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Posted: 6/1/2004 4:43:59 PM EDT
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Ok, got all my parts together. Daniel Defense large hole upper, bushmaster 14.5" m4 + phantom, knight's m4 ras. How much trouble is this to put together? I have a barrel wrench, but no vice. Should i go ahead and order the vice and then try it? |
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Did you get a bolt and carrier? How about a CH? I would STRONGLY recommend getting the upper receiver block, cause it makes removing/installing barrels much easier as well as reducing the chances of destroying the upper down to 0. Make sure you get the upper receiver blocks, and not the barrel blocks (which have their use...timing FHs, working on the FSB, etc, but can be more easily substituted). True, if you are only planning on building just one upper, and never ever changing the barrel again, you would probably not use it again. But, I got mine just to change out a forearm (regular CAR to FIRSH...needs different barrel nut) and I've already built a new upper from parts. And I'm planning two more! A good vise is also quite helpful, although I've been lucky enough to get buy with a really heavy desk and a pair of 5" C-clamps  Also, if you are using a bolt and barrel combo from different manufacturers, or didn't order it together (ie ordered the barrel, bolt and carrier together and asked Bushmaster to headspace the bolt and barrel) you should get a set of headspace gauges (go and no-go for now, if you have the cash, get a field gauge also). Headspacing is a topic of quite some debate here, and here's my take on it. A set of the 3 gauges runs about $50. Your barrel costs $200+ and the B/BC costs another $100, and your hand and face are (I assume  ) priceless to you. What's $50 worth for insurance that can save your ass in the long run? In theory, a bolt and barrel, if in spec, should headspace just fine, but if you are that 1 in a millionth person that gets the anomoly... Not that you can actually change headspacing on an AR-15 barrel extension anyway, but at least you will know if it is within safe limits or not. Worst comes to worst, you can sell the gauges, receiver block, and the other tools on EE and recoup most of your money (or rent it out to your local ARFCOMers  )
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I was planning on using the colt bolt/carrier/ch that it came with. Bad idea? this vise? |
It is customary to attempt assembling the uppers with matching components as much as possible, so if it came with it buy all means utilize said components. Head spacing is vital to your safety and well being, plus the fact that this is your first time assembling an upper receiver. As Mr. Wilson would say, a penny wise and a pound foolish for not checking your work, also you will need a torque wrench that measures in Foot pounds, not inch pounds. |
| That vice rocks, I have one and it's paid for itself plenty of times. I also have a friends' pair of aluminum blocks (barrel vice blocks), all I managed to do is ruin the finish on the barrel, not that I care, but barrels tend to rotate in the barrel vice, I'm glad I didn't buy it. |
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I've never used the Bushmaster block so I can't comment, but from what I understand, it should work just fine. I've got the old type that requires you to remove the carry handle to use it. Also, while it may not be advisible to use different makes of parts, as long as the parts are quality parts and they are in spec, it should be fine. If you are planning to use the Colt bolt/carrier, definitely use the HS gauges to gauge the bolt/barrel combination. Be prepared, though, to have to swap bolts because of the differences in tolerances between the bolt and barrel. Not likely, but there is still a chance. On my last build, I gauged a RRA bolt on a Bushmaster barrel with Forster .223 Go and No-Go gauges, and it gauged out fine: closed with light pressure on the Go, and definitely did not close on the No-Go. |
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You would have gotten more responses had you posted this in the "Build it yourself" section. If you had, you might then have noticed the thread tacked on the top called... Build your own upper - Step by step instructions - Easy! That should answer most if not all of your questions. Good luck |
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