Attempting my first AR build...Am I off to a good start?

rbird7282 · Jun 9, 2021

DaemonAssassin said:
Bore scope
Magpul BEV block
Long Allen wrench set for SAE and Metric
Inspection picks
Magpul Armorer wrench
Small needle nose pliers
Utility knife w/razor blade
Torque wrench 1/2"
Breaker bar 1/2"
Aeroshell 64
Loctite 720
Tack hammer (get one at Lowe's)
Screwdrivers (flat and Phillips)
Torx wrench set
Sotaracha
Lapping tool
Lapping compound
Mobil 1 Synthetic oil
Wheeler AR15/AR10 vice block (used when lapping the upper)
Feeler gauges
Punch set
Roll pin punch set
Roll pin starter punches
223 GO, 556 GO, 556 FIELD headspace gauges (pacific tool and gauge will also modify them for a small fee, so they will clear the extractor and ejector)
Cordless drill (used for lapping the upper)
And many more

I know it’s a typo but it should be Loctite 620 not 720.

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babalou · Jun 10, 2021

Lolol

rbird7282 said:
I know it’s a typo but it should be Loctite 620 not 720.

Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

Damn my friend. You down with OCD yeah you know me. Naughty by Nature approves.

babalou · Jun 10, 2021

Ckass?

The OP should get the parts and take a class where they go over tools and use the instructor’s tools to get a general idea on what to get for next time

GBear · Jun 10, 2021

babalou said:
The OP should get the parts and take a class where they go over tools and use the instructor’s tools to get a general idea on what to get for next time

Didn’t even think these classes existed, but that’s a great idea. Can you point me in the right direction or should do what I normally do...Google it!

Bountied · Jun 10, 2021

smokey0118 said:
Gas block spaghetti trick... find spaghetti that's big enough to fill most of the gas port hole in the barrel, but that's not too tight. With gas port up, break off spaghetti flush with the barrel. Measure its length so you know you got all of it out later(two lines on paper will do) .

With gas port up, drop in spaghetti and then slide gas block over it, roughly where you think it's lined up. Now turn the barrel 90 degrees so the gas block is down and look up the bore as you move the gas block around. When it's lined up, the spaghetti will fall down into the gas block. You should be able to figure out where center is by wiggling the block left/right and front/back so that the spaghetti freely moves in and out of the block as you rotate the gas port to face up and down.

Tighten up the gas block(assuming clamp on). Next turn gas port up again and use a cleaning rod to push from chamber to muzzle to snap the spaghetti out the front. Keep the piece that comes out, pull back the cleaning rod and push forward again. Repeat until there's no spaghetti coming out the front. Gather up the spaghetti pieces and verify that they fit together to make up the initial length so that you know there's not loose sketty up in the gun somewhere.

It's basically what these do...
https://www.brownells.com/gunsmith-...-tools/ar-15-gas-block-aligner-prod68371.aspx
...but without needing to buy plastic sketty.

I've always just eyeballed it, but do what ever you want.

Bountied · Jun 10, 2021

GBear said:
Didn’t even think these classes existed, but that’s a great idea. Can you point me in the right direction or should do what I normally do...Google it!

My teacher was Youtube and trial & error. Don't forget go/no-go gauges for your bolt and barrel. It's a good idea to buy a matched set (bolt/barrel) that's been head spaced, if you can find one.

Magnumite · Jun 10, 2021

GBear said:
I’ve been looking at complete lowers/uppers all morning. Seems like the safe middle of the road way to go. Question...if I order a complete lower, the receiver extension still has to be a brace and not a stock, correct? I’m also stuck between getting the less expensive parts vs geissele triggers and high end complete uppers with a quality bcg. I already have a DDM4 PDW and waiting on my Nomad-30 to be set free, but being such a beginner to firearms I truly would have purchased something chambered in 5.56 instead of 300 blackout. Ammo prices make shooting very limited. I am on the wait list for a Walther PDP, which should be available in August. I said all of that to say this...this will probably be last firearm purchase for a while. The next step is training, training, and more training. But what would you guys do...spend the extra cash on all of the “custom” parts you want or go for a budget build? Or...wait until what I really want because available, which doesn’t have a time frame? Sorry for the long post, but I’m self-diagnosed OCD and this will consume my mind and time until I solve it.

Sometimes you just need to get your feet wet. I did with a side charger upper. Bought one, shot it, sold it. I liked the concept but realized I would prefer a different configuration side charger. You are still learning the ins and outs of the AR platform. Same here. I realize you desire the pistol with brace set up. There are frames and parts all over..pricey now.

