The Gunsmith Thread

brewmeist said:
Looking for some advice...

Bought some stripped lowers in bulk, fortunately awhile ago while still at a normal price. I just noticed one has a tight fit with my PMags. The mags fit, but do not drop out. I need to pull them out.

I guess my choices are to enlarge the mag well with a file, sand down a few mags and make them dedicated to this lower, or to buy a different brand/materal mag for that particular lower and hope it has a better fit.

Suggestions? Thanks.
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Never had this issue with a lower. What brand of lower receivers are these? Are they aluminum or (shudder) polymer?
 
Anderson. I know not top-of-the-line, but I haven't noticed any problems until now.
 
Anderson lowers are also known as "Poverty Ponies" :biggrin:

All kidding aside though, you probably have one that wasn't machined properly, if you had multiple PMags not fit in it.
Using a metal mag might do the trick, rather than the other ones made out of melted Pringles lids (Thermelts and Tapcos) ;)
 
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THParent said:
Anderson lowers are also known as "Poverty Ponies" :biggrin:
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My wife and kids dub me "The Cheapest Man in America." I prefer to go by the title "The Most Frugal Man in America."

When I started to get into builds, I went with the Anderson, not knowing if I would even do a second build, and then I would ramp up with further builds. But I have to say... I have never had an issue with Anderson after thousands of rounds, until now, my fifth build. It's not even an issue. Just an inconvenience. For a range gun. However, it would be a huge issue for a self-defense weapon...

The mags go in with zero effort. They are held in by the slightest friction. Just enough to prevent them from dropping on their own. I did sand a bit off of one and it did drop right out.

I read somewhere that I can cut the lower in half and return it for a new one with the same serial #, but I don't think it is worth all that. There's a gun show coming up in my area soon. I think I'll just bring the lower with the mag release attached and try out mags at various vendors. Or just sand a few more...

I do find it amazing that machining can be that far off in this computerized age.
 
Color me surprised. I have never heard of a lower being that far out of spec. Maybe the anodizing is just thick enough to cause the binding issue?
Are these first-run lowers or cosmetic blems? I know that JoeBob's sells Anderson "blems" for a reduced rate, and too much anodizing would certainly fit in that category.
1626089003447.png
 
THParent said:
Color me surprised. I have never heard of a lower being that far out of spec. Maybe the anodizing is just thick enough to cause the binding issue?
Are these first-run lowers or cosmetic blems? I know that JoeBob's sells Anderson "blems" for a reduced rate, and too much anodizing would certainly fit in that category.
View attachment 9548
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First run.

Truthfully, I could have used a different mag with zero problem, and never have known the difference. It's that close. I'll make the most of it.
 
In the glossary of terms category for the AR-15, "Upper means "upper receiver", and "Lower" means "lower receiver".

1626100404249.png

The photo above shows a "complete upper" (which has the forward assist plunger and dust cover installed, but no barrel, barrel nut, muzzle device, forearm/heat shield, gas block, gas tube, charging handle, bolt carrier group, or sights) and a "stripped lower" which does not contain the parts (pivot and takedown pins, several springs and detents, safety, trigger group, hammer group, mag release, bolt hold-open, buffer retainer/spring, buffer tube/spring/buffer/plate/castle nut, stock and grip) to make it "complete".

The lower receiver is the actual "firearm", as defined by law. This part has the serial number permanently stamped, roll-marked, or cast into the material on the left hand side (not pictured).

This rifle type is often referred to as a "Lego" because it is a kit of parts that is easily assembled by anyone with a little skill who can use roll pin punches, a rifle-specific wrench (typically for the barrel nut and castle nut), and a torque wrench.
 
THParent said:
In the glossary of terms category for the AR-15, "Upper means "upper receiver", and "Lower" means "lower receiver".

View attachment 9549

The photo above shows a "complete upper" (which has the forward assist plunger and dust cover installed, but no barrel, barrel nut, muzzle device, forearm/heat shield, gas block, gas tube, charging handle, bolt carrier group, or sights) and a "stripped lower" which does not contain the parts (pivot and takedown pins, several springs and detents, safety, trigger group, hammer group, mag release, bolt hold-open, buffer retainer/spring, buffer tube/spring/buffer/plate/castle nut, stock and grip) to make it "complete".

The lower receiver is the actual "firearm", as defined by law. This part has the serial number permanently stamped, roll-marked, or cast into the material on the left hand side (not pictured).

This rifle type is often referred to as a "Lego" because it is a kit of parts that is easily assembled by anyone with a little skill who can use roll pin punches, a rifle-specific wrench (typically for the barrel nut and castle nut), and a torque wrench.
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I will be ready for my Pro Know quiz with this excellent gouge.
 
THParent said:
I should have added that just because it can be assembled by anyone, doesn't mean that it should be assembled by anyone. ;)
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When I read posts on some forums, I am terrified of how many people have attached barrels and have never heard of a torque wrench.
 
Most of the barrel nuts I remove take more than 60 lb-ft. of torque to get loose, and technically 80 is the upper range of what is correct for a barrel nut (I like to go between 45 and 55). I once had to apply 136 lb-ft. of torque to remove a particular "farmer-tight" barrel nut.
That one still holds the record. The guy must have used a 3-foot breaker bar.

Less frequently I encounter barrel nuts torqued to less than the minimum of 30 lb.-ft., but it does happen. Once or twice, I have encountered them just finger-tight, which is pretty concerning. Hoo boy.
 
It really is the "gun show builds" that cause me the most headaches. Morons build these things and sell them to unsuspecting rubes for way too much money, and they often don't work right. These taken-advantage-of people bring these rifles in all the time to get me to make them right, and they are often missing parts or have parts installed wrong. It's sad, because after dropping $900 to $1,000 on what for all intents and purposes is a $600 rifle (on a good day), they have to pay me another $50 to $100 to get them into working order.
 
@THParent How does that even make sense? I build an AR in my garage then sell it at a gun show. When shot it blows up & I get sued...some shooter is severely injured & is now living in my house? ... all for a grand? Crazy risk.
 
A lot of sellers at gun shows come and go from town to town in a circuit.
They set up at one, and odds are you'll never see them again unless you go to a lot of gun shows.

I never go to gun shows, by the way. There is just too much stupid in one spot, in my opinion. ;)
 
ATF&E said:
Under the Gun Control Act (GCA), shotguns and rifles, and ammunition for shotguns or rifles may be sold only to individuals 18 years of age or older. All firearms other than shotguns and rifles, and all ammunition other than ammunition for shotguns or rifles may be sold only to individuals 21 years of age or older. Licensees are bound by the minimum age requirements established by the GCA regardless of State or local law. However, if State law or local ordinances establish a higher minimum age for the purchase or disposition of firearms, the licensee must observe the higher age requirement. [18 U.S.C. 922(b)(1) and (b)(2); 27 CFR 478.99(b)]
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Gun laws barring sales to people under 21 are unconstitutional, appeals court rules:​

​

 
THParent said:
A lot of sellers at gun shows come and go from town to town in a circuit.
They set up at one, and odds are you'll never see them again unless you go to a lot of gun shows.

I never go to gun shows, by the way. There is just too much stupid in one spot, in my opinion. ;)
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I don't go anymore. The last one I/we went to, my wife walked out with a shotgun.

Leaving I said, "Want me to carry it?"

"I bought it. It's mine. I'll carry it." She said.

aye, aye ma'am
 
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