A2 Front Sight Post Removal > AR Basics

Posted: 6/19/2015 7:34:58 AM EDT

Greetings!

I am currently building my second AR. For my first, I purchased a stripped lower and built it; however, I purchased a completed upper.

For this build, I want to purchase something like this: http://palmettostatearmory.com/index.php/catalog/product/view/id/10306/category/4220/ and wanted to remove the front sight post and hand rail. I want to remove these so I can add a free float rail like this: https://www.midwestindustriesinc.com/index.cfm?fuseaction=category.display&category_id=450.

What, if any, issues will I encounter? How difficult would you consider this operation? Will the barrel show visible damage where the front sight post was located? Should I just keep the front sight post and install a shorter rail? I'd ideally like a 13" rail, but am not against feedback otherwise.

Tools I own already:

"Gunsmithing" screw drivers
Punches/Mallet
AR wrench
Vise

Thank you!

Sorry for the newbie question, but working on uppers is new to me!

Posted: 6/19/2015 8:53:52 AM EDT

[#1]

This has been covered a 1000 times on here. Try a goggle search where you will find videos on how to do this.

Posted: 6/19/2015 9:27:53 AM EDT

[#2]

I have taken a few off and I have shaved a couple to use as gas block. Some are hard to get out. If you think you will do more a block and tools from Midway, Brownell s, etc will make doing work fun.

Posted: 6/19/2015 10:43:25 AM EDT

[#3]

For the same price of $279 this PSA URG is a MIDLENGTH with SS Bbl and the hybrid/keymod rail already installed.

http://palmettostatearmory.com/index.php/catalog/product/view/id/21390/s/psa-16-mid-length-stainless-5-56-nato-1-7-13-keymod-upper-no-bcg-or-charging-handle/category/4220/

or for $329 non-SS Premium CL Bbl
http://palmettostatearmory.com/index.php/catalog/product/view/id/21391/s/psa-16-mid-length-premium-5-56-nato-1-7-13-keymod-upper-no-bcg-or-charging-handle/category/4220/

Posted: 6/19/2015 11:13:13 PM EDT

[#4]

I agree with the above post. If you know you want to add a $200 rail to that upper then why not just expand your budget to $500ish and buy what you really want? There are plenty of complete uppers that come with free floated rails for that price.

Posted: 6/22/2015 10:20:04 PM EDT

[#5]

I removed a pinned on fsb last year, and it wasn't something I'd prefer to do on a regular basis. I discovered I needed to use steel punches instead my brass punches, and a steel hammer instead my soft rubber mallet. I also crafted a block with a channel in it to brace the front sight block.

Worst case is the pins won't come out (they normally come out left to right) and it's easier to drill them out or cut the fsb off with dremel or hacksaw.

Anyways, after I removed the fsb to swap out the barrel nut, I ended up chopping down the fsb into a low profile gas block (removed sight tower, sling swivel) and pinned it back on. Hammering the pins back in place wasn't as bad as taking them out, but it was close. Next time I'd like to try an arbor press, or tap the pin holes and insert set screws.

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[ARCHIVED THREAD] - A2 Front Sight Post Removal

[ARCHIVED THREAD] - A2 Front Sight Post Removal