My EBR is on the way ...

I just got an email from Del-Ton that my AR-15 "kit" that I ordered November 13th has shipped and I should have it in a few days.

I can finally join the ranks of the The Despicable EBR Owners of America --- until my good buddy Barack decides to seize it.

 

Will do. I expect it will be here Friday or Monday.

I got the DelTon RTK101 kit with:
DTI 16" 1x9 Heavy Barrel
YHM 4 Rail Free Float Tube
Standard Bolt & Carrier
M4 Buttstock
A2 Grip - Black
Carrying Handle:None
A2 Flash Hider
YHM Flip Up Front Gas Block/Sight
Standard Lower Parts
Standard Charging Handle
Flat Top Upper with T-Marks
YHM Flip-up rear sight

The lower is a DoubleStar stripped lower that I got last October before the prices went insane.

I got flip up front and rear BUIS because I have a 3x scope I plan to mount --- my eyes need all the help they can get ;-) I still need to get rail covers to cover the unused rails. I have four 20 round mags on hand and "a few rounds of .223 laying around"

I'm thinking about getting an inexpensive bench rest (MTM Predator Shooting Rest - PSR30 ) to help with sighting in (and its convertible to allow me to sight my Ruger Mk III) -- any opinion? Also, any thoughts on an inexpensive pistol scope, 2-3x?

I may pop for a decent two stage trigger once my finances are replenished

Most of my shooting, aside from zombies, will be 100-300 yards destroying paper so this should do me OK .

I'll do a brief review when I get it and perhaps some build photos and progress.

 

Dealing with Del-Ton was OK. No complaint on price, my "kit" came in a hair under $700.00 with shipping.

I did ask one question about a change and got a fairly quick response --- I asked about changing to a lightweight barrel a month or so after I ordered. They responded that they could do that and because they had them in stock I'd get my rifle sooner; the only catch was the flip up gas block/sight, I'd have to change to something else if I wanted the lightweight barrel. I decided I wanted the flip up so I stayed with the original order.

My next communication was a question a week or so ago about the status of the delivery to which a week later I received a shipping notice. I ordered November 13 so that's about 12-14 weeks, which I guess is kind of normal these days.

I'll update this once I get the "gadget" in hand and have a chance to look it over.

 

My EBR is finished!

My AR-15 "kit" arrived this afternoon (Tuesday). After unpacking and inspecting I took some photos of the parts then started assembly. (Before and after photos to be posted after I have a chance to select and adjust them.)

The kit parts appear of good quality. There was nothing "dinged" or damaged and no rough edges, scratches, etc.

I used the instruction sheet from AR15.com along with two videos from YouTube:

1. AR15.COM :: Guides
2. [ame=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iA_Vkb2UB1w]YouTube - Assembling an AR-15 Stripped Lower 1 of 2[/ame]
3, [ame=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jq4KfUaVp8M]YouTube - Assembling an AR-15 Stripped Lower 2 of 2[/ame]

Using these as guides I assemble everything is under an hour. The assembled rifle appears to operate fine, a little "sticky" yet. There is almost no play between the lower and the upper, everything fits tight.

I mounted an inexpensive 3-9X Simmons scope as my eyes need all the help they can get. I'm going to have to get a riser for the scope, the flip-up rear BUIS interferes with the scope; I moved the BUIS to a forward rail position for storage

It still obviously needs to be cleaned and oiled yet and then off to the range hopefully this weekend.

 

Mea culpa.

I didn't think referencing a freely available assembly guide constituted a raid. Live and learn.

 

Ah, OK. Thanks

 

Further to my new AR, I found an interesting piece of paper attached to the packing slip:

So I guess they've seen some problems and are covering their bases

 

Photos

As promised, some basic images of my new AR in process

I've to get a small riser, the scope mounts are not high enough to clear the flip-up rear sight so it isn't in place in these images. Now a trip to the range to try it out.

 

Thank you Master. I'm looking forward to the range report too

It feels good to hand and even though most of the weight is in front it "balances" well.

Baring something unforeseen all that remains to be done is the riser for the scope and covers for the unused rails (you're right the edges are a bit uncomfortable And a sling --- I've always used an adjusted sling to help keep my rifle steady so I think I need one for this guy as well.

 

Some additional thoughts for people reading this who may be looking to assemble their own AR.

All of the guides and videos talk about getting the roll pins inserted for the trigger guard and the bolt release. The trigger guard pin is perpendicular to the body so its not a bit deal --- other than to make sure to support the lower well to avoid snapping off the "ear" that the pin goes into.

For the bolt release the roll pin is inserted parallel to the body and only a small fraction of and inch away from it. The video I watched advised tape to protect the finish during the process. I used duct tape which worked fine.

Because of the location of the hole for the pin it can be difficult to get the pin started. The video showed using needle-nose pliers to hold the pin while trying to drive it in with a soft faced (brass or plastic face) hammer. This proved to be a real challenge. So instead I used a pair of vice-grip pliers to squeeze one end of the pin at the insertion end and actually compress the roll pin just a bit along half of its length. This made it much, much easier to get the pin started, especially given the physical location so close to the body of the lower. Once its started in the hole driving it home with a soft-faced hammer was easy and because only half of the pin is compressed the uncompressed end holds it firmly in place.

 

Nope, its my first --- but hopefully not my last

 

I regret that it didn't occur to me to make detail photos of some of the tricky parts I dealt with and how I solved the problem for myself.