Ruger AR-15 super tight takedown pins

[Keeperfaith]

I found a Ruger AR-15 "broken as/is" from a pawn shop for $200.

Hell of a steal, but the A-2 front sight base is missing the pins, hand guard is gone and the take down pins are so tight we couldn't put them back in (to join the upper and lower).

Any advice for a fix for the super tight tolerances on the take down pins?

I may send it back to Ruger but I'm afraid of them hammering it back together and just shipping it back (problem still present).

Thanks in advance.

Steve

 

[JeffG]

Make sure you're dealing with original parts, not some after market cobble job. Removing parkerizing from the pins might help. Be aware you might be dealing with a torqued upper or lower, and Ruger might not accept it. If you approach it as a basket case, and build it from the ground up, hand fitting each part, you will have a custom gun when you are done.

 

[HankC]

Measure the take down pin, should be .248". I had one out of spec at .253" from a new LPK, glad I measured it, did not pound it in!

 

[BBBBill]

Measure the take down pin

^^^ What he said. In fact, measure everything, including checking for warp/twist/etc. ARs are generally regarded as mostly Lincoln Logs/Legos of the gun world, but issues can and do arise from off spec parts and ham fisted owners. I've seen more than one tweaked or broken upper.

 

[VinnAY]

I haven't had one that I didnt have to tap it on the L side in order to grab it on the R, one thing I did on my two is replace the two takedowns with the easy grip style.

 

[VinnAY]

This is what I put in both of my rifles, plenty of grip surface there to get a grasp on.

http://www.brownells.com/rifle-part...akedown-pin-set-sku100003690-26741-52029.aspx

 

[BBBBill]

One other thing to check. There are a couple different ways to tighten the fit of upper to lower. One involves a urethane wedge (Accu-Wedge) placed in the rear corner of the lower. That would be obvious at a glance. Another uses one of a couple variations of screw under the pistol grip to bear on the rear lug of the upper. Not so obvious. I am not familiar with the Ruger AR variant so no idea if they use one of those or someone possibly added one to your gun. Worth a look.

 

[ponchh]

I found a Ruger AR-15 "broken as/is" from a pawn shop for $200.

Hell of a steal, but the A-2 front sight base is missing the pins, hand guard is gone and the take down pins are so tight we couldn't put them back in (to join the upper and lower).

Any advice for a fix for the super tight tolerances on the take down pins?

I may send it back to Ruger but I'm afraid of them hammering it back together and just shipping it back (problem still present).

Thanks in advance.

Steve

If they are tight because the upper is being held tight to the lower I would call that a bonus. If upper and lower are lose and pins are tight, that's a problem. I bought some lowers made just a few miles from me that hold the receivers tight which means the pins are a little harder to get started out, but makes a very solid rifle.

 

[ilbob]

My AR had a similar problem. I thought there was something wrong with the pins and I was going to get some of the pins that have the ring on them so they will come out easier. However I was able to tap one of them out and it turned out there was some kind of crud on it that had built up somehow. I cleaned the crud off and it was fine.