AR-15 builders

[Bofire]

I am going to buy the basic tools and "kits' and build my first AR and hopefully a few more.
I am retired and need a hobby.
You guys have any advice? I see tool kits on Brownells etc. I am mechanical, can do some machineing and understand tools.
thanks
Carl

[gasman]

I am going to buy the basic tools and "kits' and build my first AR and hopefully a few more.
I am retired and need a hobby.
You guys have any advice? I see tool kits on Brownells etc. I am mechanical, can do some machineing and understand tools.
thanks
Carl

The only specialty tools I have bought for puting together the 3 AR's I have built so far is a Barrel Nut Wrench and the Hardguard removal tool.

Every thing else, I had in my garage 

[cwuwildcat]

I am going to buy the basic tools and "kits' and build my first AR and hopefully a few more.
I am retired and need a hobby.
You guys have any advice? I see tool kits on Brownells etc. I am mechanical, can do some machineing and understand tools.
thanks
Carl

The only specialty tools I have bought for puting together the 3 AR's I have built so far is a Barrel Nut Wrench and the Hardguard removal tool.

Every thing else, I had in my garage 

   I haven't built an upper from scratch, but I've done plenty of lowers with nothing other than a punch, soft hammer, vice grips with electrical tape wrapped around the tips to squeeze in the bolt release pin and a castle nut wrench. Also a razor blade to hold in the amazingly over complicated rear takedown pin detent.  I don't know how many of those I've had shoot across the room while trying to install the takedown pin.  I use the razor blade to press down on the detent while I slip the pin in.  Maybe theres a better way, but I haven't figured it out.

[carpsniperg2]

I am going to buy the basic tools and "kits' and build my first AR and hopefully a few more.
I am retired and need a hobby.
You guys have any advice? I see tool kits on Brownells etc. I am mechanical, can do some machineing and understand tools.
thanks
Carl

Go to little crow gun works and get there AR build kit. Money well spent. A armorers wrench is a must. A strap wrench. Roll pin punches. Lots of electrical tape to keep from dinging the finish. rubber mallet/brass hammer. Blocks if you are doing barrel work and building your own upper they are a must. Good set of t handle hex wrenches. Lots of other small things a guy can get to save time and help out but the above is a must for me.

[Bofire]

Thanks

[kbrowne14]

The only special tool you might need is the castle nut wrench.  you may need a barrel nut wrench, but most come with one, and you just use a torque wrench connected to the barrel nut wrench.  A set of punches, maybe some roll pin punches (not necessary).  You will need the upper vice block and a vice to mount the barrel and attach the gas block and stuff.

[Bmcox86]

http://www.cabelas.com/product/Wheelerreg-Delta-Series-AR-Armorers-Kits/1530083.uts?Ntk=AllProducts&searchPath=%2Fcatalog%2Fsearch.cmd%3Fform_state%3DsearchForm%26N%3D0%26fsch%3Dtrue%26Ntk%3DAllProducts%26Ntt%3DAr%2Bbuild%2Bkit%26WTz_l%3DHeader%253BSearch-All%2BProducts&Ntt=Ar+build+kit

And this nifty lil tool I found on amazon for the roll pins
http://www.amazon.com/Wheeler-AR-15-Pivot-Roll-Install/dp/B00AUEHSLU/ref=sr_1_3?ie=UTF8&qid=1393725828&sr=8-3&keywords=Ar+roll+pin

[Jburke]

The only special tool I needed if I remember correctly was a vise block and armorers wrench.  I'm sure there are lots of others with more experience and I'm sure there are other tools that would make things easier.  I didn't really have any problems using common small hand tools.  I only built one but now I have the urge to build another, and another.

[Jburke]

Also it will depend on the components you choose to install.  Free floated tube style handguard will require a different wrench than the standard M4 with the Delta ring will.

[Fl0und3rz]

I built my first few lowers with an armorer's wrench and a set of punches.  Those and standard hand tools suffice. Later, I picked up a hand guard removal tool for removing standard handguards.  Lowers are simple without a vise block, but I probably wouldn't want to do much upper work without barrel vise block and/or upper vise block.