I love building things but I have NO gunsmithing talents! I've got punches, hammers, etc.. I am mechanically inclined, just not so much with guns. I've been wanting to build an AR15 ground up. I was looking at Spikes Tactical lowers/kit. How do you know where all the springs and pins, etc go!! Thanks! Keith
How difficult to build lower AR receiver?
- Thread starter mopar92
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MtnCreek
Member
Easy. Your punches will come in handy while installing the hammer and trigger pins. Diagrams are available for free on the internet. There is a tool that you may want to purchase for installing the detent spring / pin that holds the front takedown pin in place, but it can be done without the tool. If you decide to assemble an upper, you'll need a AR armorers wrench for that.
For an upper, you'll also need head space gauges.
For an upper, you'll also need head space gauges.
essayons21
Member
I'm assuming you mean assemble a completed lower out of a stripped lower and parts kit? Not finish an 80% receiver.
Short answer: If you have any mechanical talent and the right tools, its pretty easy.
The first one I assembled took me maybe a half hour, most of which involved looking for a takedown pin detent plunger I had launched across the room. Building a tent out of sheets around your work area may look silly, but its worth it.
Short answer: If you have any mechanical talent and the right tools, its pretty easy.
The first one I assembled took me maybe a half hour, most of which involved looking for a takedown pin detent plunger I had launched across the room. Building a tent out of sheets around your work area may look silly, but its worth it.
There are excellent, pic heavy instructions on the AR-15 forum. Probably take 1 hour for the first time, 20 minutes after that.
Use a vise grip with tape on the jaws to drive the roll pins instead of a punch. Other than that, just take your time, lay out all parts in order before starting per the parts pics in the instructions - dead easy.
/Bryan
Use a vise grip with tape on the jaws to drive the roll pins instead of a punch. Other than that, just take your time, lay out all parts in order before starting per the parts pics in the instructions - dead easy.
/Bryan
jmorris
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It is simple if you know what you are doing and have the tools to do the job. I don't race through the job and using a milspec trigger in the build takes about 30 minutes, including threading the grip bolt hole all of the way so you can use a setscrew to take out a little pretravel.
If it's your first time you might want do do it in the bath room with the door and drains closed. Seems most folks send one part or another into lunar orbit the first time out. The little springs have enough force to launch the tiny detent pins long distances.
If it's your first time you might want do do it in the bath room with the door and drains closed. Seems most folks send one part or another into lunar orbit the first time out. The little springs have enough force to launch the tiny detent pins long distances.
MtnCreek
Member
Just the lower, that's the 'firearm' to BATF.
tyeo098
Member
The stripped lower.
The giant chunk of metal.
Everything else is 'gun parts' and doesnt need to go though an FFL
You can order online and have shipped to your door:
The entire upper.
The BCG
The lower parts kits
etc..
Everything except the stripped lower
The giant chunk of metal.
Everything else is 'gun parts' and doesnt need to go though an FFL
You can order online and have shipped to your door:
The entire upper.
The BCG
The lower parts kits
etc..
Everything except the stripped lower
LegitimateHacker
Member
mopar92, I just finished my first build and it's a lot easier than you think and a lot of fun too. I bought a Stag stripped lower, a Magpul stock, the hardware to mount the stock, and Rock River Arms lower receiver part kit with a two stage trigger (which comes with a pistol grip and everything you need for the lower) and I'm ready to go. There are many options so just take your time!
There are plenty of write ups out there with even more pictures. do some reading. Familiarize youself with the parts of the lower parts kit. head the warnings of others.
Example. Use the taped vice grips to press the roll pin for the trigger guard. Or use a vice with padded jaws. I've seen several ARs for sale that were assembled by guys that went to work with a hammer on the roll pin. All they ended up with was a broken lower assembly. The tabs that the roll pin secure into are easily broken if you put enough side force on them trying to knock that pin into place.
Talk about a cussing fit.
I assembled two lowers on my kitchen counter. I managed to not launch any parts as I probably wouldn't have found them.
read up, know your parts, have fun. They go together easily.
Example. Use the taped vice grips to press the roll pin for the trigger guard. Or use a vice with padded jaws. I've seen several ARs for sale that were assembled by guys that went to work with a hammer on the roll pin. All they ended up with was a broken lower assembly. The tabs that the roll pin secure into are easily broken if you put enough side force on them trying to knock that pin into place.
Talk about a cussing fit.
I assembled two lowers on my kitchen counter. I managed to not launch any parts as I probably wouldn't have found them.
read up, know your parts, have fun. They go together easily.
Brownell's has some good instructional vidoes on AR assembly. Also YouTube is also your friend; although some of the practices filmed on YouTube probably aren't the best. The videos will at least show you what parts go where and how to do some things like tape the vice grips and the receiver.
RockyMtnTactical
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IMO it is fairly easy. You just need the right tools and 30 minutes (not as long if you know what you are doing).
I thought this looked like a good write-up. I haven't built one, yet, myself though.
http://forums.second-amendment.org/index.php?topic=1878.0
Here's some videos at Brownell's.
-Spoo-G
http://forums.second-amendment.org/index.php?topic=1878.0
Here's some videos at Brownell's.
-Spoo-G
IndianaBoy
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- Jan 3, 2005
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- 1,551
If you are careful and have the ability to use some finesse, you can put a lower together with nothing more than a screwdriver, a stock wrench, and a pair of vice grips.
Wrap the jaws of the vice grips with electrical tape to keep from marring the finish, and use them to carefully, gently, and slowly press the roll pins into place.
Wrap the jaws of the vice grips with electrical tape to keep from marring the finish, and use them to carefully, gently, and slowly press the roll pins into place.
madcratebuilder
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