Bolt catch roll pin

[edsnmdcn]

Trying to put together my second ar build on a JD machine stripped lower, Im using a DPMS kit. So far all of the roll pins have been tougher to get in (compared to my first build) Now Im really in a bind, Im trying to put in my bolt catch and I got the roll pin started through the first side, but now it is stuck. It won't punch through to secure the release nor punch out to remove the pin. Ive tried pressing it through, hammering it through, Ive tried lubing it up but its stuck.

Any ideas how to get it in or out? Some trick Im not aware of. Is my lower pretty much useless now?

thanks for any help

[Akers]

Blue tape the lower and pull it out with some pliers and get a new pin. There is also a good youtube video on putting a roll pin in. If you near San Diego I can assist.

[wash]

Is the bolt hold open moving?

If not, the pin probably missed the hole in the BHO.

It's hard to see but makes it feel stuck.

If that is what happened, push on the BHO until it pops over the end of the roll pin, then drive it the rest of the way.

I've never had a pin stick so bad that I couldn't drive it home or push it back out so I don't have a solution if it actually is just stuck.

[TATER313]

that pin can be a pain, use a drill bit or small punch to line the holes up, I agree with Wash above that it is binding on the bolt catch. Good luck

[GDM]

Trying to put together my second ar build on a JD machine stripped lower, Im using a DPMS kit. So far all of the roll pins have been tougher to get in (compared to my first build) Now Im really in a bind, Im trying to put in my bolt catch and I got the roll pin started through the first side, but now it is stuck. It won't punch through to secure the release nor punch out to remove the pin. Ive tried pressing it through, hammering it through, Ive tried lubing it up but its stuck.

Any ideas how to get it in or out? Some trick Im not aware of. Is my lower pretty much useless now?

thanks for any help

I had the same problem with two JD lower's earlier this year.

If, you want to follow this method, I went to a online vendor called UniqueTek.com and got a roll pin punch. It looks like a normal punch, but it has its handle shaved down so you can hold the punch close to the lower with out damaging the roll pin hole by having the punch at an odd angle. I also went to rifle gear and ordered a bunch of spare roll pins.

How did you punch your pin in? I did mine from the magwell toward the safety and thats when it got stuck. What I did to get it out was place the new pin in the opposite hold and punch it in to the roll pin latch until I was able to knock out the damaged pin. I would advise using a vise block to hold the lower in.

I hope I helped.

That is how I was able to remedy the stuck roll pin.

[edsnmdcn]

Thanks all for the help, I will try some of these. I put the roll pin in from the back to the front, so maybe an option is to take another roll pin from the front to the back and push it out. All I know is its stuck in there good.

[wash]

I'll write down my roll pin installation method because I never could think of a good way to do it from the front.

Get a T25 security Torx bit and a hex bit screwdriver handle. The security bit has a hole drilled in the end, just bigger than the BHO roll pin. Place the bit in the screwdriver handle and the roll pin in the tip of the bit. Now align the roll pin with the BHO roll pin hole from the back side of the receiver and tap the back of the screwdriver handle to start the roll pin. No tape required. After the pin is started I switch to an Alen wrench hex bit to drive it all the way flush. If you don't have a steady hand or use a really small bit to drive it, this is the step where scratches may happen but I think I've only made one small scratch out of several AR lower builds.

A special set of roll pin starter punches and roll pin punches is the "right" way to do it but my way works and you can find a T25 security Torx at pretty much any hardware store while I've never seen roll pin starter punches in any store. Regular roll pin punches are easier to find but not common at all.

I used this method on my first AR lower because I didn't have roll pin starter punches and couldn't figure out any other way to start the pin with what I had on hand. It worked well enough that I haven't felt a need to buy roll pin starter punches.

[kcstott]

I use a drill to line up the holes as a slave pin. then use the roll pin to drive out the drill.
Use of blue tape on anything that might get whacked is a good thing.
That pin is not stuck it is most likely as wash said missing the BHO lever. Get that aligned and you should have no issues. gentle persuasion with a mallet works as does a ball peen hammer on a punch the hammer has to have enough arse to do the job.

[biglou]

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=F219B7oQVuk