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Posted: 2/9/2005 6:13:03 PM EDT
| I've done some searches and studied some of the information on uppers on ARF, great info thanks. Can you guys give me your opinions on a first time AR builder building the complete upper. Buying all the parts, etc. I'm not thinking of it from a cost savings standpiont, I looking at it for learning and the satisfaction of building the complete rifle. Any thoughts? |
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Its easy IF you have the right tools. For an upper build get a good vice, GOOD punches(not cheap ones), get a set of barrel clamps and an action block. Also get a barrel nut wrench. Bolt the vice down to a good heavy table. Nothing sucks more than a crappy vice bolted to a featherweight table. Also with the punches: dont buy long ones. The longer they are the easier they are to bend and deform. You shouldnt need the point much longer than a half inch long. I get alot of my tools from mscdirect.com. That would be a good place for a vice and punches. As for the build parts just start with a good chrome lined barrel with FSB and whatever upper receiver and handguard you want and assemble. |
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I say do it. I've recently built two uppers and installed a FF rail system. They all shoot & look great. It's not hard, but you do have to have patience and the right tools. upper action block for holding upper barrel vise (or leather for wrapping barrel in vise) for installing muzzle devices roll pin punches for roll pins roll pin starter punches DPMS multitool for installing barrels, stocks, muzzle devices, FF tubes (though for some you might need the YHM wrench) extra gas tube or piece thereof for indexing barrel nut and/or delta ring assy steel punches for removing FSBs (straight pins) taper pin punches for removing FSBs (taper pins) torque wrench for installing barrels (though some would argue you don't really need this) I think that's about it for tools. ETA: Oh yeah and a vise too. You don't need more than a 4", but it does have to be solidly bolted. |
I love working on AR's about as much as I love my wife!! She thinks I love building them more than her because I spend so much time tinkering in my shop with AR stuff. |
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