I decided to post my experience with trying to complete some AR-15 builds. I started this thread so other people will not feel like it always happens to them. Between assembling AR-15’s for myself and Friends/Family I’ve done 25 to 30 over the years.
Since so many of my fellow officer and Friends owned AR-15’s I started keeping spare parts for AR-15’s as usually you hate to have a weapon out of service for a very small inexpensive part. A common problem was castle nuts coming loose and loosing springs, detents. It never fails as hard as you try to have everything you need I still come up short.
A couple years ago I was helping my Brother assemble an AR-15 lower and either the lower was out of spec or the bolt catch was out of spec. The bolt catch was to thick to fit in the groove in the lower. Of course my spare bolt catch was 30 miles away so we started filing and sanding to fit the bolt catch to the lower.
Was helping a brother in law assemble lower and the grip screw was to long as the hole was not threaded deep enough. Fortunately Ace Hardware was open and we bought a shorter screw. He was probably never going to change grips and my nearest taps were 20 miles away.
A few years ago I went to assemble a six position collapsable but stock and there was no roll pin through the adjustment handle release bolt/cap. I had bought packs of different size compression roll pins. Mine were either to short, to long or wrong diameter. I searched for the proper size and finally had to cut a compression pin to fit. Really screws with my OCD!
Went to build a lower last year, no bolt catch spring in the lower parts kit. I have no spring to fit it, darn! I’ve bought bags of various size spring kits from Brownell’s but don’t have the exact size wire and diameter spring to fit, crap.
Last week I go to install the forward assist in an upper and the compression pin falls through the hole. The upper parts kit has the wrong size pin. All my compression pins are to short for size that is needed. I need 5/8” length pin all I have are 1/2”. I drive 15 miles to town and the only pins I can find are 3/4”. I use side cutters to make the pin fit.
Today I come home and open a box with the final parts I need to assemble the upper. There is an empty bag where the mid length gas tube is supposed to be. There is a small hole in the bag and a small hole in the corner of the box. Well crap, now I have to contact the vendor.
Surely I’m not the only guy but my luck is not getting any better. I keep trying to buy better quality products but I still end up with bad luck. Sad part is these are just a few of the different things I can remember at the moment.
So this post is to help the members of the forum understand that it doesn’t just happen to you. Hang in there I’m pullin for ya!
Since so many of my fellow officer and Friends owned AR-15’s I started keeping spare parts for AR-15’s as usually you hate to have a weapon out of service for a very small inexpensive part. A common problem was castle nuts coming loose and loosing springs, detents. It never fails as hard as you try to have everything you need I still come up short.
A couple years ago I was helping my Brother assemble an AR-15 lower and either the lower was out of spec or the bolt catch was out of spec. The bolt catch was to thick to fit in the groove in the lower. Of course my spare bolt catch was 30 miles away so we started filing and sanding to fit the bolt catch to the lower.
Was helping a brother in law assemble lower and the grip screw was to long as the hole was not threaded deep enough. Fortunately Ace Hardware was open and we bought a shorter screw. He was probably never going to change grips and my nearest taps were 20 miles away.
A few years ago I went to assemble a six position collapsable but stock and there was no roll pin through the adjustment handle release bolt/cap. I had bought packs of different size compression roll pins. Mine were either to short, to long or wrong diameter. I searched for the proper size and finally had to cut a compression pin to fit. Really screws with my OCD!
Went to build a lower last year, no bolt catch spring in the lower parts kit. I have no spring to fit it, darn! I’ve bought bags of various size spring kits from Brownell’s but don’t have the exact size wire and diameter spring to fit, crap.
Last week I go to install the forward assist in an upper and the compression pin falls through the hole. The upper parts kit has the wrong size pin. All my compression pins are to short for size that is needed. I need 5/8” length pin all I have are 1/2”. I drive 15 miles to town and the only pins I can find are 3/4”. I use side cutters to make the pin fit.
Today I come home and open a box with the final parts I need to assemble the upper. There is an empty bag where the mid length gas tube is supposed to be. There is a small hole in the bag and a small hole in the corner of the box. Well crap, now I have to contact the vendor.
Surely I’m not the only guy but my luck is not getting any better. I keep trying to buy better quality products but I still end up with bad luck. Sad part is these are just a few of the different things I can remember at the moment.
So this post is to help the members of the forum understand that it doesn’t just happen to you. Hang in there I’m pullin for ya!
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