StationOps
Member
- Joined
- Sep 13, 2018
- Messages
- 75
I had a chance to build out my AR lower on the 4th of July. The process went ok, although I certainly wasn’t as smooth at the steps as the people on youtube. If a step didn’t make sense, youtube has, ahem, several videos so another version could be seen.
The lower was an Andersen and the kit was this PSA-always-on-sale-for-$399.
Tools used (in rough order of importance)
One video said to tighten the castle nut to 40 ft-lbs with a torque wrench, but I just didn’t. That same video also said to peen the whatchamacallit ring (“buttstock collar tube lock”) into the castle nut (“receiver extension nut”), but I couldn’t figure out how to get the buffer tube off at some later time if I did that. Another video didn’t mention that step, so I figured it’s fine. I had one detent and detent spring left over. Pretty sure Palmetto sent extra in case one flew across the room and was lost.
Shows most of the tools:
The AR and my Howa:
The lower was an Andersen and the kit was this PSA-always-on-sale-for-$399.
Tools used (in rough order of importance)
- Harbor freight Table swivel vise. Used with a wood plank and some weights to keep the plank from moving.
- Lower receiver vise block
- Harbor freight Punches.
- Detent tool. Only used for one step, the front pivot pin, but not sure how it would have gone without it.
- Task light. My living room is somewhat dark, so having a hands free light I could focus on the receiver helped a lot.
- Allan wrenches
- Hammer
- Rubber mallet
- Hex head wrench doohickey for the pistol grip.
- Hemostats. Very useful for putting the screw into the pistol grip. Needle nose pliers would also work.
- AR 15 armorer’s tool for the castle nut.
- Ballistol for lube.
- Box cutters. For the rear pivot pin, and used to trim up the front MBUS sight. That thing was very stiff.
- Towels. Laid on the kitchen table so parts couldn’t roll away.
- Roku TV that showed the youtube videos in glorious HD.
One video said to tighten the castle nut to 40 ft-lbs with a torque wrench, but I just didn’t. That same video also said to peen the whatchamacallit ring (“buttstock collar tube lock”) into the castle nut (“receiver extension nut”), but I couldn’t figure out how to get the buffer tube off at some later time if I did that. Another video didn’t mention that step, so I figured it’s fine. I had one detent and detent spring left over. Pretty sure Palmetto sent extra in case one flew across the room and was lost.
Shows most of the tools:
The AR and my Howa: