Posted: 8/22/2025 12:20:34 AM EDT
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SLR15 AR15 / M16 / M4 / AR308 Armorer Course When: July 28-29, 2025 Where: Council Bluffs, Iowa We conducted a 2-day (16-hour) AR15 / M16 / M4 / AR308 Armorer course that was hosted by the Council Bluffs Police Dept. This was our first time teaching an Armorers week of courses here, and we look forward to more in the future. The training room was set up to allow plenty of table space, great lighting to see small parts, and a great HDTV system that allowed us to project animations and power point onto. The student base was a mix of Officers from different agencies from Iowa, Nebraska, and Missouri. Rifles represented in this course were SLR15, Colt, Smith and Wesson, FN, BCM, Sig Sauer, Daniel Defense, APF Armory, LWRC, DPMS, Rock River, Bushmaster, Aero Precision, Geissele, SOLGW, American Defense, Anderson, a few custom builds. Day-1 started the day by going through the course manual that all students are given. Students were supplied with their own set of basic tools that are necessary to do 95% of the work on their rifles (short of restocking and rebarreling, of which wrenches and sometimes fixtures are necessary), Slip2000 "EWL" Extreme Weapons Lubricant and #725 Cleaner Degreaser, etc. A short session of nomenclature was covered, at which time covered every feature and exterior piece of the rifle to include all the hidden design features that most people are not aware of, and everyone prepped the rifles for disassembly work. Everyone was taught the procedure series of checks that we recommend. Everyone was taught our recommended way to field strip a rifle, and why we do it this way so as not to cause damage, premature wear or stress on anything. We covered maintenance of where and what to clean, and what needs lubrication to keep it running. We showed why not to use the firing pins as tools. We showed everyone our recommendation of how to remove fouling and why, and everyone got to use our methods. We also showed how to clean suppressors and why. The entire bolt carrier assembly was covered, to include inspections, maintenance, upgrades, 3 types of gas rings, and differences in finishing and machining. carrier key (gas key) installation and staking, ejector systems, etc. Everyone was introduced to the different types of gas rings. We went through what each types does, and their proper installation order. Bolts were fully gone through, which included extractors, extractor springs/inserts/O-rings. The ejectors were removed, cleaned, and inspected. Note: Several people found worn out gas rings. This is something we see on occasion, as the gas rings are like tires being they will only work for so long, and when they wear out the gun won't cycle reliably. We supplied people new gas rings. Note: Several people found stressed ejector springs, and there were 2 broken ejector springs. This is something we see on occasion, especially on suppressed rifles. Everyone who had bad springs was given new ones. We recommend that ejector systems be removed on a regular basis, cleaned and checked, and if there are any signs of fatigue or stress that the spring be replaced. Note: Several of the FN rifles were found to have extremely damaged, and one broken firing pin retaining pin. These were all on short barreled rifles. Not sure if it is a bad batch of pins that came in the guns, but everyone who wanted new ones were given new ones. We went through proper carrier key staking. About half of the guns in class needed better gas key staking, as these were not touching or barely touching the screws. Bad gas key staking can lead to the gas key coming loose. We supplied everyone with Sully Gas Key Staking Tools and things were fixed. We got into the lower receiver assemblies, starting with the fire control group (trigger group). We teach this in a building block format, starting with baby steps of getting things out and in, then build into how things work. Everyone learned how to install and remove things so you don't cause damage. We went through detailed inspections of all the sear engagement surfaces, spring types, single stage, and two stage trigger systems. At the end of the day everyone put their rifles back together, making sure that everything was in proper working order. Day-2 started with a review of everything that was covered on day-1, with some greater details and myths covered. We then went back into trigger groups in great details, covering single stage, 2-stage, good and bad triggers, differences and options in spring systems, diagnosing problems when semi-auto turns into burst, and showing the differences in quality of triggers that are on the market. Once done with semi-auto trigger systems, we went into select fire trigger groups covering full-auto and burst trigger groups, to include replacement and diagnosing and repairs when experiencing malfunctions. After trigger systems, we went through the rest of the lower receivers. Everyone had collapsible stocks. We covered the proper mounting & gauging, and proper castle nut staking on the collapsible stocks. Note: All of the FN rifles in this class were found to have no staking or thread locker on the buffer tube (receiver extension) threads. All of these were