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Derek8404

Derek8404

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I recently decided that I want to completely build an AR and I have been acquiring parts as I find them on sale. I have put a few lowers together and am pretty comfortable with that but this will be my first upper that I have ever assembled. My question is about what tools I will need to do this job. I have a vise, armorers wrench, roll pin punch set, and a armorers hammer. I think that I will need a torque wrench of some sort to put the barrel nut on, and a upper vise block. Is there anything else I am missing?


Also, will both of these types of upper vise blocks work, is one better than the other, or do I need both styles? Thanks

https://www.opticsplanet.com/wheeler-delta-ar-15-upper-vise-block-clamp.html

Or.....

https://www.opticsplanet.com/vism-upper-receiver-block-for-ar-15.html
 
Get a reaction rod or similar device. It’s easier and safer than an upper vise block. Puts all the torque on the barrel extension. No torque wrench needed most of the time since it’s a broad range. What rail are you using? A good set of roll pin starter and roll pin punches is nice. Get some of the silver anti seize from the auto parts store to use on upper threads. If you using a set screw gas block get a kak gas block dimple jig. It makes dumpling the barrel a breeze


I’m using this with a half inch extension that I cut the bell off of and clamp in the vise. The geisselle reaction rod is better but more $ lol

https://www.brownells.com/gunsmith-...-barrel-extension-torque-tools-prod27452.aspx

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Zbizzle911 said:
Get a reaction rod or similar device. It’s easier and safer than an upper vise block. Puts all the torque on the barrel extension. No torque wrench needed most of the time since it’s a broad range. What rail are you using? A good set of roll pin starter and roll pin punches is nice. Get some of the silver anti seize from the auto parts store to use on upper threads. If you using a set screw gas block get a kak gas block dimple jig. It makes dumpling the barrel a breeze


I’m using this with a half inch extension that I cut the bell off of and clamp in the vise. The geisselle reaction rod is better but more $ lol

https://www.brownells.com/gunsmith-...-barrel-extension-torque-tools-prod27452.aspx

Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
Click to expand...

I'll look into the reaction rod, had to google it as I have never heard of one. I'm not sure on the rail yet, it wont be anything fancy as I am trying to do this build for as cheap as absolutely possible. Some friends and I all got in on the BCA free barrel for veterans thing and we are having kind of a "Bobo Build-off" as we are calling it. I don't mind spending the money on the tools though as I will be doing more builds in the future.
 
Derek8404 said:
I'll look into the reaction rod, had to google it as I have never heard of one. I'm not sure on the rail yet, it wont be anything fancy as I am trying to do this build for as cheap as absolutely possible. Some friends and I all got in on the BCA free barrel for veterans thing and we are having kind of a "Bobo Build-off" as we are calling it. I don't mind spending the money on the tools though as I will be doing more builds in the future.
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They are awesome I might buy one for that price. If you use a standard barrel nut you pretty much just need to tighten it and loosen it three times then tighten until the slot lines up for the gas tube. If its an proprietary nut then it'll have directions on how to do it most just need to be lined up like the stock one or come with tools to help with alignment like the ALG rails.
 
Zbizzle911 said:
Get a reaction rod or similar device. It’s easier and safer than an upper vise block. Puts all the torque on the barrel extension. No torque wrench needed most of the time since it’s a broad range. What rail are you using? A good set of roll pin starter and roll pin punches is nice. Get some of the silver anti seize from the auto parts store to use on upper threads. If you using a set screw gas block get a kak gas block dimple jig. It makes dumpling the barrel a breeze


I’m using this with a half inch extension that I cut the bell off of and clamp in the vise. The Geissele reaction rod is better but more $ lol

https://www.brownells.com/gunsmith-...-barrel-extension-torque-tools-prod27452.aspx
Click to expand...
^^^ This
I called Brownells years ago looking for an upper clamp for forged and billet uppers, the tech told me the reaction rod is all he uses. I've also heard bad stories of damaged uppers. I've been using it for years and think it's the best way to go.
 
Any experience with the Magpul BEV block? looks like it works on the same concept as the rods and can be used as a magwel block as well.
 
Derek8404 said:
Any experience with the Magpul BEV block? looks like it works on the same concept as the rods and can be used as a magwel block as well.
Click to expand...

I’ve never used one sorry. I made a mag block / stand by screwing an old gi mag to an old shelf I had so I use that and the reaction rod.


