The AR-15 is the most common rifle in the U.S.A. It is a semi-automatic rifle modeled after the military’s automatic M16. The rifle is modular and can be customized with many different accessories. In this video, I discuss the full assembly of an AR-15 from individual parts.
1-1 Magazine Catch [01:30]
1-2 Bolt Catch [03:10]
1-3 Pivot Pin [05:27]
1-4 Safety Selector and Pistol Grip [07:12]
1-5 Trigger and Hammer [09:09]
1-6 Trigger Guard [14:14]
1-7 Buffer Tube and Take Down Pin [16:51]
1-8 Lubrication and Testing [22:24]
2-1 Ejection Port Cover [24:05]
2-2 Forward Assist [26:04]
2-3 Barrel, Gas Block, and Handguard [27:54]
2-4 Flash Suppressor [40:49]
2-5 Bolt Carrier Group [42:10]
2-6 Charging Handle [50:50]
2-7 Lubrication and Testing [52:40]
2-8 Headspace Check [55:35]
3 Live Fire Testing [01:01:57]
Here is a list of everything you need to build an AR-15
Tools:
1. Vise
2. AR-15 Lower Receiver Vise Block
3. Small Hammer
4. Set of Roll Pin Punches
5. Screwdriver
6. AR-15 Barrel Wrench
7. Set of Allen Wrenches (ie Hex Wrenches)
8. Gun Oil
9. Pivot Pin Installation Tool
10. Torque Wrench
11. Razor Blade
12. AR-15 Upper Receiver Vise Block
13. Snap Ring Pliers (Not covered in video. Only needed for certain types of handguards.)
14. 5.56 NATO / .223 Headspace Gauge
15. Clamp or Vise with rubber guards (for headspace checking)
Optional Tools (not required, but they make the job easier):
16. Drill (if you desire to dimple barrel)
17. Blue Loctite
18. Dummy Cartridge
19. Brush and Rag for Cleaning
20. Needle Nose Pliers
21. Empty 5.56/.223 Shell Casing
22. Torque Screwdriver
23. Air Compressor
24. Pencil
25. Center Punch (if you desire to dimple castle nut)
26. Tape
27. Wood Block
28. Rubber Mallet
Parts:
1. Stripped Lower Receiver
a. Purchase from Gun Store or FFL
b. Depending on state laws, purchase from a private seller.
c. Make your own. (Using a drill press, 3D printer, milling machine, etc.)
2. Lower Parts Kit
a. Includes: Magazine Catch Button, Magazine Catch, Magazine Catch Spring, Bolt Catch, Bolt Catch Plunger, Bolt Catch Roll Pin, Bolt Catch Spring, Pivot Pin, Detent x 2, Detent Spring x2, Takedown Pin, Safety Selector, Selector Detent, Selector Spring, Trigger Guard, Roll Pin, Buffer Catch, Buffer Catch Spring
b. Some LPKs do not include a trigger group
i. Trigger, Trigger Spring, Hammer, Hammer Spring, Disconnector, Disconnector Spring, Hammer and Trigger Pins
c. Some LPKs do not include a pistol grip
i. Pistol Grip, Grip Screw
3. Trigger/Hammer Group (if not included in LPK)
4. Pistol Grip (if not included in LPK)
5. Buffer Tube Kit
a. Buffer Tube
i. If making an AR-15 Pistol, use a pistol tube instead.
b. Nut
c. Buffer Spring
d. Receiver end plate
e. Castle Nut
f. Buffer
i. Various Weights: H1, H2, or H3
6. Buttstock
a. Illegal on an AR-15 Pistol (must use pistol tube)
7. Barrel and Barrel Nut
8. Handguard
a. Sometimes includes a special barrel nut.
