Off to an okay start?

[iego]

Thanks, all!

Circuits, you reminded me I did have questions about the hammer and trigger pins, because they are unbalanced with grooves in the center and to one side (but not the other.) The video I watched didn't mention if the long, ungrooved section should go in first, or last, so I just guessed at it (er, ahem.) Googling it now, it seems that the grooves are where the ends of the springs should ride and it seems like something I better double check, so thank you!

(I'm actually still unsure how if the ends of the springs are supposed to reside in the grooves, why the grooves would be in the middle, and to one edge and not to both edges? Maybe just one end of the spring needs to be in a groove to keep the pins from walking out? Anyway, yes, something I better check.)



-John

[00tec]

Doesnt matter which end goes in first. One leg of the spring should rest in that groove near the edge (whichever side it's on)

[Circuits]

Thanks, all!
(I'm actually still unsure how if the ends of the springs are supposed to reside in the grooves, why the grooves would be in the middle, and to one edge and not to both edges? Maybe just one end of the spring needs to be in a groove to keep the pins from walking out? Anyway, yes, something I better check.)

The middle groove is for retaining the hammer, which has a tension pin running down its middle. Always install the hammer pin starting with the side that doesn't have a groove on the outside, or you'll have to push through the outside groove first to get it centered before the hammer can grab the middle groove. The outside groove is for one leg of the hammer spring to rest on, retaining the trigger pin, and it doesn't matter which end goes first for the trigger pin, usually.

[iego]

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.

I had exactly one spring and one detent left over from the build, lol. (Spares, I believe.) I did buy two stripped lowers however, because like you say, there ain't no way I'm going to stop with just one of these, lol! My FFL was impressed as the lowers had consecutive serial numbers and he said he'd never seen that before.

I've decided that since this build weighs 6 lbs 9 ounces, I'm going to call her Elly, as in Elly May Clampett from the Beverly Hillbillies. My next build will be Jethro.

-John

[iego]

Thanks Circuits and 00tec! Great explanation, and I will check this in the morning. I do think I inserted the hammer pin incorrectly (grooved side first), but at the end of the day, if I understand correctly, I can check and see where my springs are riding, and as long as they are riding in the right places I'm good to go, even if I technically did it wrong/the hard way.

-John

[00tec]

Thanks Circuits and 00tec! Great explanation, and I will check this in the morning. I do think I inserted the hammer pin incorrectly (grooved side first), but at the end of the day, if I understand correctly, I can check and see where my springs are riding, and as long as they are riding in the right places I'm good to go, even if I technically did it wrong/the hard way.

-John

I have only had a pin walk on me once. I leave one leg of the hammer string below the pin to reduce pull. I left the side down that had the required notch to retain it. Pulled pin, corrected the spring. Good to go.

[Circuits]

as long as they are riding in the right places I'm good to go, even if I technically did it wrong/the hard way.

Correct - on the hammer pin it's not the "wrong" way, just harder to install. I always put the hammer pin in a particular way, so I don't go the harder way when disassembling.

[Joe_K]

Nice work! Definitely recommend getting it looked over by a smith just to make sure everything is good to go. Nothing like taking your home built AR to the range only to find out there is an issue. Been there, done that. With a lot of the PSA stuff you will find everything from chambers cut too tightly, gas ports to large, canted front sight bases,bad extractors/ejectors in the Bolt, unstated gas key bolts. Also if you didn’t torque and stake the castle nut correctly you can end up with issues. Not to say that any of this WILL happen, just that it can and does. Good luck!


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

[iego]

Thank you, yes, a double check by a gun smith may be in order.

-John

[BPTactical]

I have only had a pin walk on me once. I leave one leg of the hammer string below the pin to reduce pull. I left the side down that had the required notch to retain it. Pulled pin, corrected the spring. Good to go.

If leaving one leg of the hammer spring below the pin reduces the pull you have excessive positive sear angle. With a correct neutral sear angle you could have a 300# hammer spring and it would have negligible effect on trigger pull.
Fix the real problem instead of putting a bandaid on it.
Besides, you are seriously compromising ignition reliability with the reduced tension on one leg.