wish me luck

[FalconLair]

it got real today - placed my order for the stripped lower, parts kit, and my stock

here's what i went with for my first build - hopefully more to come

https://palmettostatearmory.com/psa-ar-15-liberty-15-stripped-lower-receiver.html

https://www.midwayusa.com/product/1017358216?pid=239400

https://www.midwayusa.com/product/1003275040?pid=550882

i WAS going to go ahead and order an upper receiver too, but i decided to finish the build then take some time to see more of what's out there

i do like this one though, i have it saved

https://palmettostatearmory.com/psa-16-carbine-length-5-56-nato-1-7-m4-nitride-moe-upper-with-rear-mbus-bcg-ch.html

thoughts?

[Uncivil Engineer]

it got real today - placed my order for the stripped lower, parts kit, and my stock



here's what i went with for my first build - hopefully more to come

https://palmettostatearmory.com/psa-ar-15-liberty-15-stripped-lower-receiver.html

https://www.midwayusa.com/product/1017358216?pid=239400

https://www.midwayusa.com/product/1003275040?pid=550882

i WAS going to go ahead and order an upper receiver too, but i decided to finish the build then take some time to see more of what's out there



i do like this one though, i have it saved

https://palmettostatearmory.com/psa-16-carbine-length-5-56-nato-1-7-m4-nitride-moe-upper-with-rear-mbus-bcg-ch.html

thoughts?

It looks like you are going with psa. They are a budget brand but will likely work without a problem. Good to learn on. That said why not just buy a kit.

https://palmettostatearmory.com/ar-15/rifle-kits.html

You will likely avoid any compatibly problems and might save a few bucks.

More than just fitting a kit is less likely to have cycling issues. Eg the gas will likely be within spec for the buffer, spring and BCG. So you can avoid tuning it for reliability.

[Haplo]

watch those springs and detents as they fly for freeeeeeedom

[FalconLair]

It looks like you are going with psa. They are a budget brand but will likely work without a problem. Good to learn on. That said why not just buy a kit.

https://palmettostatearmory.com/ar-15/rifle-kits.html

You will likely avoid any compatibly problems and might save a few bucks.

More than just fitting a kit is less likely to have cycling issues. Eg the gas will likely be within spec for the buffer, spring and BCG. So you can avoid tuning it for reliability.

i considered buying the whole kit, even had this in my cart for a spell https://palmettostatearmory.com/20-c...rifle-kit.html

changed my mind, i wanted a 16" not a 20" - wanted a different hand guard too, so it made no sense to buy that kit - now i have the time and freedom to search out something more to my liking

this is what i have saved with PSA, 16" barrel and the Magpul MOE hand guard https://palmettostatearmory.com/psa-...us-bcg-ch.html

hopefully i don't run into any compatibility issues

[FalconLair]

just an update - still waiting for the lower i purchased from PSA to arrive at my FFL, tracking show delivery to happen on Thursday, June 24

i think i have everything else i need to do the build, i've watched several videos on the assembly, each one offering their own ideas of how to get certain aspects of the build done, overall i've got some great assembly ideas

i finally went ahead and ordered my upper i've decided to go ahead and go with this one: https://palmettostatearmory.com/psa-...us-bcg-ch.html hopefully there shouldn't be any compatibility issues

im already thinking about my SECOND build - i looked at some lower receivers manufactured by Aero Precision - they have a line of lowers with some new features - an increased flare in the magazine well, an integrated trigger guard, a threaded bolt catch roll pin, etc - i like this one https://www.aeroprecisionusa.com/m4e...anodized-black

pretty good reviews but i always like to reach out to members here who might've purchased from Aero to get their opinion

lot of nice lowers that are out of stock with different vendors, Anderson Manufacturing for example, fortunately i can wait

[Uncivil Engineer]

Aero often has blems at a crazy deal. Their blems are so good that you can't find why it's marked as such.

The only trick is you need to grab them when they are in stock.

I use https://www.reddit.com/r/aeroprecisioninstock
To notify me on stock changes

[FalconLair]

Aero often has blems at a crazy deal. Their blems are so good that you can't find why it's marked as such.

The only trick is you need to grab them when they are in stock.

I use https://www.reddit.com/r/aeroprecisioninstock
To notify me on stock changes

definitely going to be keeping an eye on their website too - there are a couple of things about their lowers that appeal to me

my lower from PSA is due in tomorrow and i can get started, totally looking forward to it

[Bigedski]

It's easy, but I would pick up a book there are lots of books out there that will show you how to do it, and you may need some tools as well.

