01-05-2012, 06:29 PM
PRI makes great wrenches.
http://www.midwayusa.com/product/288479/...ndle-ar-15
Before the above one came out, I got one of these
http://www.midwayusa.com/product/123930/...ench-ar-15
and machined the hole in the center larger to clear the chamber end of my Armalite Ar10 barrel which uses the same pattern on the barrel nut. The 5 pins really hold well. If they had the above wrench for only $10 more at the time, I would have purchased that one as life would have been easier.
You really don't need a vice block. If you are handy and have a table saw, you can make some flat blocks of MDF with a grove in one of them and clamp the upper in the vice that way. I took a piece of 3/4 MDF about 2 inches wide and as long as the picatinny rail and cut a groove about 1/8 inch deep in it so that the picatinny would not slip. I them made a small piece that would fit between the takedown pins that was also about 2 inches wide. If you are only going to build one or two, it will save you some money. You have to know your limitations and make sure that you do not damage anything. There are videos online illustrating this method.
If you get a flat top upper that has the forward assist assembled, and you use a clamp on gas block you should only need a good torque wrench, a good bench vice, the barrel nut wrench and about 20 minutes.
http://www.midwayusa.com/product/288479/...ndle-ar-15
Before the above one came out, I got one of these
http://www.midwayusa.com/product/123930/...ench-ar-15
and machined the hole in the center larger to clear the chamber end of my Armalite Ar10 barrel which uses the same pattern on the barrel nut. The 5 pins really hold well. If they had the above wrench for only $10 more at the time, I would have purchased that one as life would have been easier.
You really don't need a vice block. If you are handy and have a table saw, you can make some flat blocks of MDF with a grove in one of them and clamp the upper in the vice that way. I took a piece of 3/4 MDF about 2 inches wide and as long as the picatinny rail and cut a groove about 1/8 inch deep in it so that the picatinny would not slip. I them made a small piece that would fit between the takedown pins that was also about 2 inches wide. If you are only going to build one or two, it will save you some money. You have to know your limitations and make sure that you do not damage anything. There are videos online illustrating this method.
If you get a flat top upper that has the forward assist assembled, and you use a clamp on gas block you should only need a good torque wrench, a good bench vice, the barrel nut wrench and about 20 minutes.