Just bought my first AR... lower.

[SlvrDragon50]

Hah, I saw the Magpul's Armorer's Wrench, and I'm pretty confused why it costs so much to be honest. I don't quite get what it offers over other armorer's wrenches. I may just end up buying Botach's reaction rod since it's only ~$40. I imagine shipping it back and forth costs $20 alone.

The Magpul BEV block looks interesting, but it seems a wee bit wobbly in the videos I saw? Though I do like how it locks the receiver in place forward/backwards.

[gnumadic]

I was thinking things that only get used when you assemble like the reaction rod, head space gauges, receiver lapping tools, things like that.

Question about the head space gauges. I've read on a popular AR forum that some don't check head space when using "reputable" or "high quality" parts that are presumed to be in spec. Sounds potentially dangerous but I wondered if it was common practice. I can see why one might skip it given that a set of 5.56 go/no-go/field gauges are $100. .223 gauges would work though, right? Dimensionally the cartridges are the same.

[Earl Keese]

I was thinking things that only get used when you assemble like the reaction rod, head space gauges, receiver lapping tools, things like that.

Question about the head space gauges. I've read on a popular AR forum that some don't check head space when using "reputable" or "high quality" parts that are presumed to be in spec. Sounds potentially dangerous but I wondered if it was common practice. I can see why one might skip it given that a set of 5.56 go/no-go/field gauges are $100. .223 gauges would work though, right? Dimensionally the cartridges are the same.

Stumbled across this site tonight while looking for 6.5 Grendel gauges.
https://www.reamerrentals.com/SearchResults.asp?searching=Y&sort=13&cat=35&show=10&page=2

[gnumadic]

I was thinking things that only get used when you assemble like the reaction rod, head space gauges, receiver lapping tools, things like that.

Question about the head space gauges. I've read on a popular AR forum that some don't check head space when using "reputable" or "high quality" parts that are presumed to be in spec. Sounds potentially dangerous but I wondered if it was common practice. I can see why one might skip it given that a set of 5.56 go/no-go/field gauges are $100. .223 gauges would work though, right? Dimensionally the cartridges are the same.

Stumbled across this site tonight while looking for 6.5 Grendel gauges.
https://www.reamerrentals.com/SearchResults.asp?searching=Y&sort=13&cat=35&show=10&page=2

For a first time build a $7 rental for go and no-go sure beats $33 a gauge! It also has a much higher wife acceptance factor (WAF)!

[Elcid]

Question about the head space gauges. I've read on a popular AR forum that some don't check head space when using "reputable" or "high quality" parts that are presumed to be in spec. Sounds potentially dangerous but I wondered if it was common practice. I can see why one might skip it given that a set of 5.56 go/no-go/field gauges are $100. .223 gauges would work though, right? Dimensionally the cartridges are the same.

I have built 3 uppers without using a head space gauge. No problem with those 3.

Yes, the dimension of 223 and 5.56 are the same. The same reloading dies for 223 and 5.56.

[Earl Keese]

I was thinking things that only get used when you assemble like the reaction rod, head space gauges, receiver lapping tools, things like that.

Question about the head space gauges. I've read on a popular AR forum that some don't check head space when using "reputable" or "high quality" parts that are presumed to be in spec. Sounds potentially dangerous but I wondered if it was common practice. I can see why one might skip it given that a set of 5.56 go/no-go/field gauges are $100. .223 gauges would work though, right? Dimensionally the cartridges are the same.

Stumbled across this site tonight while looking for 6.5 Grendel gauges.
https://www.reamerrentals.com/SearchResults.asp?searching=Y&sort=13&cat=35&show=10&page=2

For a first time build a $7 rental for go and no-go sure beats $33 a gauge! It also has a much higher wife acceptance factor (WAF)!

For piece of mind and intact appendages, it's a no brainer. I would have bought the gauges and sold them later if need be, rather not take chances.

[Independent George]

Hah, I saw the Magpul's Armorer's Wrench, and I'm pretty confused why it costs so much to be honest. I don't quite get what it offers over other armorer's wrenches. I may just end up buying Botach's reaction rod since it's only ~$40. I imagine shipping it back and forth costs $20 alone.

The Magpul BEV block looks interesting, but it seems a wee bit wobbly in the videos I saw? Though I do like how it locks the receiver in place forward/backwards.

I got the Magpul wrench for $55, so it wasn't that much more than a lot of its conpetitors. I've read enough reviews of wrenches breaking that I figured it was worth it to spend extra on a good tool, especially at that price. Which makes me even more irritated at myself for not getting the reaction rod when it was 30% off.

Anyway, I meant to ask earlier - is there any particular reason you want the low mass carrier? They seem pretty pricey to me, especially since you can get NiB or Nickel Teflon for the same price.

Sent from my SM-G920V using Tapatalk

[Elcid]

Re: Head space.

The other option is to buy a barrel with a matching bolt.

[Earl Keese]

Re: Head space.