[FalconLair]

So, how is the build coming along you ask??

well gentlemen, there is good news and not so good news about my first build - picked up my lower from the FFL this afternoon, brought it home and decided to get right at it after dinner

first impression - TOO EASY

started off assembling the mag release, took a couple of minutes to get that out of the way

moved on to the pivot pin and got that done in about a minute - so far no springs a flying

THEN IT HAPPENED - sigh

moved on to the trigger and hammer - started off putting on the trigger spring, then the hammer spring - slipped the trigger and disconnector w/spring into the receiver slot and secured it easily with a retaining pin

the hammer proved to be my Achilles heel - but, i don't think it is my fault


i correctly placed the hammer spring over the trigger and pushed it into lining up where it's retaining pin is inserted - only problem was, the retaining pin would not push through, no matter how hard i tried - i would line it up perfectly only the retaining pin would not go through the hammer opening, even using some slight tapping it wouldn't budge

i removed the hammer and decided to do some investigating - sure enough it didn't take long to see the problem - there is a spring inside the hammer retaining hole that is supposed to catch one of the slots of the retaining pin to help keep it in place - only this spring won't allow my pin to get through and im afraid that if i force it thru then getting it out in the future might be even more difficult

im thinking it protrudes too much into the opening and won't allow the pin to continue through

here's a picture of the inside, you can see the spring and even though i gave it a few strong taps, NOTHING, it will not get past that point where the spring is



even after i removed the hammer from the receiver i still could not get the retaining pin to tap through the other side of the hammer - this is as far as it would go



being a first time build obviously i did not try to HULK it in, thought it might be better to come in here and post the issue and hope someone here could offer a way to resolve the problem - from what i can see in other "how to" videos this type of hang up does not exist, the pin, once lined up generally pushes right through to the other side easily enough

hopefully someone here knows something i can do short of returning the hammer for an exchange to get that pin pushed through

anyway, i moved on to the rest of the build and finished getting in the bolt catch, the selector and the grip assembly - all that is really left besides the hammer is the stock along with the takedown pin

so far here's what i got



edit** - i know i could probably take a small flat head and bend that spring a bit back at it's origin just not sure if i should

[TrappedinCalifornia]

From AR15.com in 2009... Help! Hammer Pin Won't go!

From YouTube in 2018...



AR15.com in 2013... Cant get my hammer pin through due to the J pin in the hammer?

In short, a 'stout' J-spring is a good thing. A 'bad' or 'defective' hammer and/or pin is possible, but unusual. Oil and, sometimes, a wiggle can be your friend.



Sheer, brute force should not be required. Think... firm but loving.

It's not an unusual 'hang up.'

[FalconLair]

Midway USA, who I bought the build kit from, is useless - in order to get a replacement hammer they want me to return the entire kit, everything, which means I have to undo the entire lower and return all the parts - they won't just replace the hammer for me

This sucks monkey balls but what choice do I have, shell out for another hammer? No, I'll send it all back, full of oil and the grease I've already applied to it and let them send me out an ENTIRE replacement kit, instead of just a hammer

great business sense Midway, now it looks like my first build will be two builds and be delayed - sigh

[FalconLair]

Midway USA, who I bought the build kit from, is useless - in order to get a replacement hammer they want me to return the entire kit, everything, which means I have to undo the entire lower and return all the parts - they won't just replace the hammer for me

This sucks monkey balls but what choice do I have, shell out for another hammer? No, I'll send it all back, full of oil and the grease I've already applied to it and let them send me out an ENTIRE replacement kit, instead of just a hammer

great business sense Midway, now it looks like my first build will be two builds and be delayed - sigh

i've changed my mind - since i have to send the entire build kit back might as well get a refund and while waiting for that to process i'll order another build kit, only NOT from Midway

i'll find another vendor, don't really feel like dealing with Midway at this point, im sure there are alot of reputable places to purchase another build kit

any recommendations?

[FalconLair]

blah

i went ahead and got that damn retaining pin into the hammer hold

that said, i finished the build, everything seems to be functioning fine and i'll have the upper in first of next week

i think it's gonna look pretty good - here's how the build finished up





this is the upper coming in: https://palmettostatearmory.com/psa-...us-bcg-ch.html

hopefully build #2 has less drama

[george223]

I put together 4 AR's over the years. My 1st one was long before the internet and with no instructions. Just a bag of parts that I pieced together like a jigsaw puzzle. I scoffed at some of you guys who posted that the detent pin for the front take down pin was difficult. I don't remember ever having trouble with that in any of my previous builds and I don't remember ever using any special tools.

I sure was humbled this time while putting together my AR9 lower recently and I apologize. That little sucker required a few 4 letter words. I shot that pin across the room twice. Luckily, I had it pointed at a wooden cabinet so when it hit, I knew about where it was and was able to find it with a magnet. The 3rd time, I put a cardboard box in front of me. It hit the box and bounced off the table but was able to find it with the magnet.

I ended up using the clevis pin from my upper vice block, using the cotter pin hole as a guide. I then used the cotter pin to shove the detent in and rotated the clevis pin once the detent cleared. This took me way too long but I was able to put the rest of my lower together within minutes.

[george223]

blah

i went ahead and got that damn retaining pin into the hammer hold

that said, i finished the build, everything seems to be functioning fine and i'll have the upper in first of next week

i think it's gonna look pretty good - here's how the build finished up





this is the upper coming in: https://palmettostatearmory.com/psa-...us-bcg-ch.html

hopefully build #2 has less drama

Glad to see you got it together. Now you are a pro. I've had the same issue with the J-spring in the past. I just used a punch inserted in the opposite side and pushed the J-spring in and then pushed the pivot pin through against the punch.