How to Build An AR 15 Lower (2023) Read This First

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Born and raised in Austin TX, Alfred has been shooting guns since he was 18. That’s two decades of expertly upholding the Texan gun culture. He is a firm believer in the freedom of exercising constitutional rights, and that includes the right of every law-abiding citizen to own and carry a gun.

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Alfred Mendoza
September 1, 2023

Building an AR-15 lower receiver for the first time could be nerve-wracking. This process needs a cautious and precise step-by-step walk-through. Therefore, you will need a helpful and informative guide to build your first rifle.

In this guide, we have gathered the best steps to follow if you want to know how to build an AR-15 lower.

Table of Contents

1 How to Build Your AR-15 Lower Receiver in 9 Easy Steps
2 Some More Tips & Tricks
3 Wrapping Up - Building Your Own AR-15 Lower

How to Build Your AR-15 Lower Receiver in 9 Easy Steps

1. Prepare Your Lower Receiver Parts Kit

First, prepare your lower receiver parts/receivers kits. You may need some tools to build the parts, something like the punch set, charging handle, receiver extension, the fire control group, and c-clamp. You will also need an AR-15 firearms combo tool, which is best for installing the castle unit. A utility knife is needed to install the pivot pin detent.

2. Assemble the Magazine Catch

In the magazine catch assembly, install the magazine catcher into your lower to guide you to keep your lower receiver stable on the lower vice block. This way, your lower receivers will not touch the vice jaws.

First, insert the magazine catch into the hold found on the receiver’s left part. Place its magazine catch spring over the threaded portion from the right side of the receiver. Screw the button up to five turns. Using a 5/32” roll pin punch, depress the button into a clockwise turn until the end of the magazine catch button is flushed with the magazine button.

3. Assemble the Trigger Guard

First, attach the trigger guard assembly in front of the lower using the detent. Using a small block of wood, you need to support the trigger guard’s bottom flange. And then, get your drive pin punch and hammer/trigger pin, drive the roll pin into the trigger guard’s lower and rear. To check if you have successfully assembled the guard, depress the detent on the trigger guard in the trigger pin hole and pivot it to open.

4. Assemble the Bolt Catch

Place two layers of masking tape between the selector switch and the catch as your guide. Next, get the roll pins and punch them into the hole of the first hump using your 5/32” punch and hammer.

And then, install the bolt catch spring into the hole on the receiver’s left side. The catch plunger must be installed atop of the springs. Next, install the catch receiver, using the 3/32” punch to hold the catch assembly in place of the front hump. Lastly, drive the bolt catch roll pin until it forces the 3/32-inch punch out of the front hump.

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5. Insert the Front Takedown Pin

To insert the front AR-15 takedown pins, you will need to insert the takedown detent spring into the lower receiver’s small hole. Compress it using a razor blade or the blade of a box cutter knife. And lastly, slide the pins into the hole until the bottom of the low-profile gas block. Remember, the takedown pin detent must prevent the takedown pins from coming out of the barrel receiver.

6. Assemble the Trigger

To assemble the trigger, you need to place the trigger spring facing forward and under the trigger. Next, install a disconnector with the wider portion of the spring towards it. Push it in and position the disconnector atop the trigger.

Keep the trigger spring feet facing forward before inserting the trigger assembly into the lower. The trigger retaining pin must be inserted through the receiver, disconnector, and trigger.

7. Assemble the Hammer

To assemble the hammer, place the hammer spring onto the hammer while keeping its ends facing away from the strike face. Next, insert the hammer pins into the lower with its hammer spring feet pointing backward from the strike face. Using the 5/32” drive pin punch, retain the hammer in place while inserting the retaining pins into the receiver’s hammer pin hole.

8. Assemble the Pistol Grip & Selector

To assemble the selector and grip for precision shooting, you need to insert the safety selector using a hammer cocked back. Place it in the lower receiver’s left part, which is a “safe” position. And then, insert the selector detent’s pointed end towards the selector spring.

Push the detent into the bottom hole of the receiver where the grip was installed. Finally, compress the selector pivot detent spring with the grip. Install the pistol grip screw and lock washer inside the grip, and tighten them firmly into the receiver.

9. Assemble the Buffer Tube

In the AR-15 buffer assembly, insert the pin on the receiver’s right side. Use automotive grease to paint the grooves of the receiver. Then, use the head screwdriver to screw the castle nut into the buffer tube.

Then the buffer tube must be screwed into the lower receiver. It must touch the bolt catch buffer retainer to hold it in place. And then, insert the pointed part of the pin detent into the small hole of the parts/receivers’ backside.

Next, keep the pressure on the spring and detent using a razor blade or a box cutter knife. Go back to the backplate and move it back in place. Using a castle nut wrench torque the castle nut (40 foot pounds is just right). The next step is optional, but staking the castle nut is highly recommended to keep the buffer tube from coming loose from the endplate during regular use.

You can now insert the buffer and buffer spring into the buffer tube in the barrel of your firearm. We suggest you look for an ideal barrel length for your AR-15 rifle.

Some More Tips & Tricks

Many builders may not require it, but we suggest using a vise and lower receiver vise block to build an AR-15 rifle lower. These tools would make the job easier, as it helps keep your lower build in place while you work.

We also recommend using eye protection when painting, building, or disassembling your AR-15. These parts and kits include several tiny pins that might get into your eye.

But, how cheap can you build your own AR-15?

Wrapping Up - Building Your Own AR-15 Lower

The lower receiver sits above the pistol grip, holds the trigger and hammer, and has a slot for the magazine. [1] Like the upper receiver, it is crucial to building an AR-15 rifle, so you will need extra care, as it may cause harm when twisting and inserting some of its parts. Nevertheless, building an AR-15 rifle lower isn’t truly impossible, even for some builders with no experience.

References:

https://apnews.com/article/396bbedbf4963a28bda99e7793ee6366

Greg Page

July 25, 2023 at 6:56 pm

I found that when installing the bolt catch it is easier to do if you use your roll pin starter to push the roll pin into the first hump. Then put the spring and detent into the hole on the left side. Then take a pair of channel locks, I wrapped each side with tape to prevent scratching, and while holding the bolt catch in the proper position so it’s flush with both humps use the channel locks to squeeze the roll pin all the way through flush with the other side. Easy pezzy