9. Gas Block Kit
a. Gas Tube
b. Gas Block
c. Gas Tube Pin
10. Flash Hider/Muzzle Brake and Crush Washer
11. Stripped Upper Receiver
12. Ejection Port Cover Kit
a. Ejection Port Cover
b. Hinge Pin
c. Hinge Pin Snap
d. Hinge Spring
13. Forward Assist Kit
a. Forward Assist (with pre installs Pawl)
b. Forward Assist Retainer Pin
c. Forward Assist Spring
14. Bolt Carrier Group
a. Bolt
i. Extractor Pin, Extractor with Spring, and Bolt
b. Carrier
i. Carrier, Cam Pin, and Retaining Pin
c. Firing pin
15. Charging Handle
a. with spring, latch, and roll pin if purchased separately.
16. Magazines
a. Variety of sizes: 10, 20, 30, etc…
17. Sights/Optics
how many dollars did they get the parts?
Great video.. Very clear instructions and techniques. Definitely my go to video(s) during my own build. Thank you for the help!!
Whoa…….wait………stop right there. The AR-15 is NOT a semi-automatic version of an M-16! The AR-15 was specifically designed for civilian use and was created BEFORE the M-16 ever existed. The M-16 only came along AFTER Armalite sold the design to the military who then altered it to create a select fire weapon and thus, the M-16 was born.
The down votes are angry Democrats we beat outta office.
Awesome job dude deffinantly saving this video for when I build mine
“lightly tap it with a rubber mallet” WHOP WHOP WHOP WHOP
Thank you so much for the video it was amazing. You my friend are #1 for instructional videos on how to build an AR-15.
Excellent instructional video. Used it without a single issue.
u yell like my dad
So what exactly did you buy in order to do this complete build?
thank you much love
This is one of the best Weapon assembly videos on YouTube. 👍🏽
Great video! Subscribed!
At 17:05, I am getting that same standard Receiver End Plate in my rifle kit. Instead of buying a new end plate with sling attachment, could I just drill a hole into the depressed area on the standard end plate for a sling mount? I know it's doable, but is that practical/effective?
Very well done.
I thought assembling an AR would be a nightmare but seeing how easy and well explained you've done it makes me believe that I could assemble one instead of buying one is this a good move though
Best Video I've seen, Great Step by step for the first rifle I've built. Thanks for taking the time!!!!!!!
This is the most informative build video that I have ever seen. I built my first using it as a guide. Thank you for posting.
Great freaken video the best I’ve watched.
This was spot on! Made my build go flawlessly! I don’t know what we did before YouTube! Thank you!
Building first one this weekend. Thanks, this really helps.
thank you for this video this video will help me build my first ar-15 thank you jim
If the rifle fires the second round immediately stop testing…put away rifle and pat yourself on the back.
Awesome video . you couldn't have explained it better thank you
It can't get any easier than this. Thanks for the video!
Question – obviously building your own one can mix match between the different manufacturers. I'm guessing there must be industry standards?
Does anyone on youtube know how to use the charging handle??? P.S. nice group of videos.
Thanks man now I can go on a killing spree
Excellent video. Not only instructional for a complete build, but also informative for the minor details such as how the take-down pins are held in.
I will refer to this if I try and do my own assembly as well as if I ever need to take my current rifles down than normal.
One point I would make, even though this video is expressly for the AR-15 platform, is that the larger AR-10 firing has (and needs) a spring on the firing pin.
Your are using the incorrect roll pin punch. The roll pin punch with the cupped end should be used to start the roll pins to prevent opening them
You should copy over all of your videos to Gun Streamer and UGE before YouTube deletes them. Those networks have a feature where you can just enter your link and the files will be automatically copied over from YouTube. It would be a shame for this video to be lost because of YouTube censorship.
That's a badass dust cover!
I have to say, these instructions are so easy, a caveman could do it. I am that caveman. Thanks …
Thank you buddy, I come here every time I have a new build!
How does one download a video?
this video was very helpful, thank you.
Thanks. Now I can still own an AR incase they want to come and take away my AR.
Great video.
Is the torque wrench necessary or could I just do it approximately