Been putting together a tool kit for a fellow overseas, trying to build an AR armorers kit but leave him some room to work on other stuff.

Thanks to Tumbleweed and Paul at Bravo Company USA for donating the most specific pieces, the combination wrench and the action block set, more on that later.

Those two pieces combined will run around $70, don't scrimp on either one, nothing more irritating then when your ONE barrel wrench snaps a peg.


Thanks to GhostRing for the photo assist

This is portion of the letter I included in the package so you'll know why the tools were included.

8 piece pin punches. Use the 5/16” to knock loose taper pins, the 1/16” is for gas tube roll and windage wheel pins, I ground the shaft of the 3/32” to clear the hump in the mag well, use it to remove bolt catch pins, 1/8” is trigger guard pins, make sure to support the offside “foot” on the lower and keep the trigger guard between the feet when installing or removing trigger guards or you will break off the “foot”.

Quick change bit screwdriver. Not the widest selection and not the best quality, luckily there are few screws on the AR/M.

10" adjustable wrench. For flash suppressors, lower receiver extensions, sight mounts, and whatever else comes up.

Small needlenose plier. For holding small damn roll pins and removing stuck cleaning patches from chambers.

Nail set punch. Use as starter punches for 1/16" roll pins.

3/8" prick punch. For staking carrier keys and lower receiver extension lock rings.

Orange dead blow no mar hammer. For adjusting parts, mainly the alinement of the front sight base in relation to the rear sight. I use a rawhide mallet as they’re more forgiving both of the tool and the work surface. If you use it a lot this hammer will chip eventually, keep that in mind. NEVER adjust the alinement of the front sight with the upper clamped in the action block; you risk bending the barrel. I take mine to the range, prone out, fire a group, and adjust the sight from there. Takes a bit of practice to figure out what Minute of Angle of your stroke is but it’s fast to do and you get a live fire zero instead of just a boresight in the shop.

Big fucking screwdriver. Removing upper buttstock screw on fixed stocks, pistol grip screws, adjusting gas tube, as a pry bar, and flinging cross the shop when a fucking rifle doesn’t work right; hence the orange handle for easy detection. Dead blow hammer can also be used for this but will fly farther and cause more damage in impact.

Slip joint pliers. Actually, the easiest way to install windage roll pins and bolt catch roll pins. Can also be used when heating or grinding parts and when you need a blood blister between your thumb and index finger.

8 oz ball peen hammer. Standard gunsmith issue, shouldn’t ever need more than that to work on the AR/M. Light enough so that if you miss your target the part won’t be destroyed. Keep an eye on this one, I’ve had good luck with these Chinese hammers but I’ve seen a couple of heads come loose.

12 piece Allen key set. Didn’t scrimp here, as the tool holder says, they’re Gorilla Proof. I hate when Allen keys rounds off or bend. I have a larger set from the same company in my tool box, I only ever use three of the wrenches. You’ll see two sizes of bolt carrier key screws and lots of companies use Allen screws for their sight mounts, pistol grips, and handguards.

I also threw in an assortment of spare punches, wrenches, pliers, and various files since he might wind up having to make his own parts/tools. Those and the tube of grease (for barrel threads) aren't shown in the pic for clarity. I also found one really cool item that I've been looking for ever since I heard a SIG armorer describe them. I'll post that thread later.

All told the tools came to $90 but you can cut some of that out by dropping the items in the preceeding paragraph, get it down to $65-70.

Hope this helps to serve as a guideline for new builders/wrenches.

light's best in the dining room

Quoted: Boy oh boy, is your wife gonna be pissed

Using the dining room table was her idea

Action block, why I just have my brother Jethro's wife sit on it, don't need them fancy boy tools!

Good point about the bag. I have all this stuff in a box in a spare room, not an ideal set up, to say the least.

I have the tool for the front detent pin, makes life a lot easier. I don't think it was very expensive, heck you could probably make one if you had to.

Quoted: Action block, why I just have my brother Jethro's wife sit on it, don't need them fancy boy tools!

I see you are familar with WECSOG

Good point about the bag. I have all this stuff in a box in a spare room, not an ideal set up, to say the least.

This kit is a minimum, there is more going over including a bag, everything actually fits in it. Hate to see the shipping charge. I know that 25 lbs of books (and liquor and food) costs $15. My tools hang o the wall next to my bench, makes them quicker to retrieve, little red plastic organizer at the tool place for cheap.

I have the tool for the front detent pin, makes life a lot easier.

I prefer skill.

I saw a couple of those when searching for the best price, I haven't used one so I don't know but something looks funny about them. I think elevating the upper above the jaws of the vise would increase the force being applied to the upper. I would think it would create more stress, possibly increasing the chance of damage to the upper but I don't know for certain. Would be nice to not have to remove the sights from a flattop when you rebarrel tho. A friend of mine uses a normal set of action blocks (like the one pictured) but cut off with a band saw so that the rail is uncovered for just that reason, saves him a lot of time in the shop.

I have a seet of snap rings pliers in my kit but used a small screwdriver to install them for years before that.

Quoted: You're hammer's not big enough.  Go back and try again.

you know what it costs to ship a Mongo tech (TM) sledge a matic to Iraq?

Quoted: Seems like an AR must-have to me.

a basic kit gentlemen, elevation roll pins rarely fail, do not require routine removal, and can be installed with existing tools. He's not BUILDING ARs, he's repairing them. I could easily pack my shop up and send it to him but that's not an option.

Quoted: a basic kit gentlemen, elevation roll pins rarely fail, do not require routine removal, and can be installed with existing tools. He's not BUILDING ARs, he's repairing them. I could easily pack my shop up and send it to him but that's not an option.

you can't go wrong with Bondhus