AR Sponsor
Posted: 11/29/2013 6:32:16 AM EDT
|
Put together a Stag lower with a CMMG parts kit. How easy was it? I did about 80% of it at my desk in my pajamas at two in the morning because of insomnia.
I was referencing two videos as I worked. One was by Nick Leghorn and it was my "don't do what he's doing" video. At the other extreme was Larry Potterfield at Midway USA, for an anal retentive OCD approach that involved using a benchful of absurdly specialized tools (without which each task was "practically impossible", he said. Well yeah - he sells gunsmithing supplies for a living). Between those two extremes I found the sweet spot. A couple of notes: First, Promag should make one side of their lower receiver action block flat. I was able to use it as a support for the trigger guard lugs, but I had to jigger it around and hang half of it off the desk. If they made one side flat, and made the other side as a front sight base support, they'd have an awesome 3-in-1 block and would sell a boatload. Second, I'd have hated to do this without a set of roll pin punches. A set of four is only fifteen bucks at Midway. Bite the bullet. Third, installing the triggerguard was nerve-wracking. I had it fully supported, but I still only felt comfortable just starting the pin in with the hammer. After that, I used a 2" C-clamp and slowly pressed it in the rest of the way, checking alignment frequently to insure everything was in a straight line of force. Even with oil it squeaked going in, which was also nerve-wracking. But everything was cool. I still have to buy and install the receiver extension. I've got one on order with an AR multi-tool, so that makes three specialized tools I had to buy (roll pin punches, action block and multi-tool) for a total tool cost of about fifty bucks. Well worth it, IMO. I've got plans to do a receiver swap in the future, so the cost will be amortized even more. I don't regret buying my S&W Sport last year, because I'm cannibalizing it for this build and an upper swap, and it cost just about the same as parts. But I can definitely see how it makes much more sense to build than to buy in most cases. If I combined this lower with the $399 Spikes midlength upper I grabbed on sale, I'd be all in for about $650. That's a lot of quality for under seven bills. Now I just have to resist the urge to build another. Two AR's is plenty, right? |
AR Sponsor