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Posted: 7/17/2013 7:51:02 PM EDT
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Long time lurker, first time poster.
Thought I'd start off my ar15.com carreer with a small contribution (stuff you shouldnt do). Lesson 1: Do not torque flash hiders more than the recommended specs. It really and truly is worth waiting for the shipping and paying the expense for new washer(s). If you do torque a flash hider another 350 degrees because it's aligned at 1 o clock, what happens is it pulls on the threads hard enough to compromise the barrel right at the muzzle. If you fire a round through said rifle, the pressure causes the barrel to bow outwards - giving a dark ring near the muzzle crown when you inspect it with a bore light. Said barrel then becomes essentially worthless unless counterbored, shortened, or maybe some other options that are cost prohibitive vs the cost of a new one. It does make an excellent shine to your own stupidity. Lesson 2: When torquing a barrel nut to the specified 35 ft lbs, if the notch is just a smidge past being aligned, you are likely to damage the teeth if you attempt to torque until the next notch aligns. This renders the nut useless for the troy alpha rail without some fancy file work. Lesson 3: When buying a new barrel, no matter how sure you are of the length of your current gas tube, measure it and see if you remembered correctly. Otherwise, you may get burned by the fact that few local shops keep small parts in stock (and have to pay shipping that can rival the cost of the item itself). Lesson 4: In all cases, if something doesnt go according to plan, sleep on it before putting an order in so you can have the part sooner. Sleep deprivation + problem solving = problem creation. Lesson 5: It is possible, but ill advised, to change gas tubes with vice grips, a drill bit and a rock. Lesson 6: Tell your wife that you are thinking of getting something as soon as it crosses your mind. This lends credibility to your later claim that you've been wanting (whatever) for three months. And a piece of advice from what I know about quenching (learned through 10+ years of blacksmithing as a hobby). Red locktite requires a torch to free it. Torches have a tendency to temper (or ruin the temper) of hardened steel. Be careful where you apply that stuff. What lessons have you learned the hard way? |
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Does the painful way count? If it does I learned to change motorcycle tires every year. Even if they look ok to you.
8 months in a cast/ walking cast/ brace gives one time to think. I've also learned to use a marked dowel to check powder charge levels. Drop the dowel into the case if it's at the mark seat a bullet, no mark means no/not enough powder. Saves time beating the bullet out of a barrel if it's not stuck in there to start with. Take my word for this and skip it |
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Don't buy a complete colt rifle and replace EVERYTHING except for the upper/lower. Woulda saved a ton of cash just starting with parts. First rifle
The right tools may seem expensive but they are worth every penny. Especially roll pin punches, front pivot pin install tool, Upper vice block, the proper barrel nut wrench. Rifle buffer in a carbine tube doesn't work worth a shit. Buy decent parts the first time (Buy once cry once) DONT TAKE PAYPAL (Lost out on money for a $700 upper and I HAD delivery confirmation) |
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1. use the right tool the first time; even if it means waiting to get that tool
2. if you paint mags, dont paint the part that inserts into the lower as even two coats of krylon will cause the mag to be too tight (duh!) 3. You can never "over prep" when working on a build/project 4. This one applies to the above 3, PATIENCE IS A VIRTUE! 5. Stick to aluminum receivers 6. Use roll pin punches on a lower build 7. Your "build" is NEVER, EVER, EVER Completed!!! |
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Quoted:
Don't buy a complete colt rifle and replace EVERYTHING except for the upper/lower. Woulda saved a ton of cash just starting with parts. First rifle The right tools may seem expensive but they are worth every penny. Especially roll pin punches, front pivot pin install tool, Upper vice block, the proper barrel nut wrench. Rifle buffer in a carbine tube doesn't work worth a shit. Buy decent parts the first time (Buy once cry once) DONT TAKE PAYPAL (Lost out on money for a $700 upper and I HAD delivery confirmation) I have always wondered about the Paypal thing. I'll take it for lower cost items but never a high value item. Thanks for the lesson. |
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