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11/27/2012 11:15:06 PM EDT
Ive looked in a few different areas and have yet to find a list. Can someone point me in the right direction or provide me a list of the tools one needs to build/maintain/modify an ar? I plan to build one from scratch in the future and would like to start getting tools. Thanks in advance.
11/28/2012 4:57:18 AM EDT
[#1]
for my lower receiver I used a brass hammer, a set of hammer punches,a stock wrench, needle nose pliers to hold the from detent pin in while i used a box cutter to completely compress it and shove the take down pin in.  Haven't attempted to build an upper yet.  Gonna try for my m16 a4 copy I'm working on.  Got everything but my barrel since it's so hard to find a damn 20" 1/7 twist government profile barrel in stock.  Might just give up and get that Bushmaster 1/9 twist one.  Wont be shooting anythign more than 62 grain with it...  but i just wanted the thing as close as possible to what I had while i was deployed.
11/29/2012 4:44:00 PM EDT
[#2]
This seems to be the best list I could find so far. I can't afford a kit like this. Also, I'm sure there are plenty of tools in it that I will not need.

http://www.brownells.com/userdocs/learn/Inst-298%20Armorers%20Kit%20Standard.pdf

Basically so far I know I need:

Brass gunsmith hammer
Brass Roll Pin Punches
Needle Nose Pliers
Allen Wrenches
A torque Wrench
A Stock Wrench
A Barrel Nut Wrench
Painter's Tape to protect tools from scratching off weapon coating
A Box cutter


What am I Leaving out or what do I still need if I were going to build my own rifle from scratch? (Example: Buying Stripped Lower, Stripped Upper, BCM, LPK, Stock, Buffer tube, Buffer, Barrel w/ gas tube and front sight already on as purchased, Front and Rear BUIS, Handguards and then put it all together)
11/29/2012 6:08:11 PM EDT
[#3]
Go to Brownells and watch the free (Gun Tech) AR Build video series.
All the tools used are called out.
Take notes.
11/29/2012 9:22:22 PM EDT
[#4]
Here was one thread...there are others too.

http://www.ar15.com/forums/t_3_4/587938_Tools_for_a_build.html

This is the barrel wrench to get:

http://www.ar15news.com/2012/08/08/new-gem-state-armory-ar-armorers-wrench-review/
12/1/2012 4:58:28 PM EDT
[#5]
The linked armorer's kit is pretty comprehensive.  But don't be intimidated.  As I recall, I only used a few simple hand tools to build my one lower and two uppers:

To assemble my lower - a lightweight hammer and some roll pin punches to get the little pins started, vise-grip pliers to drive the roll pins home, a long screwdriver to tighten the grip screw and a crescent wrench to tighten the A2 extension tube.  

To assemble and disassemble my upper parts - Same roll pin punches for the forward assist and the gas tube/gas block, a 4" bench vise, a DPMS "Claw" receiver block, a GI pattern barrel nut wrench from PRI, my 1/2 inch drive breaker bar to attach to the PRI wrench head and the same crescent wrench to tighten the flash hiders.

Its no big deal if you can follow the excellent instructions here are arfcom.  Anyone with a workbench, a vise and less than $100 of additional tools can assemble their AR rifle from parts.  The advantages are numerous, but most of all is the pride of ownership in something that exactly matches your tastes, within budget of course. - CW
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