Assembled my First AR Tonight

[sleepyone]

Well, after hitting the Fort Worth gun show today and buying a complete upper and lower parts kit from Model 1 Sales and buying a stripped SOG lower, I now have a nice AR for about $680 out the door. I went with the M4 Shaw 16" chromed lined barrel in the flat top flavor. I also added some nice YHM flip up iron sights (that was extra). I stuck with the standard hand guard, grip and trigger for now.

The only problem I had was the holes for the pivot and take down springs and detents were just a tad too small. That was a little disappointing. I figured SOG would not have a problem like that. Maybe it is common in lowers. Unfortunately, being new to building an AR, I jammed the detent down in the front pivot spring hole and could not get it out. I had to drill the hole out a tiny bit to get the detent to fall out with the spring. The hole needed to be drilled out anyway, but in doing so, I drill the tapered end off the detent. I drilled out the hole on the rear takedown spring channel while I was at it. I was able to taper the detent with a file to make it work for now. I probably need to order a new one as it a little shorter and does not keep the pin locked in as tight as I would like.

I watched a video that said it should take about 30 minutes to an hour to completely assemble a lower. Well, I only missed that by about 4 hours! However, everything works as it should without having live fired it.

 

[mp5a3]

Congrats on the build, if you don't mind me asking, how was the show ? I'm thinking of going Sunday as I was too busy Saturday

 

[sleepyone]

packed as usual. I got there before it opened at 9 and waited in line. people were still waiting in line when I left at 1:30.

 

[wally]

The only problem I had was the holes for the pivot and take down springs and detents were just a tad too small. That was a little disappointing. I figured SOG would not have a problem like that. Maybe it is common in lowers.

Absolutely not common, I've put together stripped lowers from CMMG, DoubleStar, RRA, JD Machine, Aero Precision, S&W, YHM and probably a few others I don't specifically remember. Never had such an issue.

Getting the front pivot detent pin and spring installed without the things flying out is for me always the hardest part!

I don't recognize the SOG brand but among the ones I've built, most all the variance has been That some of the roll pins need stronger taps than others to drive in.

 

[DougW]

Great build. You also showed your skills by being able to make things work that sometimes don't. This will definately lead to additional AR's in your future!

IMO, you will probably never have a problem with the takedown pins the way they are. Some of mine are real tight, some are not so.

 

[sleepyone]

SOG stripped lowers are made by JD in San Diego. JD use to be Kaiser which had a good reputation from what I have been able to find. It was $99 versus $129 for a DPMS and $139 for a RRA.

 

[sleepyone]

Great build. You also showed your skills by being able to make things work that sometimes don't. This will definately lead to additional AR's in your future!

IMO, you will probably never have a problem with the takedown pins the way they are. Some of mine are real tight, some are not so.

Thanks for the vote of confidence. With AR prices so low now, it will be hard to build one for less when I can get a SW M&P 15 OR model for $599 after rebate!

I may not have explained things very good. The holes for the takedown pins were not too small. It was the holes that the pivot/takedown springs and detent pin drop in. They are supposed to drop in and come out freely from what I had been told in order for it to work with the takedown pin when you slide it back and forth for disassembly. The springs dropped in, but I was having to jam the detent pin in the hole. I figured out after the first got stuck that was probably not how it should work. I barely had to remove any metal to make the holes big enough, but it was enough to make it work.

 

[sleepyone]

SOG is out of Houston actually.

 

[rcmodel]

It's not uncommon to find holes in lowers clogged with finish build-up.

Always run the proper size drills in the holes before assembly to make sure there are no burs or finish in them.

Use:
A #40 (.098") drill bit for the takedown detent holes.
A #22 (.157") for the safety detent.
A #23 (.154") for the standard hammer & trigger holes.
A 1/4-28 tap for the pistol grip screw hole.

rc

 

[wally]

SOG stripped lowers are made by JD in San Diego.

I've done two of these, logo'd JD Machine Cal. Multi. I had no such issues and both went together very smoothly -- they've been selling these for $89 at Houston shows.

Always run the proper size drills in the holes before assembly to make sure there are no burs or finish in them.

I've never had to do that. As I said the only tolerance issues I've ever had was some of the roll pins (mag bolt hold open, trigger guard) were tighter than the others.

 

[Mags]

I now have a nice AR

Didn't happen without pics.

 

[sleepyone]

Finallly some pics of my AR build!

Sorry for the delay

 

[sleepyone]

A few more.

 

[Mags]

Nice looking rifle!

 

[lucky-gunner]

Congrats

Congratulations on building your first AR-15. Building AR's becomes quite addictive. It looks great. I keep finding different reasons to build different setups.

Steven@LG

 

[sleepyone]

Thanks! I took it out last night and put 12 rounds through it. six PMC brass and six Monarch brass. Worked flawlessly!

 

[Kernel]

How much did you spend on tools and fixtures, and what did you use?

Or, was the barrel already attached to the upper?

 

[Omaha-BeenGlockin]

He bought the upper complete and assembled the lower.

 

[Taurus 617 CCW]

The only problem I had was the holes for the pivot and take down springs and detents were just a tad too small. That was a little disappointing. I figured SOG would not have a problem like that.

When machining parts, endmill bits wear out and don't cut as well as they used to. If these don't get changed out, tolerences increase. It is especially noticable in drill holes. This happens from time to time and it is up to the Q.C. guy to catch this before it goes out the door. If it is truly a mil-spec receiver then everything should drop in without any fitting.

 

[sleepyone]

The only tool I needed was the wrench to mount the stock. It was thrown with the deal.