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Posted: 9/11/2011 8:34:05 PM EDT
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I just got this ArmaLite lower (which, btw, are they any good?) and was wondering if I could get away with putting the lpk in with just a mallet, steady hand and a castle nut wrench for the buffer tube?
Also, I was wondering what order you guys buy your parts in. Do you build your lower just the way you like it then buy the upper? Do you upgrade your entire rifle slowly? Do you start with the upper and work down? |
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I'm currently building my first lower and I would think you'd have a hard time of it by not using punches. You can find them cheap. Brass punches, mallet, blue painters tape, castle nut wrench and a set of needle nose should be all you absolutely "need".
As to order, I'm poor so I've been piecing it together as funds become available. I started with the lower just because that's the part you need to register. Then a parts kit and some mags. That's as far I've gotten. I keep changing my mind on how I want the upper half so this method gives me more time to do research. :) Good luck |
| Buy them in what ever order you want. I assembled my complete lower first because I am also poor and that half is cheaper to build. Another thing is my upper has changed several times the more I read and learn. I started wanting a 16"Reece mid length and now I building a 14.5 Socom m4gery carbine. so just make sure what u want before you buy. |
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Quoted:
<snip> I just got this ArmaLite lower (which, btw, are they any good?) ArmaLite makes one of the finest lowers you can get and there was a time when you couldn't even buy an ArmaLite lower, only completed weapons... Last month I picked up 5 more ArmaLite stripped lowers for builds, each was flawless in machining and finishing, as ArmaLite always is... Here are the first 2 builds completed. ArmaLite marked lowers and old school configurations just seem to go together... 
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Just get a cheap pin punch set. Lots of other things have roll pins, so you'll even find them handy for other tasks.
I built my first lower Friday night. Take your time and think through how to drive the pins in. Use tape. Support the backside of the trigger guard on wood. Aside from driving in the roll pins for the bolt catch and trigger floorplate, everything else installs by fingertips. I tried using the vise grips to push the pins in, but I have a beat up set with marred jaws so it cut through the tape and marred my finish a little. I ended up just driving them in carefully with a pin punch and wish I'd have just done that in the first place. If you use the vise grips, be sure to use new ones and plenty of electrical tape. Another handy device is a 1/4" clevis pin (found in the fastener section of the hardware store). That and a pin punch makes installing the front pin detent and spring a breeze. I built my lower first. I am going to start building my upper this week. I should be getting my upper parts today. Assembling the upper also takes an action block, armorer's wrench and a bench vise. |
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Quoted:
Just get a cheap pin punch set. Lots of other things have roll pins, so you'll even find them handy for other tasks. I built my first lower Friday night. Take your time and think through how to drive the pins in. Use tape. Support the backside of the trigger guard on wood. Aside from driving in the roll pins for the bolt catch and trigger floorplate, everything else installs by fingertips. I tried using the vise grips to push the pins in, but I have a beat up set with marred jaws so it cut through the tape and marred my finish a little. I ended up just driving them in carefully with a pin punch and wish I'd have just done that in the first place. If you use the vise grips, be sure to use new ones and plenty of electrical tape. Another handy device is a 1/4" clevis pin (found in the fastener section of the hardware store). That and a pin punch makes installing the front pin detent and spring a breeze. I built my lower first. I am going to start building my upper this week. I should be getting my upper parts today. Assembling the upper also takes an action block, armorer's wrench and a bench vise. 13500 posts and your first lower build?  Sounds like the 40 year old virgin thing going on here. LOL, just kidding VBC. Bet you'll do another build in less than six months though.
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Quoted:
Quoted:
Just get a cheap pin punch set. Lots of other things have roll pins, so you'll even find them handy for other tasks. I built my first lower Friday night. Take your time and think through how to drive the pins in. Use tape. Support the backside of the trigger guard on wood. Aside from driving in the roll pins for the bolt catch and trigger floorplate, everything else installs by fingertips. I tried using the vise grips to push the pins in, but I have a beat up set with marred jaws so it cut through the tape and marred my finish a little. I ended up just driving them in carefully with a pin punch and wish I'd have just done that in the first place. If you use the vise grips, be sure to use new ones and plenty of electrical tape. Another handy device is a 1/4" clevis pin (found in the fastener section of the hardware store). That and a pin punch makes installing the front pin detent and spring a breeze. I built my lower first. I am going to start building my upper this week. I should be getting my upper parts today. Assembling the upper also takes an action block, armorer's wrench and a bench vise. 13500 posts and your first lower build? Sounds like the 40 year old virgin thing going on here. LOL, just kidding VBC. Bet you'll do another build in less than six months though.Now that I know it doesn't feel like a bag of sand, I do indeed plan on doing more.
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I suggest roll pin punches over regular punches. A hammer, tiny tube of locktite, and castle nut wrench should complete the minimum required tools list. For the front detent pin, use a punch to hold it in, then with the takedown pin pressing against the punch, slide things into place. It was VERY easy doing it this way.
Wait, one last thing. You should find a 4-40 tap and 1/4" set screw and tap the rear hole. All the cool kids are doing it, and it takes out another aggravating step. |
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I don't disagree with the waiting technique above.
Longest lead time is usually the BARREL. Sometimes I have to wait 1-2 months to get one of those. As far as buying parts. You may find that buying as much as possible from ONE place (with the potential for free shipping) is cheaper than buying all from the cheapest vendor unless you buy locally - Package deal. Here in Pensacola...Highway robbery with buying AR-15 parts locally. Gunshows...Good luck! Plenty of GREAT online vendors...Click on any link above that are sponsors...Great dudes. Tools. You can get build with a mallot and whatever you have. You can tape up some vise grips and squeeze in the roll pins. If you need to knock them out because you did something wrong...Uhhhh. I recommend at least a cheap set of punches for alignment and roll pin punches. People that put A rifle together may hack at it...Those that build rifles use tools - they are not mandatory, but they HELP a ton to use the proper tool. There is a great link on the Brownells site that gives tool and parts for AR-15 builds. Click on the link and look at the bottom right PDF. Super stuff. Link |
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