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Posted: 7/14/2012 6:44:07 PM EDT
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Finally decided to put together my own AR for my first long gun a few months ago- can't believe I'm almost ready to put it all together!
Have: VLTOR Mur-1a Mega Ambi GTR-3s Magpul UBR Daniel Defense Lite 12.0 Geissele SD-E Denny's 16" SS Recon 1:7 Wylde (Douglas blank) w/gas tube +pin Denny's Thunderbolt BCG w/ matched bolt Spike's ST-T1 buffer + carbine length spring Ranier Arms Raptor Ambi Charging Handle Troy Ambi Mag Catch IOR Valdada 2.5-10 FFP illuminated scope B.A.D. Ambi selector Magpul MBUS Waiting on: Ergo Ambi SureGrip Nordic SS tactical comp Magpul mags w/ ranger plate YHM lo pro gas block Palmetto State Armory LPK Still Need: Scope Mount http://i.imgur.com/5IMell.jpg Thanks for all the help guys! |
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Oh man... finally got my lower parts kit in from Palmetto (survived a train derailment!) and was excited to put everything together. Everything went very smoothly until I hit the d*mn bolt release catch install. The way the mega lower is made, the bolt release pin is actually supposed to be screwed in instead of punched (I actually think I prefer the punch now I think!). However, the tolerances were so tight that I had to use the punch a bit to get to the threaded portion. When I went to screw it in, I turned it a 1/2 turn- then when I worked the allen key loose (because the receiver wall blocks the key), I think the head stripped. Then, in an anger induced haze of stupidity, I took a vise grip to it in order to try to remove it. Now the head has been pinched in slightly!
http://i.imgur.com/GgWK0l.jpg http://i.imgur.com/pNf04l.jpg Arrghhhh... this is so frustrating. I only have time to go to the range on the weekends, and actually Palmetto was scheduled to ship the stuff to me last Thursday- so I was ready to go this weekend-but then the train derailment happened. Now I don't know if I will be able to make it this weekend... I really hope a gunsmith can help me sort this out. I think the vise grip thing (I need one with small curved instead of flat jaws though) might work to take it out, but I'll need a new pin from MEGA. Otherwise, I'm thinking it might be possible for them to weld a small allen key to it to turn it/punch it out. Anyway, thanks for letting me vent guys! Any ideas/hope? I really don't want to have to buy a new lower.... |
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This is just a suggestion but I think it will work.
Use a Dremel with a thin cut off disc to cut a slot in the end. Then unscrew it with a screw driver. I would also protect the receiver with something so it don't inadvertently get scratched. Go easy so you don't get things too hot. You could even cool it with a wet rag or even a wet cotton swab if needed. BTW: I agree it does look cross threaded in which case the threads will need cleaned up before a new set screw can be installed. |
WECSOG STRIKES AGAIN....
EDIT...Note to all NOOBS, before you fuck up your lower, trial fit all the parts, if it screws in, screw it in to ensure you don't have to run a tap through the threads. Tolerance changes after anodizing..Polish your pins, chamfer the leading edge and most of all use a generous amount on lube to install EVERYTHING.. |
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Quoted:
WECSOG STRIKES AGAIN....
EDIT...Note to all NOOBS, before you fuck up your lower, trial fit all the parts, if it screws in, screw it in to ensure you don't have to run a tap through the threads. Tolerance changes after anodizing..Polish your pins, chamfer the leading edge and most of all use a generous amount on lube to install EVERYTHING.. Yes. I would also like to add that you can squeeze the end of a split pin to effectively reduce it's diameter which makes getting it started a lot easier. Just do the very end or tip of it. |
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Quoted:
Quoted:
WECSOG STRIKES AGAIN....
EDIT...Note to all NOOBS, before you fuck up your lower, trial fit all the parts, if it screws in, screw it in to ensure you don't have to run a tap through the threads. Tolerance changes after anodizing..Polish your pins, chamfer the leading edge and most of all use a generous amount on lube to install EVERYTHING.. Yes. I would also like to add that you can squeeze the end of a split pin to effectively reduce it's diameter which makes getting it started a lot easier. Just do the very end or tip of it. I am not talking crushing the end to reduce diameter, I am saying lightly chamfer the end with a stone or 600 grit paper to provide a leading edge. It's not fucking rocket surgery, just common sense. |
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When did Mega start needing screw in pins? Both of my home builds were on Mega lowers... Used the roll pins that came with the LPKs(dpms and rra) and all is great.
Otherwise take the others suggestions and slow down. On a new build like that it might have been a good idea to tap the threads in the beginning to make sure they were true. There might have been something blocking or a bad thread. Was the bolt release threaded as well? Might have been a tolerance issue crossing the gap from ear-release-ear? |
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Thanks for the advice guys.
Yes, I am a "noob", but I did test fit the screw beforehand. It fit fine just through the ears. The issue was the fit on the retaining pin and the bolt catch itself. Guess i should have polished the bore down a bit, although i was afraid that would mess something up! The retaining screw is smooth on the end that fits into the left ear, which doesn't have a through hole like a regular lower. There is a small threaded portion screws into the right ear. As far as I can tell, it is not cross threaded, it only appears that way because I smooshed the end with vise grips (now that was an idiot move!). Besides, I'd only turned it 1/2 to quarter turn in when it stripped. The issue now is to turn that small threaded portion out, then somehow pull the pin loose of the friction fit between pin and bolt catch that I had to punch in in the first place. Hoping to drop it off at a smith somewhere at this point and have it not be too big of a fix- don't want to make some idiot mistake again! |
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Had a few troubles, but finally got it done. Had a chance to shoot it this weekend - thought it shot well with the 62gr reloaded ammo I bought. Lots of work ahead for me....Lovin' it!
Complete Rifle: http://i.imgur.com/qA8DTl.jpg Rifle with 100yd targets + .45 for kicks: http://i.imgur.com/6jrvul.jpg Wanna reiterate my thanks to the community!!! |
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Thanks! Yea the reason it stripped was probably because the threaded bolt catch pin diameter was a little too much for the bolt catch.
Not 100% sure how they did it (probably with grips like I was saying) but Rainier Arms and Mega apparently see a lot of these cases. They helped me out, great service by the way! The pin was replaced with one with a smaller diameter. Yup, I know I took a bit of a gamble on the reloads, but the reviews where I got em were great (freedom munitions) and the pricing was right too. Ammo looks clean and shoots well- hopefully the rest of em do too! |
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