Gun Connection had 6 carbine stock lowers all ready to go Tuesday. All kinds of useable 16” uppers out there. For about $750-$800 you can get your feet wet in a carbine. You already have some of your build parts. With the carbine acquired you can shoot, assess, then slow build your specified pistol as the parts you seek become available and make the changes you want as you learn with the carbine.

DZ · Jun 10, 2021

smokey0118 said:
Gas block spaghetti trick...

Lots of ways to get two holes to meet, I suppose. I have always just measured the distance from the center of the hole in the gas block to the from of the gas block and the marked the radial position of the holes on each, then assembled. My method is superior because it is gluten free. :yummy:

SkiPatrolDude · Jun 10, 2021

Bountied said:
I've always just eyeballed it, but do what ever you want.

I also eyeball it if I am not dimpling. I haven't missed yet - It really just isn't that complicated. Even this dumb noddle trick can land you with a misaligned gas block, as the hole in the gas block is huge compared to the barrel port. I imagine you would get closer to center with eyeballing. Or just do what most people do and dimple the barrel.

SkiPatrolDude · Jun 10, 2021

Bountied said:
My teacher was Youtube and trial & error. Don't forget go/no-go gauges for your bolt and barrel. It's a good idea to buy a matched set (bolt/barrel) that's been head spaced, if you can find one.

Some may chime in differently, but out of dozens upon dozens of barrels / bolts and builds, I have yet to see a random bolt not headspace properly to a random barrel... although I rarely use junk parts.

I still use headspace gauges, but 99/100 or more times you simply don't need it.

Buy quality parts, build properly... and shoot it.

I know some of you have an aneurism just thinking about this.

Bountied · Jun 10, 2021

SkiPatrolDude said:
Some may chime in differently, but out of dozens upon dozens of barrels / bolts and builds, I have yet to see a random bolt not headspace properly to a random barrel... although I rarely use junk parts.

I still use headspace gauges, but 99/100 or more times you simply don't need it.

Buy quality parts, build properly... and shoot it.

I know some of you have an aneurism just thinking about this.

Yeah... I'd say for a first build I'd check the head space just for the practice. I have a full set, go, no-go, and field, that can be used but not lent. I don't lend tools... sorry

babalou · Jun 10, 2021

yup

GBear said:
Didn’t even think these classes existed, but that’s a great idea. Can you point me in the right direction or should do what I normally do...Google it!

school of the american rifle.

Bountied · Jun 10, 2021

babalou said:
school of the american rifle.

Where is Chad? He's been MIA on here for a long time.

Ammo Jon · Jun 10, 2021

Rather than buy the tools for one build, stick around and get to know members around here. There’s actually some that enjoy building them, whereas I just enjoy shooting them. It brings them pleasure to build?!? Have at it!

teratos · Jun 10, 2021

Bountied said:
Where is Chad? He's been MIA on here for a long time.

He’s doing SOTAR stuff. Doesn’t feel the need to deal with the haters.

Bountied · Jun 10, 2021

teratos said:
He’s doing SOTAR stuff. Doesn’t feel the need to deal with the haters.

Hatin's part of the game... he had some good nuggets of advice. I'm still not on board with the Mobil 1 thing but hey, that's just me.

DaemonAssassin · Jun 10, 2021

Bountied said:
Hatin's part of the game... he had some good nuggets of advice. I'm still not on board with the Mobil 1 thing but hey, that's just me.

Mix the Mobil 1 with high temp lithium grease. You'll love it. It's awesome stuff.

teratos · Jun 10, 2021

Bountied said:
Hatin's part of the game... he had some good nuggets of advice. I'm still not on board with the Mobil 1 thing but hey, that's just me.

At some point you just don’t need it. See the recent lube thread. People denigrated his work. That’s inaccurate and unnecessary.

outrider58 · Jun 10, 2021

OP, seems like you have plenty of help here, so I'll just butt out. Once you build it and take it to the range, maybe that's when the fun will begin...

smokey · Jun 10, 2021

Bountied said:
I've always just eyeballed it, but do what ever you want.

The spaghetti or alignment peg trick works pretty well. Nowadays, a bore scope makes it easy... but the ones with spaghetti were pretty dead nuts centered. Explaining it takes more time than actually doing it and it gave me some peace of mind.

Attempting my first AR build...Am I off to a good start?

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