AR15 Tool Kits?

[GunsRCool]

I am about to buy my first AR as a parts kit to save a little money but I am very concerned about having to spends 1/2 the price of the DPMS or CMMG AR parts kits for tools and if I had that kind of money I would buy a completed Gun.

I am looking for a recommendation for a good starter tool kit or list of tools just to get the kit build and safely operating than over time and as $$$ become available, I would buy AR parts to upgrade the gun and the tools needed to maintain it.

Your recommendation are needed.

I would also take feedback on DPMS vs CMMG as full A-15 parts kits.

Thanks,

GunsRCool

 

[Tirod]

You only need a pair of vice grips or pliers to push in the roll pins on a lower. Uppers are presently selling assembled for the cost of the parts. That's because they get to buy in volume, assemble, and still make a profit.

If for cash flow reasons, or what kind of parts you want to buy, assembling an upper is more about getting the receiver squared and turning the barrel nut enough to line it up for the gas tube. Attaching a FSB with taper pins will require drilling the holes while in place on the barrel. It's a precision job, it has to stay lined up over the gas port and remain vertical. Nobody likes a tilted front sight, or a gun that seems to be undergassed.

You can rent a torque wrench from an auto parts supply house, the barrel wrench isn't very expensive. A wood block screwed to something solid can hold the upper. Keeping the sight vertical while tightening is important.

It boils down to the armorer's tool kit being for a relatively inexperienced user to service 300 rifles in a limited way. For a first build, searching archives and stickies on building the AR on arfcom or m4com would be informative. Lots of tips and tricks on how to do it without all the expense. It's not really needed.

Balance the costs of the parts unassembled - with shipping - compared to a finished upper. It's actually hard to save money right now, prices are that good.

 

[Onmilo]

Tirod is right that if you aren't planning to do several builds buying the correct tools will end up costing you more than the savings you would realize doing just one build.

On the upside you can build your own EXACTLY the way you want it.
This is a picture I took several years back of my basic tool kit.

I have since added some more dedicated tools and heavy duty wrenches.
What you are looking at here will set you back about $400 and will allow you to build a complete rifle without putting one tiny hairline scratch on any part of it.

 

[Birddog1911]

They've covered your tools, let's talk about your choices.

DPMS-Had some issues, but not too bad.
CMMG-Used to be great, but there has been a lot of issues with quality control as of late.

Bravo Company and Daniel Defense are two of the best in the business, and have great prices. Right now you can get a DD upper through Smartgunner for probably less than that CMMG; and you'll know that you have one of the best out there.

 

[chagasrod]

Where to get the real good tools?

 

[TonyAngel]

Not to be a kill joy, but do yourself a favor and just buy your first AR. Take a look at Spike's Tactical. For around $750 you can have a nice rifle without the headache.

Not looking to knock anyone here, but just because something can be done with a pair of vice grips, pipe wrench and a roll of electrical tape; it doesn't mean that it's the best way to do it.

Tools aside, you should have a comfortable work area, a good solid bench and a good sized vice to work with. I'll tell you from experience that putting an AR together is easy in theory, but in practice there are things that can go wrong. What would really suck would be to buy all of the tools and then wind up having to take the rifle to a smith to make everything work right.

I mean, what are you going to do when you go to torque the barrel on and find that tightening the barrel nut to spec puts you just short of lining up the notch in the nut with the provision for the gas tube, but backing off puts you way under the torque spec? I've seen lots of guys just over torque the nut to get eveything lined up, but wind up with a rifle that acts freaky when it gets hot. Or, what will you do when you get everything together and find that your front sight is canted?

Like I said, I'm not trying to be a kill joy, but things can come up that will really suck the enjoyment out of it. I've been building ARs for a few years now and starting out had its pains and some of them were costly. Quite frankly, now that I look back, I can't say that I really saved much money, although I do get a kick out of shooting a rifle that I put together from scratch.

 

[Onmilo]

Forget saving money building an M16 type rifle, especially if you are doing one or two for yourself.
What building a rifle does allow is the opportunity to build the rifle EXACTLY to the specifications you wish to utilize..

I bought my tools from Brownells and a local professional tool supply store.

I agree that your first purchases should be a stout workbench and a decent vice.
Your next purchases should be a couple books on building M16 type rifles.
Go from there.

 

[Sky]

Agree with the above. Buy a complete upper in the flavor you want and a complete lower or parts and lower. Think you save some just by splitting the order. Tonyangel is 100% on barrel nut and torque.

Have seen it done with Tirods method with good results also; just depends on who is doing the job.

 

[HOLY DIVER]

i agree buy a complete upper (BCM,SPIKES,ECT.) go get a stripped lower parts kit

 

[TonyAngel]

Ya know, Holy Diver made a good suggestion and would apply to your, IF you have certain basic skills with hand tools. Not to be presumptuous, but the title of your post kind of leads me to believe that you really have no tools and would imply that you have limited experience using hand tools.

A Spike's upper would be a good place to start. If you are intertested in one, I'd suggest that you check out Aim Surplus. They often have Spike's uppers in stock, at a good price, and you can get it NOW, without the six week wait. You should also check out Bravo Company. I really like their basic 16" middie. Get a set of Magpul handguards and you are set.

Although I really don't condone the "vice grip" method of assembling a lower, it does work if you take your time and are careful.

I'd also suggest that you try to avoid buying parts that you know that you will be replacing. I think it's foolish to buy a lower parts kit (which includes you paying for the fire control group) only to turn right around and replace some of the parts in the LPK. I usually order my LPKs from PKfirearms.com They'll put together a LPK for you using any of the trigger kits that they have. Yes, you pay more now, but save in the end.