Dates: March 25/26 2017
Time: 0900-1730 (Approx.)
Location: TJ Sales LLC
1800 NE Hwy 99W (This is a training room near the store).
McMinnville, OR
Cost: 350.00
STUDENTS MUST BRING A COMPLETE AR STYLED WEAPON OR PARTS KIT.
Additionally there is a new "minimalist" tool kit for the course.
All tools can be purchased through Brownells and it is the recommended source. http://www.brownells.com. The complete tool list is only required if you are building a weapon. The "minimalist" kit is the minimum required.
The complete kit is only necessary for those building a weapon during the course.
Complete set of steel punches- 1/16, 5/64, 3/32, 1/8, 5/32 (Starrett is preferred)
Complete set of roll pin holders
Complete set of roll pin punches
1" Nylon and Brass gunsmithing hammer- Part# 818-600-100WB
Small to medium pair of needle nose pliers
Large flat tip screwdriver or variable tip screwdriver set
Bolt Catch Pin Punch
Pivot Pin Installation Tool
Note taking material
Minimalist Tool List
Glock Punch
1" Nylon and Brass gunsmithing hammer- Part# 818-600-100WB
6" flat tip screwdriver or correct allen wrench for grip screw
Pivot pin installation tool- Part# 080-216-011WB
1/16 flat punch (Starrett is recommended)
Instructor will be bringing a variety of specialty tools to the class, to include a vise, vise blocks, etc......
Overview
This class will be taught using various media sources (videos, powerpoints and pictures) as well as well as hands on with functional weapons provided by the students. At the conclusion of the course all students should be able to fully disassemble and assemble a functional weapon from parts. In addition they should be able to recognize common malfunctions and be able to troubleshoot issues that are frequently encountered. We will cover standard AR's, SBR's and AR pistols. We will be installing barrels, staking carrier keys, replacing extractors, etc....
Students will have the opportunity to fix issues during the course such as stakings, etc... and check the weapon using gages.
The course will conclude with all students taking a written test as well as hands on test which will include the complete disassembly and reassembly of the weapon followed by a functions test.
TD 1
-Introduction to the AR15 platform, its history, and cycle of operation
-Parts breakdown and nomenclature
-Tool and equipment selection as well as proper usage
-Basic disassembly and reassembly (upper and lower)
TD 2
-Overview of TD 1
-Inspection criteria
-Troubleshooting and malfunctions
-Maintenance
-Complete and detailed dis-assembly and assembly of weapon
-Written test and certificate issuance
Instructor Bio
This course will be taught by a veteran of both the U.S. Army and U.S Coast Guard with over 27 years of experience working with the AR15 family of weapons. In 2005 he entered into the private sector working in Iraq and Afghanistan as an armorer/ instructor for several large private military companies supporting the Department of Defense and the Department of State. He has attended and completed numerous factory armorer courses from such companies as Beretta, Barrett, Colt, Dillon Aero, FNHUSA, Glock, Knights’ Armament, Remington, and Sig Sauer.
First I’d like to thank Will for coming out to Oregon to teach his class and saving me a trip to Arizona, to the good guys at TJ Guns for hosting the class and to the folks at Radian Weapons (formally AXTS) for giving all attendees of the class a free Raptor Charging Handle, very cool.
I would say the experience with the AR varied greatly among the students and the class was very well suited for all skill levels.
The class started with a brief history of the weapon and went into dispelling several myths. Then Will shared his considerable experience and how it led to him to teaching these Armorer Courses.
We covered the 8 steps Cycle of Operation:
F – Feed
C – Chamber
L – Lock
F – Fire
U – Unlock
E – Extract
E – Eject
C – Cock
Once that is understood, Troubleshooting Malfunctions made sense:
M – Magazine
E – Extractor
A – Ammunition
L – Lubrication is very important
O – Operator induced malfunctions
We went to common abbreviations (LPK, FSB, FCG, etc.), and component consideration, FCG pin sizes std milspec vs. Colt commercial, lower receiver differences – commercial extruded 6061 tubes vs. milspec 7075. Barrel material, twist rate and testing. “F” FSB vs. standard FSB. Barrel extensions – Rifle vs. M4 extensions/feed ramps and how they relate to the lower feed ramp or lack of. Bolt construction and testing.
The various Gas System Lengths were covered:
Carbine
Mid-length
Rifle
Pistol
Intermediate gas length such as Noveske & KAC
Correct gas port sizes were covered and their effect on function were discussed for all barrel lengths from 10.3” – 20” and how they work together with correct buffer weight (the carbine buffer is pretty much worthless) . A few barrels were pin gaged in class and found to overgased.
We went over torque specs and buffer spring lengths for both rifle and carbine.
Will showed us several proper techniques using the correct tools, including:
- Barrel Installation with USGI Barrel Nut w/ gas tube alignment - Barrel Nut needs to be installed with 30-80 ft.lbs. of torque.
- A cool little method to easily install the ejection port spring.
- Bolt Carrier Group assembly. The video referenced in this thread was used as a teaching aid on what NOT to do.
- Receiver extension installation with proper staking.
- Installation of the entire LPK with note to the Pivot pin and tool.
- Installation and staking carrier gas key (there were several in class that did not pass his test and were corrected using the proper screws and Ned Christiansen’s MOACKS.
- Will also used Ned's 5.56 reamer to correct a few out of spec chambers.
There is lot golden information and technique given during that phase of the class. I’ve built a few ARs and worked on several friend’s but am, by no means, a professional. I can tell you I will be upgrading my methods to mirror what I learned here.
At the end of the class there an open note test and Will gave us all a list of discount codes for some top end manufacturers and a flash drive down load containing various word docs, PDFs, power point, apps, etc. including tech manuals, AR & Glock animations, zeroing methods, writings from Mike Pannone and Kyle Lamb, all sorts of good stuff I haven’t completely gone thru yet.
In conclusion, it was the first time in decades that I have taken 15 pages of notes (writer’s cramp, but it helps come test time), it is a great class, worth the time and money, put out by a solid dude. I recommend it and will definitely take this guy's advice.
Here is my new SIONICS upper on the left and my daughter's new lower in the middle built using SIONICS lower receiver and the take off parts from the Colt on the right. And my BCM has got Duffy's new ABC/R-AA. All got dialed in at the Semper Paratus Arms Armorer course.
Last edited by titsonritz; 05-05-17 at 16:27.
Reason: added pics
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