I drove down to Quantico Arms this morning and picked up a couple of Eagle Arms lowers, and an Armalite lower parts kit. Dave strolled in while I was finishing up my paperwork, and I managed to beat him into the "get $5 off your parts kit when you buy two lowers" offer...don't try that at home hehehe. They're running low on lowers, folks, I think they only had about 6 left after I got mine.
After an uneventful trip down and back the dreaded I95--and I just gotta apologize to all you poor slobs who have to travel through Springfield on your way to wherever, because it is without a doubt an absolute abomnination--I got home safeley with my stuff.
I printed out the instructions here on the home page, and set to work. I managed to get the bolt retainer roll pin in with a plastic punch, if you can believe it, only needed a metal punch for that last millimeter or so. Every thing else went smoothley, except for the front pivot pin.
Even though I knew the BBT was bringing the tool from Brownell's, I was still determined to at least try at get the detent pin in. The same plastic punch I used for the bolt release fit into the reciever perfectly...so I got the spring and detent in, and pushed the plastic punch through to retain it. Then I grabbed the pin, and started to push it in from the other side. All seemed well, they "sproing", and the spring and detent go flying. I heard them hit the ceiling, but low and behold the AR Gods were with me, because I actually managed to find both pieces!
Lacking any common sense whatsoever, I tried again hehehe. This time, it went sproing before I got the plastic punch all the way in. Once again, though, after keenly listening to all the ricochets around the area, I was able to find both pieces.
Now, at this point, common sense and my stubborn Irish temper were duking it out. I decided to try again, but this time I rigged a little back stop with an empty cardboard box and a few shop rags. I again managed to get the spring and detent AND the punch in, but once again it all fell apart when I tried to put the takedown pin in.
At that point, I admitted defeat...walked out the front door, got my package from Brownell's with the detent tool in there, and did it the right way. I think it took less than 30 seconds from the time I got the tool out 'til I had the pin in lol. MUCH easier!
Everything seems to work fine, the trigger pull isn't too bad--better than my latest RRA lower, that's for sure. Now, all I gotta do is figure out which buttstock I'm putting on the other lower, and order another parts kit. I'm gonna try a DPMS kit, for grins, but the Armalite kit was absolutely perfect; I don't see how it could be any easier.
Along with the take down pin tool, I also got my roll punches and starter punches. I'm pretty sure you guys WON'T be mushrooming the starter pins; even though I didn't use them this time, I can see that they'd be very handy.
All in all, I'm happy...now, if I just had more money, I could build more rifles lol.
Oh, yeah, if you go down to see the fine folks at Quantico Arms...I was so pre-occupied with getting my stuff that I walked right past the parking meter hehehe...good new is the ticket is only $10