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Posted: 6/3/2010 12:47:21 PM EDT
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I finished my first lower a week or so ago and have not thought of a way to fix the problem of my bolt catch roll pin being about 1/16 of an inch outside the hole.
http://i394.photobucket.com/albums/pp21/CarsonCollect/100_0648.jpg Is this going to be a problem or can I just leave it that way? Thanks, dogman |
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Sounds like you used the wrong punch and mushroomed the bugger...either punch it all the way out and replace it with a new one and use a roll pin punch to install it correctly, or try to straighten out your current pin for an attempt at reinstallation. A friend brought me a lower with the same issue last week, ended up replacing the pin.
Also, thats a bolt catch roll pin...bolt carrier has no roll pins in it. There is a firing pin retaining pin (but its not a cotter pin) and the bolt has pins for the extractor and ejector...but not the case here. |
| ohh the joys of building your first lower. if that was your only problem, you seemed to do good on your first attempt. A must is a good roll pin punch set. I have 2 sets in my bag, along with a set of brass punches and a rubber mallet. Try to not use a standard hammer if possible. |
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Use LONG handled Channel-Loc type pliers. Wrap the jaws in something to prevent marring the lower's finish.
Your picture isn't clear enough to see whether or not the end of the pin is oversized now-that is difficult to do with the bolt catch pin, but it's possible. If that happened, then it's time to drop back 10 and regroup: you should replace that pin to avoid scratching yourself. Next time use a roll pin punch (if you didn't the first time) or use pliers. The great thing about pliers is that you have a whole lot more control than with a punch, and you can select the amount of leverage and pressure you apply. |
| My trick on seating both the bolt catch and triggerguard roll pins that "last little bit" is to put an ordinary steel B-B (like for a B-B gun) on the end of the pin then use the vice-grip trick to squeeze the pin in that last tiny bit. The curvature of the B-B presses the pin in so that it is just below flush with the surface. It's a little tricky to do on the bolt catch pin, but it works great. A pair of needle nose vice-grips makes it easier. |
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