AR Gunsmithing Tools - Must Have

[SouthernSlammed]

From a more experienced builders point of view, what would be Top 5 must have gunsmithing tools to have in your arsenal?

And I'm talking in regards to wanting to be cheap but maybe there is something you should just spend the money for from the beginning.

 

[NWS]

Roll pin punches
Armourers wrench
Action block
Vise

These are the only tools I use regularly.

 

[fyroc]

Pivot Pin tool is a must as well if you plan on doing a few lowers.

 

[NWS]

Pivot Pin tool is a must as well if you plan on doing a few lowers.

Never used one. Learned how to do it the hard way years ago and just stuck with it.

 

[permaneo vox]

From a more experienced builders point of view, what would be Top 5 must have gunsmithing tools to have in your arsenal?

And I'm talking in regards to wanting to be cheap but maybe there is something you should just spend the money for from the beginning.

The Harbor Freight 100 piece screwdriver set. Cheap & handy. Part gunsmith screwdriver set & part 'get into anything' set.

https://www.harborfreight.com/100-pc-security-bit-set-with-case-68457.html

 

[Rwjeter]

@SouthernSlammed i bought this set a few years back. It's helped a lot. Can't beat it for the price.

https://ads.midwayusa.com/product/1...LNedQXvqPJRf6tNJSMqqDQ1YZRMJdz4bHIaAsOg8P8HAQ

 

[boss_hawg]

a nylon, rubber, or brass hammer is also very useful. brass won't mar the surface of your aluminum lower if you miss.

you can use a normal steel hammer but you'll have to be careful.

roll pin starter punches - while not necessary - are extremely helpful.

 

[boss_hawg]

Pivot Pin tool is a must as well if you plan on doing a few lowers.

i found an easier way without this specialized tool.

if you have a large punch - one that will fit through the pivot pin holes on the lower - you can insert from the opposite direction that the pivot pin will ultimately point. pull it back a bit to expose the pivot pin hole. insert spring and detente and compress with a flat tool such as a thin knife or razor (be careful with these) or you can use needle nose pliers. once the detent is in sufficiently - you can "capture" the detent with the large punch. then simply take the pivot pin and insert from the right side of the receiver displacing the punch. you have to make sure that you don't let the spring push the pivot pin laterally or you make have to redo.

it's very easy once you've seen it done. and the large punch and needle nose pliers have many more applications.

 

[Rwjeter]

i found an easier way without this specialized tool.

if you have a large punch - one that will fit through the pivot pin holes on the lower - you can insert from the opposite direction that the pivot pin will ultimately point. pull it back a bit to expose the pivot pin hole. insert spring and detente and compress with a flat tool such as a thin knife or razor (be careful with these) or you can use needle nose pliers. once the detent is in sufficiently - you can "capture" the detent with the large punch. then simply take the pivot pin and insert from the right side of the receiver displacing the punch. you have to make sure that you don't let the spring push the pivot pin laterally or you make have to redo.

it's very easy once you've seen it done. and the large punch and needle nose pliers have many more applications.

That or a 1/4" Clevis pin and a punch small enough to go though the hole in the pin. Drop the spring and detent through the hole, compress them with the punch, turn the clevis pin a quarter turn and viola. The spring and detent are captured. Just push the clevis pin out with your pivot pin.

 

[Red Dawn]

I use this

https://ads.midwayusa.com/product/4...es-ar-15-10-piece-roll-pin-installation-tool?

You'll need an armorers wrench too

 

[SouthernSlammed]

@SouthernSlammed i bought this set a few years back. It's helped a lot. Can't beat it for the price.

https://ads.midwayusa.com/product/195774/wheeler-engineering-delta-series-ar-15-armorers-professional-kit?cm_mmc=pf_ci_google-_-Gunsmithing+-+Tools,+Jigs+&+Fixtures-_-Wheeler+Engineering-_-195774&gclid=Cj0KEQjwyN7JBRCZn7LKgb3ki8kBEiQAaLEsqrp8NyDP_LNedQXvqPJRf6tNJSMqqDQ1YZRMJdz4bHIaAsOg8P8HAQ

One stop shop!

 

[dial1911]

Ah... I'm glad no one has said "files and oil stones" yet... you can get in trouble with those





I have both.

 

[Rwjeter]

Ah... I'm glad no one has said "files and oil stones" yet... you can get in trouble with those





I have both.

The correct answer.... Dremel!

 

[Red Dawn]

The correct answer.... Dremel!

 

[Rwjeter]

View attachment 29161 View attachment 29162

Don't waste all that time only to fuck up.... Fuck up better AND faster!

 

[freedom]

Avoid that wheeler kit. Some is useful, but it comes with a bunch of junk.

Don't cheap out on punches, roll pin starter punches are a help and a specialty punch set for the bolt release are nice to have.

Geissele reaction rod is awesome, botach is making a cheaper knockoff. Magpul bev block is good too.

Magpul makes the best armorers wrench.

Clevis pin as mentioned above for the pivot pin.

 

[Okuma]

Bev block is sweet.
Good roll pin punch set and starter set. Think eBay,but not the cheapest shit you can find.
I have the tapco armorers wrench. Which is pretty nice.
Small brass tappy tap tap.

Lowers are easy to build. I literally built my first laid up in bed.

 

[SouthernSlammed]

Avoid that wheeler kit. Some is useful, but it comes with a bunch of junk.

Don't cheap out on punches, roll pin starter punches are a help and a specialty punch set for the bolt release are nice to have.

Geissele reaction rod is awesome, botach is making a cheaper knockoff. Magpul bev block is good too.

Magpul makes the best armorers wrench.

Clevis pin as mentioned above for the pivot pin.

Great response!