mattm
New member
There have been and are lots of questions about "building" or assembling an AR or its components. Last night I put together my dad's Christmas present and took a bunch of photos to post in a kind of "chronicle of a build".
My background is 17 yrs LEO and an M16/AR15 armorer since 98. I have been to the Colt armorer school 4 times and have been a carbine user instructor since 97 as well. I have maintained and repaired tons of rifles and "built" about 8 or 10 from parts over the years.
This is a complete rifle kit from Del-Tons black Friday sale. I have used their stuff in past and like it. Have had no problems and their prices are good. I'm using a lower from JD machine in San Diego I picked up at a gun show. The .204 bbl is a DPMS heavy fluted.
Parts separtated into assembly groups and some of the tools used.
In assembling the lower I always start w front take down pin. It is a huge pain when first learning. Now I do it by inserting spring and detent then compressing with pin and sliding it in. Big big difference from the first dozen times or so.
Next I do the bolt and mag catch. Do the mag catch first because the bolt catch can get in the way of tightening the mag catch. I use a punch to push out the mag catch and spin it even w/ the bolt catch in. Also use several layers of tape to protect lower when tapping in bolt catch roll pin
Next is selector lever (safety), detent spring and grip.
Trigger then hammer. Tail of trigger goes under fire selector and gets pinned in. Then hammer. Take your time, this can be fustrating to new inexperienced gun wrestlers. There is an obvious place in the trigger tail for the disconnector spring, the fatter or larger coils go down into the bottom of the groove in trigger tail. It takes some effort to line up the disconnector and trigger pin holes.
Makes sure the "legs" of the hammer spring lay on the trigger pin. This holds the trigger pin in and keeps it from creeping. The hammer has a pin inside of it that holds its pin. The pins are interchangeable.
Trigger guard - support the lower roll pin "ear" with a block and tap in roll pin. Self explanatory but go easy. Notice tiny little hammer to the left.
Buffer tube and buffer retaining pin with spring. Only goes one way. Can use armorer tool or wrench to tighten tube.
Receiver extension, rear take down pin, spring and detent then butt stock and screw.
My 13 year old helping with grandpa's Christmas present and one completed lower ready to go.
My background is 17 yrs LEO and an M16/AR15 armorer since 98. I have been to the Colt armorer school 4 times and have been a carbine user instructor since 97 as well. I have maintained and repaired tons of rifles and "built" about 8 or 10 from parts over the years.
This is a complete rifle kit from Del-Tons black Friday sale. I have used their stuff in past and like it. Have had no problems and their prices are good. I'm using a lower from JD machine in San Diego I picked up at a gun show. The .204 bbl is a DPMS heavy fluted.
Parts separtated into assembly groups and some of the tools used.
In assembling the lower I always start w front take down pin. It is a huge pain when first learning. Now I do it by inserting spring and detent then compressing with pin and sliding it in. Big big difference from the first dozen times or so.
Next I do the bolt and mag catch. Do the mag catch first because the bolt catch can get in the way of tightening the mag catch. I use a punch to push out the mag catch and spin it even w/ the bolt catch in. Also use several layers of tape to protect lower when tapping in bolt catch roll pin
Next is selector lever (safety), detent spring and grip.
Trigger then hammer. Tail of trigger goes under fire selector and gets pinned in. Then hammer. Take your time, this can be fustrating to new inexperienced gun wrestlers. There is an obvious place in the trigger tail for the disconnector spring, the fatter or larger coils go down into the bottom of the groove in trigger tail. It takes some effort to line up the disconnector and trigger pin holes.
Makes sure the "legs" of the hammer spring lay on the trigger pin. This holds the trigger pin in and keeps it from creeping. The hammer has a pin inside of it that holds its pin. The pins are interchangeable.
Trigger guard - support the lower roll pin "ear" with a block and tap in roll pin. Self explanatory but go easy. Notice tiny little hammer to the left.
Buffer tube and buffer retaining pin with spring. Only goes one way. Can use armorer tool or wrench to tighten tube.
Receiver extension, rear take down pin, spring and detent then butt stock and screw.
My 13 year old helping with grandpa's Christmas present and one completed lower ready to go.
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