Going to put together my first AR-15. Some questions...

[AK-J]

I'm going to order a parts kit that has the upper already assembled.

What tools (other than standard hand tools) will I need?

Is there any good online instruction manuals to research?

Is there any print manuals I should think of ordering?

Thanks.

[TEN-32]

If you'll PM me your e-mail address I'll send a very excellent builder's guide that a member here put together. It will answer all your questions.

[Zoff12]

TEN... I lost that durin my my last PC crash. Would you sent it to me as well? zoff12 (at) fairpoint.net

[TEN-32]

TEN... I lost that durin my my last PC crash. Would you sent it to me as well? zoff12 (at) fairpoint.net

No problem Zoff. Inbound.

[shadow65]

Tools needed will be an action block, punches, a small hammer, and an armorers tool(barrel wrench).
It's actually pretty easy with instructions.

[shadow65]

I just read you are getting an assembled upper. So you won't need an action block.
If using a collapsible stock, an armorors wrench is still a good idea for the castle nut. It can be done with a hammer and punch to tighten it.
A good tool to have is a roll pin install tool. Makes roll pins a lot easier.

[Zoff12]

No problem Zoff. Inbound.

Got it. Thanks.

[AK-J]

Thanks everyone for y'all's replies. It has all been very helpful.

[AKTexas]

I'm building my first two ARs first of the year.5.56 A2 for my son and a new SBR for me.

[Solidus-snake]

I did the same thing with mine.

All i needed was a punch, hammer, and screwdriver i think.

[O.S.O.K.]

Easy as pie. The one "trick" that I will add (and this is a biggy) is to have a large clear bag on hand to do the tricky detant spring installs with - the bag keeps the spring from zinging off to find a place to hide... trust me on this - you want to use the bag.

[Solidus-snake]

Yes, listen to osok. I miraculously found mine.

[shadow65]

I bought a tool that makes the detent a piece of cake to install.

[RCS]

I was going to build my own, but I found a complete Del-Ton with new Mag-Pul furniture (don't much care about the brand, I just loved the way it felt) for $875 out the door, so I put cash down on that instead.

[Schuetzenman]

I was going to build my own, but I found a complete Del-Ton with new Mag-Pul furniture (don't much care about the brand, I just loved the way it felt) for $875 out the door, so I put cash down on that instead.

Well the price is good to be sure for an assembled weapon. You could of saved a tad over $200 to DIY the weapon. Also, building one up from a parts kit is very educational in understanding the functional relationships of the parts and the total weapon. This makes it much easier to diagnose and cure any function problems.

[AK-J]

RCS, that's not a bad price on an assembled rifle. However, I have to agree with Schuetzenman. Just looking at what it would cost to order the rifle kit with everything the same as that comes with the MOE edition Del-Ton from them, you would have saved about $200.

[AK-J]

That's including the $100 or so for the stripped lower receiver. Plus the cost of the rifle kit adding in the MOE Magpul furniture in the options, you'd have saved atleast $200.

[RCS]

Well, I would have if I hadn't bought it complete. I was standing at the gunstore, looking from the rifle to a LPK in the glass display. I would really like to have built my own, but I rarely have much time to enjoy a build and it would feel rushed to me.

[AK-J]

I ordered a parts kit from Del-Ton last week and it arrived today.


Had the lower and bayonet already. The assembly manual is the pdf TEN-32 emailed me (I printed it out and bound it), thanks again for that.

I got everything standard except I added a chrome lined barrel and detachable carry handle.

I'm waiting on the roll-pin punches I ordered from another vendor to arrive before I put it together.

Thanks everyone for all your help.

[Solidus-snake]

Hey tell me how it does. Ive been debating buying a kit from Del ton for my SBR build.