The other option is to buy a barrel with a matching bolt.

This is true, but I think both of these guys have already bought barrels. For me, the barrel profile I wanted didn't allow this option.

[gnumadic]

Re: Head space.

The other option is to buy a barrel with a matching bolt.

This is true, but I think both of these guys have already bought barrels. For me, the barrel profile I wanted didn't allow this option.

Yes, I did pick up the barrel already. I think Ballistic Advantage may sell matched BCGs from their website but I got mine from Monmouth...along with an Aero upper and Toolcraft BCG (I just couldn't pass up the combo deal).

I have all needed parts delivered or ordered except for sights. And since some retail ARs come without iron sights, I can say I spent just under $700 on parts for what I hope is a pretty sweet rifle. 

[SlvrDragon50]

Hah, I saw the Magpul's Armorer's Wrench, and I'm pretty confused why it costs so much to be honest. I don't quite get what it offers over other armorer's wrenches. I may just end up buying Botach's reaction rod since it's only ~$40. I imagine shipping it back and forth costs $20 alone.

The Magpul BEV block looks interesting, but it seems a wee bit wobbly in the videos I saw? Though I do like how it locks the receiver in place forward/backwards.

I got the Magpul wrench for $55, so it wasn't that much more than a lot of its conpetitors. I've read enough reviews of wrenches breaking that I figured it was worth it to spend extra on a good tool, especially at that price. Which makes me even more irritated at myself for not getting the reaction rod when it was 30% off.

Anyway, I meant to ask earlier - is there any particular reason you want the low mass carrier? They seem pretty pricey to me, especially since you can get NiB or Nickel Teflon for the same price.

Sent from my SM-G920V using Tapatalk

I'm going with a low mass carrier to go for a soft shooting setup since I'm getting an adjustable gas block anyways. I'm plannin on getting an AIM Surplus low mass carrier which costs about the same as other BCGs from larger companies. The TiN version is 140 without a sale or 110 for the nitride version.

https://www.aimsurplus.com/product.aspx?item=XAIMBCGTiN3LW&name=Light+Weight+AIM+AR+.223%2f5.56+Titanium+Nitride+9310+MPI+Bolt+Carrier+Group&groupid=723

Is a barrel vise needed to attach the muzzle device? I'm reading that the reaction rod isn't the correct tool. I may just end up getting the Magpul armorer's wrench though I'm a little surprised to hear of them breaking.

[Independent George]

Nice. I can't wait for your range report.

I meant other wrenches breaking - NC Star, UTG, etc. It's rare, and extremely unlikely for my forst build, but with the Magpul on sale at the time, I figured it was worth the extra piece of mind.

Sent from my SM-G920V using Tapatalk

[SlvrDragon50]

Oops, yes. Poor wording on my part. I'm surprised other wrenches are breaking. They seem pretty simple to me, so I'm amazed they cost so much.

Unfortunately you won't be hearing a range report for at least 3 months Won't have a lower until then. Honestly, I could have shipped it here in Illinois, but I'm in no rush to build the AR. Plus, all the FFLs here charge an insane transfer fee.

[gnumadic]

Hah, I saw the Magpul's Armorer's Wrench, and I'm pretty confused why it costs so much to be honest. I don't quite get what it offers over other armorer's wrenches. I may just end up buying Botach's reaction rod since it's only ~$40. I imagine shipping it back and forth costs $20 alone.

The Magpul BEV block looks interesting, but it seems a wee bit wobbly in the videos I saw? Though I do like how it locks the receiver in place forward/backwards.

I got the Magpul wrench for $55, so it wasn't that much more than a lot of its conpetitors. I've read enough reviews of wrenches breaking that I figured it was worth it to spend extra on a good tool, especially at that price. Which makes me even more irritated at myself for not getting the reaction rod when it was 30% off.

Anyway, I meant to ask earlier - is there any particular reason you want the low mass carrier? They seem pretty pricey to me, especially since you can get NiB or Nickel Teflon for the same price.

Sent from my SM-G920V using Tapatalk

I'm going with a low mass carrier to go for a soft shooting setup since I'm getting an adjustable gas block anyways. I'm plannin on getting an AIM Surplus low mass carrier which costs about the same as other BCGs from larger companies. The TiN version is 140 without a sale or 110 for the nitride version.

https://www.aimsurplus.com/product.aspx?item=XAIMBCGTiN3LW&name=Light+Weight+AIM+AR+.223%2f5.56+Titanium+Nitride+9310+MPI+Bolt+Carrier+Group&groupid=723

Is a barrel vise needed to attach the muzzle device? I'm reading that the reaction rod isn't the correct tool. I may just end up getting the Magpul armorer's wrench though I'm a little surprised to hear of them breaking.

I read the same thing about barrel blocks. You could make one with two wooden blocks, a router, and an old bike tube.

[Elcid]

+ on improvised barrel vise for torquing a muzzle devise.





DSC_0220 by Jess, on Flickr