Replacing the Front take down pin on AR

[duc748bip]

I have a lower assembled with regular front takedown pin. Now I wan to replace it with one of those EZ pull ones. Any way to remove the old one without resorting to Dremel or hacksaw?

[bigcalidave]

Dremel? omg no.. lol. You just need a little pick, pull the takedown pin halfway out, use the pick to depress the detent pin in the slot and rotate the takedown pin.

[h0use]

Brownells sells a tool that you can use. I have used the smallest Allen wrench and grind down one side and use it to depress the detent.

[Nate74]

Yeah, a small toothpick has worked for me. My buddy uses and X-Acto blade. The basic concept is to get the detent pin pushed in far enough you can then rotate the takedown pin 90 degrees or so. Then it will slide right out, the little detent pin and spring will fly off and get lost, and you say "crap, those guys on CG didn't even mention the flying spring thing."

[Creampuff]

As mentioned above, you can use this:

http://www.brownells.com/userdocs/learn/Inst-275%20Pivot%20Pin%20Depressor.pdf

Or just grind down a hex key.

Now just gently put down that dremel and walk away from it

[isplice]

Come on guys! Does your pivot pin have a small hole in it when the pin is pulled all the way out against the detent? See it? Put small punch through hole until detent is depressed enough to rotate the pin, then remove. There is a reason that that hole is there, almost like the manufacturers intended it for a pin removal!!

[ar15barrels]

There is a reason that that hole is there, almost like the manufacturers intended it for a pin removal!!

I bet they all thought that hole was to let the water drain out of the pivot pin...

[evilbisquit]

I bet they all thought that hole was to let the water drain out of the pivot pin...

It's not? My SEAL/Delta/MARSOC buddy told me that's what it's for...

[BlackCatRacing#13]

[QUOTE=ar15barrels
I bet they all thought that hole was to let the water drain out of the pivot pin...[/QUOTE]


I like using the small pivot pin hole to filter my morning coffee

[3lsmc7]

Here you go! Don't know how to embed

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oORXgVGV9n0

No, that is not me and my boxer shorts! lol

[Gunsmith Dan]

I use a 24 gauge sewing needle with the point filed flat and a silicon stopper on the other end for a handle. The needle makes it easy to pull out but even easier when putting it back in since it is thin enough to angle it.

Another technique is using feeler gauges trimed and bent so it goes between the take down and detent pin, but is wider than the channel. Push the detent pin down slide the feeler then slide out the take down pin. This way also is the easist way I know of sliding it back in without need anything to push the pin down.

[Cuda440]

Just a simple paper clip will work as well as any fancy tool to push the detent down.

Make sure to keep your hand in front of it as you pull the pin out, the detent will fly out and you need to catch it.

[isplice]

Gee, all I've ever used is a 1/16" punch to remove, and no tool to put in a pivot pin. I must be old school, but I was taught techniques by a USMC armorer 30+ years ago.

[CSACANNONEER]

I bet they all thought that hole was to let the water drain out of the pivot pin...

It's there to drain all the CLP that some people like to drown their guns in.

[tommyboy619]

Another vote for utility/exacto knife. I just make sure that it's pointed at a wall so the detent doesn't travel to the outer reaches of space.