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Here’s my stand I made


121ed97bead0d40374007471d6daddfd.jpg



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Got the BEV block in today and played around with it on one of my ARs. I think this thing is going to work great. Feels very solid and well built and it was hard to pass up the sale I found on it.

64A1D730-5FE8-42FE-ABF0-B41399D187FC.jpeg FCDA97A9-0A33-484B-8FAC-BF7854F2553D.jpeg 26A9F72F-1FEA-4492-9BE2-0DE8358E7542.jpeg
 
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Derek8404 said:
Got the BEV block in today and played around with it on one of my ARs. I think this thing is going to work great. Feels very solid and well built and it was hard to pass up the sale I found on it.

View attachment 89084 View attachment 89085 View attachment 89086
Click to expand...


I have a BEV Block as well and I really like mine.
Your gun room is set up much better than mine though. I never even thought about putting a kitchen in it.
Thanks for posting, you may have set a new standard.:D
 
A little late to this party but...

That Magpul thing is pretty neat. How much was it?

I feel like the reaction rod is overpriced and unnecessary.

FWIW, Who are these gorillas who bend up their uppers with normal vises anyhow? I've built a couple dozen ARs over the years with a plain old aluminum block with upper pins. Might have been $20 and I've loaned it to a number of folks with no ill effect on uppers. If you bend an upper barreling it, you are way over torquing it.
 
stickman61 said:
I have a BEV Block as well and I really like mine.
Your gun room is set up much better than mine though. I never even thought about putting a kitchen in it.
Thanks for posting, you may have set a new standard.:D
Click to expand...


Haha thanks, I didn’t have a work bench set up in my garage where I would normally work on my guns and we’re renting and moving soon so I didn’t want to build or buy one so I made this portable box to hold my vise. Works out pretty well, close to the beer and got a good view of the TV.
 
bigfelipe said:
A little late to this party but...

That Magpul thing is pretty neat. How much was it?

I feel like the reaction rod is overpriced and unnecessary.

FWIW, Who are these gorillas who bend up their uppers with normal vises anyhow? I've built a couple dozen ARs over the years with a plain old aluminum block with upper pins. Might have been $20 and I've loaned it to a number of folks with no ill effect on uppers. If you bend an upper barreling it, you are way over torquing it.
Click to expand...

Haven’t used it yet, but it looks like it will work very well. I got it on sale for 30 bucks off Primary Arms.

Add it to your cart and it come to $32.

https://www.primaryarms.com/magpul-ar-15-bev-block-mag536
 
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bigfelipe said:
Nice. That's very reasonable for a device for uppers and lowers...
Click to expand...

I was looking for mag block and initially just thought the BEV block was just an overpriced magwell block. When I actually realized what it was, and for the price I found it for, it was a no brainer.
 
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I've used the BEV block for years working on ARs. However, got a new one here in Astan and broke it within a week or two. What happened was I sheared one of the pin holes on the front while trying to drive a stuck low profile gas block off a shot out barrel. Now I just remove the rail, gas tube and flash hinder. Then cut the bad barrel in two to remove the barrel nut. Then I rebuild the upper.

IMG_5956.jpg IMG_5955.jpg

CD
 
I keep thinking about buying a Geissele Reaction rod for doing the barrels so it doesn't stress the upper. I have done them all using the upper clamp style so far.
 
I prefer the MagPul wrench then the Urenda Tool Co./Smith Enterprises. One I dislike the most is the Wheeler wrench as it only has two pins to engage the barrel nut. I've totally stripped one USGI barrel nut that was stuck. Still haven't gotten it off. At least the rectangular USGI wrench has 3 pins.

CD
 
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I have a reaction rod that I primarily use for muzzle devices. Vise block for barrel nuts.

@Zbizzle911 mentioned anti-seize compound for the threads. Just so you know, there are some anti-seize products that should NOT be used as they may promote corrosion. You don't want anything with graphite in it. I bought some anti-seize, but I ended up using some of the mil-spec grease for the job.

Grease:
https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B01GGQV34I

Anti-seize:
https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B000LDDOXG

I think either one will work fine.
 
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9146gt said:
Bare threads. All lubricants change torque specs.

Tom
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Standard procedure is for application of the mil-spec grease to barrel nut and upper threads. Torque values are listed with that in mind. There may be a difference between the mil-spec grease and anti-sieze, though. I'm not sure.
 
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