[556plinker]

1st BUILD and going slowly as the wallet allows!

LESSON #1
If you are not satisfied with your new OVERSIZED MAG DROP BUTTON do not install your bolt catch. I just had to put it together so I could see how my BAD LEVER fitted, not to mention looked....I just had to, I know you all understand. When I decided that, well, I think I should remove the oversized mag button that did not have a deep enough throat.......I decided to keep it do to the fact that it cannot be removed without uninstalling the bolt catch. The mag button is in the well but not as far as I would have liked....functional but not perfect.

Lesson #2
I completed the entire assembly on the SPIKES lower ALL BY MYSELF with only a few small punches, tape, hammer, block of wood, box cutter and needle nose pliers in about an hour. Trigger assembly, trigger guard,...etc not a problem and NO SCRATCHES to the receiver. The only thing left was the buffer spring and buffer. I was awash in glee!.....and then I came up with the wonderful idea to see how it functioned with the upper from my complete ar that I had previously purchased. It fit great and I was quite proud until I decided to pull the charging handle back and stick the bolt into the receiver extension tube with no spring in it. Bonehead move which required the removal of the extension tube and subsequent launch of the take down spring and detent! I found it though!

Lesson #3
Put it together completely, with all parts. If anyone as dumb as me can complete a lower, ANYONE can build an AR. My friend has the vice block/wrenches and I am eagerly awaiting to go full bore on the upper. Stay tuned for more "People do the stupidest things when building AR's".

[M14sRock]

Great post Plinker! Very funny and well written.

Lets see some pics....

[CA357]

Good on ya'.

[diggsbakes]

That is a good anecdote, 556. I wouldn't call it stupidity at all, just carelessness and haste that results from over-enjoyment and satisfaction.

Could be much worse. . .

I also shot the detent and spring at some point and also miraculously found them (on a semi-swept garage floor) with out much trouble.

[spittinfire]

It's easy to get excited with a new project. I know I do. Thanks for the entertaining post.

[TheDaggle]

Mine ricocheted off a lamp and a conveniently located beer neon right onto the styrofoam mat in front of me I think everyone does that at least once.

[Jo da Plumbr]

I got all the way to the take down pin detent before I ran into trouble. The trouble being I could not find the take down pin detent. I had been so careful about keeping everything together. I searched the entire work area and the floor. I even went over everything with a magnet. No detent. After a good cry I thought hey I can make one of these. I found a finishing nail the right diameter, cut it to length, and shaped the ends with my Dremel. Whala... a detent. It worked a little rough but it worked.

I e mailed the parts company and told them they forgot to send the second detent. Got the replacement in about a week. Still have that nail as a memento.

[lonyaeger]

Well done, 556! You have the huevos to give us the real story....some of us probably don't....myself included!

[Dillinger]

And these types of posts are how the rest of us know that you really did build your lower. Only those issues arise when you do the work yourself, but you learned a bunch about your equipment in the process.

Well done and very informative reporting sir!

[pagj17]

haha, I did that with my dad's recently competed lower, except I launched the bolt retainer( because the Receiver extension for the carbine stock had an extended lip to make life easier). Couldn't find the retainer piece... cause the cat had it in his mouth... dropped it next to the lower for me though!