trick to installing trigger group in AR-15

[RP1911]

It's the only 'difficulty' I have lining up the trigger group with the pin hole and getting the pin to go through without spending a bit of time doing the trial and error method.

I have used a pin punch to line them up and try to get the pin installed from the opposite side.

Yesterday I assembled a lower and I was able to get the pin installed quickly. This morning I assembled another one and it took me 5 plus minutes to get the pin installed.

Is there a tool that I am missing and need to buy?

[kcstott]

There is a slave pin you can use. It's nothing but a cut down trigger pin. and you use the correct pin to punch it out with. you still need to align every thing though.
I just use a machinist scribe. it's acts as a spud wrench to line everything up.

[RP1911]

cut down as in smaller OD?

Thanks.

[RazzB7]

I use the same technique that kcstott mentions above. I use a small pick (bottom one in the picture) to hold everything in place and to manipulate the trigger group as I push the pin in and slide the pick out.

[justjeff]

I use the trigger guard roll pin it works as a nice slave pin

[RP1911]

Thanks.

I guess I have to be more patient with the roll pin punch. As it is basically the same thing as using the pick.

[RP1911]

I use the trigger guard roll pin it works as a nice slave pin

great idea.

[kcstott]

cut down as in smaller OD?

Thanks.

Nope
Cut down in length.

I'm not hammering on you just speaking in generality. But there are Armors manuals out there printed up by the USMC and if they can put together a manual that keeps a Marine from destroying a rifle in the build process I think it will suffice for us.

Also inside this manual is all the little tips and tricks for the general assembly of the weapon and function checks not to mention Blue Prints for all the special tools needed to assemble the weapon.

[phrogg111]

I bought a Giesselle trigger for one of my AR-15s. It came with a slave pin and a double-sized pin with a ball handle on one end to make installation easier.

The slave pin is cut so that the disconnector and spring are held into the trigger, but the trigger can still fit into the frame without binding. Just a slightly more than half length trigger pin.

The slave pin does nothing for the hammer, though.

I forgot to take the safety off when reinstalling my fire control group yesterday. That's what killed me.

The easiest way to get the trigger in is with the slave pin. The easiest way to get the hammer pin in is by getting the hammer lined up, putting it though one side, then looking at the other side to line it up again, pushing the hammer at whatever angle you need, and pushing the pin in.

Both of these, I find, can typically be done by hand, or with just something flat to push on the pin.

[wash]

I've never had much trouble getting the first side in, then it takes a little wiggling to get it to go through the other side and lock in the little hammer spring detent thing.

A few tips, always install the selector before the hammer and put it in the fire position when installing the hammer. I always push down and rotate the hammer back to get everything lined up. The rotate back part is key, that makes the bottom part of the hammer want to move forward which is mostly where it needs to move. This requires a little practice and dexterity, I've done it maybe 20 times and it is easy now.

[jamesob]

To installl the fcg you don't need any tools. Just practice.

[baih777]

To installl the fcg you don't need any tools. Just practice.

i agree. more practice. maybe about 10 more builds.