Off to an okay start?

[Shooter45]

Welome to the site and your new addiction. It will grow fast am sure as most of us on here own numerous AR's among other things.

[iego]

Now we're talking!



And so it begins...

[Great-Kazoo]

Now we're talking!



And so it begins...

Go to any hardware store and buy 1 of these. They are the (IMO) only way to install the front detent pin with minimal if any hassle. When you install the take down detent pin do it in a large plastic bag. It's easier to locate one of them in there, than crawling around the floor with a magnet & flashlight for an hour

https://www.lowes.com/pd/Hillman-2-i...is-Pin/3012907

[iego]

Very cool, thank you!

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XJNaTjvQaVQ

[iego]

I'll also pick up some grease...

https://www.ar-15.co/threads/165950-...ghlight=grease

[iego]

I do believe I have a functioning rifle!



It all went together quite well. Probably started about 10AM after a trip to Ace Hardware where I picked up the Clevis Pin and some grease and finished up after lunch around 2PM.

I used this guys video, and think he does a pretty darn good job at showing the processes.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=p8sY5CQmlHI

With ya'lls help I feel like I had all the tools and resources I needed for the build and some of the hardest things like the front detent and take down detents went in really smoothly! The hardest things for me were the trigger guard and the trigger itself. For some reason the trigger guard pin was really tough to get in, but I just hammered harder. lol. The trigger, is pretty complex, well everything is pretty complex, but I just took it slow and easy and it all came together really well, and I think I have a safe and ready to use gun.

I lubed it all up pretty well, even doing the already assembled upper (Bolt Carrier Group area) again, just so I have a baseline I can refer to if it ends up that I lubed it too much, or too little. I'm hoping I struck a pretty good balance on the lube but I have seen some videos of guys being really aggressive and I may not have used enough. Time will tell.

Got a bunch of mags loaded, but nothing live in the unit for now. I need to learn how to use it safely and get some practice time on the range, zero my sights, etc. You know, more fun stuff

Thanks again everyone and I'm sure I will have more questions later!

-John

[kidicarus13]

Enjoy your self built AR. And you know... if you have any parts left over you'll need to start a new built otherwise the remaining pays are consideted wasted.

[ray1970]

Enjoy.

If you thought assembling a lower and slapping an upper on it was fun you should try putting your own upper together next time.

[Jeffrey Lebowski]

Nice. I've done a couple Palmetto assemblies like that.

[Circuits]

Just make sure you paid close attention to the orientation of the hammer spring, or your trigger pin can start walking out. Have fun with your new rifle.