I just wanted to start a thread seeing how the popularity of stripped lowers might increase. Later today I will post links and such with alternative methods of assembly, pictures and videos. Probably best for the beginner to watch a couple videos to see how easy it is, yet a couple paths could end up with scratches and marrs at best, a ruined lower worst case.
First should be covering the lower with painters tape. Cheap. Easy. Next but not required is holder that essentially duplicates a magazine. Then this tool goes in a vise. Use after installing mag release. Basically gives you a third hand and very safely holds your lower. Starter roll pin punches, good set. The squirrel daddy brand are ok but not near deep enough. You will later see how handy these are for the pesky roll pins. Set of Knipex pliers. All you need to press in roll pins, once they are started. No risk of hammer damage An extra trigger pin or two. Really nice for alignment of the opposite side when sliding in the first trigger pin with sear in the middle, and also the pesky hammer pin under some tension. Using a clevis pin to install the pivot pin
More to come.... ..
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Mon Nov 19, 2018 7:27 am
os2firefox
Site Supporter
Location: Everett, WA Joined: Sat Aug 4, 2012 Posts: 2798
Real Name: Snek on de ladder
I built my last with a pair of the Knipex pliers (the most expensive pliers you'll never regret buying), a set of Squirrel Daddy punches and a plastic headed mallet as well as the requisite painters tape. There's a tiny marring next to the bolt catch assembly, which was totally my fault, but you need to know where to look to see it. To be fair, I had to have the buffer tube tightened up after the fact because I don't own an AR-15 wrench. However, you could do that yourself too with a mallet & a suitably shaped piece of hard plastic or wood to drive it around the tube.
If you're really nervous about it, Aero makes the enhanced M4E1 lowers with threaded bolt catch/release pins. Just takes a small allen wrench. No fuss no muss.
If you go with a billet lower or one of the Aero M4E1 enhanced lowers you will also save yourself the trouble of installing one of the unsightly milspec trigger guards that come in most lower parts kits.
I know we're talking about lower receivers right now but one product I've really come to like for installing on stripped upper receivers are the Strike Industries enhanced dust covers. They look cool and you don't have to fuss with driving the hinge pin all through it. The SI dust covers install kind of like a toilet paper roll holder. you just compress the pins on each end and let them pop into the intended holes on the upper receiver. They're a pretty slick set up.
Mon Nov 19, 2018 9:18 pm
waglocker
Location: Ohio Joined: Fri Nov 9, 2012 Posts: 3924
Real Name: Sean
If you're really nervous about it, Aero makes the enhanced M4E1 lowers with threaded bolt catch/release pins. Just takes a small allen wrench. No fuss no muss.
If you go with a billet lower or one of the Aero M4E1 enhanced lowers you will also save yourself the trouble of installing one of the unsightly milspec trigger guards that come in most lower parts kits.
I know we're talking about lower receivers right now but one product I've really come to like for installing on stripped upper receivers are the Strike Industries enhanced dust covers. They look cool and you don't have to fuss with driving the hinge pin all through it. The SI dust covers install kind of like a toilet paper roll holder. you just compress the pins on each end and let them pop into the intended holes on the upper receiver. They're a pretty slick set up.
Cool!
One of the two lowers I won in the 1639 raffle (hey I donated $500) - has the small socket head screw.......funny when I first opened the box and glanced at it, I thought some clown drove the pin in prematurely.
I have that dust cover on my 10mm upper.
_________________ Why does the Penguin in Batman sound like a duck?
Because the eagle sounds like a hawk.
Tue Nov 20, 2018 3:44 am
Pablo
Site Supporter
Location: Everson, WA Joined: Sun Jan 6, 2013 Posts: 28196
Real Name: Ace Winky
Bolt catch installation For those of you with access to a drill press. Clamp your receiver into a vice. And press the pin into the receiver. Do not turn on the spindle/drill ! Your only using the machine as a press. . . .
Tue Nov 20, 2018 6:57 am
Pablo
Site Supporter
Location: Everson, WA Joined: Sun Jan 6, 2013 Posts: 28196
Real Name: Ace Winky
I built my last with a pair of the Knipex pliers (the most expensive pliers you'll never regret buying), a set of Squirrel Daddy punches and a plastic headed mallet as well as the requisite painters tape. There's a tiny marring next to the bolt catch assembly, which was totally my fault, but you need to know where to look to see it. To be fair, I had to have the buffer tube tightened up after the fact because I don't own an AR-15 wrench. However, you could do that yourself too with a mallet & a suitably shaped piece of hard plastic or wood to drive it around the tube.
Truth right there. I've seen shops do it with a vice but you have better control with the pliers IMHO.
The only tool I used for assembling a lower is pliers with electrical tape on the tips. Well that and the wrench for the buffer tube.
Before you start tapping in that bolt catch retaining pin put some electrical tape on the side of the lower where you're hammering to protect the Finish.
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Tue Nov 20, 2018 1:13 pm
os2firefox
Site Supporter
Location: Everett, WA Joined: Sat Aug 4, 2012 Posts: 2798
Real Name: Snek on de ladder
The only tool I used for assembling a lower is pliers with electrical tape on the tips. Well that and the wrench for the buffer tube.
Before you start tapping in that bolt catch retaining pin put some electrical tape on the side of the lower where you're hammering to protect the Finish.
I tap the pin gently with the taped up tips on the pliers to get it started then just squeeze them in.
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