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Posted: 1/27/2012 6:05:41 PM EDT
| So I just started building an A2. It's my first build, and looks like it should go pretty smooth. Is there any exploded diagrams, or assembly guides out there you would suggest? Also, is there any special tools/equipment I should get before really diving into it? |
Get a small punch set for the pins you'll have to drive (bolt catch and trigger guard pins for the lower, gas tube and front sight base pins for the upper) and an AR-15 armorer's wrench that does both barrel and castle nuts (look on CDNN's site under parts-AR-15). Some recommend you get the vice blocks for the upper receiver, but an old towel-turn-rag folded in a bench vice worked just fine for me. Arguably you also need a 3/8" torque wrench for the barrel nut (the armor's wrench has a hole for a driver), but if you're a real man at all you already have a torque wrench. 
As to assembly guides, the upper has so few pieces there's only one way it can go together. On the lower alot of the pins and springs look alike. Just watch a youTube vid on assembling a lower a couple times and you'll have no problems. What kind of A2 build? M16A2? M727? Or a bastard? |
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Quoted:
don`t forget the headspace,very important How exactly does one headspace an AR-15? It's not like a HK or AK where the barrel is pressed into a trunnion and then pinned after headspacing. An AR barrel is screwed in the extension from the factory and it fits into the receptacle in the receiver, and is then tightened with the barrel nut. If the headspace gauge reads 'no go', what is one to do? I thought one of the points of the AR-15 was that all the tolerances were kept such that (though it isn't advisable) bolts and stuff like that can be swapped around if need be. |
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I thought one of the points of the AR-15 was that all the tolerances were kept such that (though it isn't advisable) bolts and stuff like that can be swapped around if need be.
They are. I've never had an upper that wouldn't headspace personally and I've got a couple hundred under the belt. Nice to check but you really need the right guage for the right parts too. Two standards as far as I know. I use mostly milspec AR parts and name brand quality stuff like Colt, FN and BM (barrels) and Young Mfg. All mfgs can let one slip through quality control but it doesn't happen like talking about it with the brand name people. If buying low tier or no name parts one might be a little more concrened. Method for checking is a go/ no go guage. Sold by site vendor Brownells. Fancy guage will show measurements. I just go to local gunsmith and use his. As stated only times I've ever seen a problem is on AR15.com GD personally. I also have a couple bolts that I swap in test rifles and carbines before I sell them sometimes. My personal barrels get a new Colt or Young BCG and stay that way. |
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