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Posted: 1/27/2009 2:19:31 PM EDT
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I have a few things I am going to do on my AR- a new free float tube, gas block, and a few other things like that. Is an action block absolutely necessary? I don't have a vise at my house, my friend has one that I can use but if I don't really need an action block then I probably won't get one.
Thanks, Matt |
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If you don't remove the barrel than you don't need one. Installing free float tube may require use of the vise but if it is a A3 flat top receiver you could use two pieces
of 1/4' or thicker plastic material like cutting board to protect the finish of the upper in the vise. |
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Personally, I bought a vice block for an upper, a set of aluminum barrel blocks, and the plastic magwell block for working on the lower. I did that because I ruined a upper changing a barrel. I had the upper in the vice with leather as a softener. the barrel nut was very tight. Because one side of the vice jaws was bearing on the bottom edge of the upper, the edge bent. I tried to straighten it and it cracked. For the money lost in the upper I could have bought all those specialty tools. Which doesn't even count how much easier it is to use the right tool for the job.
You might be able to do what you want to do without the specialty tools. With the possibility of damaging expensive parts, why wouldn't you buy the few specialty tools? I wouldn't think this would be your only AR project. The only real alternative I can think of would be to go to the Home Town thread and see if someone local to you would let you rent the tools. Good luck with your FF rail project. Scott |
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