Home AR-15 5 Mistakes To Avoid When Building An AR-15

5 Mistakes To Avoid When Building An AR-15

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50 COMMENTS

  2. Have a plan. CQB, long range, SPR? You don’t want an ultralight stock with a heavy profile barrel, etc. So many builds have lost their identity. Also, pay attention to buffer weights, so many times I see ARs that would benefit with a heavier buffer.

  3. the first one they mentioned isn't always good . for 2 of my builds in recent years i did not have that ability , parts were in and out of stock too fast so i had to plan and change based on what was available so when i was done things weren't as i originally mapped parts out to be

  6. I learned the hard way about reading directions. Was having a hard time installing a handguard using a hammer, when the directions said to heat the end that goes over the barrel but slightly and it would slip right over.

  8. I advocate for pinned gas blocks (not just FSB, but even a pinned low profile block) and the phrase "buy once, cry once"
    You want that fancy charging handle? Buy it. If not, you end up with it eventually. Wanna save $20 on your rail? Dont, you'll end up buying the better one eventually. Building is the perfect oppertunity to add those pricy accessories because it's cheaper than adding them to an existing rifle.

  10. Make sure everything fits to perfection on dry run after dry run. On my first build I didn't have a dimple jig and sweated bullets for hours with calipers, straightedges, and a cordless drill. Taking the time to fit everything right makes for the payoff of a sweet shooting rifle.

  14. After having built (assembled) over 10+ AR's, I have done all the things you mentioned. Every last one.
    My 5 rules. Wear at least some form of eye protection when doing the buffer tube retaining pin installation.)
    Not kidding about the last point.
    1-Don't gunsmith over shag carpets! (Don't ask me how I know this.)
    2-have at least one ( or two) bag of spare springs, detents, etc.
    3- I don't completely check headspace, but I bought the three gauges and check enough to satisfy me. ( Ejector still in)
    4- Buy the roll pin punches, the starter pin punches, and the fixturing tools.
    5- Remember the rules. ( A 'pistol' can later take any length barrel and no vertical fore grips.)

  16. #1 Highly recommend getting the vise, otherwise you have a BLEM lower (while still paying full price!).

    #2 Don't be me and have black rubber floor mats (the gym kind). Springs & parts fly off and you are all on fours with a flash light looking for that damn thing.

  22. I built an AR10 last year and had issues with cycling. Went through the gun top to bottom and found that the gas block had twisted off center by a hair. Thought I fixed the issue but the bolt was still short stroking even with the gas block all the way open. Eventually my bolt started getting stuck. I disassembled the entire thing and started inspecting all the parts carefully. I finally discovered that the receiver extension had ridges on the inside that were causing the bolt to get stuck as it was cycling.

  30. Before you start, I'm gonna say detents, and detent springs. Take care with the yeet pins!! And know what you're working on. Some brands do things differently. Pre-fit before torquing anything. After breaking it in, torque it again! Have lots of extra small parts. Shims and crush washers. And proper type and size tools.
    Fun Fact: I found a buffer detent in a dusty shotglass on a top shelf of a closed cabinet with a 1/4 in. gap in my hallway outside my work room 6 months after I sent it express to Bezos. I know exactly why and when it got there. I'm still baffled and amazed as to how.

  35. I'm always looking to learn something new. Keep it coming. You never know when a little bit of info will help you save a lot of headaches down the road. You may learn something new or an easier way to do things. You can always use the info to remember something you forgot.

  38. My husband purchased an AR 15 several years ago. His reason for buying it was so he could shoot wild hogs from a helicopter. We didn’t even know anyone who owned a helicopter!😂😂😂

  42. Rocksett on gas block screws and muzzle break and vibratite vc3 on all other screws I don't like using loctite on aluminum threads unless its the low strength purple kind because it will chew up your threads if you mess with it after applying it

  46. I forcibly twisted the buffer tube into the receiver, with the endplate already pressed onto the receiver. I ended up stripping the threads on the buffer tube, wasting it.

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