AR Building. Where to Buy quality Tools?

[chagasrod]

Hello Everybody

I'm about to start building my first AR and been searching for some quality tool sets and after reading some reviews here and there decided to ask you guys where to get them;

For the Roll pin punch set i found one for $105 (Good Reviews) but i found it to be a bit expensive (Am I Right? or this is the right price?)

For the Barrel Nut Wrench and castle nut wrench i still can't figure out what to get either (Reviews are all over the place).

Thanks in advance for the responses!!!!!

 

[rcmodel]

Brownell's is the go-to place for any and all gunsmith tools.
http://www.brownells.com/Default.aspx

The first thing you should do there is call the 1-800 number and get the big gunsmith catalog sent to you ASAP.

Paying $105 for a full set of roll-pin punches is off-the-charts ridiculous.
You don't need every size ever made to build an AR-15.
A set of 7 that will do all you need to do and then some is $30 bucks at Brownell's.

I might suggest you spend a few bucks at Brownell's first on a book called "The AR-15 Complete Assembly Guide" by Kuleck & McKee before buying any tools.

It will tell you what you actually need to buy, not what somebody wants to sell you.

rc

 

[Jolly Rogers]

There is a punch style called a roll pin starter punch that has a recess in the end to capture the pin. It makes getting the pins started in the hole much easier. I would get the individual punches (3 or 4 ?) in both styles and skip the sets.
Joe

 

[greyling22]

are you building the upper too, or just the lower? I"d buy the cheapest castle nut wrench you can find. I've seen them for $3. you don't have to tighten it all that much. I used standard punches for my lower, but they defrmed teh pins some. I wouldn't do it again. I'd buy these for 20 bucks. http://www.midwayusa.com/viewproduc..., Jigs & Fixtures-_-PriceCompListing-_-191653

 

[rbernie]

Putting aside the pin punch question - I prefer the DPMS multi-tool and receiver block above all others and that's what I always recommend to folk to use.

 

[Coltdriver]

Get the DPMS multi tool for between 25 and 35 bucks. Has the barrel wrench and the castle nut wrench plus several other handy features.

Get a DPMS upper block for under 50 bucks.

You only need a few pin punches as noted.

 

[dprice3844444]

harbor freight also has cheap tools,puches, hammers etc if you don't have a bench or heavy vise(30lbs on the bbl nut)harbor freight makes a class 3 hitch adapter you can put a heavy vise on.

 

[Z-Michigan]

I got my rollpin punch set at Midway. Definitely worth having! I prefer Midway over Brownells because Brownells charges MSRP or higher if you aren't a dealer.

http://www.midwayusa.com/viewproduct/?productnumber=689959

I also use conventional steel pin punches I got at Sears, and a $3 DPMS plastic pin-pusher for avoiding receiver damage when removing sticky trigger pins.

I like the Model 1 Sales receiver blocks, and I have a DPMS or possibly generic "armorer's wrench". I use the armorer's wrench on castle nuts. If you intend to do barrel nuts regularly you may also want the $22 PRI barrel nut wrench, which is seriously sturdy and looks like it would transmit 1000 lb-ft without breaking. I would suggest a standard crescent wrench of the appropriate size for a flash hider/compensator. If you intend to stake the castle nut, a Starrett automatic center punch does a very good job and is easy as pie to use.