remounted, properly torqued and gauged to get them back into service. Everyone stripped their lower receivers, which allowed a chance for further inspections, and we went through a session on troubleshooting. Once everyone was comfortable with the entire lower receiver assembly, the were put back together, inspected, and made sure everything is in proper working order. We then got into a session on the timing. This is where we cover proper cycling, covering what effects timing, and how & what happens when it is out or proper time, dwell time, suppressor issues, etc, and how to get things into proper timing. This also led us into piston systems. We covered how the piston system works, break down and maintenance of the system (Yes piston systems do get dirty and have to be cleaned and maintained), how to properly adjust for timing changed, and trouble shooting. We also covered dwell time, and how it pertains to cycling issues, and hopefully got the point across of why we do not recommend barrel lengths shorter that 11.5" on unsuppressed rifles. Note: During the timing session, we showed examples of adjustable gas blocks, and we also showed the gas control system from https://www.riflespeed.com/, which we like as it is adjustable with a quick turn by hand to one of the 12 different settings, and is well built for durability. We showed how suppressors are properly mounted and gauged. Several people took advantage of the bore gauges that we make, and checked their alignment on their rifles that had suppressors. The last half of day-2 was spent on the upper receiver assembly. We covered barrel removal, mounting, fixturing, gauging & inspections. We show numerous ways to fixture a barrel into a vise, and our preference as to which fixtures/methods to use when and how. We showed how to mount, then properly torque and gauge the barrel system, which ensures it is in proper working order. At the end of the day everyone put their rifles back together, everything was inspected and gauged to make sure it was in proper working order. Everyone did chamber inspections, checked & gauged the four gas seals, firing pin protrusion, trigger press, and headspace. Here is a brief overview of a few things that were covered: History of the Weapon Cycles of Function General Disassembly & Assembly Identification of Common Problems and Parts Nomenclature Identification of Group Components Semi, Burst, and Full Auto Parts and Conversions Complete Armoring Disassembly / Assembly Barrel Replacement Cleaning and Maintenance Sight and Distance Considerations Ballistic Issues Barrel: Twist, Length, and Profiles Gas Systems & Piston Systems Parts Interchangeability, including Brands Headspace Firing Pin Protrusion Trigger Systems Chamber Inspection and Issues Troubleshooting, diagnosis & repair Gauging, Inspections, Stress & Interval Issues Accessories and Customizing Tool Options and Selection SOP/MOD Accessories and Additions CY6 Greg Sullivan "Sully" WeaponsArmorer SLR15 Rifles Defensive Edge Training (763) 712-0123 |
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Sounds enjoyable. Do you teach civilians as well? I sprung for a true custom barrel for my AR10 and went with a Riflespeed adjustable gas block. They had the option of using USPS for cheap or paying extra for insured shipping through UPS. I chose the UPS option. I received a notification on the delivery day (yesterday) that the package was damaged and that they would be contacting Riflespeed. We'll see how it plays out, but whew! |
"Now none of the frightened soldiers moved, for they saw that cowardice and valor purchased equal plots in the sniper's killing field."
"Not interested in a lecture by either side”
- isaidme
"Not interested in a lecture by either side”
- isaidme
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We will teach a few "Open Enrollment" courses annually in different parts of the country. The decision as to open enrollment or restricted to LE/MIL, is up to the host location and their administration, as often times these courses are held in training/meeting locations where there is restricted or sensitive information present like SWAT and warrant services, so if that is present the administrations powers to be will restrict it to LE/MIL. Occasionally we are able to have a course in an area where there isn't sensitive or restricted information present, and administrations will allow us to offer an open enrollment course, so we when we get to schedule these we will post them on our website. Also most of our LE/MIL courses are taught on weekdays, as LE/MIL rarely get a weekend off so they like to not be in going to training if at all possible so they get some possible family time (I used to work a police schedule where we got a weekend off every 6 weeks, so you would hate to have that weekend taken away from your family time which is rare and precious when you can get it). If anyone wishes to host an armorer course in a place where we can run it as open enrollment, please let us know, and we are happy to teach them on the weekends. Just contact us and inquire about what is involved in hosting a course, and we will do what we can to coordinate something. CY6 Greg Sullivan "Sully" WeaponsArmorer SLR15 Rifles Defensive Edge Training (763) 712-0123 |