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AR15.COM
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3/25/2004 4:40:29 PM EDT
Hi all,

  I am fairly new to firearms, shooting and any kind of gunsmithing, but I love to learn new things. I am in the process of getting my Pistol Permit (in CT) and I just bought myself a Ruger 10/22. I am really intertested in building an AR-15.  So my question is, where would be a good place to start?  Are there any good courses online or books or anything like that?  I would like to learn gunsmithing in general, but would eventually like to be able to build my own AR-15... any help would be appreciated, thanks!

-steve
3/25/2004 5:09:27 PM EDT
[#1]
Welcome!  We were all new to guns at one time.  A 10/22 is an excellent place to start.  ARs fall a little outside "traditional" general gunsmithing.  You don't need much gunsmithing experience at all when building and AR.  There are fellows around this forum that I wouldn't trust to butter a piece of toast that have built ARs.  Course I wouldn't shoot 'em.  Never the less, most peoiple that have some measure of mechanical sense could build an AR.

If you're serious about a career in gunsmithing, there are several books available from this source.

[url]www.brownells.com[/url]

They sell gunsmith tools as well.

I'm not aware of any online schools for gunsmithing and there aren't many online resources for gunsmiths either.

If ya just want to build an AR, hang around the forum for a while and ASK QUESTIONS!  I'm sure you'll get much more than you want.

Books by Duncan Long were a good source of information about ARs for me.
3/25/2004 5:25:42 PM EDT
[#2]
Hey, sounds good!  I just graduated college with an Electrical Engineering degree, so schematics and manuals are right at home for me.  I'll take a look at that site and check out some of the books.  Thanks a lot for the help!

-steve
3/28/2004 12:35:06 PM EDT
[#3]
I like the U.S. Marine Corps Technical Manual TM 05538C-23&P/2 Rifle, 5.56-MM, M16A2.
3/28/2004 1:20:25 PM EDT
[#4]
BushMaster makes an excellent VHS tape on AR assembly, it helped me build my lower. Theres info with lots of pics on on the sidebar of this website. Buildning a lower is no problem. buy a complete upper in the configuration you want and then a lower and the parts kit. Save some money and also teaches  you how things work. Theres only a couple of tools you need to build the lower. A couple of punchs and to save yourself a headache a front pin detent and spring instalation tool, there about 5-8 dollars on the gun websites. Uppers require a few more tools.....like I said buy a complete upper or go ahead and give it a try yourself.
3/28/2004 1:23:04 PM EDT
[#5]
Quoted:
I like the U.S. Marine Corps Technical Manual TM 05538C-23&P/2 Rifle, 5.56-MM, M16A2.
View Quote


you'd be surprised how many questions this $4 book will save.  i read posts on here all the time that are answered in it.  
3/28/2004 2:29:44 PM EDT
[#6]
Google search for U.S. Marine Corps Technical Manuals. See link.

http://www.militaryclothing.com/IBS/SimpleCat/Product/asp/product-id/732745.html

$5.00

Thanks for the backup Inferno
3/28/2004 2:37:57 PM EDT
[#7]
Hey everyone, thanks for all the replys and I will be checking out that manual as soon as I can.  Thanks again for all the great info!

-steve
3/28/2004 8:12:29 PM EDT
[#8]
Quoted:
I like the U.S. Marine Corps Technical Manual TM 05538C-23&P/2 Rifle, 5.56-MM, M16A2.
View Quote

[b]Here is that manual, FREE to download, right click on the url and select "Save target as".[/b]

[url]http://www.biggerhammer.net/manuals/usmc_m16a2_manual.pdf[/url]

3/29/2004 11:51:49 AM EDT
[#9]
SJR;

Where in CT are you?

Cheers!
3/29/2004 1:19:18 PM EDT
[#10]
North Haven...
3/29/2004 3:41:11 PM EDT
[#11]
Wingman,

Cool site.

Thanks.
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