Secret to driving out pins?

[Ryan in SD]

I have had a hell of a time with some pins. I recently had a frozen pin in a rsb that I finally got out.

What do you do when:
1. It wont punch out
2. It wont press out
3. It wont drill out

???

I had to punch, press, drill, press, punch, cuss, then punch some more after drilling it all the way through. Some pins just suuuck! Others are super easy.

[SJgunguy24]

Start with a stubby punch, if that won't work, grab the air hammer.

[tankerman]

It'll press out, you just have to keep trying.

Last one I did I placed socket on one side of the vice and a short round of hardened steel from a nut driver on the other side then closed the vice as tight as possible, then I beat on the vice with a sledge hammer until the pin started to move. After that I kept tightening the vice and beating with the sledge hammer until the pin was out.

[owenriquez]

Try to lubricate it first, PB blaster from auto parts might help...putting it in i put vaseline...
hope this will help.

[Ryan in SD]

Lets pass a CA law, no more stubborn pins ACT 2011.

Im going to try an air hammer next time, I figured it would peen it though but I have yet to try.

[Alex$]

I always try to drive stubborn pins further in then back out, about 50% of the time they will move and don't have to drill them.

Worth a try before you spend press time making shavings.

[Mr.Caketown]

is your upper a Stag? the pins are backwards on those

[Alex$]

is your upper a Stag? the pins are backwards on those

AK not AR

If you are punching and pressing on an AR, chances are you are doing it wrong. Won't even touch the drilling part or hammering on a vice... (discount that last for 80%'ers)

[Ryan in SD]

Yeah its a stag

jk

[bruceflinch]

Try to lubricate it first, PB blaster from auto parts might help...putting it in i put vaseline...
hope this will help.

Sounds like something Big Jake would say....

[tankerman]

Try to lubricate it first, PB blaster from auto parts might help...putting it in i put vaseline...
hope this will help.

I haven't had any luck with penetrating oil on these pins. It's a press fit, not a rust or corrosion issue.

[Roccobro]

It'll press out, you just have to keep trying.

Last one I did I placed socket on one side of the vice and a short round of hardened steel from a nut driver on the other side then closed the vice as tight as possible, then I beat on the vice with a sledge hammer until the pin started to move. After that I kept tightening the vice and beating with the sledge hammer until the pin was out.

That is my preferred method of barrel pin removal/install.


For the removing little barrel pins, make sure your driving them in the right direction first.

Then get a COUPLE good sets of starter punches. It's amazing what the right tool can do. I'm up to 40 different punches now. World of difference! But use the wrong tool first, and your in for a world of hurt (as you've experienced).

Justin

[saki302]

A hydraulic press works wonders if you have access to one.

Also, ALWAYS use a GOOD punch set. I recommend Starrett. You'd be surprised how much difference a properly hardened punch makes compared to the crap Home Depot sells.

-Dave