before I take mine inside the house and I am not a big fan of dry firing any weapon I own so mine is currently cocked. Is storing it hammer down better for the rifle?

 

[Floppy_D]

SSN Vet pegged me. We stored rifles in our armory decocked, from which the weapon cannot be put on safe. There was probably some reason behind it, but it's just what they trained me to do.

 

[COMPNOR]

Its called rack safe. Well, thats what we call it.

As for the build kits, I just ordered on myself. I was looking at higher end stuff, but went with Del-Ton instead. Don't think you can really go wrong with them.