AR Sponsor
Posted: 5/6/2008 7:20:46 PM EDT
| How valuable are real Roll Pin Punches over standard pin punches fo assembling my AR? I was able to get pin starters, but not the actual punches. |
| I think your talking about the punches with the little tit on the end that keeps the roll pin from de-forming. Seems like there is some confusion between those and starter pins. If you are, I think it is the professional way to build ar's. You will, at the least, mar the finish with a normal punch. Normally, you start to roll the inside of the roll pins inwards when using a standard punch. The roll pin punches will not mar or deform the roll pins. Once you use them you will never go back. I would get two sets just in case. Use the right tool for the job. |
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If you're only going to build one lower, then you probably don't need them. If, however, you think you might be doing a few, then they're not a bad investment. I got a set of Mayhew punches online (can't remember where, but I imagine you can google it), and I'm very happy with them. |
I'd say depends upon your aptitude. For a ham fisted person like myself, they come in handy. The other criteria I'd use to justify purchasing them would be how many AR's do you think youll be doing? If more than 1 or 2, I'd say the expense is justified. I'm a tool whore. Some might say just a tool  Still, I tend to buy alot of stuff even if I'm only gonna use it a few times.
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That's where I got mine-think I paid $20 for a 5 piece set. I like to do my own repairs on all my firearms when needed and possible, and I run into roll pins more and more. Even a Blackthorne kit build(cheapest I've found) can top $550, why skip a few dollars for the right tool? Do it right, the rifle will likely look better and you'll be happier with the money you spend on it. |
+1 Just put together a lower the other night, using electrical tape wrapped on the jaws of a pair of Robopliers. Worked perfectly for all of the roll pins, no effort, no scratches. |
I used brass punches for my first build, no problems. Later, I was able to afford buying a set of roll pin punches and did. But if I hadn't, I'd have still been comfortable using the brass punches. I highly recommend roll pin punches, and absent that, brass. |
IIRC Brownells had a set specifically for AR-15 builds, when I bought my set, but they also had a set that came with one more punch, that was the one I bough, "Just in Case." and, it wasn't that much more expensive, I think it cost less than the cost of buying the extra punch. |
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