Ask just about anyone and they'll tell you that assembling an AR is as simple as snapping together a Lego kit. But what they don't tell you, one moment of inattention and you've got an AR that doesn't work and a key part possibly destroyed.
Today, I got a package from Brownell's containing shims, screws, a couple bottles of Loctite but most importantly to me, a new pistol grip I wanted to try. I took my box of goodies down to my workshop, thinking the biggest challenge before me was deciding which AR I wanted to install the new grip on...
...until just that quick, in a moment of inattention and complacency, I started the screw crooked and damaged the threads in a top drawer lower. Just that quick. I am an experienced technician. I install bolts, screws and nuts on aircraft assemblies on a daily basis, often in difficult locations without cross threading anything. But now I had damaged the threads to the point where I could not get the grip screw to start straight at all. Fortunately, I was able to file a taper on the starting threads of a spare screw and was able to use it to clean up the threads I damaged. Another way to clean up the damaged threads would be to remove the fire control group and carefully thread a long screw from the top down. In this case, the damage was minimal and I was able to install the grip. But, if I had damaged the threads beyond repair, my AR would have been down until I could get a new lower, or installed a Helicoil.
This incident reminded me of a lesson I learned long ago which I will apply to ARs. ARs are easy to assemble. Until they aren't. ARs are not that complicated to assemble. They are simple machines, once you understand them. But, before assembling, take a moment and clear your mind of all distractions and get focused on the task you're about to tackle. Because just that quick, you can find yourself holding a damaged part wondering if you'll be able to fix it. Keep that in mind next time someone tells you ARs are as simple as Legos.
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