How bad did I screw up my lower?

[ghostman1960]

Last night I a assembled a lower and I suppose I had my mind on other things while I was doing it. To make a long story short I used the safety detent as the bolt release plunger. I don't know what I was thinking but it just fit right in. It's seems to work ok but it bothers me. Should I change it out? I dread doing that as the roll pin for the bolt release was a real PITA to get in and I'm sure it will be so to take out.

[redfernsoljah]

Sounds like you already made up your mind. Chalk it up to learned from builkd will only make you better in the end on next one. Plus you will always ve thinking about it every time you use it so ake it right and throw your worries away. :dance3:

[ghostman1960]

Sounds like you already made up your mind. Chalk it up to learned from builkd will only make you better in the end on next one. Plus you will always ve thinking about it every time you use it so ake it right and throw your worries away. :dance3:

I think I may leave it for a while and see if it causes and problems. I dread taking the bolt release pin out. That thing is tight. I think I may cause more harm than good if I try at this point. It works but I'm wondering if anyone here can tell me if it will cause damage or fail at some point if I don't change it out.

[Iraqgunz]

Negative ghostrider. Remove it and do it right. The trick to installing the roll pin for the bolt release is to put some tape or something on the lower and then gently tap in/it out. You start it first and then install the spring and detent.

That is of course unless you have the correct flat sided punch, which you can make with an old punch and a grinder.

In any case I would make it right and not fudd armorer it.


Last night I a assembled a lower and I suppose I had my mind on other things while I was doing it. To make a long story short I used the safety detent as the bolt release plunger. I don't know what I was thinking but it just fit right in. It's seems to work ok but it bothers me. Should I change it out? I dread doing that as the roll pin for the bolt release was a real PITA to get in and I'm sure it will be so to take out.

[Eric D.]

I would do it right. I know from experience that things like that will eat at you (They eat at me at least). Just wrap the lower in a shit load of electrical tape and take your time.

My biggest concern is if you used the safety detent as the bolt catch plunger, what's detaining the safety?

[Eric]

Each part needs to be used with the correct spring. If you don't have problems now, you probably will later. The pin can be a bit of a pain to remove without the correct punch. You want this one here, from Brownells (http://www.brownells.com/.aspx/pid=26484/Product/BOLT_CATCH_PIN_PUNCH). One side of the punch is shaved to allow enough clearance to prevent gouging the lower.
http://spinstage.http.internapcdn.net/Spinstage/userdocs/products/p_080216012_1.jpg
From Brownells.com

[markm]

You DON'T have to tap the roll pin all the way out. Just drift it far enough out to release the bolt catch.

[ghostman1960]

I would do it right. I know from experience that things like that will eat at you (They eat at me at least). Just wrap the lower in a shit load of electrical tape and take your time.

My biggest concern is if you used the safety detent as the bolt catch plunger, what's detaining the safety?

Thankfully I had another safety detent in my parts box. When I get home today I'm going to try to get the bolt release pin out without buggering it up. I don't have a spare one of those.

[nimdabew]

FWIW, I painted my training lower the other day and disassembled it before painting. I just used my precision screw driver with a broken head to get the roll pin out, and the flat side of my leatherman to push it back in. No banging, scraping, or even chipping on the very weak rattlecan paint job I put on my lower. It is a lot easier than trying to use a roll pin punch, hammer, and holding the lower upright while doing it. Roll pins don't require a whole lot of force so just pushing it in with a hard flat surface works.

[snappy]

You DON'T have to tap the roll pin all the way out. Just drift it far enough out to release the bolt catch.

This, and a fix now will keep you out of a fix later.

[Iraqgunz]

FYI- I highly encourage you not to reuse the roll pin unless it is an emergency.


Thankfully I had another safety detent in my parts box. When I get home today I'm going to try to get the bolt release pin out without buggering it up. I don't have a spare one of those.

[Eric D.]

I know you've said this about roll pins in the bolt. So you don't recommend reusing roll pins for any part of the rifle?


FYI- I highly encourage you not to reuse the roll pin unless it is an emergency.

[Iraqgunz]

Roll pins by design compress as they are beat into place. As a rule I don't reuse any roll pins. They are too cheap to run the risk of something happening.

I reused one once because I had to, and I was fortunate nothing happened.


I know you've said this about roll pins in the bolt. So you don't recommend reusing roll pins for any part of the rifle?

[ssracer]

getting the pins out can be a pain. I've never had to remove that one, but I have removed the trigger guard pin. It was easier to tap out with a small punch since there was less chance of marring up the lower.

For getting them in, I use a pair of channel locks with electrical tape wrapped around the ends. Gets them most of the way in without risking a scratch, then a couple of light taps with a hammer and punch and its done.

[Quiet-Matt]

You DON'T have to tap the roll pin all the way out. Just drift it far enough out to release the bolt catch.

Do like Markm said. It's not soo bad if you do it like this, but I'd definately make it right.

[ghostman1960]

I fixed it. Thanks for the encouragement and advice everyone.