Minimal tools needed to assemble an ar-15?

[PovertyIsNoFun]

Hello all. I've been browsing your forum and Brownell's video guides and I'm tempted to build an AR-15 from the ground up.

One problem: the video attempts to steer me into purchasing a collection of tools that could easily exceed the price of the rifle itself. As my name suggests this just won't do. I have gotten a Winchester 1300 apart and back together again with a single screwdriver and a hard surface but this looks completely different.

Folks, what's the bare-knuckled minimum set of tools needed to build one of these things? Specifically do I need a vice and an action block to get the barrel on?

 

[MutinousDoug]

If your barrel nut is not tight, you will not be happy with your build. You need a vise, upper receiver block and nut wrench (and likely a cheater) to wring maximum accuracy from your build.
HTH

 

[PovertyIsNoFun]

So I will probably get it into a safe fireable configuration, but I won't build a gun that will win matches?

Good enough. Hopefully I'll come back in a month with pictures of it's successful assembly... and if not I'll post a warning to never ever try this.

 

[highorder]

Buy a complete upper. Kits come with complete uppers so you dont need the tools.

If you want to build an upper, you're not doing it to save money and you DO want to buy some tools. An AR combo wrench is a good start for around 25 bucks.

 

[YaNi]

FYI The only place you will save money is to buying a complete upper receiver. It is cheaper than buying a stripped upper + the parts for the forward assist and dust cover. I saved >$100 buying the BCG (LMT), upper receiver (BCM), barrel (BCM), and free float tube (Troy) seperately and assembling them myself rather than getting a preassembled kit from BCM. Assuming you have to buy a barrel wrench it still shouldn't cost u more than $30.

The tools you need depends on what you want to build.

For a stripped lower receiver:
assorted punches
small hammer
Carbine receiver extension wrench
needle nose plyers
razor blade or something extremely thin to compress the front pivot pin detent + spring while you slide the pin in.

For an assembled upper (usually cheaper than stripped in the long run) w/o barrel or handguard:
If you get an A3 flat top you can get away with using 2 pieces of nylon or similar plastic board to clamp the receiver in a vise. You can even saw a cutting board in half. Rotate the receiver 90* and use the plastic to clamp the receiver in a vice between the rail and the bottom of the receiver. It won't marr the finish.
torque wrench to torque barrel nut
Barrel Wrench - The wrench you need depends on if you want to free float the barrel or use the standard hand guards. If you want a FFT the wrench you need will depend on the brand and model. Some tubes use their own barrel nut and wrench, some use the standard barrel. So either AR armorers wrench for standard barrel nut (will also have the carbine receiver extension wrench), or the proprietary wrench for your FF tube.
Hammer and punch if you need to install the front sight post.